"I am determined what to do;
I will at once arise,
And to my father's house will go,
And there, with streaming eyes,

"Will say, 'O! father, I have sinn'd,
And wander'd from thee far,
Call me not _son_, but make me as
Thy hired servants are."

He rose and wander'd towards his home,
With grief and tearful eye,
But when he was a great way off,
His father did him spy,

And ran and fell upon his neck,
And kiss'd him o'er and o'er;
Rejoiced that he had found the son,
He thought he'd see no more.

"Go call the neighbours, send the word
Of joyful news around,
This son, once dead, now lives again,
Though lost, he now is found.

"Go call my servants, bid them here
The costliest raiment bring;
Bring shoes to put upon his feet,
And on his hand a ring.