Irving College - Irvingiana Yearbook (Mechanicsburg, PA)

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Over mountain and valley he rode day after day, until one night when just a few parasangs' distant from the place for the meeting of his companions, his horse suddenly stopped and refused to go. Artaban dismounted and saw by the star-light some- thing lying across the road. It was a dying Hebrew. What should he do? If he stayed, life might be restored, but should he risk the great reward of his faith for a single deed of charity ? Should he tuin aside if only for a moment to give a cup of cold water to a poor, perishing Hebrew? Then he turned to the man, brought water and moistened the sufferer's brow. Finally the man's strength was restored, but Ending the Hebrew was without food, Artaban gave him what he had- and hurried on his way. At last he reached Borsippa, but he had tarried too long and his friends had gone on, leaving him to undertake the crossing of the desert alone. He had spent horse and no food, so the only thing that remained to be done was sell. one of his jewels and buy what was needed. Only God the merciful knows whether I shall lose sight'of the King because I tarried to show mercy, he repeated. After riding steadily on, weary and worn, but full of hope, he reached Bethlehem. As he was passing through the streets, from an open door he heard a womau's voice singing softly. He entered and found a mother bushing her babe to sleep. Having been asked whether she had seen or heard anything of the King that was to be born in Bethlehem, she told him a strange story of a babe which had been born in a stable some days before 5 but then, she added. Joseph of Nazareth took the child and its mother and fled-it was whispered they were going to Egypt. Suddenly there wasa lashing of armor in the streets and a con- fusion of wornen's voices- The soldiers! They are killing our children I Artaban went to the door and was met by a body of soldiers, who said they were going to search for a child whom they had heard was there, but he offered them the ruby and saved the little one's life. Two of the consecrated gifts were now gone, but the pearl yet remained, and he must hurry lest that too be spent. p - Finally, after thirty-three years of long, painful search he made his way to Jerusalem. The streets of Jerusalem were crowded and alive with excitement. What did it all mean? H Upon asking that question the answer came to the ears of the weary traveler, We are going to Golgotha, where jesus of Nazareth is to be crucified. Could it be the same who had been born in Bethlehem thirty years ago, at whose birth the star had appeared in the heavens? Artaban understood 5 the King had been born as was prophesied, had been denied, cast out, and was today to die I Perhaps if he hurry to Golgotha he will be there in time to present his pearl as a ransom for his King. So the old man followed the multitude, but just as he reached the Damascus gate, a troop of soldiers came down the street dragging a girl, who was to be killed because of her belief in the true religion. Artaban paused and looked at her in compassion. Having caught sight of him gazing at her Cfor everybody before him had passed mercilessly byy she cried most pitifully for him to help her. He took the pearl from his bosom. Never had it seemed so beautiful, so full of tender, living lustre, but neverthe- less he handed it to the slave. This is thy ransom, daughter I It is the last of my treasures which I kept for the. King. While he spoke the darkness of the sky deepened, the earth rocked to and fro, while shuddering tremor ran through the earth and heavens. Artiban and the girl crouched helplessly beneath the wall of the Praetorinm. Suddenly a stone knocked -9c- ..

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A crown was given to the holy messenger with the command to go to each of the three men and tell him that the Master needed him for His work and the one giving the answer that showed the most love and obedience should receive the crown. Ashmiel started on his errand and had not gone very far before he met the first object of his search. When he gave his Master's command the answer came, Why? but the angel passed on. When the second heard the message his reply was, How ? Almost discouraged the angel hurried to the third of the men, all of whom he had thought pure and true in their service of their Master. Finally he is found again repeating the command, but this time quickly and eagerly came the longed for answer, When ? - The angel's face with inward joy grew bright, And all his figure glowed with heavenly light, He took the golden circlet from his brow, And gave the crown to Fermor, answering, ' NoW,' For thou hast met the Master's bid and test, And I have found the man who loves Him best. Not thine or mine, to questions of reply, When He commands us asking ' How ' or 'Why,' He knows the cause, His ways are wise and just, Who serves the King must serve with perfect trust. H The carrying out ofthe last part of the last principle, To ennoble the lives of the people, stands out most prominently and beautifully in all of Van Dyke's writings. This seems to be the true mission of every one of his Works. It is especially seen in his characters. In the Keeper of the Light the character of Nataline is so beautiful and noble that the reader cannot help but feeling that the girl's simple loyalty to duty has brought him nearer to the secret of a true, noble life. If we should take from The Blue Flower a story entitled The Other Wise Man, we would find in that one story every one of the four principles carried out to its fullest extent. The time represented by the story is from the birth to the cruci- fixion of Christ. The Other Wise Man is a Partian, an astrologer who was led to believe that the time prophesied for the coming of the Messiah was at hand. Having sold all his possessions, he bought three precious stones, a ruby, a sapphire and a pearl, to lay as his tribute at the feet of the newborn Savior, and started out to follow the star which it was prophesied would lead to the place where the King should be found. The journey would be a long and dangerous one, so he made arrangements to meet three friends, also searchers for the babe. In order to be at the place appointed for that meeting, he would have to travel 'dfteen parasangs a day, and not lose one second. If he were not there at that time he would either have to give up the journey or cross the long, hot desert alone. .

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Artiban in the temple. As the girl bent over the white head, fearing he was dead, there came a voice through the twilight, very small and still, like music in the distance. The girl turned to see where it came from, but nobody was in sight. ' Then the old man's lips began to move, and she heard him say, 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 imprisoned and came unto thee? Three and thirty years have I looked for thee, but I have never seen thy face or ministered to thee my King. I Q - He ceased, and the sweet voice came again, very faint and far away, but this time she understood the words, Verily, I say unto thee, inasmuch as thou' hast done it unto the least of these, my brethren, thou hast done it 'unto me. A calm radiancelof wonder and joy lighted the pale, worn face of Artiban like the first ray of dawn on a snowy mountain peak. His journey was ended. His treasures were accepted. The Other Wise Man had found the King. This story of the birth andicruciiizrion of Christ is an old, old story, but as the result of his hand-study of material, patient labor for the perfectionof form, and true devotion to Literary work, Van Dyke has made it a new story, and one that is so pure and noble in itself that it cannot but cheer, console, purify and ennoble the life of the reader. Let us say with one of our critics : A strong, courageous spirit 3 a mind well trained, ripened by culture, given to that' continuous meditation which gets at the vital quality in knowledge and experience, and grows by what it feeds on 5 an imagination sensitive, open, responsive 5 a gift of expression at once lucid, cogent and willing 5 a born lover of Nature, and now, last of all, a true singer of Nature and life. A man so endowed owes his fellows all the inspiration, stimulus and delight that Henry Van 'Dykehas given the world. ii? as xl! aim DJ