Lost And Found

Father Levi was a happy man. He had worked hard all his life and now, he owned a big farm. Besides his wealth, he had been blessed with two fine sons. He looked forward to seeing them married and settled down. Then, he might be blessed with little grandchildren, too. He was very happy as he looked out over his cornfields, his sheep, and his cattle, his orchards and vineyards.

But, his happiness was not to last. His elder son was quite content. He worked hard every day in the fields. But, his younger son was restless and bored. He was tired of the dull farm, where there was no excitement and nothing ever happened. He longed to go to the big, bright cities, where everything was exciting and gay and where he knew he would be happy. One day, he made up his mind. He could not stand the dreary farm any more. He went to his father.

“Father,” he said, “Give me my share of your money. I want it now. I’m leaving home and going away.”

Father Levi was sad when he heard this. He knew that money would not bring happiness to young Simon. But, he loved his son too much to force him to stay at home. Besides, Simon must live his own life and learn for himself. Father Levi was too loving and too wise to try to stop him.

Father Levi sold some of his sheep and cattle and part of his land. He sold exactly one third of his estate, so that Simon would have all that would come to him by law. Then, he gave Simon the bag of silver.

Simon could not wait to be off. He put on his best clothes and tucked the bag of silver safely inside his belt. He could hardly stop to say goodbye. Father Levi watched him as he strode out down the road and disappeared into the distance. He felt sad at losing his son. Now, he could only watch and wait and long for him to come back.

How happy young Simon was as he got farther and farther away from that dreary farm! Now, he would begin to live. What fun and pleasure and excitement he would have!

The gay, young Jew had plenty to spend and his father’s money brought him lots of friends. Life was one long round of parties and Simon loved the music and dancing, the feasting and drinking and merry-making.

He was just spending his father’s hard-earned money.

At first, Simon did not worry. He had looked after his friends and spent money on them for a long time. Now, they would look after him. But, he got a shock when he went to them. They turned him away. They wanted nothing more to do with him. Now that his money was gone, his friends were gone too. He sold all his fine new clothes and soon, he had nothing left.

Simon was very miserable as he wandered through the city streets. He was not among his own people. There was no one he could turn to for help. He was a stranger in a strange land. He was all-alone – without friends and without money.

So, Simon left the fine city. He went out into the countryside. Perhaps, one of the farmers would give him a job. After all, he could do a good day’s work on the land with all that he knew about farming. But, no one would give him work. His clothes were in rags by now and he was starving. Then, at last, a farmer took pity on him. He said that Simon could look after his pigs. To be a swine-herd was the lowest job of all. But, Simon was too hungry to be proud. The pigs were fed on the rough pods of the carob tree. They were like our runner-beans and tasted sweet. Simon was so hungry that he longed to stuff himself with the pigs’ food.

Simon had plenty of time to think, as he guarded the pigs. “What a fool I have been,” he thought to himself, “I was needed there. Look at me now. Why, even my father’s servants are much better off than I am. I’ll go back. Yes, I’ll go back to my father. I’ll own up to him that I have sinned against God. I’ll tell him that I’ve been a bad son, not respecting my father and not honouring and obeying him. I’ve had my share of his estate, I know that. I can’t expect him to take me back as his son. I’ll ask him to let me be a labourer on his farm. I’ll say to him, ‘I’m not fit to be treated like your son. Please take me on as a workman in the fields.”

It was a long, long journey back home. Mile after mile, Simon hobbled along the dusty roads, eating any scraps he could find, sleeping by the roadside. No one would have recognised the dirty, tattered beggar as the proud son of Father Levi.

But, there was one man, who did. Father Levi had been sad and mournful ever since the day his young son had gone away. Every day, he went up on the flat roof of his house. He sat there, looking into the distance, hoping and longing for his son to come back to him. It was father Levi, who recognised the tramp in rags and tatters, limping up the road. He hurried down the steps from the roof. He forgot all about his dignity and importance and ran down the road. He clasped Simon in his arms and hugged him tight, crying out in his joy.

Simon could hardly speak as his father hugged and kissed him. Then, he began to own up what a fool he had been. “Father,” he said, “I have sinned against God. I have been disrespectful and disobedient to you. I’m not fit to be taken back as your son. Just let me be one of your labourers.”

But, Father Levi did not even listen. He was clapping his hands and calling for the servants. They came running out, “My son has come back home,” he said. “Fetch one of my finest robes for him, so that we may honour him. Bring one of my rings for his finger, so that he will have my authority. And don’t forget a pair of slippers, too. We can’t have him walking around barefoot, like a servant. Then, you can kill the fatted calf and prepare a feast. We are going to eat and drink and be merry. My son was dead to me and now, he is alive again. He was lost and now, he is found.”

The servants hurried off to obey their master. Soon, the whole household was bustling round and buzzing with news. Everyone shared in Father Levi’s joy.

What a feast they had! After all the eating and drinking came the merrymaking. The flute players played music for the round dance of the men. There was singing, stamping of feet, and clapping of hands. What a noise they made in their happiness! Anyone could have heard it a long way off. Someone did. It was Jude, the elder brother. He had spent a long, hard day in the fields and he was walking wearily back home. He heard the noise as he came near the house. What are they all singing and dancing and shouting about? The servant told him that Simon had come home and that the feast was in his honour. Jude was furious.

The servant ran in to tell Father Levi that Jude was back from the fields. “Then ask Jude to come and take his place of honour at our feast,” said Father Levi. “What!” shouted Jude at the servant when he came back? “Does he think I’m going to rejoice, just because that good-for-nothing son of his has come back? Does he imagine I’m going to make merry to honour that lazy, young rascal?”

The servant told his master what Jude had said. Then, Father went out himself to his elder son. He spoke kind and loving words to Jude. But, Jude was too furious to listen. He was too angry even to be polite to his father, let alone speak to him respectfully as he ought. He was too rude even to let his father plead with him, “All these years, I’ve slaved on your farm!” he shouted at his father, “I’ve always obeyed you! I’ve always served you! Did you ever give me a feast, so that I could make merry with my friends? No! But, what happens when that wastrel of a son of yours comes back? Nothing’s too good for him! All he’s done is to throw away your money, enjoying himself in the big city. But, he gets the fatted calf and a grand feast!”

Father Levi loved Jude just as much as he loved Simon. He could understand how Jude felt and why he was so angry. He did not speak sternly to him. He did not complain of his lack of love. He simply put his arm around Jude’s shoulder.

“Jude, my son, my dear son,” he said, “You are always here with me. I know that I can rely on you. All that I have belongs to you, now that Simon has had his share. He is my son, just as you are. I love you both dearly. I was only right to welcome him back home again. It makes me so happy to have him with me, just as it makes me happy to have you with me. You see, it is just as if he had come back from the dead. I was afraid I would never see him again, when he went away. He was dead, now he is alive again. He was lost, now he has been found. Come in with me, dear Jude. Come in and share my joy.”

Questions:

1. Describe the character of the second son of Father Levi.
2. What did Father Levi do, when his younger son demanded his share of property?
3. When did Father Levi find his lost son? What did he do?
4. Why was the first son angry with his father and what was Father Levi’s reply?

Source- Stories for Children-II
Published by- Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust, Prashanti Nilayam.