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 on the  ground. Still the  Angel  told  them  not  to  fear,  but  to bless  and  thank  the  Lord,  who  had  sent  him  to  do  His  holy will in  their  regard.

Having spoken  thus,  he  vanished  from  their  sight,  leaving the little  family  lost  in  wonder  and  gratitude  to  God. The elder Tobias  lived  forty-two  years  after  these  events  to  share  in the  happiness  of  his  family,  and  died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred and two  years. Tobias, his  son,  lived  to  be  very  old;  he  saw the children  of  his  children,  who  remained  faithful,  and  were beloved by  God  and  man.

The Goodness  of  God.  This  story  of  Tobias  shows  us  most  clearly how good  God  is  to  His  servants. He gave  old  Tobias  a good  son; He sent  His  Angel  in  the  form  of  a man  to  guide  him;  He  gave  the son a rich  and  virtuous  wife;  He  cured  the  father,  granted  him  a happy  old  age  in  the  midst  of  God-fearing  children  and  grand-children, and blessed  his  family  for  many  generations. God changed  Tobias' suffering to  great  joy;  for  who  could  describe  the  father’s  happiness when, after  four  years  of  blindness,  he  once  more  saw  standing  before him his  beloved  son,  on  whose  account  he  had  endured  so  much anxiety? The sufferings  he  had  gone  through  made  his  present  joy  all the greater. God sends  tribulations  to  the  just,  in  order  that  He  may reward their  patience  with  great  joys,  often  given  in  this  world,  but always in  heaven.

The blessings  brought  by  piety.  St. Paul (i  Tim.  4,  8)  writes  thus: 14 Godliness is  profitable  in  all  things,  having  the  promise  of  the  life that now  is,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come.”  Piety  made  old  Tobias  a good  father,  training’  his  son  in  virtue; it  kept  him  from  sin,  and  urged him to  the  ceaseless  practice  of  good  works; it  won  for  him  the  favour of King  Salmanazar,  and  gave  him  patience  under  his  sufferings,  filling him with  consolation. Piety made  the  young  Tobias  an  affectionate and dutiful  son,  a virtuous  youth  and  a holy  man,  the  joy  and  support of his  parents. It drew  down  on  both  father  and  son  God’s  protection and blessing  on  earth,  and  untold  glory  in  heaven. True interior  piety cannot be  too  highly  valued.

The love  of  parents  for  their  children  is  fully  illustrated  by  this  story.

The filial  love  of  children  for  their  parents. In  young  Tobias  was fulfilled the  promise  attached  to  the  observance  of  the  Fourth  Commandment: “that  thy  days  may  be  long  in  the  land  &amp;c.”