IRLF 
 
 B 2 flSM 
 
BIRKIIEY 
 .IBRARY 
 
 MIVWSITY OF 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 FUNDA9AO 
 CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN 
 
ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
The Publishers of this Volume will issue shortly, i 
 the same Author, 
 
 Ministering- "Women ; or, LOVING COUNSELS TO 
 CHRISTIAN WORKERS, alno 
 
 Cups of Consolation, and CRUMBS OF COMFORT 
 FOR CHRIST S LITTLE CHILDREN, 
 
 ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & COMPANY, 
 
 770 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 
 
THE 
 
 ROMANCE OF MISSIONS: 
 
 OR, 
 
 INSIDE VIEWS OF LIFE AND LABOR, 
 
 LAND OF ARARAT. 
 
 BY 
 
 MARIA A. WEST, 
 
 MISSIONARY OF THE AMERICAN BOARD IN TURKEY, 
 AUTHOR OF "KEY TO OPEN THE BIBLE," AND " LOVING COUNSELS FOR THE CHRIS 
 TIAN WOMEN OF TURKEY," (IN THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE.) 
 
 WITH AN 
 
 INTRODUCTION BY MRS. CHARLES, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 THE SCHONBERG-COTTA C H R O N I C L E S," ETC., ETC. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & COMPANY, 
 
 770 BROADWAY. 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1875, BY 
 
 ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & Co. 
 
 ROBERT RUTTER, 
 
 BINDER, 
 84 SEEK. MAN STREET, N. Y. 
 
 EDWARD O. JENKINS, 
 RlXTKR A\I) KTi-:iiKnTYl ER t 
 20 NORTH WILLIAM ST., N. Y. 
 
ij (73/40 
 W5 
 5 
 
 TO 
 
 THE MINISTERING WOMEN 
 
 OF 
 
 AMERICA AND ENGLAND, 
 
 WHO, LIKE THE MARYS AND MARTHAS, THE JOANNAS AND 
 SUSANNAS OF OLD, 
 
 FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MASTER, 
 
 u MINISTERING TO HIM OF THEIR SUBSTANCE," IN PALACE BEAU 
 
 TIFUL, OR IN LOWLY COTTAGE, IN "EVERY CITY AND 
 
 VILLAGE" WHERE HE, IN THE PERSON OF HIS 
 
 DISCIPLES, IS " PREACHING AND SHOWING 
 
 THE GLAD TIDINGS OF THE KING 
 
 DOM OF GOD," 
 
 AND ESPECIALLY TO MY BELOVED FRIEND 
 
 MRS. CHRISTOPHER R . ROBERT, 
 
 OF NEW YORK, 
 
 \*HO, FOR TEN YEARS, VOLUNTARILY AND GENEROUSLY DEFRAYED 
 
 THE EXPENSES OF MY MISSIONARY LIFE, AVOIDING ALL 
 
 PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AND ONLY STIPULAT 
 
 ING THAT I SHOULD REST, WHEN WORN 
 
 AND WEARY, 
 
 THESE SKETCHES 
 
 ARE 
 
 LOVINGLY INSCRIBED. 
 
 2231 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF THE 
 
 SCHONBERG-COTTA CHRONICLES. 
 
 Miss WEST has asked me to write an introduction 
 to this record of missionary life and work in the 
 East. 
 
 If her written words touch hearts in America, as I 
 have seen her spoken words move educated women 
 among us, and a company of poor mothers in the 
 East of London, they will need no introduction from 
 any one. 
 
 But a few words of most reverent and affectionate 
 sympathy with the noble Christian work of American 
 missionaries in the East, I feel it a delight and an 
 honor to have an opportunity of giving. 
 
 I have seen and known American men and women 
 devoted to those Oriental missions, who seemed to 
 
 me to come as near to the first type and the last ideal 
 
 (7) 
 
8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of Christian life as any I liope to know ; lives laid 
 down for the Master and the brethren with such entire 
 consecration, and simplicity, and joy, that when, at 
 last, from one of these, * the life was demanded, and 
 laid down in death, w^e felt it was scarcely a fresh 
 sacrifice, but merely the natural fulfilment of all that 
 had gone before. Their motto might have been, 
 from one of the finest of our Collects, "That so they, 
 being ready in body and soul, might cheerfully accomplish 
 all that Thou ivouldcst have done." 1 1 was to no m ere con 
 troversy with external error that these lives were 
 devoted. It was to a penetration of dead words and 
 dead forms with new life. It was to a piercing of 
 consciences and kindling of hearts. It was to a bring 
 ing home of the lost and bewildered sheep not into 
 one human fold or another but to the Shepherd of 
 all the Flock of God, to the One Shepherd of the 
 One Flock in heaven and earth. 
 
 May the record of such work in these pages, do 
 as much for bewildered hearts which need it as much, 
 in America and in England. 
 
 * Rev. Augustus Walker, of Diarbekir, Mesopotamia. 
 
PREFATORY NOTE. 
 
 [FTER various futile attempts, and in spite of the dis 
 tractions and diversions occasioned by travel, mis 
 sionary work at home, and a long-continued search 
 for lost vitality, this work which was long urged upon me by 
 friends abroad, as also in my own country is now an accom 
 plished fact. 
 
 As regards its aim and scope, it will speak for itself. Had 
 it been my own work simply, to be portrayed in this volume, 
 it would never have seen the light ! 
 
 Should any be disposed to complain of a lack of ground 
 work in dates and statistics, I would with pleasure refer them 
 for the same to a recent and valuable work on the "Armenian 
 Mission," by the Rev. Dr. Anderson, former Secretary of the 
 American Board. It may, however, be well to state, in this 
 connection, that my missionary life was commenced in Con 
 stantinople, on the last day of January, 1853, when the dew of 
 youth yet "lay upon my tabernacle," and the "world was all 
 before me where to choose : " that I did not offer my services 
 to the Board, but was called to a work for which I felt unfitted, 
 which 1 had never anticipated, and would never have dared to 
 enter without hearing the Divine Command and Commission. 
 And here I may quote, as my own experience, the testimony 
 of Florence Nightingale respecting herself: "If I could give 
 
 (ix) 
 
PREFATORY NOTE. 
 
 you information of my life, it would be to show how a woman 
 of very ordinary ability has been )ed by God in strange and 
 unaccustomed paths, to do iti His service, what He Jias done in 
 Jier. And, if I could tell you all, you would see how GOD 
 HAS DONE ALT,, and 1 nothing. I have worked hard, very 
 hard, that is all ; and I HAVE NEVER REFUSED GOD ANY 
 THING !" . . . And now, in the prime of life, with re 
 newed vigor (after five years of reluctant tarrying in the land 
 of my fathers), I anticipate another campaign of missionary 
 service, of my own free choice, as the grandest, the most en 
 nobling, and inspiring ministry to which God has admitted the 
 fellowship of man ! 
 
 When the proposition to prepare these narratives for the 
 press was first made, an almost insurmountable obstacle pre 
 sented itself in the fear that such publicity, if known to our 
 Armenian converts, might seriously mar the simplicity of their 
 Christian character. This evil I have endeavored to obviate 
 by changing the names of persons now living, whose history is 
 briefly sketched in these pages. And I may add, that the 
 pictures are not intentionally embellished ; it has been my aim 
 to adhere, faithfully, to the original in each portraiture, giving 
 the very words employed by individuals, and truthfully stating 
 both sides, so far as known. 
 
 Some of the specimens of Christian manhood and woman 
 hood, shown as the result of only a few years of culture, remind 
 one of the noble fruits produced by the virgin soil of California. 
 And yet they are none the less the genuine outcome of a 
 PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY, which everyone who bears the 
 Christian name should show, as the evidence of being "rooted 
 and grounded in Christ." If Christian culture were made as 
 prominent and as thorough at home as in some favored por- 
 
PREFATORY NOTE. 
 
 tions of the foreign soil, perhaps there would be fewer barren 
 trees in the Vineyard of the Lord ! 
 
 I cannot close this allusion to home-husbandry and home- 
 piety without a word of grateful acknowledgment to those 
 warm-hearted, large-souled Christian " fathers and mothers, 
 brothers and sisters," in whose homes, and by whose encour 
 agement and sympathy, this work has been wrought out. Nor 
 can I forget the friends of Christ in England and Scotland, 
 who, when I was too exhausted to reach my native shores, 
 and sadly needing the ministry of love, received the "American 
 Missionary" as one of their very own, in many a home of the 
 rarest refinement, culture, and elegance, and by many a cheer 
 ful fireside whose memory still warms my heart ! 
 
 The abiding hope that the Master would use this offspring 
 of much prayer and faith to advance His own Cause and 
 Kingdom in the earth, and thus redeem the years which, after 
 ,1 life of such active service, seemed running to waste, has made 
 the otherwise tedious and toilsome work of preparation a 
 health-giving, soul inspiring labor of love ! And to Him, by 
 whose aid alone it has been completed, I now commit it, with 
 humble confidence that He will "prosper it in that whereunto 
 it is sent." M. A \V. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 I. BARDEZAG 3 
 
 II. ADABAZAR . . 33 
 
 III. NICOMEDIA 107 
 
 IV. CONSTANTINOPLE 157 
 
 V. HASSKEUY 161 
 
 VI. THE TRAINING-SCHOOL . .. . . . .179 
 
 VII. TRANSFERRED . 222 
 
 VIII. THE END . , . . ., * . . 245 
 IX. REGIONS BEYOND . . . . . . .264 
 
 X. HARPOOT .... .*... 370 
 
 XI. EDEN ........... 404 
 
 XII. DlARBEKIR 488 
 
 XIII. SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA . . .554 
 
 (13) 
 
li BUT THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, SAY NOT, I AM 
 
 A CHILD ; FOR THOU SHALT GO TO ALL THAT I SHALL 
 SEND THEE, AND WHATSOEVER I COMMAND THEE, 
 THOU SHALT SPEAK :" " FOR GOD HATH CHOSEN 
 THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND 
 THE WISE; AND GOD HATH CHOSEN THE WEAK 
 THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND THE THINGS 
 WHICH ARE MIGHTY; AND BASE THINGS OF THE 
 WORLD, AND THINGS WHICH ARE DESPISED, HATH 
 GOD CHOSEN, YEA, AND THINGS WHICH ARE NOT, TO 
 BRING TO NOUGHT THINGS THAT ARE: THAT NO 
 FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HlS PRESENCE." 
 
THE 
 
 ROMANCE OF MISSIONS, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BARDEZAG. 
 
 ," said young preacher Hohannes, as he 
 seated himself on the divan by my side, " I have 
 come to talk with you about a very important 
 matter. You see how much work there is to be done for 
 the women of this village; and according to the customs of 
 our country, it is impossible for me to go out and in among 
 the families, and labor as you have done, during the weeks 
 of your stay among us. None but a woman can do it ; and 
 therefore I wish you to give me Iskoohi, to be my help-mate 
 in work for Christ." 
 
 The proposition was a great surprise, and I answered the 
 young man with a decided negative : " Iskoohi is my assist 
 ant in the school at Constantinople ; she has been carefully 
 trained for her work, and there is no one else of her maturity 
 of character, and piety, to fill the place. I cannot spare 
 her." But my reply only served to increase his earnestness, 
 and the young preacher urged his suit with so much vigor 
 
 (3) 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and native eloquence, that I finally compromised by con 
 senting to leave the decision with the maiden herself. 
 
 "And you will ask her to be my wife?" Hohannes said, 
 as he was preparing to leave, with a very satisfied look on 
 his face. This was new business for me, and I exclaimed at 
 his presumption : " That is asking too much, Hohannes ! 
 you are trying to rob me, and will take my hand to per 
 form the deed!" "Yes," he replied, with a merry twinkle 
 in his eye, " I suppose that is what you left America for to 
 provide Christian wives for us young preachers !" An argu 
 ment which could not be gainsayed. 
 
 Calling Iskoohi to my room, I placed the matter before 
 her, in all its bearings. She was sitting by the table, and as 
 I proceeded, rested her head upon her hands, but made no 
 response. Very reluctantly, I asked the important question 
 "Wilt thou go with this man ?" and waited, in siknce, and 
 with an anxious heart, her answer. At last, she softly whis 
 pered, " Just as you please. " The scale had turned against me, 
 and Hohannes had won. the prize ! Then, lifting her blush 
 ing face, Iskoohi said, " Teacher, you know that I am nine 
 teen years of age, which is considered very old in our coun 
 try. My friends have long persecuted me because I did not 
 marry. They say it is a shame, and a disgrace to the family. 
 I wished to give myself wholly to the work of the Lord, as 
 you have done ; but perhaps I can serve him in this way." 
 
 This was the closing experience of a few weeks visit, and 
 work among the women, in the village of Bardezag " little 
 garden " situated on a sunny slope of one of the mountains 
 of Bithynia, ten miles south of Nicomedia, and about sixty 
 miles south-east of Constantinople. It had never occurred 
 to me that " match-making " would be one of the require- 
 
I3AKDEZAG. 5 
 
 ments of a missionary teacher, in a country where the 
 mothers arrange all the preliminaries of marriage a business 
 mostly performed in the public baths and at church ! But 
 an abundant after -experience brought more knowledge, if 
 not facility, in the novel task, until, greatly to my relief, the 
 young theologues were permitted to do the courting for 
 themselves ! In due time, Hohannes and Iskoohi were 
 united, and that first experiment proved a complete success. 
 
 AMOOJA. 
 
 Among the most pleasing incidents of my visit to that 
 " mountain garden," was an acquaintance with Amooja, the 
 first Protestant of the place ; a noble-looking, patriarchal 
 Armenian, whose benign countenance, and long white beard 
 falling over his breast, with head crowned by a snowy tur 
 ban, and flowing garments confined at the waist by an ample 
 girdle, made me think that " Father Abraham " must have 
 presented very much such an appearance. He saluted me 
 with all the courtliness and polish which marks the Oriental, 
 to which was added the warmth of a Christian heart. With 
 glowing face, and easy flow of words, he told me in his own 
 language the story of his conversion to pure Christianity ; 
 and I listened with intense interest to the thrilling recital. 
 " You must know, Varzhoohi (teacher), that ours is a purely 
 Armenian village, of about a thousand houses. There are 
 no Turks or Greeks living among us. As a people, we 
 have little to do with the outside world, and we are very much 
 devoted to our Church and faith. Some years ago, we learned 
 that Protestantism (that, as we supposed, vile emanation from 
 Satan) had entered the city of Nicomedia. The chief men 
 of the place, of whom I was one, bound themselves by an 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 oath to keep it out of our village, or, if need be, to drive it 
 out by the sword. But God is stronger than Satan, and 
 truth than the strong man armed. My son-in-law was a 
 traveling merchant ; returning from one of his journeys, he 
 brought a little book which had in some way fallen into his 
 possession. Not being a reader, he gave me the tract, which 
 I read, in ignorance of its source. It was entitled, Light 
 of the Soul ; and, truly, it brought light to my dark soul ! I 
 saw myself a lost sinner, but I also saw the Saviour, who 
 came to seek and save the lost, and accepted Him with great 
 joy. Then I was sure that this was from the Protestant 
 missionaries, concerning whom I had believed so many lies. 
 Wishing to see how it would affect another, I carried the 
 precious leaves to an intimate friend, who was also a reader, 
 and he likewise accepted the truth. We were both hungry 
 for more knowledge of this new way, and secretly sought an 
 interview with Pastor Harooteun of Nicomedia. From him 
 we obtained a copy of the New Testament, in our spoken 
 language (in place of the ancient Armenian version used 
 in the churches). Finding, after a time, that our visits to 
 him could not be continued, we induced Pastor Resur 
 rection to meet us on the Sabbath - days, in caves, or 
 secluded glens among the mountains, that he might more 
 perfectly instruct us in the truth. And I, being somewhat 
 deaf, used to lean upon his breast, as did the beloved disci 
 ple upon the bosom of our Saviour, that I might drink in 
 every word ; for I hungered and thirsted for the Bread and 
 the Water of Life ! After a time, our friends suspected that 
 we were straying from the fold, and came out with sticks and 
 stones to find and punish us. For this reason, we repeatedly 
 changed our place of meeting. At last, my conscience was 
 
BARDEZAG. 
 
 thoroughly aroused, and I said to my friend, I must come 
 out, and confess Christ. It is like a fire shut up in my 
 bones ! I can no longer keep silence ! Very well, he 
 replied, you know what the consequence will be. I 
 know, I answered, but I can no longer deny my Saviour. 
 The next day, I came out boldly in the market-place, and 
 openly proclaimed the fact that I had become a Protestant, 
 a follower of Jesus, rather than of the Virgin Mary. Im 
 mediately the crowd set upon me with stones and clubs, and 
 anything within reach. I fled to the house of a brother-in- 
 law, who was one of the head men of the place, and he said, 
 * I will protect you this time, but you must never look to me 
 again, unless you come back to the Church. 
 
 " After various endeavors to induce me to recant, they put 
 me in a church-office, the more effectually to shut my mouth. 
 This for a time succeeded, for how could I preach Christ 
 when serving the superstitions of our old Church ? But I re 
 membered that the Master said, He that is not with Me, is 
 against Me. Conscience spoke more loudly than ever, and 
 after a brief space, I threw up the office, proclaiming more 
 boldly than before the truth of the blessed Gospel ; and it 
 seemed very strange to me that, whereas once when I, as a 
 ringleader, proposed any wickedness, my companions would 
 clap me on the shoulder, and say, Well done ! we are with 
 you, now they scorned to go with me in a good way. One 
 day, while at work in my vineyard, the young men banded 
 together and commenced stoning me violently. * Stone 
 away ! I said to them ; * I deserve it, for I denied my Saviour ; 
 but know that these stones will become the foundation of the 
 Church of Christ in this place ! They left me insensible on 
 the ground, thinking me dead ; and when I recovered con- 
 
8 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 sciousncss, I gathered as many of the stones as I could 
 carry, and took them to my house; and, varzhoohi, he 
 continued, while his eyes kindled with the glow of his soul, 
 I have them now, and when our chapel is built they will be 
 placed in the foundation. : 
 
 THE CHAPEL, 
 
 It was on a Saturday evening in July, but a few hours 
 after my arrival at the village in the mountains, when I 
 listened to this interesting story. The next morning, I 
 entered the rude place of worship adjoining the house oc 
 cupied by the missionary family but recently stationed at 
 Bardezag, who were newly learning the language. A strange 
 scene met my gaze in that long, narrow room ; eighty or a 
 hundred people were seated upon the floor, which was cov 
 ered with coarse matting the men on one side, and the 
 women on the other, with a sprinkling of children between. 
 Unlike most of their Eastern sisters, these village women 
 were unveiled, their head - dress resembling that of the 
 Greeks. The short jacket, partly open in front, and full 
 trowsers of blue cloth falling over the ankle, and confined 
 by a girdle at the waist, was very similar to the dress 
 worn by the men. Some of the older women wore long 
 bib - aprons of blue cotton, covered with white figures in 
 strange devices, somewhat similar to Masonic aprons. A 
 few of the older men retained the turban, but the larger 
 number wore the more modern " fez " (a red felt cap with 
 blue tassel) for a head-covering, which was never removed 
 except during prayer. Many of the young girls had gold or 
 silver coin, and some even shells and beads woven among 
 
BARDEZAG. 
 
 the braids of their long dark hair, which fell loosely over 
 their shoulders. 
 
 The dingy mud walls, and small windows, gave a sombre 
 look to the place, which had been enlarged by taking down 
 a partition-wall, and throwing two small rooms into one a 
 very common proceeding among missionaries in commenc 
 ing their work in a new place. An " upper room " is usually 
 secured, and when it becomes necessary to enlarge their 
 borders, an adjoining apartment is taken in by removing the 
 wall ; as the congregation increases, another wall comes 
 down, till there are no more rooms to be thus appropriated. 
 In Airitab, where the ground-floor was used, the end wall 
 was finally knocked out, and, as one of the missionaries said, 
 " All out-doors let in ! " And this we call, " Church Exten 
 sion ! " A striking emblem of other " partition walls " which 
 are also being broken down by the Gospel of Love, and 
 vital union in Christ. " For He is our peace, who hath 
 made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of 
 partition between us." 
 
 The service was conducted with much solemnity and 
 earnestness by a graduate of the Mission Seminary at Con 
 stantinople. When the hymn was given out, the people 
 united in singing with spirit, if not with "understanding," 
 for the tune was unlike anything I had ever before heard. 
 Such Turkish trills and quavers, now soaring high and quiver 
 ing in the upper air, till one imagined they would lose them 
 selves; then suddenly dropping to a deep, guttural base, with 
 a dead pause at the end of each line. After listening in 
 tently to the singing of three verses, my ear caught a 
 familiar strain, and wonderingly recognized " Old Hun 
 dred." 
 
10 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 A WALK THROUGH THE VILLAGE. 
 
 Monday morning was spent in surveying the place, and 
 calling upon some of the Protestant families with my mis 
 sionary sister, Mrs. Parsons. As we passed through the nar 
 row streets of the compactly-built village, I was struck with 
 the primitive life of the people. Women and children were 
 pattering about over the rough stones with bare feet, or clat 
 tering in wooden clogs, and most of their household employ 
 ments seemed to be carried on in the open thoroughfare. 
 Here and there were groups washing, or cooking, over fires 
 built in the middle of the street. At one side, two women, 
 were beating out flax with heavy flails ; at another corner, 
 two more were pounding grain for family use, in the huge 
 stone mortar belonging to the village, each in turn dealing a 
 blow with her ponderous pestle; and the air resounded with 
 their vigorous strokes. In the door-ways sat elderly matrons 
 knitting, or busily plying the distaff and spindle ; and, oc 
 casionally, a portly dame was occupied in bathing her own 
 portion of the " rising generation," which swarmed at every 
 step. Sixteen or eighteen children was a not uncommon 
 family for a middle aged woman ; but in every such household, 
 eight or ten probably the weaker ones had died in infancy. 
 
 The people had turned themselves out of the best portion 
 of their mud dwellings to accommodate the dainty silk 
 worms ; and in not a few houses we found persons prostrate 
 with malarial fever, lying upon couches spread on the ground, 
 in dark, damp courts or passage-ways; and the air was heavy 
 with effluvia from decaying vegetable or animal matter. 
 Our progress was not infrequently interrupted by a fresh 
 flood of water emptied from washing-troughs, or other de- 
 
BARDEZAG. 1 1 
 
 posits, made in the pathways by the busy housewives ; and 
 a gory stream which swelled the tide, betokened the recent 
 slaughter of some animal in the public square. Although 
 but a day s journey from the Capital, very few of these sim 
 ple-minded villagers had ever traveled beyond the boun 
 daries of their mountain home. The product of their fields 
 and flocks, and the labor of their hands sufficed for most of 
 their few wants ; and their traffic with the outer world was 
 usually carried on by agents, who came at intervals to pur 
 chase their home manufactures. 
 
 Knowing little of life beyond their own sphere, and con 
 tent to jog on in the " good old ways of their forefathers," 
 they were wholly guiltless of any modern device to evade 
 the primal curse. Of " labor-saving machines " they had 
 never heard ; and the follies and fashions, the changes and 
 upheavals of the great outside world, affected them no more 
 than the angry roar and breaking waves of old ocean, the 
 rugged rocks of some island shore. 
 
 Their houses, built of mud and sticks, were mostly two- 
 story, unplastered and unpainted, with small windows filled 
 with oiled paper in the winter season ; the furniture con 
 sisting of a low divan, a few pieces of carpeting or matting ; 
 their beds of wool or cotton piled up in a corner during the 
 day, and spread upon the floor at night, the entire family 
 camping down in one room, and all eating from one dish 
 upon the wooden or copper tray, placed a little above the 
 ground. Trees were abundant and vegetation rank, for 
 frequent rains fell among the mountains, when the hill-sides 
 of Constantinople were parched and burning with the sum 
 mer heat, causing the public fountains to fail, and creating 
 great distress among the poor. 
 
12 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 The people generally had such a hearty, independent, 
 satisfied air, that one could only desire to infuse the spirit of 
 a pure Christianity which should leaven the whole mass, and 
 bring in its train the blessings of a true civilization. 
 
 Our appearance among them excited not a little curiosity, 
 and many a woman paused in her work, and stood with arms 
 akimbo as she gazed upon us, while the children were not 
 slow to manifest their sense of our presence by noisy ejacu 
 lations, and rude staring, as they gathered in our pathway. 
 But we were cordially greeted by the few women belonging 
 to the Protestant community, and a number of others prom 
 ised to come to the meeting in the afternoon. 
 
 THE MOTHERS MEETING, 
 
 At the appointed time, forty women gathered in the 
 chapel and sat at my feet while I read to them the story of 
 the woman of Samaria, and in simple language, as to chil 
 dren, tried to unfold the " Glad Tidings " of a Saviour for 
 poor, sinful woman. The " old, old story " was new to many 
 of them, and it was touching to see their interest. As one 
 and another bent forward in her eagerness to catch every 
 word, the big tears gathered and rolled down many a fur 
 rowed face, and dropped, dropped, unheeded on the floor. 
 And I realized more fully than ever before, the blessedness 
 of the missionary work ; the high honor and sacred privilege 
 of following in the footsteps of Him who " came, not to be 
 ministered unto, but to minister." Suddenly, one of the 
 women burst out with the question, " Varzhoohi, have you a 
 mother ? " " C), yes ! a blessed mother," I answered- " Can 
 she read ? " asked another. " Yes, indeed ; she learned to 
 read when only four years old, and she also writes; sending 
 many precious letters to her far-away daughter." "But how 
 
BARDEZAG. 13 
 
 could she give you up to go so far away ? " was the next 
 query. " Because she loves you so much. She prays for 
 you every day," I said. " Now listen, and I will tell you all 
 about it." New interest lighted up some hitherto stolid 
 countenances as I told them of that saintly mother how 
 she loved Jesus, and trained her children for Him, and found 
 in her Bible and prayer, blessed comfort and support in her 
 widowhood, and the loss of three of her sons; that when 
 the call came for me to leave all and go to a strange country 
 in obedience to the great command " Go ye into all the 
 world, and preach the Gospel to every creature," she said, 
 though with many tears, " My child, I gave you to God 
 in infancy, and if He calls I cannot withhold you. If one 
 soul is saved through your instrumentality, it will repay me 
 for the sacrifice I make in giving you up." This brief his 
 tory of a mother, a woman like, and yet so unlike, them 
 selves, touched a chord which vibrated in the hearts of these 
 simple children of nature ; one and another nodded to her 
 neighbor, wonderingly, as if to say, " What love is this ? If 
 she so cares for us, how ought we to care for ourselves." 
 And then, it was easy and delightful to turn their attention 
 to that greater Love, which spared not " His only begotten 
 and well-beloved Son." Iskoohi offered a fervent prayer, 
 and the meeting was closed ; but the women lingered and 
 gathered around me for a few more words. As they were 
 slowly leaving, one of the more aged turned back, and throw 
 ing her arms around me, exclaimed, " You are an angel sent 
 from God to teach us ! " And again I thanked God for the 
 privilege of breaking the bread of life to those starving 
 souls. Ah ! Love was the golden key which had opened 
 those hearts ; the most potent force in the universe. 
 
14 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 THE SINGING-SCHOOL. 
 
 While we were seated at the tea-table that evening, Mr. 
 Parsons was called away, but soon returned with smiling 
 face, to say that a delegation had come from the men to ask 
 if they could be admitted to the singing-school appointed for 
 the women. That men were willing to be taught by &woman 
 was an unheard-of thing in Turkey, and that women should 
 have privileges in which their " lords and masters " beg 
 ged to share, was indeed turning the tables. For, not con 
 tent with ordinary restrictions, as sufficient to keep the 
 " weaker vessel " in her proper place, the authorities of the 
 village had framed a law like that of the Medes and Persians, 
 forbidding any woman to go to Church till she was the 
 mother of two children. This request betokened a fresh rent 
 in the ancient walls of pride and prejudice, prophetic of 
 their final overthrow. So we said to the men, " You may 
 come, if you will behave as well as the women." The permis 
 sion was joyfully received ; and a few moments later, when 
 we stooped to pass through a low door cut in the mud wall, 
 we found a numerous company of men, women, and children, 
 quietly seated in the chapel, ready for their first singing- 
 lesson. After an appropriate prayer, the black-board was 
 suspended and the musical scale written upon it, while every 
 movement was curiously watched by the crowd. I told them 
 that I was going to teach them the A B C of music, and soon 
 all were engaged in repeating, in concert, the to them 
 strange syllables,- keeping time by swaying the body back 
 and forth, as in Turkish schools. When the sounds were 
 given they seemed much amused ; but in a moment or two, 
 were singing with all their might, and with much evident en- 
 
BARDEZAG. 1 5 
 
 joyment. A little drilling on " Old Hundred," proved that 
 it was far easier to teach new methods than to reform the 
 old. When it was correctly sung for them, they saw the dif 
 ference, and one of the men who was spokesman for the rest, 
 said, " Varzhoohi, we have never had any one to teach us. 
 We have picked up all we know of Gospel-singing, second 
 hand, from some Protestant brother passing through the 
 place ; and we shall be very thankful if you will teach us." 
 A little more of patient drilling, line by line, and they sang 
 a verse of " Old Hundred " correctly, greatly to their de 
 light ; and then commenced learning a new tune, of light, 
 rapid movement, and pleasing melody. But we took no 
 note of time, and the evening was rapidly passing, when, 
 during a pause in the exercise, I heard one woman say to 
 another, " We must go home ; you know we have had no din 
 ner." "What! did you not eat before coming? " I asked, 
 knowing that the evening repast was the principal meal of 
 the day, and often the only cooked meal among Orientals. 
 " No," they answered, " it was late when we came home from 
 the fields ; so we gave the children a piece, and left the din 
 ner stewing over the coals." "Very well; then of course 
 you will go home." " What s all this ? " said some of the 
 men, catching a few words of the conversation, and approach 
 ing the corner. " We can get dinner any day, but we can t 
 get Singing-school ! " So said the majority; and while a few 
 mothers went home with their younger children, the rest re 
 mained, and sang away with unabated freshness and zeal. 
 Their enthusiasm was inspiring. But by-and-by, my voice 
 began to show signs of giving out, although the melodeon 
 had been brought in to aid in guiding their vigorous, but 
 untrained voices. Mr. Parsons looked at his watch, and 
 
1 6 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 exclaimed, " Do you know it is almost eleven o clock ! These 
 people would stay till midnight if we would let them ! " 
 So I said to them, " Pavagand ; zJiamanagd doon yertaloo " 
 it is sufficient ; it is time to go home. But no one moved. 
 " Why do they not go ? " I inquired. " O ! " said Mr. Par 
 sons, with a pleased look, " these Protestants have a way 
 of beginning and ending everything with prayer ; and they 
 are waiting for that." Preacher Hohannes was asked to 
 close the exercises, and he devoutly gave thanks for the 
 privilege of learning to sing God s praises on earth ; after 
 which, the people quickly dispersed. Standing by the open 
 windows, we listened to the echoes coming back, as the 
 various groups ascended the steep streets, singing all the 
 way to their homes ; and never did the " Do, ra, me, fa, sol, 
 la, si, do," sound so sweetly. " O ! " said sister Sarah, " if 
 mother could only have been here this evening ! " 
 
 GOSPEL SOWING AND REAPING. 
 
