VI--_Short pieces of gay ribbons tied together in various lengths._ This represents the kind of friends he had found. Some long, some short, some were his for a few days, others for longer time; all tied together, representing friendship. They were purchased friends. They were his so long as his purse was long and full. When he had spent all they all left him. No man gave to him, not even the friends to whom he had given. Now he was poor, down and out and under. A man down in the world,--a Prodigal son in rags. VII--Now pick up _the gay cloth of colors in rags._ This represents the Prodigal poor and forsaken, ragged and dejected. This is the product of sinful companionship. This piece of rag should be the same pattern as the one used representing his home garment but torn in strips. A famine strikes the country. He is in need of bread. "The way of the transgressor is hard," and the end thereof is harder still. He has but one last resort. A tender of swine. VIII--Here pick up _brown rag._ This represents the color of the brown earth and the dried husks which he used as his only food. As a Jew, this was bad business. It was the only business left. Satan drives us to the bad. This is what happened to the Prodigal. Satan clothes us in purple and fine linen, then tears it to shreds, and we cannot help ourselves. Sin has a swift descent. There are no brakes for this decline. Bad, worse, and then some more. That describes this man in rags. IX--Now pick up _yellow cloth._ This should be of the same shade as used in the first story as he now thinks of the bread in the father's house. Misfortune stirs up memory and we think; this is just what he did. He thinks of home, of bread, of servants in the old house and land of plenty. Sometimes we think of the better life too late. We cannot retrace our steps and begin over again, but that God does: When we repent and come to God, we may begin all over again. X--Here pick up _purple cloth._ Make this a perfect square. This color stands for repentance. It is the penitential color in the church world. So he said, "I will arise and go to my Father, and say unto him, 'I have sinned.'" This is the quick way home. It is a short cut to God. The forgiving father is at the end of this road. So he goes back in his rags. That is the way to go home. This is coming "Just as I am, without one plea." Don't take off your rags. The Father alone must do this and He will. XI--Here pick up _red cloth._ This represents the long love of the loving father. Red stands for love, a flaming love which causes the father to run to meet him. This is the only time when God is said "to run," and He does it every time when he sees the sinner coming.