Volume 5 — Original The Church And The Sinner.

The Church Prithee, why continue eating, Child, the husks of swine? Thou thy soul art only cheating With this food of thine. The Sinner. Other food hath long been wasted, Mother, by my sin; All its empty joys are tasted, Sorrows now begin. The Church. Hadst thou not a loving Father, Child, and happy home? There with him have rested, rather Shouldst thou than to roam. The Sinner. Yes; but he his now degraded Son would never know; From his memory I have faded, Mother, long ago. The Church. Child, the Father ne'er forgetteth Whom he called his son, To him naught but pride now letteth Not thy feet to run. The Sinner. Worthy for his lowly servant Am I not, I know; Yet with love and sorrow fervent Will arise, and go!