 The next morning we sallied forth again, to see more of 
 the people in their homes, that we might the better learn how 
 to adapt ourselves to them ; going first to a Protestant house. 
 The small upper room was soon filled by those who had fol 
 lowed us, and others stood in the door-way, one head peer 
 ing over another. Our hostess was poor, having neither 
 cushion or divan, but she spread a piece of carpet for us on 
 the floor, in one corner, and brought the Bible and hymn- 
 book. The women were all very attentive and quiet, while 
 a chapter of our Lord s teaching was read and explained ; 
 looking through the low window at my side, I sa\v the neigh 
 bors collected at their open casements, and listening, across 
 the narrow street ! The morning was spent in this way a 
 
BAUDEZAG. I/ 
 
 sort of " protracted meeting ; " the women frequently follow 
 ing us from one house to another. 
 
 No notice was given of a meeting in the chapel for that 
 afternoon, for we had not expected to hold one every day ; 
 but greatly to our surprise and delight, sixty women presented 
 themselves at the hour the meeting of the day previous 
 had been held. This state of things continued, with in 
 creasing interest, from day to day, week after week ; and yet 
 there was no excitement ; it was a deep, still current which 
 bore us onward, out of and beyond ourselves : For " the 
 Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." 
 
 One day, when passing through the village with Iskoohi 
 who was a welcome guest among the Protestant families 
 -we were startled to hear Amooja s clear, strong voice ringing 
 like a trumpet, with no uncertain sound, through all the 
 thoroughfares : " Come, all ye women ! Come to the chapel 
 and hear the woman-preacher ! " This was a new thing for 
 any country. Was it an inspiration ? There were fully one 
 hundred present that afternoon ; and another day, when we 
 were told that new women were coming from a distant quar 
 ter, the chapel proved too small for the gathering. Some sat 
 in the windows, and others stood outside, that hot summer 
 day, and listened, for the first time, to the Gospel message. 
 
 What a picture that company presented ! All ages and 
 classes were represented ; there were hard, coarse, repulsive 
 faces, upon which the soul, long given up to the sway of evil 
 passions, had left its photograph ; others, worn with many 
 years of burden-bearing, yet not lacking in strength of char 
 acter, and a certain degree of natural refinement. There were 
 mothers with infants in their arms, and children of a larger 
 growth by their side ; and scattered among the crov/d, here 
 
1 8 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and there, were youthful brides, and young girls, whose 
 bright hazel eyes, and blooming faces, were very pleasant to 
 look upon. It was such a company, doubtless, as Jesus 
 often looked upon during His ministry on earth : And His 
 teachings so simple, and rich in illustration never seemed 
 to me so precious, as when attempting to instruct those poor, 
 ignorant sisters. 
 
 Putting myself in their place, and telling the story of the 
 cross in their mother-tongue, it seemed clothed with wonder 
 ful freshness, beauty, and power. It was almost like hearing 
 it for the first time ! verifying the promise, " He that watereth 
 shall be watered also himself." I noticed, on that occasion, 
 a large boy, who sat in one corner, and seemed interested. 
 Mrs. Parsons said that he had quietly slipped into a former 
 meeting. I spoke to him, at the close of the exercises, and 
 immediately the women began to tell me what a wicked boy 
 he was ; how he blasphemed, and threw stones at them on 
 the way to the chapel, he, meanwhile, standing by, shrug 
 ging his shoulders, but saying nothing. After a little talk 
 about Christ s coming to " call sinners, and not the righteous, 
 to repentance," I told them the story of Morrison after 
 wards missionary to China. The boy s face brightened, and 
 he promised to come again. At another time, I was talking 
 to the mothers about training their children, and referred to 
 Hannah, the mother of Samuel. " What s that ? " asked one 
 of the women. fi What ! have you never heard that beauti 
 ful Bible story ? " Instantly everyone gave her head that 
 peculiar toss, with a negative elevation of the eyebrows, and 
 audible touch of the tongue to the roof of the mouth, so 
 common among the Eastern races. One of the three women 
 belonging to the Bardezag (evangelical) church of ten mem- 
 
BARDEZAG. IQ 
 
 bers, explained the reason of this ignorance : " Only three 
 or four of us have learned to read ; we have spelled out a 
 few chapters in the New Testament, and that is all we know." 
 
 These women were quite young, and more tidy in their 
 personal appearance than the others, and the love existing 
 between them was very marked. Having frequently noticed 
 an infant, tended and caressed by each of them, I finally 
 asked which was the mother. " O, this is the only little 
 one we sisters have among us; and it belongs to us all" was 
 the reply. The Protestant women frequently told me how 
 bitterly opposed they were at first; how, when their hus 
 bands became Protestants, they persecuted them in every 
 possible way, even locking the doors, and keeping them out 
 of their own homes for months. 
 
 After careful inquiry, we found but six women who could 
 read, of all the hundreds in that village. They were taught 
 by two small boys who attended the day-school. 
 
 SINGING THE GOSPEL. 
 
 Some of the women, who attended the afternoon meetings, 
 frequently begged for a singing-lesson at the close, because, 
 they said, their homes were so far away, that they could not 
 come in the evening. The Friday evening lectures, on 
 "Scripture characters," by preacher Hohannes, were very 
 instructive and interesting ; but when the hour was finished, 
 the brethren and sisters never failed to petition for their 
 singing-school ! 
 
 Our argument, that one meeting should certainly suffice 
 for an evening, did not satisfy them. They were "afraid 
 they should forget much that they had learned, when the 
 teacher went away." 
 
20 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 The Armenians somewhat resemble the Germans, in their 
 fondness for music, and gospel-singing is a power in Turkey ! 
 The hymns and tunes sung in the fields and vineyards by 
 the Protestants, are frequently caught by those who are 
 strangers to the truth, and can be reached in no other way. 
 Many a poor, weak " brother," who cannot preach, can sing 
 for Jesus j and in this simple way, saving truth is often car 
 ried, like winged seed, and lodged in the clefts of hitherto 
 cold and barren hearts. 
 
 At Aintab, where the Sunday-school work has had unpre 
 cedented success, with 1,200 adults and children in regular 
 attendance, at the Mission chapel, one of the indirect results 
 is sometimes seen in the crowded thoroughfares of the city, in 
 the shape of a veritable little Arab, all rags and dirt, sitting 
 astride a loaded donkey, and singing, in Turkish, at the top 
 of his shrill voice, " I want to be an angel ! " 
 
 It is interesting to recall the fact that this delightful fea 
 ture of modern Missionary work is but the reproduction of 
 a custom which had wonderful power over the early Chris 
 tians. " Go where you will," says Jerome, " the ploughman 
 at his plough sings his joyful hallelujahs, the busy mower re 
 gales himself with his psalms, and the vine-dresser is singing 
 one of the songs of David. Such are our songs our love 
 songs, as they are called the solace of the shepherd in his 
 solitude, and the husbandman in his toil." " In their songs 
 of Zion, both old and young, men and women, bore a part." 
 Such is the testimony of Hilary, A.D. 355. Ambrose re 
 marks that the injunction of the apostle, forbidding women to 
 speak in public, relates not to singing, " for this is delightful 
 in every age, and suited to every sex." And Chrysostom says, 
 " The young and the old, rich and poor, male and female, bond 
 
BARDEZAG. 21 
 
 and free, all join in one song. All worldly distinctions here 
 cease, and the whole congregation form one general chorus." 
 
 At a later period, when the church was fast losing its 
 characteristic simplicity and purity, those rude and solemn 
 airs, and spiritual hymns, which so stirred the hearts of the 
 people, and kept alive the greatest truths of religion, were 
 exchanged for " heathen melodies," concerning which device 
 of Satan, one of these church fathers writes, " Not with the 
 voice, but with the heart, we sing praises to God not like 
 the comedians should they raise their sweet and liquid notes 
 to entertain the assembly with theatrical songs and melodies 
 in the church ; but the fear of God, piety, and the knowledge 
 of the Scriptures should inspire our songs. Then would not 
 the voice of the singers, but the utterance of the divine 
 word, expel the evil spirit from those who like Saul are pos 
 sessed with it. But instead of this, that same spirit is invited 
 rather to the possession of those who have converted the 
 house of God into a pagan theatre." Finally, the more effec 
 tually to exclude the people from participation, the singing 
 was in Latin.* 
 
 VENTURING INTO THE ENEMY S CAMP, 
 One of the brethren who lived at the extremity of the 
 village, surrounded by neighbors hostile to the Protestants, 
 was very anxious that his wife should be persuaded to come to 
 the chapel, and begged us to visit her. We asked some of our 
 Protestant women to escort us, but no one was willing to go ; 
 they expressed great surprise that we should venture into 
 that quarter, saying, " You have no idea how bitter they are 
 against us. You will certainly be stoned, and very likely 
 
 *. Coleman s Primitive Church. 
 
22 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 meet with other abuse ! " Finally, seeing that " none of 
 these things moved us," they ceased trying to dissuade us, 
 and one of the bravest consented to go also, though with 
 much trembling and many fears. We found that neighbor 
 hood unusually quiet. The " lions mouths " were all " shut," 
 and we went on our way without a single affront, greatly to 
 the astonishment of the good sister. 
 
 The mother of the husband met us at the door, on our 
 arrival, and received us politely ; but it was some time before 
 the wife made her appearance, and then with much apparent 
 timidity. For a while she was silent, taking no part in the 
 conversation, which was principally concerning household 
 matters, and the customs of our respective countries. But 
 when we noticed the neatness of the house, and praised the 
 finely-spun skeins of silk suspended upon the walls of the 
 room where we were sitting, our appreciation of her handi 
 work seemed to have a mollifying effect ; her face brightened, 
 she brought some still finer silk from another room, and be 
 gan to talk, in answer to our inquiries. It was evident, 
 from the appearance of the two, that very amicable relations 
 existed between mother-in-law and " bride," as the Armenians 
 call the son s wife. The latter did not hesitate to speak in 
 the presence of her mother-in-law, who, according to Eastern 
 custom, is the mistress of the house- When the sons marry, 
 they bring their wives home, and the mother-in-law generally 
 rules them with a rod of iron. They are not allowed to 
 speak in her presence till she grants permission, which is 
 sometimes delayed for many years ! In some cases, the 
 mother-in-law dies before lifting the heavy yoke of im 
 posed silence. The sceptre is then taken up by the wife of 
 the eldest son, who, very likely, acts the part of " Re- 
 
BARDEZAG. 23 
 
 hoboam," as a sort of compensation for her long and bitter 
 bondage. But, who shall say, henceforth, that woman can 
 not bide in silence ? 
 
 By degrees, the bride s face softened, and her manner 
 changed from the cold, formal stiffness she had at first main 
 tained, to a genial warmth. The ice was at last melted, and 
 she naively exclaimed, " Why, you are just like other people / " 
 " Of course we are ; what did you suppose we were like ? " I 
 laughingly asked. " O !" she replied, " I did not know exactly, 
 but imagined everything horrible, and feared that you would 
 work some Satanic spell or charm over me, so that I 
 would be unable to resist your influence." We had a hearty 
 laugh over the absurd stories with which her neighbors had 
 filled her ears, and she seemed satisfied that they were fabri 
 cations, invented to keep people away from the Protestants. 
 The " charm " was Christian love. She gave us a half-prom 
 ise that she v, r ould learn to read, and accompany her husband 
 to the chapel, to see and hear for herself; and we parted 
 with much cordiality. 
 
 SEED B Y THE WA YSIDE. 
 
 Another day, two of the Christian sisters accompanied me 
 to the house of a sick woman ; it was toward evening, and 
 after a brief visit, we went to another house. As usual, the 
 neighbors began to drop in ; among them were three women 
 from a village in the mountains beyond, who had come to 
 Bardezag on business, and happened to be present during 
 our call at the other house. As they entered the room, 
 some one said, " Why, we thought you were in haste to go to 
 your homes ?" " The sun is still high," they answered ; " we 
 will go after a little." They had evidently come to hear more 
 
24 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 of what was new to them. While I was speaking about glori 
 fying God in all our works and ways, one of these women 
 interrupted me with the question, " But how can I glorify 
 God, or serve Him, when I must be in the fields at work all 
 day ? " After explaining, by a simple story, that it is the 
 spirit in which we perform our daily tasks, that pleases and 
 honors our Father in heaven, I tried, again, to make 
 the way of salvation through Christ so plain to these souls, 
 that if they never heard more, it would be sufficient to lead 
 them to Him. They were but grown-up children, like all 
 their country-women, unable to take in much at a time. 
 
 One truth, simplified, and illustrated from every-day life, 
 and held up in various aspects, was all that their minds 
 could grasp. 
 
 As the sun was sinking behind the mountains of Bithynia, 
 those three women wended their way homeward, carrying 
 with them the seeds of a new life, whose results none may 
 know, till the " Day shall declare " all things. It was work fit 
 for an angel s employ, but heavy with the weight of eternity. 
 
 Meanwhile, two letters were received from the Nicomedia 
 church, complaining that they were passed by, like the cities 
 of Samaria, while their " little sister " was enjoying such a 
 refreshing visitation. They pleaded their claims of seniority 
 and superiority, and urged immediate attention on our part. 
 
 Accordingly, a day was appointed, and I rode over one 
 morning, a distance of ten miles, on horseback, accompanied 
 by Mr. Parsons. An hour or two was spent in resting, and 
 visiting with one of the families, after our arrival, and at 
 noon, the meeting was held, in the city which was once the 
 favorite residence of Roman Emperors. There was a good 
 ly attendance of " sisters " at the commodious chapel, but 
 
BARDEZAG. 25 
 
 we were obliged to deny admittance to a number of the 
 " brethren," who wished to come in and listen to the ex 
 ercises. 
 
 Although the women were attentive, and seemed interest 
 ed, I missed the moral magnetism which pervaded the atmos 
 phere of our gatherings at Bardezag. Perhaps the Nico- 
 medians were already beginning to be Gospel-hardened ; or, 
 more likely, the Holy Spirit was not working in their midst, 
 as in the village ; for, when God works, it matters little how 
 feeble the instrument employed to gather in the harvest of 
 souls. Many invitations were pressed upon us by the people 
 to stay and spend a few days with them ; but an injunction 
 had been laid upon me by the Constantinople fathers, " not 
 to tarry, even for a night," because of the fever which pre 
 vailed in Nicomedia at that season. So we mounted our 
 horses soon after the meeting closed, and set forth on our 
 return, taking a shorter, but rougher, path over the mountains. 
 The day had proVed oppressively hot, and the wind blew 
 clouds of fine dust in our faces, a part of the way back, so 
 that we were heartily glad when we reached the village, soon 
 after night-fall. Twenty miles of horseback-riding over the 
 mountains, to one unaccustomed to that mode of travel, was 
 an experience which I did not care to repeat. The time 
 was approaching when I must return to Constantinople to 
 prepare for the school-campaign of another year, after these 
 few weeks of vacation among the mountains, which, though 
 delightful and refreshing to the soul, had proved exhausting 
 to the "earthen vessel." The house must be opened and 
 put in order, and the necessary stores laid in for a family of 
 thirty or forty, besides a thousand other things which con 
 sume the time and strength of a missionary teacher and 
 
26 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 house-keeper. But there yet remained a few final visits to 
 be made among the women of Bardezag who professed to 
 have accepted Christ as their Saviour. 
 
 EXAM IN A TION OF WOMEN FOR ADMISSION TO 
 THE CHURCH. 
 
 " Varzhoohi, you know what I want to say ! / do love 
 Jesus, but I have no words to tell you ! " Tears coursed 
 down her pale face, and there was a world of meaning in the 
 look which the humble, teachable disciple cast upon me, as she 
 spoke. She had struggled in vain for utterance concerning 
 her religious experience, and finally gave up the attempt. 
 But I was satisfied. I felt sure that God had set His seal 
 upon this poor woman ; that she was His " spirit child " as 
 the Armenians call one who is adopted into the family. 
 Ignorant indeed of creeds and doctrines, she could only say, 
 " * I m a poor sinner, just nothing at all. But Jesus Christ is 
 my all in all ! And who should deny her a place at His 
 table ? As I looked around the low, dark, rickety old room, 
 and then upon the miserable bed upon which she was -lying 
 on the floor, suffering with chills and fever, yet rejoicing in 
 God her Saviour, I thought of the "Inheritance incorrupt 
 ible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven" 
 for her, if truly u born of the Spirit." There were others of 
 similar experience among the women whom I had been re 
 quested to examine for admission to the " Evangelical church 
 of Bardezag." Their religious vocabulary was too meagre to 
 express all that they really felt. But the outward change in 
 their life and character gave evidence of that which was 
 " inward and invisible." To such the Church must be a NUR 
 SERY, a training-school^ as, indeed, it should be to all, for, how- 
 
BARDEZAG. 2/ 
 
 ever wise in the wisdom of this world, every new-born soul is 
 but a feeble infant in the spiritual kingdom of Christ. 
 
 " I have as good a right to come to the communion as any 
 other body ! and truly, a better right than some; for I am a 
 reader, and my husband was the first Protestant, and we 
 have suffered the loss of much worldly goods for the cause ! " 
 
 This was said by Mariam, the wife of Amooja, a vixen of 
 the olden type a very Xantippe and for many years a 
 thorn in the good man s side. 
 
 There was no Christ in her life ; the surest token of no 
 Christ in the heart : " Now if any man have not the spirit of 
 Christ, he is none of His." Mariam represented a certain class 
 of Protestants, not truly Christians, who still secretly held to 
 the old belief in the sacrament as a saving ordinance. It 
 was a great stumbling-block to such persons, that their chil 
 dren coultl not be baptized till the parents had been received 
 as members of the church. The old Armenian church is es 
 sentially Romish in its rites and doctrines, and Protestants 
 who are not truly " converted " are very much in the situa 
 tion of the disciples to whom Paul said, " Have ye received 
 the Holy Ghost since ye believed ? " and they answered : 
 "We have not so much as heard whether there be any 
 Holy Ghost ! " " For they are not all Israel which are of 
 Israel ; " and the " mixed multitude " that follows the camp 
 are ever a source of weakness and reproach to the true Isra 
 el ; like their antitypes, they often " fall a-lusting " for the 
 "flesh pots of Egypt." 
 
 "WORK FOR JESUS EVERYWHERE? 
 It was toward evening, at the conclusion of a round of 
 calls; and while I was trying to make Mariam understand 
 
28 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the spiritual nature of the preparation necessary in a " com 
 municant," Amooja came home. I was glad of the interrup 
 tion, for his wife was evidently one of those before whom it 
 is useless to cast the precious pearls of truth. 
 
 The good old man had a delightful story to tell. His 
 countenance was radiant with some new joy which he longed 
 to share with Christian hearts ; and after the customary salu 
 tation, he seated himself on the divan, saying, " We have 
 had a blessed time in my vineyard to-day ! There are two 
 or three young men working in a vineyard adjoining mine, 
 who for a long time have not ceased to torment me in every 
 way they could devise cutting down my vines, spoiling my 
 trees, robbing my fruit, throwing stones, and calling me 
 wicked names. They were greatly delighted when they finally 
 succeeded in turning off the stream by which I irrigated my 
 grounds, using the vilest language of abuse at every remon 
 strance. But by the grace of God, I was enabled to give 
 the soft answer that turneth away wrath, and when they 
 reviled, not to revile again ; till, little by little, they softened, 
 and became more respectful ; and, this afternoon, those three 
 young men came over the hedge, and sat down by my side, 
 while I read a chapter of God s Word ; and then we knelt 
 together, on the green grass, under my mulberry trees, and I 
 prayed ! " 
 
 As Amooja finished the story, his fine face fairly shone 
 with holy joy ; he was <: more than conqueror, through 
 Christ," and the unanswerable logic of love ! After a mo 
 ment s pause, he said, " Ah, teacher, there is work every 
 where in the fields, the vineyards, the coffee-shops, the 
 market, and by the way-side ! M ork for Jesus everywhere " 
 " Because your eyjs and heart are ever open to seek it ! " I 
 
BARDEZAG. 2Q 
 
 thought, and then said, " Your people are naturally religious, 
 Amooja? " " Yes," he quickly replied, " I bear them record 
 that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowl 
 edge," taking his beloved Testament from his bosom, and at 
 once turning to Romans x. 2. As he quoted those words of 
 Paul, I was struck with his likeness, in character and experi 
 ence, to the Apostle to the Gentiles Like him, Amooja 
 could say, in all sincerity, " I count all things but loss for 
 the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord ; 
 for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count 
 them but dung, that I may win Christ and be found in Him." 
 
 Surely, one such specimen of noble Christian manhood, 
 among the Evangelical Armenians, should quicken the faith 
 and open wide the purse of all who pray, " Thy kingdom 
 come." 
 
 " The happy life and death of a true Christian woman " 
 as I had seen it was the theme at my last meeting with the 
 women. 
 
 The simple narrative of my Missionary sister, Mrs. Everett, 
 showing what the grace of God could do for every one of 
 them, seemed to touch their hearts. At the close, they 
 gathered around me, saying, " O stay, and teach us always /" 
 I told them that I would gladly stay, but God had given me 
 another work that of preparing teachers for them, and for 
 their sisters all over the land and they devoutly invoked 
 His blessing upon my labors. Before we separated, I selected 
 three or four bright little girls for our training-school at the 
 Capital, and told their mothers to save them for me, and not 
 allow them to be betrothed, or married as is the custom, at 
 a very early age. We rapidly reviewed the weeks so pleasantly 
 spent together the morning visitations from house to 
 
30 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 house ; the afternoon meetings ; and the evening singing- 
 lessons with all their opportunities for learning how to 
 serve and glorify God, and looking to future results, in time 
 and eternity. Very grateful and loving words were spoken 
 by the simple-hearted sisters, as they lingered long, reluctant 
 to speak the final farewell. 
 
 A heavy rain had fallen a few days previous, over which 
 the people rejoiced " because it would prolong the teacher s 
 stay " and yet no storm was so severe as to keep them from 
 the place of prayer. One day, when we did not expect any 
 one, the women had come in almost the usual number, 
 through the pouring rain, unprotected by the modern 
 "water-proof" or even umbrellas, in most cases! 
 
 A PARTING VIEW. 
 
 It did my heart good to see the earnest, honest faces of 
 the " brethren," as they gathered for the good-bye. I had 
 been impressed with the strong religious element in their 
 characters, during the weeks of our constant intercourse ; I 
 saw how godliness quickened and developed all that was 
 good and noble in their manhood, causing them to realize in 
 some degree the possibilities of their higher nature. They 
 must have felt themselves growing ! It was beautiful to see 
 the members of that little church, standing, shoulder to 
 shoulder, mutual burden-bearers and care-takers in their 
 youthful Zion ! It was said of them, by outsiders, as of the 
 disciples of old, " See how these brethren love one another ! " 
 Their appreciation of the Bible that, to them, most wonder 
 ful Book was delightful to witness ; it was their strength 
 and refreshment by day and comfort by night ; a constant 
 companion in all their goings out and comings in. 
 
BARDEZAG. 31 
 
 Their evenings, especially in winter, were spent in " search 
 ing the Scriptures ; " often meeting in companies for this 
 purpose, and sometimes holding discussions with those who 
 still clung to the traditions of the old Armenian Church. 
 
 Flattery is a common commodity among Orientals ; and the 
 ease with which the lachrymal fountains overflow when it 
 suits their purpose inclines one to be suspicious of any 
 superfluous demonstration. But the childlike simplicity of 
 these hearty mountaineers left no room to doubt their sin 
 cerity. They had sought only the best spiritual gifts and 
 teachings ; and their warm-hearted expressions of gratitude, 
 and Christian affection for the labors of the past few weeks 
 were prized as coming from the heart. Surely, the Mission 
 ary brother and sister whose lot was cast among them, might 
 have said, with the Psalmist, "We have a goodly heritage." 
 And yet how few of those who dwell in " ceiled houses " at 
 home, would be willing to live in that poor, uncomfortable 
 mud-dwelling, with the little study and kitchen both next 
 the stable, opening from the dark, damp passage upon the 
 uneven ground ; and great cracks in the floors above, reveal 
 ing all the family life ; surrounded by an atmosphere often 
 so impure and stifling at night, that refreshing sleep was 
 sought in vain, and windows must be closed to keep out the 
 offensive and poisonous effluvia. Ah ! there are slow martyr 
 doms in the nineteenth century that cost infinitely more suf 
 fering than the short pang, and quick transition to heaven, 
 by the stake or the executioner s block ! But who that 
 loves Christ, would not count it all joy to break the bread of 
 life to such a people ? and " willingly spend and be spent " 
 for them ? 
 
 Pacing slowly down the mountain side, and over the ver- 
 
32 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 dant plain to the sea, through thickets of wild rose and shrub- 
 oak, I turned my horse to look once more upon the place 
 which had become so dear to my heart. A beautiful picture 
 was spread out before me, tinted by the morning sun, in 
 luxuriant vineyards, groves of mulberry, and fields of richest 
 verdure, framed by a range of mountains sweeping around 
 them, till they met the bright blue waters of the Gulf at 
 their feet. Little villages peeped out from their setting of 
 emerald, here and there among the lofty heights, like infants 
 in the arms of a giant ; and high up among them, was 
 Bardezag the Garden of the Lord. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 ADABAZAR. 
 
 JRAMP, tramp, tramp, all the live-long day. Now 
 passing over old Roman roads and bridges, and 
 meeting long, narrow carts, with solid, clumsy 
 wheels, drawn by buffaloes, and filled with lumber, or pro 
 duce, or, perchance, a family, protected by a rude awning, 
 and presenting some curious specimens of humanity ; trav 
 elers on horseback the stately Turk, with dagger and pistol 
 in his cashmere girdle, his black attendant clad in loose 
 garments of scarlet cloth ; and veiled women riding, not 
 " sidewise," but * otherwise" on mules or donkeys some 
 times with a large basket swung on each side of the saddle, 
 from which .peeped out the heads of children, like birdlings 
 in a nest. 
 
 A train of camels in the distance added variety to the 
 moving panorama, as my good steed paced steadily after the 
 prophet s namesake, Ezekial, my Armenian escort. And 
 now our path led us eastward, over the broad plain, away 
 from the tide of life surging to and from the city which was 
 once "a second Rome."* A range of hills swept nearly 
 
 * The historian Gibbon says, that Nicomedia was once inferior only 
 to Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch, in magnificence and populous- 
 ness. 
 
 2* (33) 
 
34 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 around the horizon, clad in misty robes of violet, with young 
 forests springing up at their feet. The way grew narrower 
 and pleasanter, fringed on either side with tangled wild- 
 wood, with little brooks purling through ; scarlet berries 
 gleamed amid the glossy green of the foliage, and trailing 
 vines swung gracefully from trees and shrubs ; the lazy pip 
 ing of scattered birds and insects, and the monotonous tread 
 of our horses feet, alone disturbed the autumnal stillness 
 which lay over the land that warm November day. 
 
 Again we emerged into an open space, with another 
 stretch of plain, dotted over with clumps of grand old oaks, 
 beneath whose shade we ate our lunch ; and as evening ap 
 proached, our path wound around the cliffs overhanging the 
 lovely little lake " Savanja," the splashing of whose soft rip 
 pling waters upon the pebbly shore sounded like an evening 
 song. The hills on the opposite side were lighted with rosy 
 hues, playing amid the purple tinge, and in the distance lay 
 the ruins of an old Greek town, built by, and named for, 
 Helena, the mother of Constantine. A little later, and " the 
 last faint pulse of quivering light " had faded out. The dark 
 ness deepened ; a few belated travelers came up behind us, 
 but soon turned off on other paths; camp-fires shone fitfully 
 in the distance, and the tinkling of bells and furious bark 
 ing of surly dogs, told of shepherds keeping watch over 
 their flocks. A few pale stars looked out from their hazy 
 shroud, but shed no light on the scene, and the last hour 
 seemed very long as we went on, stumbling over unseen 
 paths, rude bridges, and stony roads in the darkness. 
 
 Keble s evening song, 
 
 " Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear, 
 It is not nit^ht, if Thou art near," 
 
ADABAZAR. 35 
 
 served to solace and beguile the tedium of the lonely way ; 
 and never did those sweet words seem sweeter or more 
 
 appropriate ! 
 
 THE ARRIVAL. 
 
