The eloquent short stories and parables of Safed the sage - a character created by author William Barton - offer moral teachings and thought-provoking vignettes of humanity. Dozens of short yet memorable stories comprise this volume, which seeks to promote the virtues and good deeds that make a life worth living. Sometimes the tales are simple observations of life, of chance encounters and choices made that goes on to make a positive difference. Other times the stories highlight the worthiness of qualities such as kindness, reassurance, listening, and rendering assistance to those in crisis or need. Many of the parables in this text, while inspired by examples found in the Bible, are unique - not least for their setting in a time where railways and electricity were already a fact of life. In all, Safed the sage is a wise and eloquent guide, using his parabolic skills to demonstrate what constitutes the eternal attributes of human decency. Sadly, in the years following the death of the author, the Safed the Sage series of books went out-of-print and became rare. Today, a modest readership is claimed thanks to both chance discovery and the memories of the elder generation who, as youngsters, recall reading and benefitting from the values placed into these little stories. It is thus with a measure of pride that the publisher commissioned these tales for reprinting anew.