Safed and Keturah: The Third Series of the Parables of Safed the Sage by William Eleazar Barton, first published in 1921, is a rare manuscript, the original residing in one of the great libraries of the world. This book is a reproduction of that original, which has been scanned and cleaned by state-of-the-art publishing tools for better readability and enhanced appreciation. Restoration Editors' mission is to bring long out of print manuscripts back to life. Some smudges, annotations or unclear text may still exist, due to permanent damage to the original work. We believe the literary significance of the text justifies offering this reproduction, allowing a new generation to appreciate it.

Beginning nearly a hundred years ago, parables of "Safed" were published by William E. Barton, in five collections spanning eight years. In these teachings, instances in everyday life were used to illustrate deeper concepts of Christian living, morality, and just plain common sense. Since we learn by comparing new experiences to those already familiar, his parabolic teaching resonated with a multitude of readers nationwide. We present this first collection once again for your reading pleasure.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... THE THREE HOLLYHOCKS NOW it came to pass on the day after the Municipal Mowing Machine had cut down the Hollyhock, that I went forth among men, and I met a man who hath much Worldly Wisdom, and my heart was heavy, and I communed with him. And I told him how I had found the Hollyhock, and had digged about it very early in the Morning, so that I did eat my Breakfast that day in the Sweat of my face, and how my Heart went out to the Hollyhock, and how I thought I should see Flowers blooming thereon, and how I returned at Night, and the Municipal Mowing Machine, which the Town had Procured, at the Request of the Civic League whereof he and I were both members, had cut down my Hollyhock, and left it to wither among the Thistles, and the Burdocks, and the Tall Grass. And he heard me, and thus he Spake: Even so is Life. There is no Law save Fate, and it Happeneth alike to the Evil and the Good. Thou hast spent Labor in Vain seeking in Thine own life to be a Hollyhock, for it is much More Fun to be a Burdock. The Blossom of the Burdock is quite as lovely as that of the Hollyhock, if thou only Thinkest so, and behold how much Farther thou Scatterest Thine Influence if thou art a Burdock than if thou art an Hollyhock. Not only dost thou Stick to people who pass, but People go out of their way, however much they Pretend the Contrary, to pick up Burrs and carry them away. And in the End, one Fate happeneth to all. The great, unseeing Municipal Mowing Machine called Fate cometh down the Concrete Walk of Time, scarring its Smooth Surface with the Calks on the Shoes of the Horses that drag the Chariot of the Inevitable, and it Cutteth down both the Good and the Evil. And who shall know, in an hundred years, whether thou wert an Hollyhock, bearing...

Safed the Sage, the famous parable-telling creation of William Eleazar Barton, emerges to dispense poignant portions of worldly wisdom. For the author, parables are an underappreciated method of tutoring others in morality, of introducing the comparisons and contrasts of life and its events, that they gain a grounding in dealing with affairs wisely and with discernment. For William Barton, gaining this insight via anecdotes is a stepping down to reflecting the condition of the heavenly kingdoms spoken about in the Christian lore. The origin of the Safed the Sage series ? which went on to span several books, that together had millions of readers in the USA and elsewhere ? is explained. Barton set about writing a modern take on old parables, wherein a man and wife travelling the country relate stories as they journey around by rail, steamboat or otherwise.