 But now lights began to gleam upon our gladdened sight : 
 earthly lights, but needful and welcome to earthly travelers. 
 We were nearing our journey s end. Our horses hoofs soon 
 clattered over the rough pavement of the town ; street after 
 street was slowly traversed, cheered by an occasional glim 
 mering from some window, and at last we stopped before a 
 door, which Ezekial opened, and I rode into the court-yard. 
 
 Mine host, Baron Kavork Mr. George came forth, and 
 assisted me to alight, while he extended a hearty welcome to 
 Adabazar. 
 
 At the head of the staircase, his daughter Prappion, my 
 pupil, met me with a joyful greeting; she was followed by 
 her mother, grandmother, and a troop of younger brothers 
 and sisters, who had gone to bed, but roused up when they 
 heard that the teacher had come. It was half-past nine 
 o clock; so late that they had ceased to look for us; but all 
 seemed very happy over my arrival. 
 
 Prappion conducted me to a divan, in a room which I was 
 told to consider mine, and the family gathered around for a 
 little conversation, while she went to prepare a cup of tea, to 
 refresh me after my wearisome ride of thirty miles. 
 
 The children were sent to bed, and soon a round copper- 
 tray, with bread, honey, milk, and cheese, was placed before 
 me on a low stool. B. Kavork reverently asked a blessing, 
 returning thanks for Divine protection on the journey, and 
 then partook with me of the refreshment ; after which, Prap 
 pion spread a wool-bed in one corner upon the floor, and I was 
 
36 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 kindly left alone, with full permission to prolong my slumbers 
 in the morning as late as I pleased. Soon after I had re 
 tired, u Rest for the weary " floated to my ear from the outer 
 room, where the children had camped down for the night, 
 and were softly singing for my benefit. But sleep would not 
 come at my bidding. The tramp, tramp of the horses sound 
 ed continually in my ears ; and long hours of restless tossing 
 intervened before " tired nature s sweet restorer " came to 
 close my eyes. 
 
 When I left my room at a late hour the next morning, the 
 family were scattered to their respective employments. But 
 breakfast was quickly prepared for me, and to my surprise, 
 the head of the house returned from his place of business to 
 do the honors to his guest. A high, rude table had been con 
 structed for the occasion, at which was placed two chairs, 
 of similar workmanship ; and upon the cloth were arranged 
 plates, knives and forks, cups and saucers, and various dishes 
 of food, after the European fashion. 
 
 My good host was very attentive and polite, but evidently 
 not quite at ease in his new position. 
 
 It was very easy to trace these " new-fangled notions " to 
 the daughter s influence, as a result of her " city education." 
 But I was disappointed in not being allowed to mingle with 
 the family in their accustomed ways, that I might the sooner 
 get below the surface, and learn how to adapt myself to the 
 real needs of the people among whom I had cast my lot. 
 
 After the repast was ended, I went into the garden, and 
 finding Pailadzoon, the youngest child and pet of the 
 family playing under the mulberry trees, tried to win 
 the heart of the bright, brown-eyed little maiden. But 
 she was very shv, and could not be induced to open her 
 
ADABAZAR. 37 
 
 lips to meet my advances. Aroosiag, the still young 
 mother of a family of six children, was washing at a stone 
 trough near the well, and the grandmother was sitting on a 
 cushion in the door-way, busy with her distaff and spindle. 
 The father had gone to his shop with his eldest son, a lad 
 of fifteen, and the younger boys were at school. Prappion 
 was singing at her work in the house. 
 
 It was a peaceful, pleasant domestic scene. The " little 
 mother " in the foreground, looked very picturesque and 
 graceful in her bright Turkish costume ; her beautiful brown 
 hair falling from beneath her head-dress in a broad sweep of 
 fine silky braids, twenty or thirty in number, linked together 
 by a tiny cross-braid, near the rippling ends which reached 
 below her girdle. Her fair, oval face and dark eyes, were 
 lighted by a very sweet expression; and when she spoke, I 
 noticed the soft, low voice, which is esteemed " an excellent 
 thing in woman," and thought the mother of my Prappion 
 the most attractive Armenian woman I had ever seen. 
 
 THE DINNER. 
 
 In the evening, soon after dark, the family gathered for 
 their principal meal; and I begged so hard to be admitted 
 as one of themselves, that B. Kavork reluctantly consented, 
 and all the fine modern arrangements disappeared. With 
 true Oriental courtesy, he told me that I must consider his 
 house as my own ; myself a daughter, Prappion s elder sister ; 
 that if I wished anything, I had only to ask for it, and so 
 far as lay in his power it would be granted " with all his 
 heart." 
 
 The little stone-paved kitchen of this comfortable country 
 house occupied one side of the front entrance; the lower 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 court, or passage, had no flooring but the bare hard earth, 
 and from this open space, a few steps led to a broad plat 
 form at the foot of the main staircase. This platform, spread 
 with strips of carpet, and with cushions ranged against the 
 rough wall, was the dining-room. Here were two large 
 trays placed upon low stools ; each of these miniature tables 
 was covered with a dark cloth of native manufacture, and 
 another was spread underneath upon the floor, and brought 
 over the lap to serve in place of napkins. The grandmother 
 and part of the. children gathered around one table, while 
 the father and mother sat with the rest at the other ; and my 
 seat was next the head of the household. After all were 
 quietly placed, the father laid aside his fez, and with un 
 covered head, devoutly implored the Divine blessing; he 
 then replaced the cap, and proceeded to cut two loaves of 
 brown bread, which one of the boys distributed around the 
 edge of each tray. 
 
 The dinner consisted of four courses : first, rice prepared 
 with various condiments, then a stew of mutton and vege 
 tables, followed by roasted fowls, and lastly, -some kind of 
 spicy greens uncooked mixed with sour milk, which B. 
 Kavork said was the farmers favorite dish. He carved the 
 fowls with his hands having previously had water poured 
 over them by the daughter, who " girded herself with a 
 towel," and offered me a portion without the intervention 
 of fork or plate, remarking that they retained the customs of 
 Abraham s time which led us to speak of Joseph, who sent 
 his brothers each a portion, when they sat at meat with him 
 in Egypt. 
 
 The food was well cooked and palatable ; Prappiofi served, 
 and each course came on hot and smoking in a metal tureen. 
 
AD A BAZAR. 39 
 
 When the cover was removed, I was requested to help my 
 self, which I did with fork or spoon, keeping closely to my 
 own corner of the heap, while all the rest dipped promiscu 
 ously into the common dish, the grandmother using her 
 fingers for everything. I was reminded of our Lord s 
 words as He sat with the twelve : " He that dippeth his 
 hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me : he it is 
 to whom I shall give a sop morsel when I shall have 
 dipped it." This I saw the mother do, " sopping " a piece 
 of bread in the stew, and handing it to little Pailadzoon. 
 
 We were conversing pleasantly about the customs of vari 
 ous countries, when a neighbor rapped at the door, came in, 
 and was heartily invited to " sit by " and partake of the 
 food; he declined, and we went on with our conversation, 
 which seemed to interest him as he sat on the steps eating 
 nuts which Prappion had handed him. As my host appeared 
 to regret his inability to honor me by the style to which I 
 was accustomed, I said to him, " If you should come to us 
 in America, we could not change our way of living for you." 
 " No," he replied, " but our customs are bad, and in time 
 will change; they are now changing." "Well, if you adopt 
 our customs, it will cost more money, and more time." 
 " True," he answered, " it cannot be done at once ; " but I 
 fancied a shade of discontent in his tone. Was it the 
 " divine discontent " so lauded by the poet and the philoso 
 pher ? 
 
 THE FAMILY ROOMS, 
 
 After dinner, we repaired to the parlor, or " great room." 
 The stair-way led to a large, almost square, central hall, from 
 which opened four or five rooms. The huge pile of bedding 
 in one corner, and the various articles suspended from the 
 
40 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 smoky rafters of this hall, showed the simplicity of life, and 
 the thrift and comfort of a family possessed of a competence. 
 The walls were unpkistered, and the wood-work unpainted 
 and rough, with wide cracks, affording abundant circulation 
 Jbr currents of air. The " great room" was perhaps sixteen 
 by twenty feet in size, and better finished; a low, broad 
 divan extended nearly around three sides, covered with na 
 tive carpet, of firm texture, woven in stripes ; solid cushions 
 ranged against the wall formed a back. Above the numer 
 ous white-curtained windows, a narrow shelf stretched 
 around the room, upon which was deposited a few books, 
 papers, pipes, etc., etc. And near the ceiling was a row of 
 smaller windows, quite mosaic-like in the fanciful arrange 
 ment of glass, with bits of color between. The floor was 
 spread with carpet similar to that on the divan, with here 
 and there a thick rug, wrought in quaint devices and gay 
 colors. A chest at one end, and a curiously carved little 
 stand, completed the furnishing of the apartments. 
 
 It \vas a pleasant surprise to see pasted upon the wall, a 
 picture of Washington, the " father of our country." Find 
 ing the familiar face in that far-off, out-of-the-way corner of 
 the world, reminded me of a scene I once witnessed in the 
 harbor of Constantinople. As our caique entered the Golden 
 Horn, we suddenly saw the " stars and stripes " of our na 
 tive land, flying from every mast-head of its forest of ship 
 ping; vessels of various nationalities seemed to vie with each 
 other in their gay decorations for some festive occasion. For 
 a moment we were pux/.led, and exclaimed, " Why is it ? " but 
 when we remembered the day, the beautiful vision was ex 
 plained. It was the 22d of February, Washington s birthday ! 
 Surely, " the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." 
 
AD A BAZAR. 41 
 
 Upon the wall opposite this picture was suspended a large 
 card, with these words in English : " This is a faithful say 
 ing, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came 
 into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief; " and 
 underneath was a translation in Armenian. This card was 
 one of those sent from England for the soldiers during the 
 Crimean war. 
 
 B. Alexan, the young preacher at Adabazar, came in 
 and gave me a warm welcome to his native city. He had 
 taught for a term or two, the day-school in our Seminary 
 building at Constantinople, and it seemed like meeting an 
 old friend. The old saying, " a prophet is not without honor 
 save in his own country," was not verified in his case. The 
 Adabazar people were so anxious to secure his services, that 
 they could not wait for him to finish his theological course 
 at the Mission Seminary; and he consented to come and 
 minister to them, on condition that he should be allowed 
 three or four hours of uninterrupted study every day for 
 four years ; which they faithfully promised. The conversa 
 tion turned upon an educated ministry. B. Alexan felt that 
 :t required much study and severe discipline of mind, to 
 jreach the truth with simplicity and clearness ; but agreed 
 \nth me, that not the wisest, the most learned and noble, 
 bat those most imbued with the spirit of Christ, are the most 
 fruitful in the great end of preaching the Gospel; viz., the 
 
 conversion and training of souls for the Master s service. 
 
 
 
 Taking from his pocket two newly-arrived copies of the 
 
 " Independent," for which he was a subscriber, B. Alexan 
 rerrarked that he had just been reading one of H. W. 
 Bee;her s sermons, and he gave me a brief outline of it in 
 Armenian. 
 
42 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Mr. Beecher once said that "the Rocky Mountains were 
 the back seats of his church," perhaps little dreaming that 
 some of his great congregation were among the dwellers in 
 Bithynia where even Paul was not suffered to go or that 
 his utterances would be subjected to the criticisms of clear 
 headed young preachers of another race and tongue ! 
 
 Jf OR SHIP 0-V THE LORD S DAY. 
 
 I was awakened at an early hour by the chattering of 
 children in the outer room ; soon they began to sing, 
 
 There II be no more sorrow there ; 
 
 In heaven above where all is love, 
 There 11 be no more sorrow there." 
 
 How sweetly it sounded ! All nature seemed to rejoice in 
 the blessed rest and quiet of the Sabbath morn. In the course 
 of an hour the beds were removed from the floors and piled in 
 their corners, and the family gathered in the " great room " for 
 prayers. The picture presented by the assembled house 
 hold was very impressive. The father sat a la Turk, at the 
 end of the divan, his arm resting on the chest containing tie 
 family treasures, with the large Bible lying open before hin. 
 The grandmother sat opposite, surrounded by the older clil- 
 dren, while the mother occupied a corner with a younger 
 child on either side, and the other corner, which was the " ;eat 
 of honor," was given to the guest. All were quiet and sobmn 
 while the father read the fifth chapter of Second Coriithi- 
 ans. Then every voice joined in singing a Sabbath-moning 
 hymn ; after which a prayer ; then an exposition of the 
 chapter read which was a little preachment by the priest 
 of the household ; singing again, and a prayer ty the 
 
ADABAZAR. 43 
 
 daughter closed the devotions. The boys were busy with 
 their Bibles, in reviewing their Sunday-school lessons, and 
 occasionally Prappion asked her father questions con 
 cerning the portion which she was preparing for her class. 
 Half an hour later, we were called to breakfast ; a cup of 
 tea forme, in addition to the bread fried in butter and honey, 
 and cheese and milk, which formed the simple morning 
 meal. 
 
 At ten o clock, we were summoned to public worship by 
 the rapid strokes of a wooden mallet upon a thick board 
 suspended above the roof of the chapel. The Turks have 
 a superstition which has prohibited the use of bells, in the 
 Empire ; they believe that evil spirits are called down by 
 their ringing ; hence the " call to prayer " by the muezzin, 
 who ascends the tall minaret of the mosque five times every 
 day, and as he slowly paces around the narrow parapet, 
 sends forth his clear, ringing tones in the words, " God is 
 God, and Mahomet is His prophet ; Come to prayers ! " 
 This vocal call to the followers of the false prophet in the 
 land of the Crescent, is often used as the signal for a little 
 company of Christ s disciples to meet in some " upper room," 
 beneath the shadow of the Cross. 
 
 It was delightful to go up to the house of God on His 
 holy day in company with this Christian family. The 
 father, mother, and all the children, fresh and clean in Sun 
 day attire, walked together to the place of prayer. And as 
 my eye rested upon the pleasant group wending their way 
 through the shady streets of that country town, occasionally 
 meeting others whose feet were tending in the same direc 
 tion, my heart was glad, and sent up a tribute of praise to 
 Him who had permitted me to see such fruits of Gospel-seed 
 
44 TII E ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 sown by the hand of His missionary servants. The gradual 
 breaking down of social barriers, in a land where there is no 
 such thing as unity in family life, where custom prohibits 
 the husband and wife from eating together, or walking to 
 gether in public, where people would be shocked to see a 
 lady taking a gentleman s arm, or preceding him in entering 
 a room, is one of the happy changes produced by the intro 
 duction of the Gospel leaven. 
 
 We entered the neat frame chapel, and took our seats upon 
 plain wooden settees. There were eighty or a hundred 
 people present. B. Alexan preached from the text, " Sorrow 
 ful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich ; .hav 
 ing nothing, and yet possessing all things;" a simple, earnest, 
 practical discourse. We sang, " Just as I am ; " and when 
 we came to the words, " Thy blood was shed for me," large 
 drops rolled down upon the book I held, and looking up, I 
 saw them falling from the eyes of the good sister who looked 
 over with me. She wiped them away but the next verse 
 opened afresh the fountain of feeling, and I rejoiced to see 
 such tenderness. 
 
 The Sunday-school followed the morning service, and 
 almost the entire congregation remained to take a part in it. 
 I went with Prappion to the school-room below, and in a 
 moment all the men and boys in the chapel were singing, 
 " Would you be as angels are ? " led by the pastor. We 
 sang, one of the sisters prayed, and three of them repeated 
 the lesson, which was In Acts ; then Prappion commenced 
 the exposition, as I had requested her to proceed as usual. 
 There were twenty in the Bible-class, and they showed con 
 siderable acquaintance with Scripture. I joined in the 
 interesting exercise, afterward addressed the younger ones, 
 
ADABAZAR. 45 
 
 and found it difficult to close at the end of the hour. 
 Aroosiag s sister and her daughter went home with us, and 
 we enjoyed a season of delightful Christian intercourse. 
 
 AT THE BEGINNING. 
 
 B. Kavork gave us a most interesting account of the rise 
 of Protestantism in that city. " More than twenty years 
 ago, a sick man by the name of Sdepan went from 
 Adabazar to Nicomedia, to consult a doctor; and while 
 there, he heard of the missionaries who had come on 
 a visit, and went to see them. He could read, and they gave 
 him tracts * Light of the Soul (which was first written 
 in Arabic by Mr. Whiting, a missionary of the American 
 Board in Syria, and was so useful, that it was translated 
 into Armenian, by a missionary at Stamboul;) also one 
 entitled Sermon for all the World ; and another called 
 Head of the Church; and they told him that Christ 
 was the only Mediator, the only way of salvation. " 
 
 This man went home and secretly told some of his friends, 
 and one day his physician whispered to B. Kavork that there 
 was a new religion, a new faith sprung up; and, strange to 
 tell, a new Bible ! " That was all ; but it affected him so 
 much, that he could not sleep that night, and early the next 
 morning went to see Sdepan, who was angry, and said, 
 " Who told you ? " When he replied that he need not 
 be afraid, he only wanted to learn what it was, Sdepan 
 softened, told him what the missionaries had said, and lent 
 him the tracts. He read them he had before considered 
 himself very religious according to the Armenian Church 
 but light sprang up in his soul. The 5th of Matthew 
 was a revelation! Christ the only Mediator! "Then," 
 
46 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 said he to the man, " the Saints are not necessary to 
 us!" 
 
 When Sdepan went to Constantinople, Kavork accom 
 panied him, having business, and through his means, the 
 Missionary D wight came to their room. Sdepan said, 
 "This is their bishop;" but when he saw him without a 
 beard, he thought it could not be, " for he was but a boy ! " 
 But Mr. Dwight instructed him more fully in the new way, 
 and constantly turned, while speaking, to passages in the New 
 Testament, till Kavork said to himself, " He knows it all by 
 heart ! " Before leaving, he invited them to come on Tues 
 days and Thursdays, to a room in the khan where he met 
 Armenian merchants, and traders, who frequented the Capi 
 tal on business. Afterwards, various missionaries visited 
 Adabazar, where the truth had begun to take root ; but they 
 had to be very cautious, because of fierce opposition from 
 the Old Church. Mr. Hamlin was once in danger of losing 
 his life from a mob which surrounded the house where he 
 spent the night, and only escaped through the friendship 
 and bravery of his Turkish host. 
 
 But a little thing which appeals to Oriental tastes and 
 sympathies, has sometimes turned the tide in favor of 
 Christ s ambassador. Among the most bitter and unrelent 
 ing enemies of Dr. Azariah Smith of Aintab, was an old 
 priest of the Armenian Church in that city,who had never seen 
 him, and who, as he said, never wished to behold the " mis- 
 sionar." But it so happened that one day the two unexpect 
 edly met in the house of one who was very ill, and in his ex 
 tremity had availed himself of the doctor s acknowledged skill. 
 The priest was for a moment confounded and amazed, when 
 told the stranger s name ; then gazing with softened 
 
ADABAZAR. 47 
 
 emotions upon the doctor s magnificent black beard, he* 
 approached, and gently stroking it, said, " God must love 
 you very much to give you such a beard ! " 
 
 At two o clock we attended another service in the chapel. 
 The subject of the Bible exposition was the feast of the 
 passover, and the atonement made by the Lamb of God. 
 
 When we returned, I met the grandmother who was 
 neither a Protestant, nor a rigid Armenian, in matters of 
 faith and asked if she had enjoyed the Day of rest. She 
 simply answered "Yes;" and I rejoined: "But you have 
 not enjoyed spiritual refreshment as we have : you do not 
 go up to the Lord s house to worship with His people." 
 " No," said the old lady, " but I worship at home ; wherever 
 we pray, God is present to hear." "Why then did God 
 manifest His presence in the temple of old? Why does 
 the Bible say, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves 
 together, as the manner of some is ? She had no answer 
 for this, but by-and-by began to tell me about the early 
 times among the Protestants, and how much she had suf 
 fered, because her children were of the number. " Their 
 windows were broken, and they were stoned and beaten till 
 blood flowed ! " B. Kavork joined in the conversation, and 
 asked if she knew how much my forefathers had suffered for 
 Christ which was owing to a little sketch that I had given 
 in our conversation at noon, about the " Pilgrim Fathers " 
 of New-England. 
 
 THE EVENING SACRIFICE. 
 
 The glowing sun had sunk to rest in his couch of gold, 
 beneath a canopy of gorgeous hues, which tinted all the 
 sky; a soothing hush seemed to fall upon nature, as if a 
 
48 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 gentle mother were calling her tired children to repose and 
 prayer; and in that calm twilight hour, we again gathered 
 in the " great room," for family worship. After reading a 
 few verses of Scripture and singing a hymn, the father asked 
 his children in turn, if they remembered the subject of his 
 morning discourse ; and the words were repeated, " There 
 fore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." He 
 then turned to the " little mother," and said, " Wife, what is 
 it to be newly created ? " and she answered simply, " It is 
 to be born of the Holy Spirit." He afterward recapitulated 
 the different divisions: to have new ideas of God, new con 
 ceptions of His character; of Christ, and the work of 
 salvation ; new experience of the workings of the Spirit in 
 the heart, live a new life, etc." He then turned to me and 
 invited me to speak. I said that I had been thinking of the 
 new love which made all things new, changed the aspect of 
 everything: that love impelled to action; the newly-created 
 in Christ is led to inquire like Saul, " Lord, what wilt Thou 
 have me to do ? " " How shall I show my love for Him 
 who gave Himself a ransom for me? " A new principle is 
 infused into his life. B. Kavork frequently assented, and 
 when I finished speaking, proceeded to catechise the 
 younger ones according to their capacity. There was 
 nothing in the appearance of the children to indicate dis 
 taste for such an exercise, or bring to mind the complaint 
 against God s ancient people : " Ye said also, Behold, what a 
 weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it; saith the Lord of 
 hosts." On the contrary, they appeared to enjoy it as a 
 luxury, for which the busy week days left little time. The 
 services of the day were briefly reviewed, another hymn of 
 praise was sung, and then the father called upon the eldest 
 
ADABAZAR. 49 
 
 son to pray, which he did most appropriately and briefly. 
 It was a Sabbath scene over which angels might have 
 rejoiced. 
 
 At eight o clock, we started for the monthly concert of 
 missions. There were present about the same number of 
 attendants as at the morning service. The pastor read a 
 portion of Scripture, commented briefly, and then called 
 upon the brethren to pray. All immediately arose, and 
 without a moment s pause, one of them offered prayer. 
 
 Foreign missionary intelligence was given from the Ave- 
 daper Messenger, or Good-News-Bringer, published by the 
 Missionaries at Constantinople : Items from Paris, Italy, 
 Russia, Japan, and other countries. The singing was truly 
 congregational, all uniting heartily in swelling the inevitable 
 missionary hymn, " From Greenland s icy mountains." And 
 at the close I was touched to hear the pastor pray most 
 fervently for America ; that war and blood-shed might cease, 
 and true peace prevail ; that the principles of the blessed 
 Gospel might be established in that land ! 
 
 THE CHILD- WIFE. 
 
 After our return we heard a sound of chanting in the 
 streets. It was a wedding procession, taking the bride to 
 her home. B. Kavork remarked that it was a widow, or 
 widower, otherwise the " crowning " would take place on 
 Monday morning, in the church : that a second marriage 
 was not esteemed as holy as the first. He asked about our 
 custom, and then repeated their marriage service in ancient 
 Armenian. Said his wife was but eleven years of age, and 
 he was twenty-two when they were married; that he was 
 a father to her ; she would often fall asleep at the evening 
 3 
 
50 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 meal, and he would carry her off to bed like any child. He 
 had a difficult time in teaching her to read, for she was fond 
 of play, and did not care to. learn her letters! Aroosiag 
 nodded a smiling assent, while her husband told the story 
 of her early married life; and he went on to say that Prap- 
 pion, her first child, was born when she was fourteen years 
 of age, and the child-wife was utterly innocent and ignorant 
 of the great mystery of motherhood. It seemed that 
 Aroosiag s mother was left without a head to her house, and 
 was only willing to marry her remaining daughter to a Prot 
 estant because he had no mother living, and hence she 
 could take the position of mistress universally accorded to 
 the mother-in-law in the East and save her child from the 
 despotism of some hard-hearted, cruel woman. 
 
 Aroosiag afterwards spoke of her husband s kindness, and 
 how her life had been shielded from much of the sorrow 
 and trial which had fallen to the lot of other women in her 
 country. She had certainly developed into a very noble 
 and beautiful woman, both physically and spiritually, and 
 much credit was undoubtedly due to her fatherly husband. 
 
 "yr<9 WORK NOTHING TO DO." 
 
 Monday morning we went to the sunrise prayer-meeting 
 at the chapel ; there were thirty or forty persons present. The 
 theme was Christian work and individual responsibility; 
 every one building before his own house, as in the time of 
 Nehemiah. The brethren prayed without being specified, 
 and the singing was full of spirit ; there were some full bass 
 voices, trained by the pastor, and the good old tunes to 
 which I had listened in childhood, awoke many tender 
 associations. Among other speakers, the head of the Prot- 
 
ADABAZAR. 51 
 
 estant community said that as yet there were few men 
 among them who were ready to deny themselves for Christ. 
 
 When he was last in Constantinople, he saw some edu 
 cated men going about idle, and asked the cause. l< No 
 work," was the reply. " Yes, there is, plenty of work ; open 
 your eyes and look about you ! If there is no work you 
 can do here, go to some village in the country ; content 
 yourselves to live as poorly as do others ; open a school, 
 and you will soon have enough scholars. Go on in your 
 self-denial for a time, and you will reap a rich reward. By- 
 and-by you will secure a reputation and an influence in 
 that place as a wise man. In time your circumstances will 
 improve, and you will elevate those around you ; you will 
 become a father to that people ! If you have no money to 
 go with, I will help pay your expenses." This was good 
 sound advice, even if mere talk, but it met with no response. 
 
 On our way home a Turkish woman met me, and gave me 
 a pear. She afterwards followed us, came to my room, 
 opened the door, and found me reading. She wanted to 
 know what book it was, and I told her it was my Bible the 
 " Holy Book." We could only interchange a few words, 
 and then laugh at our ineffectual attempts to understand 
 each other. 
 
 After the morning work was done, the grandmother came 
 into the big hall with her distaff and spindle, and seated 
 herself upon a cushion on the floor. Taking a seat by her 
 side, I asked her to teach me to spin. She looked greatly 
 surprised, and exclaimed, " What ! /teach you anything!" 
 When assured that I was in earnest, and would gladly learn 
 from her, she was much pleased, and gave me my first lesson. 
 She had hitherto been inclined to hold herself aloof from 
 
52 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 me, but her prejudices melted away, she was quite won over, 
 and ere long opened her heart, and told me her sorrows of 
 her widowed daughter left with no means to provide for her 
 little ones ; and that she herself was early left a widow. I tried 
 to direct her to the widow s God and the Father of the father 
 less ; told her of my own mother s experience, and repeated 
 some of the sweet words of promise that had so comforted her 
 in her widowhood and the death of four sons. The dear old 
 mother listened with rapt attention ; she did not oppose the 
 truth, but mildly adhered in heart to the faith of her fore 
 fathers, and the history of another widowed wife and mother 
 touched a tender chord. Just then B. Alexan s sister came 
 in, and, after a little chat, invited Prappion and myself to 
 lunch with them that day. The weather was exceedingly 
 oppressive ; a south wind was blowing, and instead of my 
 hat and shawl, I accepted the loan of a " teulbent " thin 
 white muslin veil which Aroosiag threw over my head and 
 shoulders. The family were much pleased, and said I was 
 now an " Adabazartsi ! " When we arrived, B. Alexan 
 came down to meet us, and exclaimed at my Oriental ap 
 pearance ; but they all said it was very becoming. 
 
 TIH-: PAS7 OR S HOME AXD WORK. 
 I found B. Alexan s mother, married sister, and two 
 brothers, living with him; the eldest brother a "helper" 
 at Koordbeleng a very pleasant family. After a little pre 
 liminary conversation, we partook of the luncheon, consist 
 ing of pilaff, poached eggs, brown bread, and honey, fol 
 lowed by nuts, and discoursed about the missionaries and 
 some of their trials in the work at Stamboul. B. Alexan 
 was sensible and moderate in his views. He said that some 
 
ADABAZAR. 53 
 
 new change was needed to awaken the Armenian nation ; 
 that he thought about it day and night, but as yet without 
 any result. He could learn nothing of the late disturbances 
 or disaffection at the Capital, but " this and that missionary 
 said thus and so ;" " they say such and such things " the 
 complaints of various Protestants and preachers. He him 
 self once heard a missionary say, " I would sacrifice all the 
 native churches before I would give up one of the princi 
 ples of the Board!" and thought they were harsh words. 
 " It is a pity that they were not explained," I said, " for I 
 think that many of the people confound principles, with 
 rules. Now, you know that rules should be made, like 
 leather, to bend to circumstances. But principles lie at the 
 very foundation of things ; and if you sacrifice them, you 
 sacrifice everything." The pastor acknowledged that there 
 was great lack of Christian spirit among the restless com- 
 plainers ; they appeared to be spiritually dead ; had left off 
 preaching Christ to quarrel. It seemed a repetition of Paul s 
 experience with the Corinthians. 
 
