us.'" He bowed his satisfaction
in silence.

"'_Thy rod and thy staff_'--this also is true to life; the double
expression covers the whole round of protecting care. For the
shepherds carry a crook for guiding the sheep and a weapon suitable
for defending them, the rod and the staff; one for aiding them in
places of need along peaceful ways, the other for defense in perils
of robbers and wild beasts. This saying describes with the ease of
mastery how much those words mean, '_Thou art with me_.'

"And what shall I say of the next words, '_Thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me_'? Ah, madam, you should see the sheep cuddle near
the shepherd to understand that word, '_They comfort me_.' The
shepherd's call 'Ta-a-a-a, ho-o-o,' and the answering patter of
feet as the sheep hurry to him, are fit sounds to be chosen out of
the noisy world to show what comfort God gives to souls that heed
his voice; and those sounds have been heard in my country this day
as they were the day this shepherd psalm was written!"

He sat in silence a moment musing as if the sound were in his ear.

With quiet animation he lifted his thin hand and continued: "Now
here is where you drop the shepherd figure and put in a banquet and
so lose the fine climax of completeness in the shepherd's care."

It need not be said that we were eager listeners now, for our guest
was all aglow with memories of his far-off homeland and we felt
that we were about to see new rays of light flash from this rarest
gem in the song-treasury of the world.

"'_Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies_.'" In the same hushed voice in which he quoted these
words he added: "Ah, to think that the shepherd's highest skill and
heroism should be lost from view as the psalm begins to sing of it,
and only an indoor banquet thought of!" Again he sat a little time
in quiet. Then he said:

"The word for table here means simply 'something spread out' and so
a prepared meal, however it is set forth. There is no higher task
of the shepherd in my country than to go from time to time to study
places and examine the grass and find a good and safe feeding-place
for his sheep. All his skill and often great heroism are called
for. There are many poisonous plants in the grass and the shepherd
must find and avoid them. The sheep will not eat certain poisonous
things, but there are some which they will eat, one kind of
poisonous grass in particular. A cousin of