The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27

up than by briefly repeating one of the most beautiful of all Christmas stories It is that written by Henry Van Dyke It Is appropriately called "The Other Wise Man" Dr. Van Dyke wrote the story in great pain.
 It was the year his father died and a year of much physical suffering One night while lying awake, unable to sleep and tossing upon his bed, he began to think of the legends clustering about the three wise men, Then there came to him vision of a fourth wise man." who had the gentle name of Artaban. The abbreviation of the whole story Is this E When the star appeared in the east, four magi felt that they must put their house. hold goods in order before they took their journey. They decide to meet at a certain place at certain time upon the edge of the great desert. Artaban made ready for his journey by selling his house and worldly goods and buying three beau tiful gems which he could cary-namely a sapphire a ruby and q pearl. On his way to meet his appointment Artaban came across a poor beggar who was dy- ing. a began who had no friends, a beggar who was dying alone After nursing the poor beggar until he died Artaban hurried on to meet his appointment. but the three magi had already gone. The other wise man had to retrace his steps, sell one of his gems, his sapphire, and buy a train of eamels to make the journey alone.
 How Artaban Found Christ.
 The next scene in the story of '"rhe Other Wise Man is found in the village of Bethlehem Jesus had been born. and the three magi had disappeared As Ar taban entered the village he heard the tramp of bloody Herod's troops, who had come to massacre all the male children in TtJ wifi, nf e1a Afip bp in fant Christ A poor woman rushes out pleading for the rescue of her child. The young mothers face grew white with terror at the cry. "The soldiersl The soldiers of Herod! They are killing our childrenl" When a captain of IIerod's troops wanted to enter this woman's house to slay her child Artaban stood in the doorway and offered to the murderous soldier his second gem, the beautiful ru- by, if he would save the child Now two- thirds of Artaban's fortune was gone, and still he had not found Christ.
 Then Artaban started on a journey to Egypt to find Jesus. He hunted for him everywhere until he was a very old man. One day in his wanderings to find the Sa- viour, he headed back to the city of Jeru- salem. The capital of David was in great excitement. There was to be a public cruchxion of three criminals-two thieves and one a political prisoner, Jesus by name. As Artaban entered the city he saw a young girl in great distress. She was to be sold as a slave for debt. She broke loose from her captors and flung herself at his feet begging for deliver ance. Artaban gave his last gem, the beautiful pearl, for her rescue. And now all his money was gone. He was now an old man, and still he had not found Christ
 Just then the darkness of crucifixion be- gan to gather around the cross and to settle over the temple. When the awful earthquake came, heavy tile sliped from one of the house roofs and fell upon the old mans head But as he was dying a strange spirit appeared before Artaban and practically said Thou, O noble man, thou hast seen me all these years. Verify l say unto thee, inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my breathren thou hast done 1t unto me"
 If the Christian living today cannot be- long to the first group that started for the manager if he cannot be Melchior. Caspar or Balthasar, perhaps he may be- long to the second caravan. He may be Artaban. He may be the "other wise man." He may be the fourth man. He may soon-aye. very soon-see his Christ face to face. He may see him before even another Christmas day rolls around. He may see Him to part from Him again never through all eternity.