Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/343

   Lay  to  heart  the  exhortations  of  old  Tobias, just as  if  your  own  father  had  spoken  them  to  you  on  his  deathbed. Ask yourself  every  day  whether  you  have  acted  up  to  his teaching.

Have you  always  gladly  followed  the  advice  of  your  father and mother? Are your  parents  obliged  to  find  fault  with  you very often? Have you  ever  grieved  or  angered  them? You cannot be a child  of  God  if  you  do  not  honour  and  obey  your  parents. Whenever they  bid  you  do  anything,  say  to  yourself,  in  the  words of the  young  Tobias:  “I  will  do  all  these  things,  father  (or  mother), which thou  hast  commanded  me.”

OURTEEN days  had  passed  since  the  marriage  of  Tobias, and his  parents  at  home  began  to  be  exceedingly  sad,  and they wept  together,  because  their  son  did  not  return. But his mother was  quite  disconsolate,  and  she  groaned  and  sighed:

“Woe, woe  is  me,  my  son,  why  did  we  send  thee  to  a strange country; the light  of  our  eyes,  the  staff  of  our  old  age,  the  comfort of  our  life,  the  hope  of  our  posterity!”  Then  Tobias  said to her:  “Hold 'thy  peace,  our  son  is  safe.”  Yet  she  would  not be comforted,  but  went  out  into  all  the  ways  that  she  might  see him coming  afar  off.

Now Tobias  the  younger  said  to  Raguel:  “I  know  that  my parents  count  the  days,  and  their  spirit  is  afflicted  within  them.” However, Raguel  pressed  him  to  stay  a little  longer,  but  in  vain. He then  gave  him  Sara  his  wife,  and  the  half  of  all  he  possessed,saying:  “May  the  holy  Angel  of  the  Lord  be  with  you  in  your journey, and  bring  you  through  safely,  and  may  you  find  all things well  about  your  parents.”

When the  travellers  had  made  half  the  journey  homeward, the Angel  said  to  Tobias:  “Let  us  go  before  and  let  the  family softly follow after  us.”  They  did  so,  and  Raphael  told  Tobias