E-text prepared by Al Haines
The Song of our Syrian Guest
by
William Allen Knight
Illustrations and Decorative Designs by Charles Copeland
1904
Psalm XXIII
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence
of mine enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life: and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord for ever.
To the hand that held the tea-balland the faces of two little maids
Salutation
Three months have gone by since this little child of my heart wentout into the world, a strayling in the scanty dress of a booklet.In that time many thousands have looked kindly on the littlewanderer and welcomed it into their homes. Letters from everywherehave come in, saying in effect: "It came to my door yesterday, andits voice has been sweet to me, and I am glad to have it stay withme." For all this I am most thankful. But it is hard to realizethat the small circle of those who loved this story a few monthsago has grown now to a multitude.
Surely none of us ought to be surprised that our story has itselfgrown under all this kindness, after the manner of children.Indeed, as we are sending it forth newly clothed, I find that it islarger by half than when I last prepared it for journeying.
I am set to wondering whether it will not grow quite away from meand have a life of its own. Healthy children do that very thingusually, and wise parents are willing to have it so.
But I cannot cease to remember that this story is out of my ownlife. It lay in my heart unborn for long. It came forth in a timeof shock and pain. There is One who knows why its face is unmarredand bright with the gladness of trust. I think God has let itspeak to so many hearts for this reason.
Go then, little story; be bearer of thy message of cheer and gladrestfulness. I cannot follow thee into lives that need to hear thyvoice; but speak thou to them, and I shall be content.
Yet I know, friends of mine, that as you look up somewhere in theworld from these pages, you will want to ask me a question.
It has been asked and answered many times already. Because I knowsome of you are in sick-rooms, some are lonely and some companionedby grief, some are poor and some for the time are misunderstood,some are discouraged and some feel themselves little loved, someare young and cannot find their way, and some are old andwayworn,—because I know all of you have need of the Shepherd'swatch, I want to answer your question. Yes, we did indeed havesuch a guest, a man whose home was among the Syrian shepherds, aman who well knew the life which rightly interprets the ShepherdPsalm.
I give my word that this story's message about the Psalm's meaningis straight from David's land. We had such a guest and he told usthese things out of the life of his people, as we sat together onenight over fragrant cups of tea.