 He then showed me his little study, and said it was the 
 room in which he was born. I looked over the book-shelves, 
 containing mostly Armenian translations of the Tract So 
 ciety s works the writings of Baxter, Doddridge, Bunyan, 
 .and others of the old divines, D Aubigne s History of the 
 Reformation, Dwight s System of Theology, Earth s Church 
 History, Cruden s Concordance, besides Wayland s Moral 
 Science, Upham s Mental Philosophy, Abercrombie s Men 
 tal Culture, and various other text-books prepared by the 
 missionaries at Constantinople for their training-schools. 
 " Uncle Tom s Cabin " and " Robinson Crusoe " peeped 
 out from one corner in their Armenian dress, and Young s 
 
54 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Night Thoughts appeared in Turkish ; these last having 
 been translated and published by a sect of Armenian- 
 Catholic monks, who styled themselves " Mechetarists " 
 comforters and many years ago established an efficient 
 press at San Lazaro, Venice. By the suggestion of Lord 
 Byron, who was for a time their guest, and amused himself 
 with the study of Armenian, they prepared the large and 
 very valuable English and Armenian dictionary, which 
 eventually paved the way for missionary work among that 
 race. Prominent among the few English books on the 
 shelves, was Barnes Notes on the New Testament. B. 
 Alexan had just finished reading the " Great Teacher," 
 and " Great Commission," by Harris, which I had lent him 
 from our school library ; also, Boardman s Higher Life, 
 which he styled " a king among books." He remarked that 
 in reading the works of the old divines the " fathers of 
 the Christian Church " he was more and more convinced 
 that there was nothing new under the sun. He " sometimes 
 fancied that he had an original thought, but a careful scru 
 tiny of their pages took down the conceit, for it was all 
 written centuries before he was born." 
 
 The appointments of the room were very plain and sim 
 ple, and the library scanty, in comparison with that of the 
 missionaries, and ministers at home ; yet my heart did rever 
 ence to this valiant young soldier who was so faithfully bear 
 ing aloft the banner of the cross, and leading his people on 
 to fresh conquests over sin and Satan " the rulers of the 
 darkness of this world." He was the teacher of the Prot 
 estant day-school, training and moulding the lads who 
 would be the next generation of Christian men in that 
 interior town. 
 
ADABAZ AR. 5 5 
 
 Monday was his recreation day ; he had then no school, 
 but visited the sick, and walked about trying to do good, 
 and gaming in bodily strength. He told some interesting 
 incidents connected with these visits and walks in the coun 
 try, unconsciously revealing the secret of his success, and 
 the kindly relations which he sustained toward all classes of 
 people. Like the Master in His Galilean walks, he con 
 stantly found fresh opportunities for doing good springing 
 up in his pathway. 
 
 Going some distance from the town one day, and gather 
 ing the flowers that grew by the way-side in his ramble, he 
 met a countryman with an araba, or rude wagon, of flour. 
 The man stopped, and, noticing the flowers in his hand, 
 inquired if he was a Hakim, wishing to consult him respect 
 ing an ailment. This led to a long and deeply interesting 
 conversation about the health of his soul, which emphasized 
 the words of Holy Writ, " Blessed are ye that sow beside 
 all waters." 
 
 The visit closed with a pleasant walk to the stream a 
 half mile or more distant which supplied the town with 
 water; and our little party chatted merrily the while we 
 watched the great, ponderous water-wheels as they slowly 
 revolved. 
 
 The old and the new seemed strangely intermingled every 
 now and then. When B. Kavork came home that evening, he 
 said that he had been sitting with the " elders, or rulers, in 
 the gate of the city," to represent the Protestants, of whom 
 he was the chosen head. The expression carried me back to 
 Old Testament times. I thought of Job, and Abraham, and 
 Boaz, and the kings of Israel. There were no walls to this 
 country town of perhaps eight or ten thousand inhabitants, 
 
56 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and, consequently, no gate ; it was an old-time expression, 
 meaning the place of public assemblies, where justice was 
 administered. While the father was gone to a business 
 meeting of the church, the boys begged me to read to them 
 in English, which I did, and the eldest, who had studied 
 with the pastor, translated for the family as they gathered 
 with eager interest on the floor around us. An hour was 
 spent in this way, when the mother requested me to con 
 duct family worship. I read the 23d Psakn ; we sang, 
 " When all thy mercies, O my God," and I called upon her 
 to pray. She offered a most fervent, excellent prayer, say 
 ing, among other petitions, " We ask not for long life or 
 earthly good, but Thy favor, and everlasting life in the world 
 to come. Bless the children," etc. She won upon my heart 
 more and more as I saw her in her daily life : truly a lovely 
 woman, with a naturally fine mind, bright, quick, intelligent, 
 and humble. And again I said to myself, as I saw such 
 precious fruit from soil so little tilled, THE BIBLE AND THE 
 HOLY SPIRIT ARE WONDERFUL EDUCATORS ! 
 
 MISSIONARY POLICY. 
 
 After their father returned, and the children had gone to 
 bed, we had a long and deeply interesting conversation con 
 cerning the subject of discourse at the pastor s house. We 
 went back to the beginning of things, and the brother 
 thought that the missionaries should have taken such a 
 course that they (the Evangelicals) might have remained in 
 their nation without any division ; saying, very decidedly, 
 that it could have been done. He gave me thrilling details 
 of those early days when the fires of persecution fiercely 
 raged among the converts, after they were thrust out from 
 
ADABAZAR. 57 
 
 their own so-called " Christian church " with bitter denun 
 ciations, and a hatred that pursued them to prison and 
 almost to death. The Armenian ecclesiastics and rulers 
 forbade the people to buy of, or sell to, the " apostates," or 
 to hold any business or social intercourse whatever with 
 them. The vilest indignities and insults were heaped upon 
 the " brethren," who meekly bore the heavy cross which 
 their confession of Christ imposed. And then was fulfilled 
 the words of the Master, " A man s foes shall be they of 
 his own household." The old, inevitable conflict between 
 light and darkness. The history of that period, as given 
 by Dr. Dwight, of Constantinople, in his " Primitive Chris 
 tianity Revived in the East," has well been styled " A SECOND 
 EDITION OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES." "We were all 
 thrown out of employment," said B. Kavork, " and some of us 
 would have starved or have sealed our testimony with our 
 blood, if it had not been for the missionaries. They visited 
 those of us who were imprisoned and supplied all our wants, 
 while they persistently appealed to the Turkish Government 
 for redress through the English and American embassa- 
 dors." 
 
 " And, Varzhoohi," he continued, after a moment s pause, 
 " I sometimes think it would have been just as well if we 
 had not looked to man, but had left our cause wholly in the 
 Lord s hands ; a few men would have laid down their lives 
 for the truth, as did the martyr Stephen, but in time we 
 might have come out purified and vigorous from the fires. 
 Of one thing I am certain, the missionaries should have 
 done less for us, or more." 
 
 "What do you mean by their doing less?" I inquired. 
 " Why, only this : we left our father s house, where we had 
 3* 
 
58 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 everything ; were told that we should have help ; and be 
 cause we left with that encouragement, they were bound to 
 help us. And they did help us ; so much at first, that we 
 were led to expect that they would always provide for us. 
 You see how it would work !" " Yes, I see ; but you said 
 that you left your father s house, where you had everything. 
 Did you not leave it because it did not furnish food for the 
 soul ? Or, rather, were you not thrust out by your own priests 
 and people, instead of voluntarily leaving it, and this simply 
 because you accepted the pure Word of God instead of the 
 traditions of the Church ?" " Yes ; but it might have been 
 very different if we had been left more to ourselves. It came to 
 be understood that the American Board furnished money 
 for us, and that the missionaries were the agents to expend 
 the funds." " Ah, my brother! how cruel you would have 
 thought the missionaries if, after bringing to you the open 
 Bible, they had left you to yourselves when the fires of per 
 secution began to burn ! Are you not looking back to the 
 leeks and onions of Egypt? And now tell me, how was 
 it under the old system ? Did not you have to pay for 
 what you received ?" " Yes ; it is true that our priests were 
 continually begging for money, and taxing us for every 
 service they performed ; but we were Anathema maranatha 
 accursed and cast out from all support and sympathy of 
 our people when we became Protestant ; and we came to 
 consider Protestantism a religion that didn t cost anything! 
 I mean for us it was a Free Gospel." 
 
 " }\ ILL IT PAY?" 
 
 " Ah ! now I understand ; as a natural result, many unworthy 
 persons would be attracted by the prospect of * loaves and 
 
ADABAZAR. 59 
 
 fishes. I know that men have come to the missionaries in 
 Constantinople, unblushingly asking how much they would 
 give them to become Protestant ! One man even set his 
 price, naming so many thousand piastres; and professed great 
 surprise and some indignation, when assured that the mission 
 aries never had, and never would offer any pecuniary induce 
 ment to a man to leave his church and join them. You 
 know that is the method practiced by the Roman Catholics 
 all over Turkey, to secure proselytes, and yet they meet with 
 very little permanent success. But please tell me, B. Kavork, 
 what do you mean by the missionaries doing more ? 
 
 "Well, as I said, we were led to expect more aid, and 
 increasingly more ; but of late years we have received less 
 and less. Some of the old helpers have been turned off 
 by the missionaries; there was Der Matteos, who suf 
 fered more than many of the early Protestants. Before he 
 was imprisoned he was dragged about the streets by his 
 beard, and then the priestly appendage was shaved off, 
 and he was put on a donkey with his face to the tail, and 
 paraded through the streets of his native city amid the jeers 
 and hootings of the crowds that collected to see his down 
 fall. After he became old, he was dismissed from the ser 
 vice. Now I maintain that such helpers have a right to their 
 support as long as they live ! And it comes very hard to us 
 poor Protestants to be continually told that we must learn 
 to take care of ourselves ! You understand what I mean 
 the support of our churches, preachers, and schools. For 
 instance : a teacher who is very useful to us, is removed to 
 another place ; and when we remonstrate, the missionary 
 says, If you want him, take care of him ! 
 
 " I understand ; but that is only love in disguise. The 
 
60 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 case is very similar to that of a sick child whose father has 
 tenderly carried him in his arms, and anticipated all his 
 wants ; but after the danger is past, puts him, little by little, 
 upon his own feet, that he may grow strong by exercise. 
 And the boy complains and thinks it very hard, because he 
 has learned to expect that he will always be carried and 
 waited upon." 
 
 " But is it not cruel and unjust to cast off men who have 
 long been in the employ of the missionaries ? " 
 
 "PUT YOURSELF IN HIS PLACET 
 " It looks hard at first sight ; but is not the same thing 
 constantly done by merchants and other business men, when 
 they cannot afford to keep more than a certain number of 
 employees ? They retain those who best serve their inter 
 ests. You would do the same in your own business. The 
 American Board is not a charitable institution ; it was 
 founded solely for Gospel-work in foreign lands, and is 
 wholly dependent upon the American churches for its funds. 
 Sometimes the supplies "do not equal the demand, as the 
 work increases from year to year. Then the missionaries 
 must curtail their outlays in the way which will do the least 
 damage to the general work. Der Matteos received his sup 
 port long after he ceased to be of much use, and when he 
 had, as some of us knew, become embittered against the mis 
 sionaries, and was in fact secretly using his influence against 
 them. But there have been other cases of helpers who were 
 cut off, and yet the love of Christ constraining, they 
 served the cause uncomplainingly, according to their ability, 
 till death. There was good Amooja, of Bardezag, whose 
 story of persecution I can never fjrget. He was so useful 
 
ADABAZAR. 6l 
 
 as a layman, that the missionaries employed him to work 
 among the villagers as a colporteur, and he was very success 
 ful in his labors. When word came from Boston that the 
 funds were low, and missionaries in Turkey must retrench, 
 Mr. Parsons called Amooja, and sorrowfully told him the 
 necessity for cutting off his small monthly stipend. The 
 good man received it very meekly, and simply said, * Bad- 
 veli) I will work for Jesus just the same? And so he did 
 till his Master called him to receive his heavenly reward." 
 
 BEGINNING AT THE WRONG END. 
 
 " That is all very well ; but when the funds are low, as you 
 say, the missionaries are kept on just the same, and live as 
 usual. Why do they not send away some of their own num 
 ber, or live more cheaply ? " 
 
 " Because the missionaries are always too few for the work 
 to be done ; surely, the churches who furnish the means, 
 have a right to select their own agents ! and missionaries 
 only live as they have been accustomed to at home often 
 not so well, and have nothing to lay up for sickness or old 
 age; they could not live more economically without injury 
 to their health. You cannot judge them by your standard. 
 The American Board authorizes them to live comfortably, 
 and, in fact, enjoins it upon them. It would be poor econ 
 omy to send men and women to a foreign land at so much 
 expense, and then keep them so low that ill-health would 
 soon compel them to return. Besides, there is not a really 
 useful missionary in Turkey, who would not receive much 
 more at home ; and some of them would fill the highest 
 places in their native land, with large salaries at command. 
 This I know, for they have been offered to them and 
 
62 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 declined, because they felt called of God to missionary- 
 work. 
 
 " It is not for any Church or Board of Missions that they 
 do this work, but for CHRIST : He only is their acknowl 
 edged Head and Master. 
 
 " There are many wrong impressions and false ideas afloat 
 among the people about this thing. They cannot under 
 stand a disinterested benevolence; and, judging others by 
 themselves, attribute purely selfish or mixed motives to 
 those who are striving to follow His example, who, though 
 he was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his 
 poverty might be made rich. Some months after I assumed 
 the sole charge of the Mission Boarding-school in all its depart 
 ments, I incidentally learned that it was whispered about that 
 I received the sum of 10,000 piastres per month as compen 
 sation for the greatly increased care and labor. And though 
 missionaries pay little attention to mere gossip, I did not 
 wish my pupils to labor under that impression, and when a 
 suitable opportunity offered, I simply stated the fact that I 
 paid the cook in our kitchen more wages every month than 
 I received myself. No sum of money would have proved a 
 compensation or an inducement to undertake such work. 
 People arc differently constituted, but God only knows the 
 suffering it cost some of us to give up home, and friends, 
 and country, when the call came, and we dared not say no 
 to the Master! If anything less than His LOVE brings one 
 into this field, you may be sure he will find his way back 
 befoie long." 
 
 " Hut the missionaries should teach us how to better our 
 temporal condition. I claim that if a missionary knows 
 how I can make two blades of grass grow in place of one, 
 
ADABAZAR. 63 
 
 I have a right to that knowledge, and it is his duty to impart 
 it to me." 
 
 " I have heard that argument before. A Protestant 
 Armenian friend said to me some years ago, The mission 
 aries commenced at the wrong end; and when I asked him 
 to explain, he said, * They commenced by Christianizing 
 instead of civilizing; for instance, there is not a Protestant 
 Armenian family in Constantinople with whom the mission 
 aries associate precisely as among themselves. The man 
 who uttered that complaint had received more at the hands 
 of the missionaries than almost any other Protestant at the 
 Capital. He was taken, a poor boy, into the Mission Sem 
 inary and educated ; and afterward, because he preferred 
 to go into business, was helped to a good situation in the 
 United States ; on his return he was received into the fam 
 ily of his teacher, sat at his table almost as a son, and in 
 every way was kindly assisted to lay the foundation of his 
 fortune. I think, however, he was feeling more for his 
 people than for himself. He was impatient for results, and 
 wanted them to leap, at one bound, into the enjoyment of 
 all that other nations have secured after centuries of painful 
 struggles and costly sacrifices not infrequently the cul 
 mination of trnits transmitted, and character built up by a 
 godly ancestry. 
 
 LITTLE ROSA, THE SPIRIT-CHILD. 
 ie I had an experience, soon after the commencement of 
 my missionary life, which threw much light on this point. 
 The youngest pupil in the boarding-school was a pretty 
 child of ten years, with fair complexion, and the bright blue 
 eyes that are so rarely seen among Armenians. But little 
 
64 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Rosa was very sad and depressed ; nothing seemed to rouse 
 her from her apathy. The assistant teachers said she was 
 home-sick and stupid ; I pitied the poor little creature, so 
 far a\vay from her mother, and with no friend in Constan 
 tinople to furnish her a home during the holidays ; and 
 finally took her under my wing, providing for her necessi 
 ties from my own supplies, and making most of her cloth 
 ing myself. This love and care produced an almost magical 
 effect upon the child ; her face brightened, her mind waked 
 up, and she seemed another being. Her schoolmates were 
 pleased ; they called her the Varzhoohi s hokee-zavag spirit- 
 child (/. e., adopted), and expressed their entire approval 
 of the relation. But after two years had passed, I one day 
 received a letter from Rosa, bitterly complaining because I 
 did not do more for her ; and I said to myself, I see that 
 I have done too much for you, young lady. With the con 
 sent of the Station /. e., the missionaries who conduct 
 the business of the station I placed her in a good Protest 
 ant family, to pay her own way by assisting in light domestic 
 work and care of the little children. When she returned 
 to the school, two years later, she was fully prepared to 
 appreciate its privileges, and her grateful, humble deport 
 ment, was sufficient proof of the good the change had 
 accomplished. It is human nature, B. Kavork. 
 
 " I often think of the colored preacher s climax to his set 
 mon on the fall of man. After an original reproduction of 
 the conversation which took place when Adam and Eve had 
 sinned, he thus portrayed the sequel : Den de Lord he 
 take dem bof and tro dem ober de fence, and say, " Dere, 
 now ! go work for your libbin ! " That is God s way, is it not ? 
 Look at the Apostle Paul s experience among the Corinth- 
 
ADABAZAR. 65 
 
 ians. Hear him say, I determined not to know anything 
 among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. That is 
 the principle upon which the missionaries are sent out to 
 work the preaching of Christ first and last. Incidentally 
 they may teach many other good things which shall help in 
 temporal affairs, but that is entirely a secondary matter. 
 Civilization as surely follows in the footsteps of Christianity, 
 as the fruits of the earth spring up beneath the warming 
 rays of the sun. You find no hospitals, orphanages, asy 
 lums, reformatories, colleges (or schools worthy the name) 
 in pagan lands ; no railways, steamships, telegraphs, or print 
 ing-presses. By their fruits ye shall know them, and these 
 are the fruits of Gospel lands. You know that there was 
 no hospital in Constantinople, nothing but a horrible * mad 
 house, till the Christianity of other lands established those 
 humane institutions in the capital of the Ottoman Empire. 
 But perhaps you never knew that the first hospital in the 
 world was founded there in the time of Chrysostom ! When 
 the light of a pure Christianity died out under long and 
 unrelenting persecution, its fruits also disappeared. 
 
 THE REAL WRONG. 
 
 " The fact is, B. Kavork, the great wrong that has been 
 done to your people is just that of which Paul wrote : 
 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that you 
 might be exalted ? because I have preached to you the 
 gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking 
 wages of them to do you service. And when I was present 
 with you, I was chargeable to no man. You were speaking 
 the other day about the very small wages the missionaries 
 
66 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 give to the Protestant Armenian preachers. Let me tell 
 you how the opposite course has worked in another place 
 in this part of the land. 
 
 " The missionaries at Constantinople sent one of the old 
 est and most experienced of the Protestant pastors from the 
 Capital, to be settled over the church in a country village ; 
 and as he had an expensive family, they continued his salary 
 of 1,200 piastres a month, though you know it costs much 
 less to live in the country than at Stamboul. The work in 
 that place had been very prosperous till some root of bitter 
 ness sprang up, and the love of many began to wax cold. 
 Still, there were warm Christian hearts in the church, and 
 they only needed a strong bond of union such as a loving 
 and beloved pastor might have proved. One evening, a 
 good brother was in the market buying provisions for his 
 family, and among other things, he selected a very large fine 
 melon ; another member of the church happened to be near 
 and seeing it said, * Brother, what are you going to do with 
 that great melon with your small family? O, replied the 
 other, ; it is not for myself; I am buying it as a present for 
 our pastor! What foolishness! exclaimed his friend. 
 Why should you make him a present? Don t you know 
 that he gets more money in a month than you or I can make 
 in half-a-dozen ! 
 
 " That checked the outgushing of the good man s heart, 
 and he threw back the melon. Now think of the loss of 
 love and sympathy between that pastor and his people. He 
 was to them a hireling? and they could never expect to make 
 him their very own by supporting him themselves, unless 
 his salary should be proportioned to their means. Our 
 home-missionaries in America arc supported in this way. 
 
ADABAZAR. 6/ 
 
 Some of the noblest and best educated men and women go 
 voluntarily into the Western wilderness on very small sala 
 ries. They share the poverty of their people, endure great 
 hardships and privations, and by-and-by, when better days 
 come it may be after many years of patient toil they reap 
 of their prosperity. You see the difference between the 
 foreign and home workers." 
 
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORK FOR JEWS, AND 
 WORK FOR GENTILES. 
 
 " Do you remember what the Master said to His disciples 
 after He had trained them for missionary work, and was 
 about to send them forth to preach among their own peo 
 ple ? * Freely ye have received, freely give : Provide neither 
 gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses ; nor scrip for your 
 journey, neither two coats, neither shoes nor yet staves : for the 
 workman is worthy of his meat. But just before His cruci 
 fixion, He said, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, 
 and shoes, lacked ye anything? and they said, Nothing. 
 And then He said to them, * But now, he that hath a purse, 
 let him take it, and likewise his scrip ; because He knew that 
 they would soon be scattered abroad among the Gentiles. 
 It was to the Gentile churches that Paul wrote of his being 
 chargeable to no man in his Apostolic work ; but he says 
 also, * If we have sown unto you in spiritual things, is it a 
 great thing if we shall reap your carnal things ? and exhorts 
 them to abound in this grace also, providing not only for their 
 own teachers, but also making some return to the saints at 
 Jerusalem, adding For if the Gentiles have been made 
 partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to min 
 ister unto them in carnal things. Now it is not expected 
 
68 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 that your people will support us foreign teachers, but only 
 your own home-missionaries, and that to promote your high 
 est good and greatest growth in all the Christian graces." 
 
 "Well," said B. Kavork, after giving me a patient hearing, 
 " let us learn from you how to work, so that we may not 
 always be dependent. The missionaries come occasionally 
 on Saturday evening, spend a communion Sabbath, and go 
 away early Monday morning. Why not stay longer and 
 counsel us ? inquire more particularly into the state of the 
 church and Protestant community, and guide us in our 
 affairs ? " 
 
 I hinted at a lack of humility on their part; he frankly 
 acknowledged the fact, and then went on to make an esti 
 mate of their pecuniary ability. " Of the forty members of 
 the Adabazar Church, twenty are able to pay something; 
 fifteen earn but little more than their daily bread; five 
 have a competence ; the rest merely make a living, no 
 more." 
 
 For taxes, contributions to aid in church expenses, the 
 school, etc. including the collections of the Mothers 
 Society, and the children s offerings the sum which the 
 Protestants paid last year, amounted to 14,000 piastres 
 $560.00. He candidly acknowledged that the tendency of 
 help from other sources was to diminish their own contribu 
 tions; saying, " It amounts to this : if I am able to pay twenty 
 piastres, I pay only fifteen, so long as I know it will come 
 from another quarter." His good wife nodded assent, and 
 turning tome earnestly said, " That s so !" and I thought, 
 "You wouldn t pay aiiything if you could help it; for that 
 is human nature the world over!" 
 
ADABAZAR. 69 
 
 THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER. 
 
 I spoke of ingratitude, and quoted some things said by 
 the disaffected ones, and they both exclaimed, " It is all 
 wrong!" "Why," said B. Kavork, "if I have a cow that 
 gives me milk, I learn to love that cow." 
 
 He was present at a meeting with some of the complain 
 ing brethren, and asked them these questions : " Do you say, 
 What have the missionaries done for us ? Who gave us the 
 Word of God in our spoken language ? The missionaries. 
 Who prepared books and printed them ? The missionaries. 
 Who opened and taught the schools ? The missionaries. 
 Who raised up preachers ? Who employed colporteurs ? 
 The missionaries. And what have we done ? No answer. 
 And he added, after a moment s pause, " We have been 
 children long enough ; it is time for us to be married that 
 is, be men and support ourselves !" 
 
 " And that," I rejoined, " is just what the missionaries 
 want you to do." 
 
 We sat till a late hour that evening conversing on this 
 deeply interesting subject, so vital to the establishment of 
 Christ s kingdom among their people ; and the discussion 
 was resumed the following day. I asked B. Kavork how 
 much it cost him to live, and he said from 6,500 to 8,000 
 piastres per annum about $260 to $320 if he had to hire 
 a house, it would cost another thousand. I then asked him 
 whether the worldly condition of the disaffected Protestants 
 would really be better had they remained in their own na 
 tion, supposing that the missionaries had never come, in 
 stancing one of their leaders. He said, " I will tell you ; 
 I know just what he was, and what he now would be. The 
 
70 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 tailors steal pieces of cloth and sell them to people, who sell 
 them to those who make them up into garments : he would 
 be a piece-maker." 
 
 Afterwards the sturdy, out-spoken brother and I had a 
 pleasant talk about some of his plans for his people, one of 
 which was to procure a small printing-press, and have B. 
 Alexan prepare leaflets, Sabbath-school songs, etc., for circu 
 lation. One of the school-boys was learning the business 
 at Constantinople, and his own boys could, he thought, 
 translate little books from English into Armenian. 
 
 This was really getting at the bottom of things the 
 under-current of thought and feeling ; and I felt that the 
 insight would be invaluable in my future labors among the 
 people. My note-book received full additions in the very 
 words used on the occasion, and I was led to query whether, 
 indeed, there had been a radical evil from the first, in the 
 distance between the missionaries and the people whom they 
 were seeking to evangelize. Does our style of dress and 
 living, however plain and simple it may seem to us, strike 
 the masses as high in comparison with their own standard ? 
 Could we conform to the people in any degree ? These 
 problems were the more forcibly presented to my mind by 
 my host asking, now and then, if I was " content with their 
 way of living?" I mentally reviewed the early days of my 
 connection with the Constantinople school, where I found a 
 system established, and had to build, as the Apostle says, 
 " upon another man s foundation." Could one begin at the 
 beginning with this intimate knowledge of the people, what 
 a gain it would prove ! how many mistakes might be avoided 
 in laying foundations, and establishing precedents which have 
 such weight with Orientals, among whom the sway of cus- 
 
ADABAZAR. 
 
 torn is all-powerful. I felt unfit for the work : " Who is 
 sufficient for these things ?" And then I thought of our 
 Great Prototype, " Who suffered for us, leaving us an exam 
 ple that we should follow in his steps : who, when he was 
 reviled, reviled not again : when he suffered he threatened not, 
 but committed himself his cause to Him that judgeth right 
 eously." And again I heard Him say, " IF ANY MAN SERVE 
 
 ME, LET HIM FOLLOW ME." 
 
 Of one thing I was assured that nothing less than pa 
 tient, self-denying, self-sacrificing LOVE could ensure per 
 manent success in missionary work. The love of a mother 
 for her children, however sickly, fretful, wayward, and self- 
 conceited ; and the greater love of Christ, which " beareth 
 all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth 
 all things." To lack this DIVINE ELEMENT is to lack every 
 thing.* 
 
 * Of one who, though reared among the cultured aristocracy of 
 England, with all the fastidiousness and refinement of gentle breed 
 ing, was eminently successful in teaching the poor and ignorant, it 
 was written : " It seemed a marvel that one whose knowledge lay so 
 much more in books than in men; whose mind was both by nature 
 and by culture raised above the common standard, should conde 
 scend to men of low estate. The poverty of their minds, their ina 
 bility to follow a train of reasoning, their prejudices and supersti 
 tions were quite unknown to him. But the mystery found its key in 
 the simplicity which belongs to the substance, not the shadow of 
 learning. The chief means, however, by which the want of experi 
 ence and knowledge touching the minds and habits of the poor was 
 overcome, was the love he felt toward all his fellow-creatures, and his 
 sympathy in all their concerns ; this CHRIST-LIKE MIND, toward 
 friends, toward servants, toward all. It now taught him to talk to his 
 poor parishioners and enter into their interests with the feeling of a 
 father and a friend. He had the power of throwing himself out of 
 himself into the feelings and interests of others; nor did he less draw 
 out their sympathies into his own, and make them sharers in his 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 FLITTIXG OF HOME MISSIONARIES. 
 Wednesday morning I went with Aroosiag, Prappion. and 
 the pastor s mother, to call upon the family of an excellent 
 helper who had been recently appointed to Xicomedia. We 
 found them packing their effects, and preparing to leave the 
 old homestead. It was a rude, rough dwelling, with great 
 cracks in the floors and mud walls ; and the unfinished raft 
 ers overhead made me think of the upper loft of an old- 
 fashioned barn. But it was dear to them. They were good- 
 looking, intelligent people, and I was much interested and 
 pleased with their frankness, simplicity, and genuine hos 
 pitality. The father, an open-hearted, genial man, told the 
 friends that they should keep open house for all who should 
 come to see them in their new home. When I asked them 
 if they disliked to go, they said, "We are ready and willing 
 
 pleasures and concerns. It was the mutual interchange of feeling of 
 one who loved to forget the difference of station to which each was 
 called, and to bring forward the brotherly union as members of one 
 family in Christ, children of the same Heavenly Father, in which 
 blessed equality all distinctions were done away. Often would he 
 ask their counsel in matters of which he was ignorant, and call upon 
 their sympathy in his thankful rejoicing. His garden, his ha}- field, 
 his house were, as it were, thrown open to them, as he made them 
 partakers of his enjoyment, or sought for their assistance in his need. 
 In him they found a friend ready to listen to all their little grievances, 
 and prompt to remedy them when it was possible to do so. Nor did 
 those simple-minded people fail to look on him with reverence when, 
 seated in his study, in the midst of his books, they beheld the sources 
 whence he drew so much of knowledge and wisdom. He threw aside 
 at once the more regular form of sermons to which he had been 
 accustomed, and wrote down as if he had been speaking, and in the 
 plainest words, such simple instruction as seemed suited to the wants 
 of the people untaught in the first rudiments of Christian faith."- 
 That man was a mcu il misswnaiy ! Clothing his thoughts in language 
 
ADABAZAR. 73 
 
 to go where the Lord s \vork calls us;" and the mother, 
 who looked worn and. weary, added, " Where we can best 
 serve the Lord, there is the best place for us to live ; other 
 wise, we should prefer to stay in our own native place." 
 Their son, a fine youth of eighteen years, who worked at 
 the trade of silversmith, was assisting them, and the three 
 younger children looked bright. One or two relatives had 
 come in to help, and I was pleased to hear a tall, cheerful- 
 looking man humming, " Try, try again !" 
 
