The Story of the Other Wise Man - Henry Van Dyke

Originally posted in 1895, this beautiful story has become part of our Christmas lore. 

In lieu of a read-a-long this year (I intended too then suddenly it's the 6th of December and I've organised nothing.), I thought that I would share one of my favourite festive tales.  

The links lead to a HTML version of the story by Project Gutenberg.

The Story of the Other Wise Man

Henry Van Dyke

Who seeks for heaven alone to save his soul,
May keep the path, but will not reach the goal;
While he who walks in love may wander far,
Yet God will bring him where the blessed are.

Introduction

You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East, and how they traveled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem. But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man, who also saw the star in its rising, and set out to follow it, yet did not arrive with his brethren in the presence of the young child Jesus? Of the great desire of this fourth pilgrim, and how it was denied, yet accomplished in the denial; of his many wanderings and the probations of his soul; of the long way of his seeking, and the strange way of his finding, the One whom he sought—I would tell the tale as I have heard fragments of it in the Hall of Dreams, in the palace of the Heart of Man.

Part 01 - Introduction

Part 02 - The Sign in the Sky

Part 03 - By the Waters of Babylon

Part 04 - For the Sake of a little child

Part 04 - In the hidden way of sorrow

Part 05 - A pearl of a great price

Free e-versions
iTunes            - The Story of the Other Wise Man
Kindle            - The Story of the Other Wise Man
Project Gutenberg - The Story of the Other Wise Man

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Christmas - Table of Contents