I picked this book up today at the thrift store and found the author had written a nice sentiment on the inside cover. I thought I would share it with you. The book was originally published in 1895. This is probably a later edition but the author died about 1930. So it’s still 100 years old.

Artaban the Medean was a Magi. While on his way to meet the others, he stopped to help an old man and missed the caravan. He had to spend one of his 3 jewels for camels and supplies to go to Bethlehem. Upon arrival he finds Joseph has left for Egypt with his family. As the soldiers come to kill all the children under 2 years of age, he uses the second of his 3 jewels to bribe them to pass the house of the woman who has given him food and shelter. Doing so saves her baby. He traveled to Egypt and spent 33 years searching for the King of the Jews. Upon visiting Jerusalem for the last time he learned that Jesus of Nazareth is being crucified. As he is going to Golgotha to attempt to ransom his life with the last of his jewels, a pearl of great price, he is approached by a girl who is being sold into slavery because of her late fathers debts. He gives the pearl to her so she can pay the debts and buy her freedom. During the earthquake when Christ died Artaban is hit in the head with a falling roof tile. Before he dies, he hears God tell him that whatever he did for the least of these, you have done to Me. In the end, the other wise man found his King.