 A low stool was given me, and the others sat on cushions 
 wherever they could find a corner; and the work went on, 
 enlivened by cheerful conversation, and many a pleasant 
 turn from the good brother who was superintending. After 
 a little, the wife sat down and uncovered her foot, which had 
 
 suited to their capacity, he drew copious illustrations from the com 
 monest things which he witnessed in their daily life, in his walks and 
 visits among them. Thus imitating Him of whom it was said, " the 
 common people heard Him gladly." How the people, the poor 
 est and most ignorant, loved and listened to him ! how they 
 treasured up his words, which, in due time, brought forth precious 
 fruit to the glory of God ! When reading the Word, of God, they 
 could never forget his injunction, " Settle your thoughts on what you 
 read, and try to suck the honey out of it, like the bees." Nor, when 
 troubled at their slow progress, this comparison, " You can no 
 more see a Christian grow, than you can see the corn grow. Com 
 pare it with what it \vas two months back. So may you discover 
 whether you have grown in grace." Or this, " How often do we 
 see the sinner perched on the dunghill of his vices, clapping his 
 wings in self-applause, and fancying himself a much grander creature 
 than the poor Christian, who-all the while is soaring on high like a 
 lark, and mounting on his way to heaven."* This method of instruc 
 tion is admirably suited to the Oriental mind. 
 
 Memorials of a Quiet Life," by Augustus J. C. Hare. 
 
 4 
 
74 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 been badly scalded. It was a deep burn, covering the entire 
 foot, and yet the poor woman had gone on with her work 
 uncomplainingly. A dish of excellent apples was brought 
 in by the merry " superintendent," of which we partook, 
 and then bade them good-bye. 
 
 The parting between the sisters in Christ was affect 
 ing : they clung to each other s neck, while tears silently 
 flowed. 
 
 THE MISSION MOTHERS MEETING. 
 
 Ten or twelve of the sisters were going down to the river- 
 quates, two miles away, to hold their mothers meeting, and 
 stopped for us, soon after the " mid-day call " of the muez 
 zin, which served in place of a " town clock ! " The heat 
 was still very oppressive, and the air heavy ; and as my .shawl 
 was too cumbersome, and Eastern custom rendered a " cover 
 ing " imperative, I again donned the muslin veil. The sis 
 ters nodded approvingly, and said, " Now you are one of 
 us ! " They carried their knitting-work of coarse woolen 
 hose, and swiftly plied the needles as they walked (using 
 but three, instead of our customary four, and commencing 
 at the toe, where we finish!) When we had passed beyond 
 the houses, set in the midst of gardens, and had come out 
 into the open fields, the little band commenced singing, as if 
 it were a customary thing, 
 
 "Joyfully, joyfully, onward we move." 
 
 And then we chatted as we walked, and many questions 
 were asked about spiritual things by the simple-minded sis 
 ters. It was a happy company of Christian women. Sara, 
 the sister of preacher Alexan, had taken her sturdy boy of 
 
ADABAZAR. 75 
 
 two years, who soon became tired of walking, and his mother 
 shouldered the little fellow the remainder of the way. Now 
 and then we rested in some shady spot, to relieve the weary 
 mother, who was reluctant to share her load with the willing 
 hands that offered, and when the river Sakaria (the ancient 
 " Sangarius "), which empties into the Black Sea, was seen 
 glistening in the sunlight, and our path lay along its banks, 
 one of the party commenced singing, " Shining-Shore," and 
 a full chorus rang out upon the still air. Pleasant greetings 
 awaited our coming from the four or five sisters and their 
 children living in that distant quarter, and I found it was 
 the custom of those in town to adjourn their regular weekly 
 prayer-meetings to that place, once in three or four weeks, 
 because it was so far for them to come in every time. 
 
 We were shown into the upper-room of a new house ; the 
 floors were clean, but there was no furniture, and not a pane 
 of glass to the windows, only heavy wooden shutters. It 
 was Sara s turn to lead the meeting, but she requested me to 
 take her place. I declined, because I wished to see how 
 they did when by themselves. As no missionary family had 
 ever lived in Adabazar, I fancied that the sisters had devel 
 oped more self-reliance than if accustomed to lean upon a 
 " hanum," or lady, as they style the wife of a missionary. 
 
 She was flushed and heated with carrying her boy, and 
 Prappion gave out the hymn, and read at her request the i3th 
 of John. Sara then offered an excellent prayer, and, still hold 
 ing her child in her arms, spoke of our Savior s prayer for 
 His disciples ; of their great responsibility as mothers, and 
 their duty to each other. I took part in the free and informal 
 interchange of thought and feeling which followed, and was 
 much touched by the child-like simplicity of some of the 
 
76 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 expressions and prayers offered by those earnest Christian 
 women. 
 
 Before the meeting closed, Sara opened her bundle, and 
 took out the " Society-book," containing subscribers names, 
 etc., and two of the women paid their dues. There were 
 twenty members, some paying 40 paras monthly, and some 
 25, and others even less. 115 piastres were collected the 
 last year in that way for the support and spread of the 
 Gospel. When I saw the account, I repeated, " Little drops 
 of water, little grains of sand," etc. After a few final 
 words of our Father s House, where we hoped to meet 
 and spend an eternity together, we bade them farewell, and 
 started on our return. At the river-side I refreshed my 
 self with bread and grapes, not having eaten since a late 
 breakfast. 
 
 A strong wind sent clouds of dust flying into our eyes, 
 and great drops of rain falling every now and then, made us 
 quicken our steps. I was very weary, my head aching sadly 
 when we arrived at the house ; and when my host came 
 home, he kindly inquired after my welfare, and said that he 
 had several times thought of sending a horse for me. 
 
 THE YERKERAN. 
 
 Preacher Alexan came in one evening for a little visit. 
 We were grouped around the great brass candlestick, which 
 stood on the floor holding a tallow candle that needed 
 repeated snuffing to furnish light sufficient to read. An 
 hour or two passed pleasantly away in conversation, relat 
 ing anecdotes, and singing. While we were learning a 
 new piece the hymn, a fine translation of the " Wayfaring 
 Man," by the young pastor we heard another strain, 
 
ADABAZAR. 77 
 
 and pausing, a full chorus came from the hall where the chil 
 dren were laid away to rest for the night. " Happy Land ; " 
 " Sing His Praise ; " " Cross and Crown ; " " Around the 
 throne of God in heaven ; " followed each other in quick 
 succession. It was inspiring, and I thought of the words of 
 a wise man, rt Let me make the songs of the nation, I care 
 not who makes its laws ! " " Precious little book ! " I said, 
 as we again turned to look over the pages of the "Yer- 
 keran." "I am thankful for you, my Armenian friends, that 
 God put it into the hearts of His servants to prepare these 
 songs for you and your children." " We also are thankful ! " 
 they responded, "both to God and to the missionaries." As 
 we sang one and another of those sweet Sunday-school songs, 
 we recalled the name of the missionary who wrote or trans 
 lated it. We spoke of singing in heaven, and that opened a 
 delightful conversation about the employments of our future 
 home. And good Aroosiag had many questions to ask, showing 
 a bright but undisciplined mind. When speaking of degrees 
 in heaven, she said, " I thought it meant that the best and 
 wisest would be up high in a room by themselves ; the next 
 best lower down, and so on, just as in a house ; some would 
 be down in the dark near the kitchen ; but," she added with 
 glowing face, " let me but get safely there, I 11 take the low 
 est seat ! " " Dear soul ! " I thought, " how much higher she 
 will rise in the heavenly world, than some of earth s wisest 
 ones who know not Christ ! * for of such is the kingdom of 
 heaven. " 
 
 We spoke of capacity, as the measure of happiness in the 
 future state ; that every soul would be as full as it could 
 hold, but some would contain much more than others, 
 because they had been receptive, and had grown, on earth : 
 
78 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 " For unto every one that hath, shall be given, and he shall 
 have abundance ; but from him that hath not, shall be taken 
 away even that which he hath seemeth to have, or*thinketh 
 that he hath." The pastor gave it as his opinion that what 
 ever is good and beautiful in this world, will be found in 
 perfection there. I saw that he had been reading " Dick s 
 Philosophy of a Future State." I told them of "Dummy," 
 as she was familiarly called by the neighbors : a woman about 
 forty years of age a mute, who once lived with my mother 
 as a servant. That she was greatly distressed because she 
 thought that when she died and went to heaven, she would 
 be so ignorant that she would have to sit alone in a corner 
 and study, while all the rest were enjoying themselves ! and 
 her intense satisfaction and delight, when I caused her to 
 understand by the language of signs that God could 
 make her wiser in a moment than all earthly teachers in 
 years. They were greatly interested in the workings of such 
 an isolated mind, and especially to know the process and 
 the argument by which I finally acquired her consent to 
 leave my home and friends : the simple fact that I was going 
 to teach the ignorant the way to heaven ! And that Jed us 
 to speak about the Bible, that wonderful Text-book, and 
 fountain of all wisdom which the Great Father had pre 
 pared for His children ; and its translation from their ancient, 
 dead language, into the modern, spoken language of the 
 people. 
 
 " THE GOD-BREA TIL" 
 
 The Armenians profess to have been converted from 
 paganism to Christianity, early in the Christian era. Until 
 the fourth century, the Bible was read in Chaldee in their 
 churches, when the language was reduced to writing by 
 
ADABAZAR. 79 
 
 Mesrob, a royal secretary who invented the Armenian alpha 
 bet of thirty-eight letters somewhat resembling Greek 
 and translated the Word of God from the Septuagint. For 
 centuries it had lain entombed in the massive stone churches 
 profusely scattered over the land, wrapped, mummy-like, in 
 embroidered cloths, and only brought forth from its sarco 
 phagus on special occasions for the people to reverently kiss, 
 and again hidden in the deep darkness of those gloomy 
 vaults to await its resurrection day. The ages slowly swept 
 round their cycles, till the day appointed in heaven s calen 
 dar. And then, as at the first, God said, " Let there be light, 
 and there was light ! " 
 
 " Asdavadzaschoonch," God-breath is the Armenian 
 word for Bible. It was indeed a "valley of dry bones" 
 into which the breath of life entered, and a nation awoke 
 from the sleep of ages ! for " there is a spirit in man, and 
 the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding." 
 
 The modern Armenian version of the Scriptures is so 
 pure and classical that it will be the standard of the lan 
 guage for future generations. This translation was the work 
 of Dr. Riggs of Constantinople, whose Chaldee grammar, 
 prepared when he was a student in his minority at Amherst 
 College, is now the standard text-book in the University of 
 Edinburgh, Scotland. 
 
 FEEDING THE LAMBS, AND FEEDING THE SHEEP. 
 At ten o clock on Friday morning, I accompanied Aroo- 
 siag to the chapel to attend the weekly lecture for women by 
 the pastor. We were quite early, and visited the school 
 room on the lower floor. B. Alexan was surrounded by 
 fifty children, from four to fourteen years of age a rather 
 
SO THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 rough-looking company, full of motion. They sang for us in 
 Armenian, " How doth the little busy bee ; " " Try, try 
 again; " and " Happy Land," at the top of their voices. It 
 was ear-splitting ! Then one and another came with a brief 
 written exercise, on slate or paper, for the teacher to correct. 
 B. Alexan told us of his resolution at the commencement of 
 this school, not to get angry, but to make his scholars love 
 him, and then gradually reduce them to order, with their o\vn 
 consent and good feeling. His younger brother was going 
 about as monitor. Some of the older pupils had made com 
 mendable progress in English, and a couple of boys trans 
 lated quite correctly from the New Testament. Their teacher 
 had succeeded in inspiring them with something of his own 
 spirit, and his musical ability was turned to excellent account 
 in the management of a flock so unaccustomed to restraint. 
 " Next to theology," said Luther, " it is to music that I give the 
 highest place and the greatest honor. A schoolmaster ought 
 to know how to sing; without this qualification I would have 
 nothing to do with him." Occasionally the exercises were 
 varied, and the monotony relieved by a verse or two of 
 some lively song, reminding one of the words of a dis 
 tinguished overseer of an institution for juvenile offenders in 
 Berlin : " I always keep these little rogues singing at their 
 work, for while the children sing, the devil cannot come in ; 
 he can only sit outdoors there and growl ! " 
 
 B. Alexan left his younger brother in charge of the school, 
 while he delivered a plain, practical, yet most appropriate 
 and excellent lecture upon obedience, in the chapel-room 
 above- He spoke of the virtue as characterizing both 
 parents and children. The lecture abounded in Scripture 
 illustrations, Moses and his father-in-law, Isaac, Jacob, 
 
ADABAZAR. 8 1 
 
 Ruth, and Naomi, Solomon, the Rechabites, and lastly, 
 the example of our blessed Savior. From each of the 
 examples specified, he drew forth special lessons, and 
 applied them to his hearers in their various family relations 
 and every-day life. As I listened to the admirable dis 
 course, I was deeply impressed with the fact that no for 
 eigner could thus enter into the family life of the people ; 
 the preacher had an Armenian mother and sister, and had 
 grown to manhood among his people. I wished there were 
 a hundred mothers and daughters there to hear, instead of 
 a dozen or two ! " Why this waste ? " 
 
 It was wise policy in the American Board to make the 
 training of a " native agency " one of their first and most 
 important aims in evangelizing the Armenian race. In look 
 ing over the early numbers of the " Missonary Herald," I 
 find it made very prominent from the beginning; looking to 
 the ultimate establishment of self-propagating, self-support 
 ing churches, as illustrated in the Hawaiian Islands. 
 
 It was twelve o clock when we left the chapel, and Aroo- 
 siag proposed that we should call upon some of her wealthy 
 Armenian relatives. The weather had become cold and 
 rainy, and I demurred a little when told that we should be 
 gone three hours, because I needed some nourishment for 
 the body before the late dinner, and proposed that we should 
 first go home. But my good hostess was intent upon her 
 object, and replied with much earnestness, " You know our 
 Savior said, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent 
 me. " I felt rebuked and said no more. As we were pass 
 ing through a narrow street, an Armenian woman came from 
 the opposite direction, and looking me full in the face, 
 exclaimed, " Shatan muna ! " It is a Satan ! Aroosiag was 
 4* 
 
82 THE ROMANCE OP^ MISSIONS. 
 
 much disturbed at such an affront offered to her guest ; but 
 it was now my turn to quote Scripture ! " Don t you remem 
 ber that Christ said, If they have called the Master of the 
 house Beelzebub, how much more they of his household ? 
 The woman probably recognized me as the Constantinople 
 " teachercss " of whom she had heard, and took occasion to 
 show her hostility to the Protestants. 
 
 THE GOSPEL AMONG THE GREAT. 
 
 We entered a spacious court-yard, in the centre of which 
 stood a large, well-built house ; another of ample dimensions 
 occupying one side the old family residence of Aroosiag s 
 mother and grandmother, long left untenanted because of 
 some family feud. The house we visited belonged to her 
 mother s brother and his son. The old lady was absent, but 
 we were cordially received by the son s wife a young and 
 lovely woman, whose fair, sweet countenance, at once won 
 my heart. We were shown into a large upper room, where I 
 was conducted to the corner of the divan. The lady of the 
 house, her sister, two children, and a servant-woman with 
 her daughter, a girl of fifteen years, seated themselves 
 around us, and in a few moments we were speaking of the 
 precious words of Jesus. 
 
 Only one of them could read the daughter of the ser 
 vant-woman ; and I noticed that both she and her mother 
 shared in the general conversation, as if members of the 
 family. 
 
 The Bible was brought, and I read the i4th chapter of 
 John. When those exceeding rich and precious promises 
 were unfolded to their minds by simple and familiar illus 
 trations, they listened eagerly as to a revelation ! Occasion- 
 
ADABAZAR. 83 
 
 ally tears dimmed their eyes, and again they sparkled with 
 pleasure, as the force and beauty of some expression broke 
 upon their minds ; and they gave utterance to their feelings 
 in simple, earnest words, which encouraged me to go on. 
 Thus two hours passed swiftly by; and yet their hungry 
 souls were not satisfied. " O ! " said our young hostess, " if 
 she would only stay and speak to us often in this way ! I 
 never understood these things so clearly as now." She 
 promised to try to learn to read, but after a moment s 
 thought, wistfully said, " If I ever get to heaven, I shall be so 
 ignorant, so much behind the rest ! must I then study ? or 
 what shall I do ? " The very thought that troubled poor 
 Dummy ! 
 
 A tray was brought in, loaded with the fruits of the season; 
 grapes, melons, apples, pears, chestnuts, with bread, cheese, 
 and honey. When Aroosiag saw the bountiful preparation 
 made for our refreshment, she whispered in my ear, "Are 
 you not glad you came ? You know it is better than meat 
 and drink to do the will of our Father in heaven." The 
 good woman seemed indeed to have feasted on heavenly 
 manna. She rejoiced that the way had been opened 
 for a full presentation of the truth to her kinswoman 
 (through the absence of the mother and husband, who were 
 opposed), and her own soul was refreshed. Aroosiag had 
 informed me on the way thither, that the wife liked to hear 
 spiritual conversation ; and I felt sure that she had tried to 
 teach her whenever an opportunity offered ; for the poor 
 woman was not permitted to approach the Protestants, or 
 listen to the preaching of the Gospel among them. 
 
 When we were seated around the tray, Aroosiag told them 
 that the Varzhoohi would ask a blessing. This was some- 
 
84 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 thing new, but they gladly acquiesced, and afterwards said 
 as if much surprised and pleased, " Why, she asked God to 
 remember the poor ! " 
 
 It was hard to part with those new-found friends. They 
 thanked me again and again for the words I had spoken ; 
 and when I said that they were Christ s words and not mine; 
 "Yes," they replied, "but spoken to us through your lips." 
 And while we lingered on the threshold, the servant-woman 
 "lifted up her voice" like one of old and uttered the 
 very words of blessing spoken to our Savior, as recorded 
 in Luke xi. 27. It was so unexpected, and peculiar in 
 phraseology, from one wholly ignorant of the Gospel, that I 
 felt sure it must be an old-time saying among the Orientals ; 
 a " foot-print of past ages." 
 
 THE HOME OF AN EASTERN A ABOB. 
 We visited another great house of Aroosiag s kindred. 
 But it was plainly evident that our presence was not wel 
 come. After sitting by the side of the mistress awhile, and 
 trying in vain to open some profitable conversation, we rose 
 to leave, and she then invited us to "walk the house," 
 meaning an inspection of the dwelling ; a common prac 
 tice in the East, and often a great source of annoyance 
 to the missionaries in the interior, when crowds of idle 
 women insist upon satisfying their curiosity by entering 
 every room, and examining all their contents. We passed 
 up the stairway, and were shown into a room where the 
 daughter, a girl of thirteen or fourteen years, was seated 
 before a low embroidery frame, weaving flowers in a girdle 
 for her " betrothed." The material was coarse, and the pat 
 tern rude. Four young girls were silting near her, assisting 
 
ADABAZAR. 85 
 
 with their needles in the preparations for her approaching 
 marriage. These, we learned, were her pupils in needle-work, 
 but not one of them could read ! We dropped a few words 
 about the worth of the soul, as compared with the body, 
 and of Christ, as the " way, the truth, and the life," and 
 passed on, with a silent prayer that the seed scattered by the 
 way-side might not be lost. We were crossing the large 
 central hall where were huge bags of cocoons for the silk 
 factory, when the master of the house came up the stairway, 
 and swept by us in lordly style. His portly person was 
 enveloped in a costly, fur-lined robe ; a rich cashmere 
 shawl formed his girdle, a smaller one was wound around 
 his fez, like a turban, and a massive ring shone conspicuously 
 upon the little finger of his right hand. Altogether he 
 seemed an Oriental of the old school, fast disappearing from 
 the great commercial centers of Turkey. It was amusing to 
 see the servility inspired in each member of the household 
 by the presence of their " lord and master." 
 
 Seating himself, with an air of fatigue, upon the cushions 
 of a corner room, he called his servants, in loud, imperious 
 tones : " Sarkis ! Apraham ! " Everybody seemed to fly at 
 his bidding. One " girded himself with a towel," and poured 
 water over his hands ; another brought the " chibouk," or long 
 pipe, with amber mouth-piece, which he lighted, and obse 
 quiously handed to his master, placing the bowl in a brazen 
 receiver upon the floor ; and still another hastened to bring a 
 tray of refreshments. While this was going on, the mistress 
 invited us to seats upon the divan where he was sitting ; and 
 I was willing to comply, solely that I might see more of one 
 who seemed another " Nabal." 
 
86 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 THE GIPSY BRIDE. 
 
 Presently, the " bride " entered, with a little tray, upon 
 which was a small glass of " rakee," or brandy, and another 
 of water. This he could take from no hand but hers; 
 she presented it with a profound "salaam" and a touch of her 
 lips to his hand, and then gracefully drew back, and stood, 
 with crossed hands, while he held the liquor to the light, 
 glanced at us, and exclaimed " Geank!" life then quaffed 
 it at a single draught. The " bride " stepped forward, took 
 his hand, conveyed it to her lips, then to her forehead, and 
 thence again to her lips, and again drew back as before, ob 
 sequiously waiting his commands : A tall, slender, gipsy- 
 like girl of fourteen or fifteen years, with clear, dark com 
 plexion, large black eyes, and raven hair. Her head was 
 encircled by a broad gold band, composed of three rows 
 of gold coins; a similar band, with pendants encircled 
 her neck. Poor creature ! she looked so sad, that I inquir 
 ed concerning her history, and Aroosiag told me that she 
 had but recently been married to the eldest son of the family, 
 and he was an idiot ! Sold, by her mother, for gold J When 
 the master of the house had been somewhat mollified by his 
 rakee, and while he was partaking of the bread and fruits 
 placed before him, he seemed in a more genial mood, and 
 vouchsafed a few words to us. He spoke of the war in 
 America, and said that wars would be waged between the 
 nations while the world lasted : " If universal peace should 
 prevail, the Bible was a lie ! " 
 
 There was a bitterness in his tone which plainly showed 
 what manner of spirit he was of, reminding one of the de 
 scription given of his prototype, the surly, churlish Nabal : 
 
ADABAZAR. S/ 
 
 " He is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to 
 him ! " It cost no effort of the imagination to fancy him 
 roused, and venting his wrath upon every object within his 
 reach. 
 
 When his repast was finished, a second glass of spirits was 
 brought, by a servant girl, and a salaam accompanied every 
 act of service. 
 
 We made our formal obeisance, and were about to leave, 
 when a servant stopped us in the hall, and insisted that we 
 were to go into another room, where refreshment was served 
 to us honey, cheese, bread, apples, melons, and sausages. 
 
 The mistress seemed softened, and made some apology for 
 not having called, or invited me to her house, but she scarce 
 ly lifted her eyes while speaking. Perhaps the plainness of 
 my dress had something to do with my cool reception, in 
 addition to a general hostility to Protestants ; for Orientals, 
 particularly the unchristianized, are strongly affected by ex 
 ternals, and, like all uncultured people, are apt to judge per 
 sons solely by their attire. Prappion had manifested some sur 
 prise and a little disappointment, that I had not brought a silk, 
 or at least something brighter than my gray traveling dress ; 
 saying, partly to herself, " When she has so many dresses, 
 why not bring one ? " This was in reference to my visit at 
 the " great house," where she wished me to make a favorable 
 impression. And I said to myself, " Truly, it is difficult to 
 steer between * Scylla and Charybdis ! 
 
 We tendered our parting salaams, and left the dwelling of 
 that Eastern nabob over which the angel of Peace could 
 never fold her wings for the more humble, yet happy abode 
 of Christ s disciples ; and the sharp contrast filled our hearts 
 with the melody of thanksgiving for the blessings which the 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Gospel brings in its train. " Give me neither poverty nor 
 riches ;" for, " Godlin 3ss with contentment is great gain ; and 
 they that will be rich, fall into temptation, and a snare, and 
 many hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and 
 perdition." 
 
 We called, on our way home, to see Aroosiag s sister, and 
 found the widow clothed in black, and sitting upon the floor, 
 surrounded by her fatherless children. The house was poor, 
 and small, but neatly kept, and the loss was a heavy one for 
 such a family ; but the mother " sorrowed not as those who 
 have no hope." She, like the departed husband, was a 
 Christian, and stayed her soul on the widow s God. After 
 a pleasant conversation, in which she manifested cheerful 
 submission to the will of her Heavenly Father, she anxiously 
 put the question, " Shall I know my husband in heaven ? " 
 I gave her all the Bible evidence on that point, and my own 
 conviction that we should certainly know no less in heaven 
 than on earth ; and while we spoke of the enjoyments and 
 employments of the redeemed in the heavenly world, her 
 eyes kindled, and her face glowed with delight. We sang 
 together, " How firm a foundation ; " and commended the 
 household to a covenant-keeping God, before we left ; and 
 then went home with hearts singing for joy. 
 
 FIRE-SIDE CHAT. 
 
 When we had taken off our street-wraps, the grandmother 
 called me to her side to inquire how I liked her relatives. 
 " Your relatives," she said, for she had adopted me as a 
 daughter ; sometimes lovingly calling me her child, and some 
 times Maritsa Maria. A fire had been kindled on the hearth 
 in the winter-kitchen, up stairs, and I shared the cushions 
 
ADABAZAR. 89 
 
 which she had spread before it. I was very weary, but 
 thought, as she was not spiritually minded, I might benefit 
 her by rehearsing part of the conversation at her nephew s 
 house the comparisons illustrating Christ s words about the 
 " many mansions," etc. She listened with earnest attention, 
 and repeatedly thanked me for going. By and by it grew 
 dark, the master of the house came home, and grandmother 
 said to me, " He is looking for you." In a moment or two 
 he came in, pleased to find me there, and anxious to know 
 about our visit. His wife left her work to tell him, with 
 a full heart, and they rejoiced together. The trays were 
 spread, as in winter, near the fire, and mutton was broiled, 
 especially to suit my taste, as they insisted upon knowing my 
 favorite mode of cooking meat. My good host said again, 
 as often before, "Ask for anything in my power, and you 
 shall have it ! Say, We, what have we in the house ? not, 
 you, what have you ? Adding that he would be glad to 
 have me stay a month. The children s beds were piled up 
 in one corner, and a rude lamp was hung near the fire-place. 
 " Don t tell them that, when you write," said the father ; "not 
 all the little things." The good man had frequently found 
 me busy with pencil and paper, and his quick perception 
 divined that I was sharing my impressions with friends at 
 home. His remark naturally introduced a little chat about 
 those friends, and I took the opportunity to give them the 
 history of a Christian merchant in one of the great cities of 
 my native land : how he began his apprenticeship for a 
 business-life, when but a lad, just entering his teens, but with 
 firm purpose of heart to serve his Divine Master first and 
 best of all ! that he not only laid aside a tenth of his earn 
 ings, but "traded with the same" to gain "other talents;" 
 
90 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 for he, with another lad, who was like minded, bought candy 
 with this money, and, by permission of their employer, placed 
 it in a corner of a show-case, to sell for the Lord, and suc 
 ceeded beyond their expectations. How God blessed him in 
 all he had, and increased his store, year by year, and he rose 
 in honor and wealth, till he gave every year, for missions 
 throughout the world, the sum of $10,000. But that was not 
 all ; he looked over our great country of the United States 
 of America, and saw the hundreds of thousands of emigrants 
 pouring in year after year, and settling over the western prairies, 
 and he said, " Now we must have young men those who un 
 derstand human nature better than books trained to go and 
 live among them, and preach the gospel, establish schools and 
 churches ! " So he put a notice in the newspaper (without 
 giving his name), saying that he wanted fifty young men of 
 undoubted piety, love for Christ s work, and ability to teach 
 others, but who could not afford an education ; and he would 
 pay for a few years of training to fit them for that labor. 
 
 When the great financial panic came, in 18 , and so many 
 rich men lost everything, he also lost much money. At that 
 time I was a guest in his house " Beautiful," which was 
 indeed a home to me, and I heard him say to his wife, 
 " Whatever comes, we must not dismiss the young men 
 (there were thirty then) ; we will not buy a thing this year, 
 not even a pair of shoes ; but we will keep those young men !" 
 And God kept him, and he went on prospering, and mak 
 ing money to use in serving the Master he so loved. 
 That I knew the secret of it all : No matter how much busi 
 ness pressed, he always began the day with a quiet hour 
 alone with God! The family listened with great interest, 
 and one of the boys, who had been drinking it all in with 
 
ADABAZAR. 9! 
 
 eagerness, whispered to me, " That is just what Deros and I 
 are going to do ! make money to support preachers and 
 schools for our nation ! " 
 
 A SOCIAL EVENING VISIT. 
 
 A message was brought from the pastor, with an invitation 
 for the family to spend the evening with other friends at his 
 house, and word was returned that we were coming. After 
 an exercise in singing with the boys, nearly all the house 
 hold went to B. Alexan s, and we met there a room full of 
 Protestant friends. The evening passed delightfully in 
 genial conversation, singing, relating anecdotes, etc. There 
 was no lack of pleasantry and sallies of wit that frequently 
 called forth a merry laugh. One topic of conversation was 
 smoking the universal use of the " American weed ; " and 
 it was generally conceded that if the Protestants would deny 
 themselves. the useless luxury, they might spend their money 
 to far better purpose ; in schools and other institutions, for 
 elevating their people. But the self-denial was too great ! 
 
 While we were talking, one of the older brethren went out 
 to " drink " his tobacco, and his wife smiled when she saw 
 the gleam of the cigarette, as he paced back and forth 
 before the window, saying that the little one had called out, 
 " See ! fire comes out of his mouth ! " 
 
 The accent of the Armenian language first and second 
 ary a disputed point among some of the missionaries, was 
 another theme of discussion. And between the singing of 
 various pieces, some amusing stories were told of the old 
 Armenians. The brethren laughed heartily over the fact 
 that instead of the old chants of the church, the Armenians 
 at the river-quarter had lately adopted for wedding pro- 
 
92 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 cessions, a Protestant hymn which was utterly incongruous 
 for such occasions. The tune was well enough " Far, far 
 at sea " out the words were expressive of sorrow and tribu 
 lation in this dark, sinful earth, and a longing to flee away 
 and be at rest ! About as appropriate for a wedding as 
 " Hark from the tombs a dismal sound ! " By and by the 
 conversation, which was general and unrestrained, took a 
 more serious turn concerning our individual responsibility 
 as Christians : that every one has a work to do for the souls 
 around him. 
 
