Publisher's Synopsis
The Story of the Other Wise Man is a novella written by Henry Van Dyke. It tells the story of a fourth wise man named Artaban who sets out to follow the star of Bethlehem in order to meet the newborn King of the Jews, but is delayed by his compassion for a dying man, and misses the caravan that was heading to Bethlehem. Artaban then spends the rest of his life wandering through the Middle East, using the three gifts he intended for the baby Jesus to help those in need, and searching for the Messiah. Along the way, he meets various characters who test his faith, including a young girl who he saves from being sold into slavery, a leper who he heals, and a thief who he forgives. In the end, Artaban's selfless acts of kindness lead him to a deeper understanding of the true meaning of Christ's message of love and sacrifice. The Story of the Other Wise Man is a heartwarming and thought-provoking tale that explores the themes of faith, compassion, and redemption.1895. American clergyman, educator, and author, Van Dyke explains the origins of the story of the Fourth Wise Man as having arrived suddenly and without labor. One night he saw him distinctly, moving through the shadows in a little circle of light. His countenance was as clear as the memory of his father's face. The narrative of his journeyings and trials and disappointments ran without a break. Even certain sentences came complete and unforgettable, clear-cut like a cameo. All that he had to do was to follow Artaban, step by step, as the tale went on, from the beginning to the end of his pilgrimage. Contents: The Sign in the Sky; by the Waters of Babylon; For the Sake of a Little Child; In the Hidden Way of Sorrow; and A Pearl of Great Price. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.