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Show of all men. Jew raised his trembling The still-we- ak hand solemnly to heaven. Now may the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob bless and prosper the journey of the merciful and bring him in peace to his desired haven. Stay! I have nothing to give thee return only this: that I can tell thee where the Messiah must be sought. For our prophets have said that he should be born not in Jerusalem, but in Bethlehem of Judah. May the Lord bring thee in safety to that place, because thou hast had pity upon the sick. When Artaban arrived in Bethlehem, he found the town deserted. From the open door of a cottage he heard the sound of a womans voice singing softly. He entered and found a young mother hushing her baby to rest. She told him of the strangers from the far East who had appeared in the village three days ago, and how they said that a star had guided them to the place where Joseph of Nazareth was lodging with his wife and their newborn child, and how they had paid reverence to the child and given him many rich gifts. But the travelers disappeared again, as suddenly as they had she continued, come. The man of Nazareth took the child and his mother, and fled away that same night secretly to Egypt. The young mother set food before Artaban. He accepted it gratefully. Suddenly there came the noise of a wild confusion in the streets of the village, a shrieking and wailing of womens voices, a clangor of brazen trumpets and a clashing of swords and a desperate cry: The soldiers! The soldiers of Herod. They are killing our children. in December 15, 1965 THE PARSON Page 4 The young mothers face grew white with terror. The soldiers came hurrying down the street. The captain of the band approached the cottage. But Artaban would not stir from the threshold. I am all alone in this place, and I am waiting to give this jewel to the prudent captain who will leave me in peace. He showed a ruby. The captain stretched out his hand and took the ruby. March on! he cried to his men, there is no child here. The house is empty. ty years of the life of Artaban had passed away and he was still a pilgrim and a seeker after light. He came for the last time to Jerusalem. It was the season of the Passover. The city was thronged and singular agitation was visible in the multitude. Artaban joined a group of people from his own country, Parthian Jews who had come up to keep the Passover, and inquired of them the cause of the tumult and where they were hair. As the Magian paused to look at her with compassion she broke suddenly from the hands of her tormentors, and threw herself at his feet, clasping him around the knees. She had seen his white cap and the winged circle on his breast. Have pity on me, she cried, and save me, for the sake of the God of Purity! I also am a daughter of the true religion which is taught by the Magi. My .father was a merchant of Parthia, but he is dead, and I am seized for his debts to be sold as a slave. Save me from worse than death! He took a pearl from his bosom. He laid it in the hand of the slave. This is thy ransom, daughter. It is the last of my treasures which I kept for the King. While he spoke, the darkness of the sky deepened, and shuddering tremors ran through the earth. The walls of the houses rocked to and fro. Stones were loosened and crashed into the street. Dust clouds filled the air. The soldiers fled in terror, reeling like drunken men. But Artaban and the girl whom he had ransomed crouched helpless beneath the wall of the Praetor-iuThe earthquake quivered through the ground; A heavy tile, shaken from the m. roof, fell and struck the old man on the temple. There came a voice through the twilight, very small and still, like music sounding from a distance, in which the notes were clear but the words are lost. Then the old mans lips began to move, as if in answer, and she heard him say in the Parthian tongue; Not so, my Lord! For when saw I thee an hungered and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw I thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? When saw I thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee? years have I looked for thee; but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered to theet my King. Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou has done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou has done it unto me. A calm radiance of wonder and joy lighted the pale face of Artaban like the first ray of dawn on a snowy mountain peak. A long breath of relief exhaled gently from his lips. His journey was ended. His treasures were accepted. The Other Wise Man had found the King. Three-and-thir- ty 'eyed (FORMERLY THE STARLITE CLUB) 996 SOUTH REDWOOD ROAD Three-and-thir- going. We are going, to the they answered, place called Golgotha. Two famous robbers are to be crucified, and with them another, called Jesus of Nazareth, a man who has done many wonderful works among the people, so that they love him greatly. So the old man followed the multitude with slow and painful steps toward the Damascus gate of the city. 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