 Every heart seemed in tune, and I was particularly grati 
 fied with the pleasant relations existing between the " brethren 
 and sisters ; " there was freedom without familiarity, instead 
 of the great distance and almost unbroken silence which 
 usually characterizes the social relations of the sexes among 
 Eastern races. Reference w r as made to our prayer-meet 
 ing at the fiver-side; and one of the sisters told "how the 
 Varzhoohi wore a veil just like the rest!" "Good!" said 
 the preacher, " now we must call you sister Maritsa ! " And 
 all found frequent occasion to give me the new title, which 
 seemed so much to please them. It was remarked that the 
 Protestants in Constantinople w r ould wish me to wear the 
 ferijee, or street mantle ; but I said, " No, the sisters there 
 had gone far beyond us in dress," and they confessed that it 
 was true. 
 
 Tea was served around, followed by sweetmeats and fruit, 
 and before we separated, a chapter was read in the Bible, 
 with a few words about the " bow drawn at a venture," and our 
 being " immortal till our work is done ; " and the thought was 
 repeated in the prayer which followed. The evening closed 
 with singing, " Sweet the hours rich in blessing." The pas- 
 
ADABAZAR. 93 
 
 tor s mother and sister loaded me with presents of fruit at 
 leaving, and thanked me again and again for coming to Ada- 
 bazar. Altogether, it was one of those rare, never-to-be-for 
 gotten reunions which serve as a sort of social cement, 
 drawing hearts nearer, and knitting them together in Chris 
 tian love and unity. The Old Church Armenians have so 
 many festival occasions, that Protestants are really in danger 
 from the fact that they have almost none. It is contrary to 
 human nature, and God provided them for His ancient people. 
 
 A HAPPY CHRISTIAN, "SINGING ALL THE WAY TO 
 HE A VENr 
 
 One day Aroosiag said that she wished to talk with me pri 
 vately. I supposed it might be tibout some family affair, but 
 was pleasantly surprised when she began to speak of her religi 
 ous experience ; the possibility of her being deceived. She 
 said, " I often hear that we must mourn over our sins be in 
 sorrow on account of them. When we sisters come together, 
 we often speak of these things, talk over our state, and ask 
 each other questions. They frequently say that they are 
 sorrowful and unhappy because of their imperfections. 
 But I cannot speak of any such thing ; I am always happy. 
 I don t mean that I am better than others ; and when I hear 
 them talk so, I feel afraid that I am wrong. But then I say, 
 * I love my Savior, I believe His word ; and when I go to 
 Him and confess my sins, He pardons me, and I go away 
 singing. Why should I mourn ? Is He not a perfect 
 Savior? Did He not come to save just such sinners as 
 I ? Still, at night, when I think that others seem to 
 feel so differently, I fear I may be mistaken. What do 
 you say, Varzhoohi ; am I right, or am I wrong ? " And 
 
94 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 she turned her soft, dark eyes upon me with unaffected 
 earnestness and child-like simplicity. Her simple story and 
 uncjoubting confidence that I could settle the question which 
 troubled her tender conscience quite touched my heart ; but 
 I asked, " Have you spoken to your husband and your pas 
 tor on this subject?" "Yes; but once only; husband 
 said, l Go on rejoicing; you are in a good way! and the 
 pastor said he had known of few such cases. It has troubled 
 me for years, and it was principally for this thing that I visited 
 Stamboul, that I might converse with you on the subject. I 
 thought you could set my heart at rest ; but it was the busy 
 examination time and there was no opportunity ; so I came 
 home without being satisfied. But I then made a vow that 
 if you ever came near enough, I would send for you to come 
 to our house. So that when we heard you were in Nicomedia, 
 I asked my companion to send Ezekial with a horse to fetch 
 you; and for that reason he traveled all night." " But sup 
 pose you have fallen into temptation and committed sin 
 against God, can you then be happy ? " " O, no ! " she 
 replied, " but I run at once to my heavenly Father, and He 
 forgives me and I go away rejoicing." "Aroosiag, what is 
 sin in your eyes ? " I inquired. " Whatever grieves my 
 heavenly Father; whatever is forbidden in His Word," she 
 answered. " But tell me, what do you do which you con 
 sider to be sinful and needing pardon ? " " I sometimes get 
 angry, and speak unkindly, and punish the children because 
 I am cross, and am selfish, and proud. At night, when I 
 look back on the day and see where I have failed in duty, 
 have spoken improperly, have gone to an Armenian house 
 without speaking a word for Christ, I feel sorry and cannot 
 rest until I go to my Savior, and ask Him to pardon me and 
 
ADABAZAR. 95 
 
 help me in future ; then I am happy again. But I think that 
 is wrong, and try to make myself mourn over it still ; but I 
 cannot ! He has forgiven me, and why should I not be happy ? 
 Does not the Bible tell us to rejoice always, and in everything 
 give thanks ? " As I looked at the beaming, intelligent face of 
 the dear disciple, I gave thanks to God for such an evidence 
 of the teaching of the Spirit. But I wished to test her a 
 little more, and said, " Well, if you are so sure that He for 
 gives you every time you ask, perhaps you don t mind it so 
 much when you do wrong ? " She looked up almost reproach 
 fully. " Why, Varzhoohi ! It makes me more watchful, 
 more careful, because of His love ! How can I grieve His 
 heart?" 
 
 "Why should the children of a King 
 Go mourning all their days?" 
 
 I said to myself. Was not this the "rest of faith," the 
 true " higher life " of the Christian ? " I thank Thee, Father, 
 that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, 
 and hast revealed them unto babes ! " 
 
 I told Aroosiag that natural temperament had something 
 to do with the type of a Christian s character, in this respect : 
 Some had naturally more to contend with than others ; but 
 that God, who looks at the heart, and knows all that is hid 
 den from the eye of man, will judge every one accordingly. 
 That she should not feel herself better than others, nor judge 
 them uncharitably ; but be thankful for the sunshine around 
 her pathway, and be watchful over her heart That if she 
 had a tender conscience, alive to the least approaches of sin, 
 she need not fear, while journeying onward and upward, if 
 her mouth was filled with songs of rejoicing and praise all 
 the day long I 
 
96 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 I inquired concerning her conversion, and she told me 
 more of her early married life ; how tenderly her husband 
 cared for and trained her when she was but a child ; adding, 
 " Truly, I knew nothing of girlhood, for I was not quite 
 eleven years of age when I was married. I looked up to my 
 husband as a father, and when he had taught me to read the 
 Testament, my prejudices against the truth gave way. I 
 united with the church after the birth of my third child, 
 when I was sixteen or seventeen years of age. But though 
 enlightened, I was not spiritually minded till two years after. 
 I attended all the meetings, and went on in a cold way ; I 
 had not tasted the preciousness of Christ. But after that, I 
 began to wake up ; I saw that I was a sinner, and was much 
 distressed for a long time. But one day, while reading the 
 hymn, I saw One hanging on a tree, Christ was revealed 
 to me asjiiy Savior ! 
 
 " O, Varzhoohi ! I can never forget that verse, 
 
 " A second look He gave, that said, 
 
 I freely all forgive ; 
 This blood is for thy ransom paid, 
 I die that thou may st live. 
 
 u What joy filled my heart ! New life sprang up in my soul ; 
 and since then, I AM His, AND HE is MINE; and I have gone 
 on my way rejoicing! " I inquired into her daily life, and 
 she said, " When I awake in the morning, my thoughts go 
 up to God in gratitude ; the rays of the sun cause me to 
 pray for the warming Sun of righteousness; when I wash and 
 dress, that I may be cleansed and clothed by His blood and 
 Spirit; when I sweep and clean the house, that my heart 
 may be purified. When I am at my work, I am almost 
 always in communion with Him " (ejaculatory prayer). 
 
ADABAZAR. 97 
 
 She spoke of her greatest trial being the training of her 
 children. But I had noticed her sweet and tender ways with 
 them, and toward her aged mother, and saw how she obeyed 
 the Scripture injunction, "And the wife see that she rever 
 ence her husband." + 
 
 It was a happy, affectionate, Christian family ; the four 
 older children had given their hearts to Jesus, and were very 
 gentle and loving in their ways with the younger ones. For 
 the first time I had heard the endearing diminutives, " mai- 
 ereg koiereg " little mother, little sister, etc. And at an 
 early hour every morning, I heard her voice singing the songs 
 of Zion over her household work, " making melody in (her) 
 heart to the Lord." " Happy, happy woman !" I said to myself. 
 " In her tongue is the law of kindness ; her children rise up 
 and call her blessed ; her husband also, and he praiseth her." 
 Aroosiag s neighbors bore abundant testimony to her consis 
 tent Christian walk, and I was satisfied that she was truly 
 honest and sincere in thus opening her inner life for my 
 scrutiny. Would to God that so rare an experience might 
 be multiplied in this and every land ! Turning to the 
 Word of grace, I read a few passages in confirmation of the 
 full assurance of faith : " If we confess our sins, He is 
 faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from 
 all unrighteousness : And the blood of Jesus Christ cleans- 
 eth us from all sin : If ye keep my commandments, ye 
 shall abide in my love : These things have I spoken unto 
 you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy 
 might be full : Ask and receive that your joy may be 
 full. If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my 
 Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make 
 our abode with him." We were so absorbed in the delightful 
 5 
 
98 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 employment, as not to be aware of the lapse of time, till B. 
 Kavork tapped at the door, and told us it was time for the 
 meeting. He had closed his shop an hour before sundown, 
 and the two sons had come home with him, in order to 
 attend the preparatory lecture. 
 
 Aroosiag said a few words about her daughter s prospects, 
 and then we joined the little company of believers in the 
 chapel. It was an interesting service. The subject, Half- 
 awakened sinners, and sleepy saints ; from the words, " To 
 will is present with me, but how to perform that which is 
 good I find not." Afterwards we went to see the silk fac 
 tory. There were fifty girls of various ages winding silk 
 from cocoons; lamps of olive oil were lighted, and the 
 scene was a lively one. The factory was established by 
 Prussians, but had passed into the hands of Catholic Arme 
 nians. Each girl received twenty piastres about eighty cents 
 weekly. I told the bright girl who was overseer, how happy 
 I should be to see them all learning to read, but she made 
 no response. When we came home, I went to my room to 
 rest a little before dinner; but the grandmother stole softly 
 in and said, " Now talk to me ; you have not said much to 
 me ! " So I roused myself, and at her request, told her 
 more about my mother ; translated a portion of her last let 
 ter, and explained the sacrifice she had made in giving me 
 up ; that nothing but the " love of Christ constraining " 
 could have enabled her to do it. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 On the afternoon of Gerage the Lord s day we assem 
 bled to celebrate the Lord s Supper, and I never enjoyed 
 the solemn ordinance more than on that occasion. I was in 
 
ADABAZAR. 99 
 
 a strange land, surrounded by people of another race, speak 
 ing another tongue, and yet I felt at home with them ; for, 
 " we who sometime were afar off," had been " made nigh by 
 the blood of Christ ; " and were " no more strangers, and for 
 eigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the house 
 hold of God." Blessed union and communion, in which 
 " there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision or uncircum- 
 cision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all 
 and in all I " 
 
 " One family we dwell in Him, 
 One church above, beneath." 
 
 It was a sweet foretaste of the feast which the family of the 
 redeemed will enjoy, when gathered " out of every kindred, 
 and tongue, and people, and nation," at the " Marriage-Sup 
 per of the Lamb." 
 
 That evening, B. Kavork read the 34th Psalm at prayers, 
 and commented on the words, " O taste and see that the 
 Lord is good." He alluded to the fact that many of their 
 neighbors did not appreciate the things so dear to them, and 
 said, " You may tell a man that a certain fruit is delicious, 
 and praise it as much as you like, but he will conceive no 
 idea of its peculiar flavor until he has tasted it for himself. 
 So the world knows not what we mean when we speak of 
 God s peculiar love as manifested to us individually, or of 
 the richness of His promises. They have not tasted for 
 themselves." I quoted, 
 
 "The love of Jesus, what it is, 
 None but His loved ones know." 
 
 And " Unto you which believe, Christ is precious." That led 
 to a few words about faith ; we turned to the 5th chapter of 
 
100 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Romans, and it was very pleasant to hear the husband say, 
 "Wife, what is faith? " " Faith is the substance of things 
 hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," answered 
 Aroosiag, without hesitation. " Avedis," said the father, 
 turning to his eldest son, " can you give another defini 
 tion? " " Faith is trust, confidence in what we cannot see," 
 said the lad. " But what is justifying faith ? " continued the 
 father ; and after a little, he explained it himself, and finished 
 by reading the blessed 8th chapter of Romans ; and we closed 
 the day with a family prayer-meeting. 
 
 THE LAST EVENING. 
 
 My good host and his wife had planned to take me for a 
 visit of two or three days to a mountain village, a few hours 
 distant, where there was a little band of disciples. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Parsons went from Nicomedia, and spent most of the 
 summer there, and a humble chapel was built during their 
 stay. 
 
 Our arrangements were all made, and I anticipated much 
 pleasure and profit from the novel trip, when lo ! the project 
 was upset by storms of wind and pouring rain. 
 
 The children of the family, however, rejoiced at the provi 
 dential detention, and hoped the rain would not soon cease, 
 that my stay might be prolonged! They were never weary 
 of hearing about America, asking me questions whenever the 
 opportunity offered though not in an intrusive or disagree 
 able way and seeking additional instruction in singing. 
 
 After the evening meal of roast chicken, fried egg-plant, 
 boiled chestnuts, and the usual accompaniment of bread and 
 honey, I gave the boys another lesson in the cultivation of 
 the voice, taught them one or two exercises in vocalizing, 
 
ADABAZAR. IOI 
 
 and, at their request, sang some English songs as specimens, 
 which greatly pleased them. The father listened attentively ; 
 said he had no idea that the human voice was capable of 
 such culture, and asked if he could learn. So I set him to 
 singing a simple exercise, and found that he could increase 
 his vocal capacity. He then referred to the disadvantages 
 of his early life, and concluded by saying that " the Lord 
 had brought him thus far on his way." 
 
 We were sitting around the ojak, or fire-place, in the winter- 
 kitchen, watching the cheerful blaze of the long, crooked 
 sticks standing upright in the open-mouthed chimney. 
 There was no "jug of cider," but nuts and apples, the old- 
 time accompaniment of a fireside scene in the country, w r ere 
 not wanting in the picture ; and I was reminded of an old- 
 fashioned farmhouse where I delighted to visit when a child, 
 and revelled in the ruddy glow of the great " back-logs " 
 and " fore-sticks," so skikully laid in the ample fireplace : 
 and the never failing fun and pleasantry that accompanied 
 the discussion of walnuts, butternuts, and delicious, rosy- 
 cheeked apples, which filled the well-stored cellar whence 
 they were brought with a fragrance never to be forgotten. 
 
 " O, Varzhoohi ! tell us all about it ! " said the boys, when 
 I alluded to scenes of by-gone days in my native land. " If 
 you please," said the mother, smilingly, as she glanced at the 
 eager group which surrounded me. " If you please," they 
 echoed. And they listened with open mouths and eyes 
 while I described the farmhouse, its inmates, and their daily 
 life ; the great barns, and granaries ; the cows, sheep, horses, 
 and oxen ; fowls, bees, and birds ; the gardens, and the fruit- 
 laden orchards ; the waving fields of wheat and corn ; the 
 meadows, fragrant with the sweet breath of clover ; the won- 
 
102 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 derful machines for sowing, mowing, and reaping ; and the 
 ingatheiing of the harvest, followed in due time by the 
 Thanksgiving season, with its joyful reunions, ending in a 
 sketch of our great Western country, with its wide-rolling 
 prairies, its broad rivers and lofty mountains ; and of steam 
 ships, and railways, with their rushing trains and panting 
 locomotives, carrying vast multitudes throughout the length 
 and breadth of the land. Then they asked me for a descrip 
 tion of my native town ; and I told them of a time when the 
 wild Indian roved over the hills and valleys, and hunted 
 game through the forests and by the streams of that goodly 
 western portion of the State of New York; and .how the 
 " white man " came from old Connecticut, and Massachu- 
 sets, and Long Island, with wives and children stowed away 
 in great covered wagons, well-stored with needful provisions 
 and cooking utensils ; how they formed a settlement on the 
 banks of the " Ganargua," laid out a town wi"h broad 
 streets, cutting each other at right angles, and planted forest- 
 trees on either side ; built a school-house tor their children, 
 and a church, which crowned the summit of a hill, that they 
 might "go up" to the house of the Lord, to worship the 
 God of their fathers; and how the Lord prospered the 
 enterprise, and how it grew and their numbers increased and 
 wealth poured in ; of the pleasant homes, surrounded by 
 shaded gardens, where the birds sang, and flowers bloomed, 
 and little children played unmolested ; of the shops, orifices, 
 hotels, mills, and factories; the schools and churches, that 
 multiplied with the years; and the lovely cemetery where 
 those who fell "asleep " were laid to rest in the shadow of 
 the hill-side, beneath the sighing pines and the weeping- 
 willows, with the waving branches of a young forest inter- 
 
ADABAZAR. 103 
 
 spcrsed, flinging out their autumnal banners of crimson, 
 gold, and purple to crown the glory of each dying year. 
 Tender memories were stirred as I spoke of the graves of 
 my kindred the tomb of the kingly Christian father, by 
 which I made the final consecration to missionary service in 
 a foreign land ; although a decade of years had not passed 
 over my head when he was called up higher, yet the holy 
 life and the well-remembered prayers of that father bore 
 blessed fruit in after years. 
 
 Our conversation ended with a talk about Heaven. The 
 children had gone to bed and were fast asleep; we older 
 ones were still sitting on the cushions around the fire, con 
 tinuing the conversation about the future life in the Better 
 Land. "When we get to heaven," said the " little mother," 
 " I shall sit by you, just so ! " drawing nearer to my feet, and 
 taking my hand. " Yes, and leave me off here ! " cried 
 Prappion; adding, "And where will grandmother be?" 
 " O, mother will sit in the corner!" Aroosiag answered, 
 glancing at the chimney-corner where the dear old grand 
 mother had fallen asleep her head bobbing up and down : 
 " Baron will sit in the middle, Prappion by his side, and " 
 "And we will lie here ! " piped out one of the younger boys, 
 lifting his head from the pillow at the back of the room, his 
 eyes twinkling with fun. We were much amused, and the 
 good "Baron," looking over to his wife, half fondly, half- 
 deprecatingly exclaimed, " Surprising woman ! " I had 
 made several attempts to retire, but it was our last evening 
 together, and all seemed unwilling to separate. At last, see 
 ing that the hour was late, I made another move, saying, " I 
 will arise," " and go to my Father s house ! " said Aroosiag, 
 quickly supplying the rest of the sentence; "And to-mor- 
 
104 TI1 E ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 row morning you will be gone, and we shall be alone ! " 
 I sang in reply, "My days are gliding swiftly by;" and 
 Prappion took up the strain, causing her parents to laugh at 
 her doleful rendering of the next line or two; but I responded 
 with another, " I m a pilgrim, I can tarry but a night ! " 
 
 The dear girl, whose filial piety and modest Christian 
 deportment had been to me most satisfactory, accompanied 
 me to my room, which, by the way, was her own special 
 apartment ; she having slept in a corner of the " great 
 room " during my visit ; the father and mother also having a 
 separate room by themselves with the youngest child, which 
 arrangement was probably a fruit of her school-life at Con 
 stantinople. She spread my couch on the floor, saying with 
 a sigh, " It is the last time ! " A few moments later, the 
 mother came to speak once more of a matter which weighed 
 on her heart respecting her daughter, whom she earnestly 
 desired to see united to a certain young preacher, and spend 
 ing her life for the Master. 
 
 I told her our views of marriage, saying, " This is a very 
 delicate matter. Trust God, and don t take it into your 
 own hands." And she answered, "Truly, you think finely, 
 make fine and nice distinctions." 
 
 THE DEPARTURE. 
 
 I was awakened at an early hour in the morning by the 
 children singing, "A, B, C," and other exercises which I 
 had taught them. Before it was light, some of the sisters 
 came to bid me " yertak parov " go with good. And one 
 of them brought me a pomegranate from her garden. 
 
 At family worship, the father read the i33d Psalm, 
 " Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to 
 
ADAEAZAR. 
 
 dwell together in unity ; " and we sang, " When shall we 
 meet again ? " He prayed most fervently for heaven s bless 
 ing to rest upon me, " their child," as I went forth from 
 them, thanked God for our delightful season of Christian 
 intercourse, and asked that we might all meet in heaven. 
 While I was eating my breakfast of chicken-broth from a small 
 bowl, a Christian brother came in, and Aroosiag invited him 
 to partake with me, which he did. The proximity was closer 
 and more trying to my fastidiousness than any previous 
 experience in that line ; but we dipped our spoons, one after 
 the other, as if accustomed to such fellowship all our lives ! 
 
 Preacher Alexan came to see me off, bringing a present of 
 fruit, etc., for some of the missionary children at Constanti 
 nople, saying that he awoke in the night and thought " she 
 must not go empty-handed." 
 
 The farewell with the family was really affecting, for I had 
 become much attached to them all, and they, apparently, to me, 
 during the ten days of my visit. But finally the last embrace 
 was given, the last word said, and with their warmest blessing, 
 I mounted my horse, and set forth on my return to Nicomedia. 
 It was a pleasant morning, bright, but cold, and a hoar-frost 
 lay thickly on the ground. B. Kavork accompanied me on 
 horseback for an hour or two, and beguiled the way by con 
 versation. He pointed out, not far from the town, an old 
 Roman bridge with ten arches, as perfect as it was 1800 
 years ago ! But the ancient Sangarius had entirely changed 
 its course, leaving but a dry bed where it once spanned the 
 rushing river on its way to the Black Sea. " In the spring 
 time, the river Sakaria often overflows its low banks," said 
 B. Kavork ; " the streets of the town are sometimes flooded, 
 the lower part of our dwellings become wet and damp, and 
 5* 
 
106 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 in consequence, there is much malaria, producing chills and 
 fever." 
 
 After many thanks expressed on both sides, for good 
 received and pleasure enjoyed, I parted with my kind, hos 
 pitable host, who bade me " Godspeed" on my way, and 
 with a faithful Armenian escort, turned my face westward, 
 retracing the journey of thirty miles to Nicomedia. 
 
 The long, weary day was drawing to its close, when to my 
 delight I saw my good missionary brother, Mr. Parsons, 
 coming to meet me, holding Iris sleeping baby-boy before 
 him on the horse. The fair lace, flushed with exercise, the 
 closed eyelids, and drooping eyel:shes resting upon the soft, 
 velvet cheeks, and the half-parted cherry lips, made a beauti 
 ful picture. A half-hour i,f climbing up the hillside, and I 
 was once more welcomed and at rest in the missionary home 
 of the old capital of Bithynia. 
 
CHAPTER 1 1 A . 
 
 NICOMEDIA. 
 
 |N the days of its glory, as the seat of empire, Nico- 
 media is said to have spread over more hills than 
 Rome itself. Though Paul and Silas were not suf 
 fered by the Spirit to testify in Bithynia, the seeds of truth 
 were there sown in after years, and many of the people 
 became followers of the despised Nazarene, sealing their 
 testimony with their blood, under the reign of the infamous 
 Diocletian. But the glory departed from that second Rome; 
 and the Lord s tabernacle was removed, leaving but the 
 empty shell to testify that it once had a dwelling-place within 
 its walls. Centuries passed away before the " Day-spring 
 from on high (again) visited the people to give light to 
 them that sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death." 
 
 Two missionaries from Constantinople had been silently 
 witnessing the senseless round of ceremonies, and vain 
 mummery enacted within the walls of one of its Armenian 
 churches ; and as they turned away with saddened hearts, 
 one of them dropped a little tract in the outer court, with r, 
 silent prayer for the Divine blessing. The tiny seedlet was 
 picked up by a priest. It took deep root in his heart, and 
 was also used for the conversion of a brother-priest. Little 
 did Leigh Richmond dream when penning the simple story 
 
 (107) 
 
IOS THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 of the "DAIRYMAN S DAUGHTER," that he was setting in 
 motion a mighty wave of influence which should reach to 
 the uttermost bounds of the earth ! And it is doubtful if the 
 faith of him who scattered the seed by the way-side, was 
 strong enough to grasp such a grand possibility as lay hidden 
 within the germ of life ! That little tract was the means 
 used by God for the establishment of the first Evangelical 
 church among the Armenians of Turkey, and ultimately of 
 two others. Eternity alone will reveal its wide circling 
 sweep, with the heavenly harvest borne upon its bosom ! 
 
 A ROYAL HUNT. 
 
 When the morning sun streamed over the sea of Marmora, 
 the blood-red banner of the Turk, with its national historical 
 emblem the ; crescent and star " -was seen flying from 
 two or three steamers lying in the harbor. His Imperial 
 Highness, Sultan Abdul Aziz, had arrived from Constanti 
 nople with his suite, on a great hunting expedition among 
 the Bithynian mountains. People were collecting from every 
 quarter to see their sovereign enter the city, and we decided 
 to " go with the multitude." 
 
 We found an open hillside at the outskirts of the town, 
 covered with crowds of all ages and conditions. The women 
 were mostly enveloped in their white- sheet veils, looking like 
 so many ghosts sprinkled thickly through the gay groups to 
 be seen in every direction. After waiting for an hour, the 
 booming of cannon announced the debarkation. 
 
 A company of porters passed by, laden with tent-poles, 
 and cloths of the sacred green, used only by the lineal 
 descendants of Mahomet stuffed arm-chairs, a sofa, etc., 
 etc., which they conveyed to a new palace near the shore, in 
 
NICOMEDIA. 109 
 
 process of completion. The old Serai had been newly 
 repaired and fitted up, but the odor of paint so disgusted 
 his Majesty on a previous visit, that he ordered it pulled 
 down, and another one, of stone, erected in its place. A 
 specimen of Turkish economy with borrowed English 
 funds ; showing that it is vastly easier to spend other peo 
 ple s money than one s own ! 
 
 THE GRAND SEIGNIOR. 
 
 A mounted officer, followed by others on foot, dashed up 
 the hillside, brandished his glittering sword, and loudly ordered 
 the way prepared for the coming of the king! reminding 
 us of the words of the prophet Isaiah, and of John the Bap 
 tist : " Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in 
 the desert, a highway for our God." 
 
 The crowd fell back, and soldiers were stationed on either 
 side of the road. 
 
 At last shouts greeted our ears, and the Sultan made his 
 appearance, mounted on a coal-black steed, followed by his 
 scarlet-clad, sable attendant, with a train of gaily mounted 
 pashas and officers. The tall, dignified, portly person of 
 the Grand Seignior was simply attired; but his physique 
 indicated less intellectuality than fondness for sensuous 
 pleasures ; in striking contrast to Ali Pasha, and Fuad Pasha 
 the thinkers of the Ottoman Cabinet. 
 
 The children of the Protestant day-school were stationed 
 at the summit of the hill, and sang, at the top of their voices, 
 an original hymn prepared by their teacher, in honor of his 
 Majesty. He merely deigned a glance at them; and as the 
 gay cavalcade rode into the grounds of the new palace, a 
 procession of priests and children from the Old Church 
 
I 10 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Armenians passed by. Each boy carried a wax taper in his 
 right hand, and a wreath of laurel in his left. Their heads 
 were closely shaven, and bound with rose-colored ribbon, 
 tied in a bow at one side ; and the two last next the priests 
 were crowned with wreaths of artificial flowers. They were 
 all clad in full white robes, with a broad green collar 
 upon the neck, edged with gold, and with the cross conspicu 
 ously embroidered upon it. Their monotonous chanting 
 was quite a contrast to the spirited singing of the Protestant 
 children. 
 
 The Greek school w r as also out in full force and festive 
 array. But all were alike disappointed ; for there was no 
 royal bounty, no scattering of coins to be eagerly caught by 
 the throngs on the highway ; and no presents made to the 
 various communities, or schools, as in former times. 
 
 In two or three days the Sultan departed, and from the 
 current reports, we inferred that he did not win much favor 
 among the people by his visit. Royalty had cost them dear ! 
 It was costly sport, of which they might well have said, " It 
 may be fun for -you, but it is death to us ! " The country 
 had been scoured for horses for the great hunt ; and wher 
 ever found, were taken, without any compensation, or so 
 much as, " By your leave." T o hundred houses were thus 
 secured, though a number were Brought from Constantinople, 
 in a steamer which was sent down, on Sunday, laden with 
 provisions, arms, etc. A large tract of land was surrounded, 
 into which the game, such as wild boar, deer, antelopes, 
 wolves, foxes, jackals, and, possibly bears, were driven for 
 the Sultan to shoot ! He wa ., said to be \eryfondofathletic 
 sports, and anxious to revive th< ancien, games. 
 
NICOMEDIA. Ill 
 
 FRUIT OF THE CONSTANTINOPLE SCHOOL. 
 
 In the afternoon I met, by appointment, at the house of 
 one of their number, the former graduates of the Constanti 
 nople school, living in Nicomedia. We had a pleasant, and 
 apparently, a profitable interview, conversing with each 
 respecting her stay in the school, and her subsequent 
 course. 
 
