The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-08
Unto one 81 the Lenst of rha..


Unto One - the Least of These.
Then again there was silence in the
IAN Of Dreams where l heard the story
Of this other wise man. and the silence
seemed 70 me like the space of many
years, so that / cmnOt tell what things
oefell him in the land Of Egypt. where he
went 10 seek the King. nor into what
other lands he wandered on his euest
But this ] heard in vague words. dilnly
understood. that he studied much in the
ancient Hebrew Writings. and from them
he came TO believe that the King must
suffer and be distressed and be cast into
prison. So Arteban looked for him among
the oppressed and afflicted. the sick and
the wounded and the prisoners The great
desire 10 see the King s face burned more
and more strongly in the wise mans heart.
and he inquired diligently concerning him.
But though he found none TO worship.
he found many TO help; and al he fed the
hungry and clothed the naked and healed
the wounded and comforted the captive.
his years went by more swiftly than the
weaNer's shuttle that flashes back and
forth through the growing web. And ever
as he carried the pearl. his last Jewel.
next 10 his heart. IL gained a mellower
lustre. light soft and tremulous. and
iiidescent colors played over II like memo
ueS Of the lost sapphire and ruby. Then,
O. AtAEAf NA444r j was llllkluE OF IilS neHTl
and what it might mean. / heard the end
Of the story of the other wise man.
TIN ee-and-thirty years had Artaban
passed in his wanderings his hair once
darker than the cliffs Of Zagros, was now
covered with wintry snow, and his ewes
were duh as embers lingering among the
ashes OF spent IRE. Worn and weary
and ready 10 die, but still seeking the
King, he had come for the last time
T. Jerusalem the holy city. 1t was the
c~y after Passover, and the streets were
tnroneed. y strange excitement seemed
% asltate the crowds and a secret tide
was sweeping multitudeS towards the
northern safe OF the city. Arabian Joined
himself 70 a little group Of Parthians.
jewish eXiles from his own country, who
lad come up TO the Temple for the feast
and asked them whittier they were going
we are going" they answered. Ito a
place called Golgotha. outside the city
wall. For IL is said that one Jesus of
Nazareth, who has done many mighty
and mercifm works among the people. has
been taken by the priests, and delivered
- Plate, and crucifed on the Hi of the
Skull, because he said that he was the
King Of the Jews The Magians tired
heart beat more quickly as he heard again
these mystic words which had led him
for lifetime over land and sea. Dark
and mysterious were the tidings. for how
could IL be that the King should perish?
hut he said within himself: The ways Of
God are stranger than the thoughts Of
man, and il may be that / shall find my
king in the hands of his enemies. and
offer my pearl Tor his ransom ere he
dies"
SO Artaban followed the multitude with
Slow and painful steps. towards the Da-
u.4scus gate. But as he passed by the
door Of Herods prison, there met him
guard OF Macedonian soldiers who were
dragging with them a young maiden with
torn dress ana dsheveiled hair. TRUSTING
her with rude blows towards the dungeon.
As the Old man paused 70 look at her with
Pity she stretched forth her hand and
O. Ksfs the edge Of his long white robe
"Eave mercy on me" she cried, land
deliver me If thou canst, o my prince for
J also am one Of the children Of Iran
Fly father was a merchant Of Persia, and
81 Is dead and 1 am seized for his debts
- be sold rs slave Save me from
worse than death"
Artaban tremblld. Il was the old con-
flct in his soul. which had met him on
the plain Of Babylon ana in the cottage
Of Bethlehem-the conflict between the
desire OF faith and the pity OF love. lie
drew the pearl from his breast and laid
81 ia the hand Of the slave. Take thy
ransom, daughter; IL is the last OF nay
treasures which / had kept for the King
While he spoke there game great
darkness over the sky, and snuddering
tremors ran through the earth, heaVing
Ike the bosom Of one VINO struggles with
mighty grief. The walls Of the houses
rocked 10 and fro. Dust clouds filled the
air The soldiers fled in dlsmay. But
the wise man and the slave girl whom he
had ransOu.ed crQuched helpless beneath
the wall. With the last thrill Of the
earthquake q heavy tile, loosened from
the roof fell and smote the old man on
the forehead. lie lay breathless and pale
with the blood trickling from the wound.
As the maid n bent over him 70 see
whether he was dead, through the 81
lence there came "A voice, small ana SUM-
drd very distinct, like music sounding
from a long distance. fin which the notes
are clear, but the words are lost. The
drl turned 10 look il some one had
rD0ken from the window above them
bat she saw no one. Then the ola man
iiDs BEGAN 10 move as II IN answer, ana
ehe heard him say f. the ancient PERSIAN
tongue. Not SO. my Locd' Tor wheh sa"
! thee an hungered, and fed thee? or
thirsty, and gave thee drink Nneh sa"
I thce a stranger and took thee in! or
raked and clothed tnee2 When saw j
thee sick or in prison, and came unto
thee2 Three-and-thir years i sought
thee. but / have never seen my race.
ror rniuistered on earth TO thee. my King.
lie ceased. and the strange. sweet voice
came again, and again the maid undeF-
stood n not. But re dying soul Of Aria
Ban heard these words: "Veriiy say unto
thee. inasmuch as thou hast done IL unto
one Of the least of these my brethren
,hou hast done it unto me-" Sun radi-
aoce OF wonder and JOY rested on his
white face. Ike the ray OF dawn on
peak. One long last breath OF
relief exhaled gently from his breast.
His tourney was ended his treasures
we're accepted The other wise man nSH
found the King. Prom Inc S,ViS ~ ~
Otber yVise Man by Henry Van Dyke
In Harner's Magazine for January.
RIunt Words.