The Lone Wiseman

Unlike the Lone Ranger, who first emerged in disguise after surviving a wild shootout with the Cavendish Gang, a Lone Wiseman appeared peacefully at Christmas time 63 years ago in our home. The Wiseman’s emergence was neither miraculous nor prophetic, but he became legendary never-the-less.

I was in the first grade as I recall and had saved a few cents from my allowance, which I was bent on using to purchase something for my mom for Christmas. When I spotted a set of The Three Wise Men in Palyocsik’s hardware store in town (Sidman, PA), I dejectedly realized that I didn’t have enough money to...