 All were married, and four of the five were mothers, with 
 several children. Two of them had each a small school in 
 her own house ; and one who had no children, had for years 
 taught a home-school of from twenty to thirty girls, receiving 
 half-pay from the Mission. One of the other schools of 
 twelve pupils was entirely self-supporting. After the 
 review of past years, I read the twenty-fifth chapter of Mat 
 thew, and dwelt upon the parable of the ten talents, trying 
 to bring home to their hearts its solemn truths. Then we 
 knelt in prayer, and Elbice offered a fervent petition for 
 Divine assistance; after which, we conversed concerning the 
 best way in which they could exert an influence among their 
 people, and I tried to interest them in gathering children for 
 Sunday-schools, establishing infant Sunday-school classes, 
 and prayer-meetings for the women, in various quarters ; 
 and then we spoke of their duties as mothers, and of the 
 light of example, which cannot be hid. While we were talk 
 ing, the wife of the pastor, an early graduate, came in, 
 evidently out of sorts. Poor Juhar! She had just enough 
 religion to make her unhappy ; trying to hold on to earth 
 with one hand, and heaven with the other ! 
 
 A word in season to her, about her duty as a mother, dur 
 ing the first years of her children s lives ; the importance of 
 
112 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 laying foundations, etc., and it was nearly dark ; but all pro 
 tested against breaking up any earlier, " because," they said, 
 " we do not often enjoy such an opportunity." Several of 
 them seemed impressed by what had been said of their 
 increased responsibility as Christian mothers, and one of the 
 youngest, and most interesting, said, with emotion, " I 
 acknowledge that I have not been as faithful a mother to my 
 children as I should have been ; but I will try to do better 
 hereafter." 
 
 The next day I called to see an Armenian girl, who, after 
 a few terms, had been dismissed from our Mission-school at 
 Constantinople, and had opened a school for her own sup 
 port. Twenty little children were seated upon the floor 
 in a miserable room of her grandmother s house. They 
 seemed very quiet and orderly. Their teacher had seen me 
 coming, and left the room, but the poor girl burst into tears 
 when we met in the passage-way. 
 
 She was weak-minded, with a heart corrupted by evil asso 
 ciations in early life ; yet not wholly hardened, or closed 
 against good influences. Her pupils were thirty-one in 
 number, all from the Old Church Armenians, and what was 
 more remarkable, all pay-scholars, each one paying about five 
 cents per week for tuition. A half-hour was spent in talking 
 to the children of God, and their relations to Him. 
 
 They seemed very ignorant and stupid, but after illustrat 
 ing and simplifying the truth, their minds seemed to wake 
 up a little, and they began to answer my questions in a 
 more lively manner. Before I left, they sang a Sunday- 
 school hymn very nicely, and I encouraged their teacher to 
 go on and retrieve her character. 
 
 The Protestant pastor conducted the usual meeting for 
 
NICOMEDIA. 113 
 
 women in the chapel that day, and preached a rather stilted 
 discourse, from the pulpit, instead of sitting down among 
 them for a good, plain, practical talk a setting forth of 
 their duties, and the helps to perform them. After the 
 meeting, I spent a little time in the day-school, on a lower 
 floor, where fifty children, mostly Protestant boys, were 
 assembled. 
 
 The teacher had long and successfully taught in Adaba- 
 zar; and after many vain efforts, was finally secured for 
 Nicomedia ; and much was expected from the school under 
 his faithful instruction and excellent influence. With his 
 permission, I occupied a half-hour in addressing the school, 
 and asking questions. They sang two .or three of the new 
 Sunday-school songs with much enthusiasm ; and then, 
 Marta, one of my pupils, who had come over from Bardezag, 
 called with me at the house of the pastor, particularly to see 
 his daughter (who was one of the number that we could not 
 retain in our school when the Mission funds were reduced), 
 and, if possible, induce her to teach a little class in the 
 Sunday-school. Mania seemed willing to undertake it, but 
 her mother thought she needed more instruction herself, and 
 gave her no encouragement. It was evident, that unless she 
 had a helping hand, and the aid of example, very little use 
 fulness could be expected from her. 
 
 Marta accompanied me to the school for girls, long 
 established in Nicomedia by one of the first pupils of the 
 Mission-school, who had married and settled in her native 
 city. This also was a home pay-school ; and the instruction 
 given by Armevine in ornamental needlework, attracted 
 many girls from Armenian families. Courtesying, and shak 
 ing hands, seemed to be one of their modern accomplish- 
 
I!4 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ments; and each one came forward to show a proficiency, 
 with which I could well have dispensed. 
 
 Toward evening, we went out for a quiet walk. Marta 
 chose a retired path among the hills, and we talked over 
 plans for her future course. She seemed earnestly desirous 
 of more active usefulness among her people ; and feeling 
 the need of guidance, came over for counsel, on hearing 
 of my arrival in the city. Her humble, earnest desire to 
 know and do the will of her Heavenly Father was very 
 pleasant and encouraging to witness, and compensated for 
 years of toil in learning and using a strange language in a 
 foreign land. 
 
 A SOCIAL VISIT, AND AFTER-CO.\ r CLUSTONS. 
 
 On our return from the pleasant ramble, teacher Arakeal, 
 with a number of lads, and a few Protestant friends, came, by 
 invitation of the missionary and his wife, to spend the 
 evening. 
 
 Pleasant conversation and singing, of which the people 
 never weary, accompanied by the melodeon, caused the 
 time to pass very swiftly, and brought us nearer to each 
 other in the bonds of Christian love and sympathy. We had a 
 long talk about the " smoking mania ;" and Mr. Parsons main 
 tained that if the Protestant brethren would deny themselves 
 the use of tobacco, they could easily sustain their pastor and 
 the school: "Impossible to do without it!" exclaimed 
 one. " We eat less food in consequence," said another. 
 
 Brother Apostle had pledged himself to abstain, but after 
 a trial of two months gave up the attempt. His experience 
 was very different from that of brother Resurrection, who 
 could not endure the atmosphere of the " vile weed," and 
 
NICOMEDIA. 115 
 
 did not drink either tea or coffee. But the controversy was 
 carried on in an excellent spirit, and we had some bits of fun 
 over the discussion of nuts and apples, which followed the 
 dish of graver talk. 
 
 When the little company separated, my mind was more 
 deeply impressed than ever with the necessity of such 
 friendly, familiar, and frequent social intercourse to success 
 fully establish the somewhat abnormal relation of the foreign 
 missionary to the people among whom he dwells. 
 
 My good missionary brother and sister canvassed the oft- 
 discussed and perplexing subject of " missionary policy " 
 with renewed interest, after hearing somewhat of my expe 
 rience at Adabazar. Mr. Parsons set forth the extent and 
 the needs of his great diocese, comprising a wider territory 
 and a greater population than the entire Mission to the Nes- 
 torians of Persia, the Nestorians numbering but 60,000 souls, 
 with a full staff of missionaries, and he was but one man 
 for more than 100,000 Armenians, besides Turks, Greeks, 
 and Jews! He brought out a map which he had prepared, 
 of the plain of Nice, with its teeming towns and villages 
 where sat the famous Ecclesiastical Council of old ; a field 
 ripe for the harvest, but with no laborers for the ingather 
 ing; and invited me to accompany him, at some future 
 time, on a tour through that portion of his field, where hun 
 dreds of Armenian women would gather to hear my words. 
 
 Some years before, the village of Bardezag had been com 
 mitted to the care of faithful preacher Hohannes, and his good 
 wife, and Nicomedia became the missionary residence, and 
 centre of evangelistic work in that region. But with such a 
 vast field to oversee, Mr. Parsons felt it impossible to expend 
 upon the central point the time and strength which he 
 
l6 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 deemed really essential to the best interests and truest devel 
 opment of the outlying districts. There we sisters differ 
 ed from him in opinion ; and though missionary wives are 
 styled " assistant missionaries " at headquarters, and never 
 expected to have any voice in the disposal of vexed ques 
 tions, or the business of the Stations, and the single sisters 
 seem to be an unknown qucuitity, for whom even Paul 
 made no provision ! we did not hesitate to assert our con 
 viction that the centre of missionary operations should 
 receive the most careful culture, from the fact that the sur 
 rounding towns and villages naturally looked to it as their 
 model. We believed that, in the end, it would prove infi 
 nitely better to cultivate thoroughly one portion, which 
 should be fruit-bearinp; and self-propagating, than to merely 
 scratch the surface of half-a-dozen ! But the missionary was 
 strongly impressed with the necessity of freedom and self- 
 control for the infant evangelical churches, and said that he 
 had left the city church, with their pastor, to manage their 
 own affairs. He did not even attend their business meetings, 
 and had no voice in the settlement of questions that might 
 arise, except in so far as they sought his counsel. He had 
 conscientiously carried out his theory of non-interference, 
 believing that they would grow in self-government, and learn 
 by their own mistakes. We, on the contrary, felt that so 
 long as the church was supported by the Board, the mission 
 ary should have a share in the management of its internal 
 economy; and that while "infants," they needed fatherly 
 guidance, if not control. 
 
 Mr. Parsons had, from the first, been an earnest advocate 
 of self-support; his theory was practically this, that the 
 stipend of every preacher should be graded by the cost of 
 
NICOMEDIA. II/ 
 
 living in the place where he labored ; giving him one-third 
 more than the wages of a resident first-class mechanic ; 
 which would not be too much for the people to assume, in 
 due time, and no more than they would be willing to allow 
 their pastor, for their own self-respect. But the old system, 
 still retained in that city, which was more or less under the 
 jurisdiction of Constantinople, allowed the people to make 
 the yearly estimate for their pastor s salary, with a promise 
 to pay a certain proportion. And hitherto they had virtu 
 ally rated it so high, that they paid nothing, year after year ! 
 A very unfortunate education for them those paper prom 
 ises, and crippling to their real growth ; for, true independ 
 ence is the result of manly self-support ; and as a rule, that 
 is most prized which costs most. We concluded that very 
 much depended upon the animus and energy of the pastor 
 who should lead the flock ; and certainly the church under 
 consideration did not present much life or activity. Before 
 we dismissed the subject, the gentle, yet efficient and far-seeing 
 brother, who had long contended for the " apostolic method " 
 of planting the Gospel amid many difficulties and perplex 
 ing antecedents, read to me his late letters to the Missionary 
 House at Boston. The little courtesies, and the delicate at 
 tention which he never failed to bestow, showed a respect 
 and esteem which was very gratefully appreciated ; and his 
 excellent wife, with her clear perceptions, sound judgment, 
 and faithful co-labor, did not fail to receive the honor which 
 was her due as a " full missionary." 
 
 INTERIOR OF MOUNTAIN VILLAGES. 
 One morning, after breakfast, we started to visit some of 
 the villages within two or three hours ride of Nicomedia, and 
 
IlS THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Mr. Parsons took his little daughter before him on his 
 horse. Our narrow path lay up the mountain-side, a part of 
 the way, through a forest of young trees, and a heavy under 
 growth of shrub oak. Wildbriar roses bloomed in profu 
 sion, pinks, "sweet williams," and the blue-eyed orchis, 
 with other familiar home flowers, looked up at us from the 
 way-side, and the hand of the little maiden was frequently 
 outstretched to gather the wild honeysuckle or clematis, 
 whose trailing branches hung over the way. The soft call 
 of the cuckoo sounded sweetly in the cool recesses of those 
 green bowers, and we greatly enjoyed our ride. 
 
 About half-way from the village of Ovajuk, we saw eight 
 women at work in a field, digging the ground, pushing the 
 rude, forked pick, or spade, into the hard soil with their bare 
 feet, while two stalwart men stood by, looking on. 
 
 We passed by two great, lonely farmhouses, owned by 
 some wealthy pasha, who farmed out his extensive lands, 
 receiving in return a certain proportion of the produce. 
 The country was too unsafe for a family to live in such an 
 isolated situation, and the great buildings were only occupied 
 as a lodging-place for laborers. 
 
 On our arrival, we rode to the house of the chief Prot 
 estant, but found only the grandmother and a grandson at 
 home, who was for a time a pupil in the Mission Seminary 
 at Constantinople. He was quite young, but bright, and had 
 " walked straight through geometry " the last year ; but was 
 cut short in his studies, owing to a suspension of the " Secu 
 lar department " of the school. His subsequent course in 
 business, proved that cleverness is not the grand requisite for 
 missionary training. One room of the house was used for 
 Sunday services, conducted by the missionary, or the preacher 
 
NICOMEDIA. 119 
 
 from Nicomedia, and about forty persons usually collected 
 to hear the truth. The people were enlightened, but not 
 converted. 
 
 We visited the school established two years ago by the 
 Old Armenian Church, in opposition to the small school 
 opened by the missionaries in that village, and found a 
 good substantial building, the principal room well lighted by 
 numerous windows. 
 
 The teacher, a young man of pleasing appearance, received 
 us kindly. There were about a hundred pupils present, 
 seated closely on cushions spread upon the floor; twenty 
 girls of the fifty in usual attendance, occupied one corner; 
 and a few advanced pupils were in another room, engaged 
 in " higher studies " with their teacher. 
 
 Taking up a good-sized book, I was surprised to see that 
 it was Scripture history, in modern Armenian. I hastily 
 glanced over a few pages, and was pleased with the valuable 
 compilation of facts, dates, etc., in the spoken language of 
 the people. The pupils were well supplied with those 
 expensive, well-bound volumes, prepared by the Catholic 
 press at Venice ; and I found, upon inquiry, that they had 
 purchased them for themselves ; and the larger girls of 
 eleven and twelve years of age were studying them. A 
 smaller book in the hands of the younger pupils proved to 
 be a brief catechism in modern Armenian. The first few 
 pages contained nothing to which I could not assent; and 
 though there was undoubtedly much error mixed up with 
 the truth, yet the introduction of such books into an Arme 
 nian school was a great advance on the past, and could not 
 fail to pave the way for a more general diffusion of knowl 
 edge, and lead to the study of the pure Word of God. 
 
120 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 An unmistakable sign of the " good time coming " was the 
 fact that not a few schools in connection with the Old Arme 
 nian Church had previously adopted Protestant text-books, 
 which contained the very essence of Christianity ! 
 
 THE VILLAGE CHURCH. 
 
 Leaving the school-house, we visited the church near by 
 a large stone building, capable of accommodating all the 
 villagers. 
 
 "What a nice chapel this would make us!" observed Mr. 
 Parsons, as we glanced at the solid walls and vaulted roof. 
 Its interior was much like that of all the Armenian churches 
 throughout the land. The marks of past prosperity, evident 
 in these structures for which the wealthy had given their 
 money and jewels, and the poor their time and labor were 
 found in the poorest villages. Signs of a deep-rooted super 
 stition met us at every turn, in the rude pictures of Virgin 
 and Saints, and the faint flickering of a few lighted tapers 
 placed before them. The tomb-like atmosphere, never pene 
 trated by a ray of the glorious sun-light, the odor of incense, 
 and the " dim, religious light " (so largely imitated in modern 
 church-buildings at home), carried us back to the dark ages ; 
 for it lacked the breath of moral healthiness ! Cushions and 
 carpets were scattered about upon the matted floor, and a 
 little latticed gallery for women, occupied one end over the 
 porch. 
 
 We paused to examine a large, rude representation of the 
 Judgment, suspended upon the wall of the inner court, oppo 
 site the main entrance. 
 
 The three persons of the Trinity were painted con 
 spicuously in the centre. God the Father, represented as 
 
NICOMEDIA. 121 
 
 the " Ancient of days " a venerable old man, with long, 
 white beard, sitting high over all ; the Spirit, in the usual 
 form of a dove ; and the Son, as a young man, upon the judg 
 ment-seat. On his right hand, and on his left, were throngs 
 of people ; rows of saints as in a gallery above, and those 
 who were being judged, below. 
 
 An angel, with a pair of scales, stood near the throne, and 
 a priest was advancing to be weighed. Those who were 
 found wanting in the balance, were thrust down by an angel 
 on the left hand, into a lake of fire, whose forked flames 
 seemed like so many devouring tongues, writhing to seize 
 their victims ; while those who were tested and approved, 
 were ushered by another angel at the right, through a portal, 
 to the seats of bliss above, to join the crowded ranks of 
 stiffly-seated saints, tier on tier, where angels with trumpets 
 seemed flying about in every direction ! 
 
 The world of woe was crowded by miserable beings, 
 who seemed gnashing their teeth in despair. Upon the 
 forehead of every one was written the sin for which he was 
 doomed : envy, lust, dishonesty, etc., and former instruments 
 of wickedness were evidently employed as means of torture. 
 The miller had his mill-stone hung about his neck, and 
 others were similarly punished, " according to the deeds done 
 in the body ! " Quite a number of priests figured prom 
 inently in the crowd, known by the long beard and cowl, 
 and intermingled, were plenty of hideous fiends, who 
 seemed tormenting the lost. Some of the wicked imps 
 had climbed up on one side, and fastened chains about 
 the necks of those who were yet out of the fire, and were 
 clinging in despair to their vain supports ! and others, 
 with the sharp prongs of their long iron forks, thrust 
 6 
 
122 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 back the wretched creatures who were trying to escape from 
 the flames. 
 
 It was a coarse, horrible caricature, reminding one of 
 Dante s Inferno ; but the pictured lesson was plain ; educat 
 ing conscience, and keeping alive in the minds of the people, 
 a belief in the immortality of the soul, and a final retribution : 
 " For, we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ ; 
 that every one may receive the things clone in his body, 
 according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 
 
 THE AMAZONS. 
 
 The theological students at Bebek, Constantinople, were 
 often employed during their summer vacations, as colpor 
 teurs in the Nicomedia field, and their efforts to spread the 
 truth sometimes resulted in considerable opposition among 
 the people. On one occasion, a violent outbreak had 
 occurred in a little village where a couple of students were 
 at work ; and a week or two after, I accompanied Mr. Par 
 sons to the place. 
 
 We passed through the streets without meeting any insult; 
 but found the roadside leading to the house of the only 
 Protestant where the two students had lodged lined with 
 scraps of paper, shreds of books, and tracts, torn to pieces 
 and scattered to the winds, by a mob of two hundred 
 infuriated women ! They had chosen their time on a mar 
 ket-day, when the men of the place were all absent at an 
 adjoining town ; and came upon the young men in a vine 
 yard, where they were engaged in reading the Bible to some 
 laborers. They were hard-handed, strong-armed women, 
 accustomed to field-labor, and they went at their work 
 with a will ! probably instigated by their Armenian priests, 
 
NICOMEDIA. 123 
 
 for Turkish law does not recognize a woman s indi 
 viduality, and hence she is irresponsible, and meets no pun 
 ishment at its hands. Seizing the young men by the throat, 
 they nearly choked them to death ; and after beating them 
 thoroughly, and almost tearing off their clothing, they left 
 the field with flying banners ! Going next to the Protestant 
 house, the exultant company surrounded it, whi^e a " special 
 committee " tried the strength of their arms upon the poor, 
 lone woman within, giving her a " sound beating " because 
 she harbored the " Protes ! " Then, finding the baskets of 
 books, they tossed them out of the windows to the surging 
 crowd below, who speedily wreaked their vengeance upon 
 the silent, defenceless witnesses for the truth, and sent them 
 flying in tiny fragments through the air! Just as the work 
 of destruction was finished, some one on the look-out heard 
 the sharp creaking of the rude wagons returning from mar 
 ket, and gave the alarm. The women hastened to disperse 
 before the men should arrive and find them at their lawless 
 work. " To me, it was a terrible time ! " said the wife of 
 the Protestant, as she told of the raid upon the house in her 
 husband s absence. " I think I never was so glad to see 
 anybody in my life, as I was my companion when he returned 
 that evening." 
 
 One of the students was so intimidated by the treatment 
 he had received at the hands of the Amazons, that he fled 
 from the field ! The other was made of sterner stuff, and 
 manfully stood by his colors ; but he had something besides 
 " pluck " to sustain him in his lonely position, surrounded 
 by the enemy, and fighting the battles of the Lord single- 
 handed. 
 
 The faith of that young David was better armor 
 
124 TIIE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 than any that the " god of this world " provides for his 
 Goliaths ! 
 
 " I used to think," said Keropo, " that I could never have 
 special fellowship with the martyrs, when admitted to the 
 society of heaven, because I had never suffered persecution ; 
 but after this thing, it comes to me, that I can say to them, 
 * I also am one of your number; for I, like you, have suffer 
 ed for the cause of Christ. " And the ruddy face of the 
 youth beamed with joy as he spoke, reminding me of the 
 words of the apostle to the Gentiles : " From henceforth let 
 no man trouble me ; for I bear in my body the marks of the 
 Lord Jesus." Preacher Hohannes, our old friend, joined us 
 soon after our arrival, and the three men went out to survey 
 the field of battle. While they were gone, four or five women 
 came to see me, and one of them brought a bunch of roses and 
 white lilies as a sort of peace-offering. They were evidently 
 moved by. curiosity, never having seen a foreign mission 
 ary lady, and deprecated any allusion to the outrage of the 
 week or two previous, or an implication that they had a share 
 in it. After quietly listening awhile to the simple exposition 
 of a few verses of Scripture, one of their number, looking 
 out of the window, gave a signal to the others, and they 
 withdrew. She had seen the master of the house in the 
 street, and a moment after he came in and greeted me cor 
 dially. His wife listened to our conversation, but took no 
 part till I mentioned America, when she said, " America^ 
 what s that ? " Before I could reply, her husband showed 
 his superior wisdom by answering, " America is a city as big 
 as Stamboul ! " It was quite as difficult to cause him to under 
 stand the extent and magnitude of our continent, as in the case 
 of some more learned ones beyond the sea, who have never 
 seen it with their own eyes ! 
 
NICOMEDIA. 125 
 
 By-and-by the surveying party returned, fully satisfied 
 that retreat was out of the question ; the field was to be won 
 for Christ at all hazards. Satan had been roused because he 
 saw his kingdom in danger; and there was reason for en 
 couragement instead of despondency. Such zeal and energy 
 in behalf of their old superstitions gave promise of equal 
 earnestness as working Christians, when the people should 
 accept the truth. 
 
 It was long after midday, and the good wife hastened to 
 place before us a tray of food. Thin cakes of dark, unleav 
 ened bread were placed around the edge, and a dish of 
 poached eggs in the centre ; but there were neither forks or 
 spoons with which to partake of it. My morning ride had 
 given me an appetite, but how to secure my portion was a 
 puzzle. In this dilemma, I watched my companions, and 
 saw them double bits of bread and use each as a scoop or 
 ladle. I imitated their example, but the eggs were only 
 slightly cooked, and each dainty morsel that I sought to 
 secure, "fell out by the way ! " Meanwhile, the supply was 
 rapidly diminishing, for four hearty men were dipping into 
 the one dish. Despairing of my futile attempts, I observed 
 the preacher more narrowly, and noticed that he so inclined 
 his head, that the transfer of food to the mouth was a very 
 short journey, accomplished by a quick, skillful movement, 
 which left little chance for escape. I followed suit success 
 fully, at last, just as the dish was being emptied of its con 
 tents ! The next course was a pan of soured, curdled milk, for 
 which black wooden spoons were provided, but I finished my 
 repast with the black bread alone. After the meal was con 
 cluded, the Bible was brought, and we had prayers. Preacher 
 Hohannes read a portion of I. Peter, third and fourth chap 
 ters, and wisely commented upon the words : " If ye suffer 
 
126 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 for righteousness sake, happy are ye : be not afraid of their 
 terror, neither be troubled: For it is better, if the will of 
 the Lord be so, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil- 
 doing : But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a 
 thief, or an evil-doer, or as a busy-body in other men s 
 matters : Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him 
 not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf." 
 
 Passing through another village, on our return, we met a 
 number of women engaged in spinning, preparing bulgoor, 
 and other domestic employments in the streets. They 
 saluted us, and inquired why we did not stay longer. I 
 commenced speaking to some of them about spiritual things, 
 when one said, " Come now, sit down and talk to us ; what 
 is the need of your going so soon ? " After speaking a few 
 moments of the food and raiment that God had provided 
 for the soul, which has another life to live, I promised 
 to come again and stay longer, and they bade me " go with 
 good." 
 
 Not far from Nicomedia, w r e came upon a cluster of 
 deserted buildings, falling to decay, which told a sad story 
 of Turkish stupidity, and envy that overreached and pun 
 ished itself. 
 
 It was the old story of the dog in the manger. Enterprising 
 Englishmen had, about ten years before, successfully estab 
 lished a manufactory for superior " broadcloths " from the 
 fine wool of that region, especially that of Angora, so famous 
 for its length and silky texture. They had brought their 
 families, and were peaceful citizens, a source of revenue to 
 the Government, and of employment to numbers of people, 
 aiding the missionary work by their sympathy and influence. 
 But Turkish officials took alarm at their prosperity, and the 
 
NICOMEDIA. 127 
 
 Government compelled them to abandon the work at a great 
 loss. 
 
 ANOTHER TRIP TO BARDEZAG. 
 
 Six or seven years had passed since my first visit to Bar- 
 dezag, and I was reminded of Paul s words to Barnabas : 
 " Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where 
 we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they 
 do." 
 
 Saturday afternoon, at three o clock, I started in company 
 with Hovsep, and while waiting at a shop, B. Kerope came 
 along with a packet of letters from Constantinople. I opened 
 it, and found one for myself from the home-land. We crossed 
 the Gulf in a rude sail-boat, like those used on the sea of 
 Galilee in the time of our Savior ; and I looked with inter 
 est upon the " hinder part " of the " small ship," where one 
 could crawl in to sleep "upon a pillow." 
 
 There were twelve passengers besides the three men who 
 managed the boat; and while the sun was going down, I 
 read my letter, looking up now and then to enjoy the soft 
 rippling of the blue waters, and the lights and shadows play 
 ing upon the " everlasting hills " which lifted their heads 
 around the horizon. We found it difficult to procure a 
 horse on the other side, and I had decided to walk the few 
 miles, and started off, but was called back to mount a pack- 
 saddle, fastened upon what seemed a bundle of bones ! The 
 unnatural position was very uncomfortable, and I did not 
 envy my Oriental sisters their freedom to ride "otherwise." 
 
 The summit of the mountain in the distance before us, 
 was lighted up by wood-fires, looking like a volcano with 
 streams of red-hot lava pouring down its sides. 
 
 It was late when we reached the village, and picked our 
 
128 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 way along the dark, narrow streets, till we drew up before 
 the pastor s house the -same formerly occupied by the mis 
 sionary family ; he and his wife and children, whom I had 
 known in Constantinople, came out to welcome me, and 
 when I was refreshed by a cup of tea, some of the brethren 
 and sisters came in with warm greetings, to enjoy a good 
 talk. 
 
 After family worship, a bed was spread for me upon the 
 floor of the room where we had spent the evening, and I 
 was left to rest. 
 
 Early the next morning, I was awakened by the sweet 
 sound of the Sabbath-bell ! It was the gift of some church 
 or Sunday-school at home, for the new chapel ; and its 
 echoes among those mountains, sent a gush of gratitude 
 through my heart. There were no Turks living in that vil 
 lage to forbid the innovation, and that accounted for the 
 novel fact. 
 
 Soon after sunrise, the people answered to the call, and 
 assembled for a lesson in the catechism ; breakfast came at 
 Si o clock, after prayers brown bread, cheese, and stewed 
 quince preaching at n o clock, followed by a church- 
 meeting. And after the dinner of meat-stew, with bulgoor, 
 or cracked wheat, cheese, and bread, seventy-seven women 
 came to our meeting. The pastor s wife talked and prayed, 
 and afterward took subscriptions for their " Benevolent 
 Society," while I looked on and listened. Another preach 
 ing service followed at 3 o clock, which seemed dry and 
 prosy, and I could scarcely keep awake ; after that the 
 Sunday-school, which was very interesting. 
 
NICOMEDIA. 129 
 
 CHANGES. 
 
 Many changes had taken place since I last gathered with 
 that people. Good Amooja was not there to welcome my 
 coming. He had accomplished his earthly work and -war 
 fare "faithful unto death" but his memorial "stones" 
 were firmly embedded in the foundation of the new and 
 commodious chapel. The people were perched upon high 
 seats, during the Sunday services, and seemed uncomforta 
 ble in the strange position. A number of the men, and 
 women also, drew up their feet, and sat upon them, accord 
 ing to their custom; and there were empty seats in the 
 large audience-room, and an occasional bonnet and dress in 
 European style in imitation of the pastor s wife and one or 
 two others from Stamboul : and the pastor s discourse lacked 
 the freshness and animation of the former preacher; and 
 there was not the same earnest, wide-awake attention on the 
 part of the people ; I saw several persons nodding, and 
 others looking around during the sermon. Altogether, the 
 change seemed not for the better. I longed for the " good 
 old times " in the little, dingy, crowded chapel, when the 
 people sat down together (as in all Eastern places of wor 
 ship), and heart responded to heart, and Christ s disciples 
 were in the fervor of their " first love," and had lost none 
 of their childlike simplicity. Could it be possible that the 
 " noble vine " planted by God s hand " wholly a right 
 seed," and giving promise of much fruit, had already begun 
 to degenerate ? The thought was too painful. 
 
 "Little foxes "had indeed entered that vineyard of the 
 Lord, and injured the vines, with their "tender grapes." 
 Some " stone of stumbling " caused a partial division in the 
 
130 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 church ; it was a slight thing, and might easily have been 
 healed at first ; but it grew, and finally resulted in a rupture 
 between the preacher and his people, and he sadly left them, 
 to. labor in another place. 
 
 It afterward appeared, that the trouble might have been 
 averted, if Hohannes had been settled as their pastor, 
 receiving his support in part, or as a whole, from the people, 
 which he at last offered to do, expecting to live accordingly 
 (although his home and surroundings were exceedingly plain 
 and simple). But the marriage between preacher and people 
 had been too long delayed, and the betrothment was the more 
 easily broken ! It seemed a sad mistake ; and mistakes are 
 far more fatal when foundations are being laid, than after 
 ward. But the missionary was away, spending much of his 
 time and strength in other portions of his immense field ; 
 and the matter seemed too far advanced for settlement 
 when it came before him. The remedy was sought in 
 installing a pastor over them at an early day ; he was 
 elderly, and experienced a good man, but the union lacked 
 its vital element love ! 
 
 A longer stay, and a deeper insight, revealed some pleas- 
 anter changes, and rebuked my want of faith. Sunday 
 evening a brother came in who seemed another Amooja ; the 
 people looked up to him as a holy man, and I was told of 
 his rising in the night, and going by himself to read, and 
 think, and pray; that he said to his brethren, " If you want 
 to know what happiness is, you must do the same ! " " His 
 wife, a pleasant woman, and his five children, sit in a room 
 together, every evening, and each repeats a hymn, and prays. 
 Lemuel peddles calico, and preaches the Gospel to all the 
 women, and they like him ; and everybody sees a great 
 
NICOMEDIA. 131 
 
 change in him since he became a true Christian," said the 
 friends who were telling me the story. 
 
 On Monday I visited the new r silk factory, with my hostess, 
 and found sixty ignorant and indolent girls there employed ; 
 a field for Christian work ! As we were passing along the 
 streets, a number of women who were spreading bulgoor on 
 sheets to dry, or doing their family washing, said to me, 
 significantly, " You do not do such work ; you are rich ! " 
 The remark revealed one of the hinderances in the way of 
 the Missionary. Of work which is not physical, the people 
 have not the faintest conception ! It brought to mind a 
 speech made in my hearing, when but a child, by a narrow- 
 minded old farmer who earned his bread by the sweat of his 
 brow : that " Ministers should work for their living as well 
 as other people ! " and threw additional light on the vexed 
 question of ministerial support. 
 
 THE WORK AMONG THE WOMEN. 
 
 We visited several Protestant families, and I asked the 
 sisters how they had gone on in their way heavenward. They 
 confessed that their love had grown cold, and that they often 
 asked themselves, " Where is our first love ? " One of the 
 brethren came in while we were talking, and said that chil 
 dren, work, and care had kept them back ; but I told them 
 that earthly cares should lead them nearer to Christ. That 
 they should blend Him with all their daily life ; tell Him all 
 their troubles, and get help from the only source of strength. 
 
 It was sweet to talk to them of Christ as the Burden- 
 bearer, and ever-present Helper; and they thanked me 
 repeatedly, and hoped that they should grow in grace here 
 after. 
 
132 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 After supper, I called to see the father of one of my pupils, 
 a man of some property, but close and avaricious, and 
 had a long talk with him about his daughter. He was a 
 Protestant, but not a living Christian ; and after appealing 
 to higher motives, I was compelled to work upon his pride 
 and ambition : telling him that I must report at home what 
 his daughter was doing. That he had been at little or no 
 expense for her during the four years she was at school, and 
 that she was now under obligation to employ her time and 
 talents for the Lord. 
 
 The force of example was also brought to bear upon him, 
 in the case of another Protestant father, similarly situated, 
 who established his daughter in a school mostly at his own 
 expense. The man proved a " tough subject ; " he had set his 
 face like a flint against Noonia s attempts to teach, and the 
 mother was equally worldly, calling all her daughter s plans 
 for usefulness, laziness ; telling her that her desire to go 
 to meeting, give lessons, etc., was merely to get rid of 
 work ! 
 
 In the estimation of both parents, nothing was of much 
 worth that did not promote thrift, and the increase of worldly 
 goods. But the father finally surrendered, threw down his 
 arms, and promised his consent to the daughter s teaching a 
 school, and some assistance towards paying for the room ! 
 
 A rather uncouth, yet honest and kindly Protestant couple 
 from Tamluk, spent the evening at the pastor s, and I greatly 
 enjoyed hearing them tell of the progress of truth in that 
 region. After family worship they left, and " Mrs. Variety " 
 had the divan-cover gathered up and taken away, with a sig 
 nificant look, which I understood. 
 
 She said, in apology, that she was frequently obliged to do 
 
NICOMEDIA. 133 
 
 this, to prevent the scattered vermin from collecting upon 
 her children, a thing which I had never yet seen a mission 
 ary lady do, though one of the trials of life in that land. 
 Even in Constantinople, I had sometimes known a missionary 
 to be compelled to change his clothing after a Sunday ser 
 vice. But, as a general rule, " native helpers," accustomed 
 all their lives to the " plagues of Egypt," make far more ado 
 about the trial, in their evangelistic tours, than a foreign 
 missionary, to whom the self-denial is tenfold greater. 
 
 It was good to meet again a company of women in the 
 former chapel-room. As of old, the floor was thickly covered 
 with mothers and children ; and after the usual exercises, I 
 started the inquiry as to how many could read, and found, 
 to my sorrow, that but a small proportion of those present 
 had learned. Commencing with the oldest, I begged her to 
 promise me that she would give at least fifteen minutes a day 
 to the task. She said that she was too old ; but at last prom 
 ised to give some time, and I held her to the fifteen minutes. 
 Next, her son s wife, and so on, enlisting all who could read, 
 to teach the others. This they promised to do, and the 
 work of selection commenced. 
 
 Those who were scarcely beyond Aip, Pen, Kim, A. B. 
 C. were to teach the letters to beginners. 
 
 It was a lively scene; the room was rilled with the hum of 
 voices, in eager consultation ; the waters were stirred, and a 
 new life seemed to move the mass. I told them that I should 
 take a list of their names, and hold them to their promise ; 
 that Marta would write me of the result, and if God willed, 
 I would come again, and see for myself. " O, yes," they all 
 exclaimed ; " come, and stay longer the next time ! " There 
 were a number of Armenian women present from the Old 
 
134 THE UOMANCK OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Church, and one of them invited me to visit their school for 
 girls, which I promised to do. 
 
 After a serious conversation with two mothers who seemed 
 to spend much time in adorning the persons of their little 
 ones, while they neglected the instruction of their hearts and 
 minds, \ve separated, with many thanks from all, and a hearty 
 God-speed in my work for the Master. 
 
 MART A. 
 
 One of the bright little girls whom I selected, at the close 
 of my first visit in Bardezag, for training in our Mission- 
 school, had finished her course of study, and was a success 
 ful teacher in her native village ; and, before I saw for 
 myself the precious fruit of Christian culture, Mr. Parsons 
 had written most cheering testimony concerning Marta s 
 usefulness : 
 
 " I am very much pleased with the order and prompt 
 obedience maintained in her school, and the manifest interest 
 of the pupils in their studies. Marta is fond of children and 
 of her work. Her interesting Scripture-lessons will never 
 be forgotten, because her heart, her very soul, seems to go 
 with them as the chief element ; and the soul-nourishment 
 which they become will appear in after-growth. She is the 
 best teacher we have had in Bardezag. 
 
 " Her labors out of school are also very promising of 
 good. Taking a few tracts, she goes out where the women 
 and children are found, in the mulberry orchards, under the 
 pear trees, and in the vineyards. Wherever she goes, she is 
 welcomed, and her instructions and tracts are most gratefully 
 received. She has ten adults under instruction, who receive 
 regular lessons in reading at their houses. Her six days 
 
NICOMEDIA. 135 
 
 work is happily crowned by the Sabbath s more abundant 
 labors. One-half of the school-room is filled with middle- 
 aged women, young women, and girls. The other half is 
 nearly filled with children, under the instruction of Nocnia, 
 with the little aid which Marta s presence affords. Last 
 Sunday, Noonia had thirty little girls in her class. One of 
 the brethren has the little boys, and the pastor s wife an 
 other class of women upstairs. After the Sabbath services, 
 Marta occasionally goes to the further end of the town, and 
 holds a meeting for the women of that quarter. 
 
 " They urge her to come regularly, because it is so far to 
 the chapel, and they have to pass through so many crowded 
 streets, that they cannot come. Her head and heart are 
 full of plans for doing good. 
 
 " I told her of the congregation we had yesterday in 
 Ovajuk, where the women were so fierce in their opposition ; 
 and she asked if she could not go there to work during the 
 fifteen days vacation which she expects to have in August. 
 Noonia is also trying to do good. She has a circle of ten 
 women, whom she teaches to read, besides her work in the 
 Sunday-school. But her situation at home is very trying. 
 Her parents are both worldly, and her mother has no religion 
 with her worldliness, and hinders her in every possible way. 
 Could Noonia have more command of her time, she would 
 do a great deal of good. She acknowledges that she is often 
 restive under the restraints laid upon her, and sometimes 
 gets angry and makes improper replies to unkind remarks 
 made by her mother. But she appears to be striving to 
 overcome herself and do her duty. Marta will be a great 
 help to her." 
 
136 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 HE CHEN A. 
 
 Quite a little romance attaches to the history of Hechena, 
 or Helena, the brightest and most attractive of the three girls 
 educated for Bardezag. 
 
 A fine-looking young theologue, at Constantinople, had 
 nearly completed his course of study, and was appointed to 
 a field of labor. He naturally sought a help-meet, and his 
 choice fell upon Helena, whose excellent letters of advice to 
 her brother in the Seminary, containing apt quotations from 
 "Wayland s Moral Science," he had occasionally been al 
 lowed to see. Opportunity was afforded for a slight personal 
 acquaintance between the two, and a formal (written) prop 
 osition was made by the young man to Helena s widowed 
 mother and a pious uncle, who acted as her guardian. The 
 affair was pending for some time. Finally, it was agreed to 
 let it remain in statu quo for two years, till they should see 
 how the young man would turn out. In speaking of it after 
 ward, the uncle observed : " One can t tell, nowadays, 
 whether a man will be stable and remain true to his profes 
 sion, or not. Who knows ? Asadoor may turn aside from 
 preaching and become a doctor, or go into some other 
 business. If it was B. Alexan, now! I would give her to 
 him in a minute." 
 
 The remark reached the ear of the young preacher at 
 Adabazar. His people had long been anxious that he 
 should take unto himself a wife ; and, in fact, they would 
 not settle him as their pastor till he should marry some one 
 in that region; they fcired that a wife whose friends lived 
 at a distance would in time draw him from his people. B. 
 Alexan had seen the maiden ; he was pleased with the spirit 
 
NICOMEDIA. 137 
 
 manifested by her guardians, and came, post-haste, to secure 
 the prize. He took no preliminary steps ; " conferred not 
 with flesh and blood ;" but, walking directly into the room 
 where Helena sat with her sewing, at once offered his heart 
 and hand, quite startling the gentle girl by his abrupt 
 wooing a marked contrast to the courting done by proxy 
 in that place, six years before ! The marriage was celebrated 
 with more than usual " pomp and circumstance," and there 
 were great rejoicings in both towns over the auspicious 
 event. Helena s mother possessed some property, and she 
 procured her daughter s "tocher," or bridal outfit, from 
 Constantinople, purchasing a couple of silk dresses and a 
 gold watch, among other things. But the dear young bride 
 was a true Christian, and, when once settled in her new 
 home, among her husband s people, she laid aside the finery 
 which was not of her own seeking, adopted the ordinary 
 dress of the women, and gave her heart and soul to the 
 work of a pastor s wife, at home, in the Sunday-school, and 
 among the families, winning all hearts by her bright face 
 and modest, gentle deportment. B. Alexan was soon in 
 stalled over the church at Adabazar, and had the honor of 
 being the first pastor in the " Western Turkey Mission," 
 who relinquished his more liberal and sure salary from the 
 American Board, and accepted whatever his own people 
 would give for his support. But it required considerable 
 self-denial on his part the " wearing an old coat, for 
 Christ s sake," and other domestic economies, which in time 
 might become irksome, unless his people should keep pace 
 with him in Christian growth, and learn that the preacher 
 earns his due, as much as the doctor, the lawyer, or the 
 baker; and that every member of the church and congrega- 
 
138 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 tion is under unquestionable moral obligation to pay his 
 proportion; and that it is as truly dishonesty not to do it as 
 it would be to occupy a seat in a steamer and refuse to pay 
 the fare ! For, " Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they 
 which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel." " Who 
 goeth a warfare any time at his own charges ? Who planteth 
 a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who 
 feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock ? " 
 Which plain and faithful truths it was very unlikely the 
 young pastor would preach to his flock, from the same 
 sensitiveness and lack of moral courage which has kept a 
 large proportion of ministers at home unduly silent on the 
 subject, resulting not only in their meagre maintenance, but 
 also in immense loss to the cause of Christ, from the popular 
 impression that the support of the Gospel is a CHARITY ! 
 
 A SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 
 
 There was a large and flourishing school connected with 
 the Old Armenian Church in Bardezag, and the teacher of 
 the Protestant day-school for boys (who was on friendly 
 terms with its superintendent) offered to accompany me 
 thither. I was hardly prepared to see so lofty and noble a 
 school-room as that into which we were ushered, on our 
 arrival. The head teacher met us with many salaams, and 
 conducted us to a divan upon the dais, opposite the door. 
 There were thirty-two windows in the spacious apartment ; 
 these were very high, and thrown wide open on either side, 
 making the ventilation perfect. The air of the room was as 
 fresh, as it was surprising, in a country where no attention is 
 paid to sanitary surroundings ! Three rows of low desks, 
 conspicuously numbered, were ranged on opposite sides, and 
 
NICOMEDIA. 139 
 
 their occupants sat cross-legged upon cushions placed on 
 the floor, while rows of less favored boys filled a portion of 
 the space beyond, their " walking apparatus " doubled up 
 under them for seats ! I entered into conversation with the 
 superintendent, a fine-looking man, who reclined at his ease 
 upon the divan; he told me that there were not far from 
 two hundred pupils present, but the entire number on their 
 list was five hundred. 
 
 They were bright, substantial-looking boys, altogether the 
 most promising set I had seen collected in Turkey. 
 
 " Surely," T thought, " here must be a school that is worth 
 something, after all." I inquired what was taught in the 
 school, found that it was little more than reading, writing, and 
 the ancient Armenian grammar, and asked the head teacher 
 if he would kindly allow me to hear one of the recitations. 
 He politely consented, and I was not a little startled and 
 amused when the assistant, whom he had directed to call a 
 class, sang out, in loud, explosive tones, " No. 81 ! No. 100 ! 
 Brethren ! Beloved ! " Following this general and deliber 
 ate announcement with a string of names which rattled off 
 from his tongue like so many small shot, after the booming 
 of a cannon. ; Brother Moses, brother Abraham, David, 
 Daniel, Aaron, Shadrach, Solomon, Isaiah, and Abed-nego," 
 ending the Old Testament saints with a sprinkling of apos 
 tles and martyrs ; till I almost expected to see a company of 
 ancient worthies come trooping before us in answer to the 
 call. 
 
 The boys marched out in military order, formed a semi 
 circle around the platform, and made a low salaam in 
 concert. They presented a striking contrast to the same 
 class of lads in our schools at home, with their closely-shaven 
 
140 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 heads, loose jackets, bagging trowsers, and bulky girdles, 
 after the fashion of their fathers. 
 
 The teacher called upon " brother Paul " to read. He 
 stepped forward, made a graceful salutation, and commenced 
 reading in stentorian voice. I perceived that he was read 
 ing the classical ancient Armenian, which is very much to 
 them what Latin is to us, and asked the teacher if the boy 
 understood what he read. " Not much," was the reply. 
 " But have you no dictionary to aid your pupils in the study 
 of words ? " " No ; there is nothing of the kind in our 
 schools." "But surely, the teacher explains to the pu 
 pils the meaning of v/hat they read ? " The subject was 
 evidently distasteful, and I was answered with an equivocal 
 shrug of the shoulders. I could scarcely restrain my right 
 eous indignation at a system which doomed those fine lads 
 to utter ignorance, beneath a show of learning ! The " mod 
 ern Armenian " had no place in the school ; there were no text 
 books in the vernacular. When the class had retired, I told 
 the teacher something of the course of study pursued in 
 American schools ; and that in our school for Armenian 
 girls, at Stamboul, we taught not only reading and writing 
 in the spoken language of the people, but also grammar, 
 arithmetic, geography, history, map-drawing, a little natural 
 philosophy, astronomy, etc., besides singing by note, and 
 instruction in needle-work. That the Word of God was 
 the chief text-book, because it alone is able to make us wise 
 unto salvation, and that we esteemed it the foundation of all 
 true wisdom. 
 
 I went on to speak of" the grand results produced by an 
 education which, putting the key to all knowledge into the 
 hands of the young, trains them to think. 
 
NICOMEDIA. 141 
 
 But the teacher again shrugged his shoulders, saying, with 
 a peculiar grimace, " Ench unnenk? what can we do? Our 
 fathers did thus, and so we ! " Taking courage, I rejoined, 
 " If these boys were taught something that they could under 
 stand, they would like to come to school, which you say they 
 do not now. Their minds would expand and grow, and 
 you would soon see a great change in your village. 
 
 " For lack of this, you are behind all other nations in the 
 march of progress. Educate these boys in the true way, 
 and you will see better buildings, broader, cleaner streets, 
 and finer manufactories in all your towns and villages. In 
 time, it would change the face of the whole land. The 
 wonderful labor-saving machines, by which one roan can 
 now perform the work of fifty or a hundred, were invented 
 by those who were once boys, in the schools of England and 
 America." 
 
 The six teachers had gathered around, some of them sitting 
 upon the steps at our feet, looking up with earnest, respect 
 ful attention, and only putting in a word, or uttering an ex 
 clamation now and then, as I described some of the wonder 
 ful inventions of the age, wrought out by minds that had 
 been thus trained. I afterwards wondered at my temerity 
 in talking to such a company, in such a place, and at them 
 for listening so politely to a woman! But my mouth was 
 opened, and " filled with arguments," and I waxed warm, if 
 not eloquent, under the inspiration of the scene which that 
 school-room presented. After a pause, one of the teachers 
 remarked, " But our school is good for one thing ; our priests 
 and vartabeds (a higher order) come from these boys !" " Ah ! 
 then that proves that your priests and vartabeds do not 
 themselves understand what they teach the people ! " To 
 
142 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 this they made no reply ; and I proceeded to speak of the 
 Bible, " God s message to all mankind, that no one has a 
 right to deprive them of the privilege of reading it in a 
 language which they can understand; and the hiding it in a 
 dead language is a subtle device of the Evil one." They 
 acknowledged the truth of the statement, gave the usual 
 shrug, and contortion of the face, saying, " What can we do ? 
 It is our custom ! " (An invariable answer among Orientals, 
 when driven into a corner, and considered a sufficient 
 excuse for anything to which one may take exception.) 
 "Yes," I said, "and Satan rejoices that you have such cus 
 toms; he knows that these customs will keep your people in 
 profound ignorance, and ensure their ruin. Your priests 
 should guide their flocks in the way to heaven ; but so long 
 as they cannot know the way themselves, they are, as Christ 
 said, * blind leaders of the blind ! They seemed exceed 
 ingly interested, and not at all offended with my plain speak 
 ing; and the Protestant teacher who had preferred to remain 
 silent during the prolonged conversation, expressed great 
 pleasure and surprise at the opportunity afforded for a 
 presentation of so much truth. Two of the teachers had 
 been reading the Bible in modern Armenian, and seemed 
 somewhat enlightened, but threw the blame of what they 
 confessed was a wrong state of things, upon the "fathers," 
 and the " heads " or rulers of the nation. When we rose to 
 depart, they courteously attended us to the door, and ex 
 pressed their thanks with Oriental politeness. We begged 
 permission to visit the school for girls, which was granted, 
 after some hesitation, and many apologies for its appearance. 
 
NICOMEDIA. 143 
 
 THE MINOR PROPHETS, AND THE SCHOOL 
 FOR GIRLS. 
 
 One of the assistants guided us to a room below, where 
 we found another and younger collection of boys, almost 
 equal in numbers to those above. There was but one teacher, 
 and an assistant who walked about, rod in hand, constantly 
 touching up the youngsters, who were thickly huddled 
 together upon the floor. Some of the little ones, not more 
 than three years old, were fast asleep. " I used to come here 
 when a little fellow," said the Protestant teacher, " and many a 
 time was I put to sleep by the rod ! You see, many of the 
 mothers send their little ones to school merely to get them out 
 of the way ; and if they sleep, it is so much clear gain to the 
 teacher ! " Poor little fellows ! my thoughts went back to 
 the large, airy room appropriated to that class of children 
 (boys and girls) in the " Graded School " of my native 
 town ; the learning to read, in concert, from letters printed 
 on the black-board, in combinations representing familiar 
 things ; the singing, and marching, and clapping of hands, 
 and the Object-lessons, which varied the usual exercises; the 
 frequent recesses, and lively games in the beautiful play 
 ground (in which their teacher often joined), and the pleas 
 ant little story which always finished the day, and sent them 
 home with a moral lesson impressed upon their tender 
 hearts. What a blessed, holy work is that of the first 
 teacher ! What a preparation for future usefulness on a 
 broader scale ! 
 
 " Up to me, sweet childhood looketh ; 
 Heart, and mind, and soul awake ! 
 Teach me, for their sake, O Father, 
 For sweet childhood s sake." 
 
144 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 But if my pity was stirred for the boys, my deepest com 
 miseration was excited when I saw the miserable provision 
 made for the girls ! Indeed, it was matter of surprise to 
 find anything in the shape of a school for that despised class 
 in the community. " Teach a girl to read? You might as 
 well teach a cat ! " was said, not only by the Arabs of Syria, 
 but by Armenians, Greeks, Jews, and the other races of 
 Turkeydom, but a few years ago. " What good will reading 
 do a woman ? " they asked. " Will it make her more obe 
 dient to her husband ? No, never ! If the woman thinks 
 she knows something, she will be more perverse and difficult 
 to manage than ever ! And as for the girls, why, if they 
 learn to read and write, they will be writing love-letters the 
 first thing!" 
 
 I was reading a newspaper in the cabin of a Turkish 
 steamer, on the Bosphorus, one summer day, when a Turk 
 of the old school, who had evidently been for some time 
 watching the to him strange proceeding, crossed over to 
 my escort, and eagerly inquired, as he nodded his head in 
 my direction, " Can she read? can she read?" On being 
 answered in the affirmative, and assured that I could also 
 write, his wonder knew no bounds, and he returned to his 
 seat, muttering " Mash Allah ! Mash Allah ! " God is great. 
 
 With renewed apologies for the appearance of the place, we 
 were conducted to a tumble-down old building in another 
 and a poorer neighborhood. I scarcely dared trust myselt 
 upon the rickety staircase. We passed through the open 
 door-way into a low, dark room, filled with smoke, and the 
 fetid odor from furnaces (for scalding cocoons) across the 
 narrow street. Upon the floor sat a hundred little girls, 
 herded together like a drove of sheep or pigs. At first, no 
 
NICOMEDIA. 145 
 
 teacher was visible ; but when the smoke cleared away a 
 little, I saw a very old man sitting, cross-legged, in one cor 
 ner, smoking his pipe, while a child about six years old was 
 kneeling by the rough wooden bo-x which stood before him, 
 as if waiting for a lesson or command. How unutterably 
 stupid, and devoid of animation seemed that crowd of chil 
 dren ! Poor little creatures ! How could they be anything but 
 dull and heavy, in such a prison-like place, with such a 
 teacher! My heart yearned over them with unspeakable 
 compassion. I longed to waken their sleeping souls; but 
 when I expressed the wish to the Armenian teacher who 
 had accompanied us from the other school, and said a few 
 words about the way in which such children should be 
 taught, he at once replied, " It is impossible! Their mothers 
 do not know anything, and how can they teach them ? The 
 children are stupid, like little animals, they cannot under 
 stand, and if you try, it will be of no use." But I could not 
 leave them without at least one attempt to touch the hidden 
 springs of life, and rouse those little ones from their un 
 natural lethargy ; and turning to the old man trembling in 
 his dotage, requested permission to tell them a story. His 
 speech was very thick, and one could with difficulty under 
 stand his utterances, but I gathered that he was entirely un 
 willing. He said that the children would not pay attention, 
 etc. ; but after he had mumbled out his objections, the Ar 
 menian teacher kindly used his influence ; and finally a reluc 
 tant consent was obtained. Turning to my audience, look 
 ing so like a company of little, worn-out old women I 
 addressed them in their own tongue, asking the attention 
 of every eye. Curiosity was soon awakened, and they 
 listened with fixed attention, while I told them the simple 
 7 
 
146 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 story of a poor pious widow, who had no bread to give 
 her children, one cold winter morning ; but she told 
 them that God would provide, and how her hungry lit 
 tle boy stopped on his way to school, and kneeling down 
 in a corner of the fence by the road-side, asked " our Father 
 in heaven" to send some bread and potatoes. That when 
 he went home, at noon, his little sister met him at the door, 
 with a shining face, to tell of the food that had come ; and 
 he said, " I knew God would send it, for I asked Him ! but 
 did an angel bring it down ?" That God had used a kind lady, 
 who was passing by, and heard the little boy s prayer; and 
 going home, she sent an abundant supply of the bread and 
 potatoes for which he had asked. As I described the scene, 
 the eyes of my little auditors began to kindle with something 
 like life and light ! And then I hastened to tell them of 
 Jesus, who said, " Suffer the little children to come unto Me, 
 and forbid them not ; " and how they might go to Him, in 
 prayer, at all times, and for all things. Not an eye wan 
 dered while I was speaking, and every face bore silent 
 testimony to the existence of a soul which answered to 
 teachings suited to its capacity. Perhaps no one present 
 was more interested or affected than the Armenian teacher 
 His countenance showed it even more than his words, 
 and he told the children to " remember what the lady had 
 said, and when in trouble, to pray to God, in the name of 
 CHRIST !" But I found that he had been reading the Word, 
 and was searching for the truth. 
 
 It appeared that a spirit of rivalry was stirred up among 
 the Armenians, by the Protestant school for girls, and the 
 old man was secured as teacher, because he was too aged and 
 imbecile for any other work, and his services would cost but 
 
NICOMEDIA. 147 
 
 little. The mothers were willing to send their younger girls, 
 solely to keep them out of mischief during the day, while 
 they were at work. Girls of fourteen or fifteen years of age 
 were rarely seen in the village, owing to the fact of their 
 early marriage. 
 
 A TRUE GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 I was much pleased, during my visit of but two or three 
 days, with the way in which the pastor s wife trained her 
 children. It was not often that I had seen a mother excel 
 her, in kind and careful management of her family. There 
 were three or four little ones, besides a son of twelve or 
 fourteen years ; and they were all remarkably obedient, and 
 well-mannered, especially at the table which was prepared 
 in European fashion. The mother was herself a model, in 
 her gentle, lady-like ways; always manifesting a delicate 
 refinement and courtesy, even to the youngest, which would 
 have been an honor to any lady in any land. Zanazan 
 Hanum was the first of her country-women to welcome me 
 to her native land and to my work among her people, when 
 I reached Constantinople; and I had never forgotten her 
 intelligent, interesting countenance, nor the lily-like little 
 child, with the mother s soft brown eyes, who clung so 
 timidly to her hand during our first interview. And I gladly 
 listened to details of her early life and conversion. I knew 
 that her family were once possessed of much wealth and 
 influence ; and family, early surroundings, tell upon charac 
 ter, and leave their impress upon the personal bearing, as 
 truly in the East, as elsewhere. Her father was once the 
 chief iron merchant of Stamboul he had, in fact, a monop 
 oly of the business and lived in the style befitting his rank 
 
148 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and wealth. Zanazan Hanum told me of the awe his pres 
 ence always inspired, when she was a child. How on his 
 return from the city to his home in Bebek, on the Bosphorus, 
 toward evening of each day, every member of the house 
 hold stood in silence when he passed before them. 
 
 Her first lesson in pure Christianity was learned from 
 Mrs. Hamlin, whose home was not far from her father s 
 house. It was a lesson without words! The young girl 
 was attracted by the order and quietness of the household ; 
 the mild, sweet countenance, the gentle voice, and the dress 
 of the missionary lady ; the French prints which she always 
 wore so delicate and chaste in pattern, and so scrupulously 
 neat were a true index of her purity of mind and character.* 
 She was irresistibly drawn to the house, though neither 
 could then speak the language of the other; and frequently 
 saw the " little Henrietta," kneeling by the mother s side, with 
 folded hands, for her evening prayer. The picture, so new 
 and striking, produced a powerful impression upon her mind, 
 and she finally sought an explanation of its meaning from 
 the missionary, Dr. Hamlin ; received the teachings of the 
 Bible, and was led to give her heart to Christ. She was 
 early married, and soon a widow. Her second marriage, to 
 the Protestant pastor, was for some time opposed by her 
 friends; but the family had fallen into decay, and though 
 the brothers still possessed considerable property, it was 
 worth their while to have the sister provided for, and her 
 unswerving persistence at last carried the day. 
 
 Pastor Hohannes der Sahagyan was partially educated in 
 
 * Those who have read that very interesting Memoir, " Light on 
 the Dark River." will recognize this portrait of Mrs. Ilamlin. 
 
NICOMEDIA. 149 
 
 the United States, and was the first, settled pastor in the 
 Evangelical Armenian Church of Turkey. 
 
 OLD CUSTOMS AND NEW IDEAS. 
 The day before I left, I mounted a horse and went alone 
 to the outskirts of the village for a little exercise. I was 
 quite a stranger in that quarter, and before long a crowd of 
 rude boys collected, and commenced throwing stones; at 
 first, I paid no attention, but when a great brick-bat struck 
 my horse, and made him plunge, he suddenly turned upon 
 the crowd, and scattered them like so many frightened 
 sheep. But no sooner had I started down the hill, than the 
 stones again began to fly. By that time, a company of 
 women had gathered to see the sport ; after dashing among 
 the boys, and sending them flying in all directions, I 
 addressed the mothers, and asked them why they did not 
 restrain their children. " What harm am I doing, that 
 they should thus treat me ? Is it not a shame for you to stand 
 by and see my life endangered without interposing a word ? " 
 Some of them hung their heads, and slunk away ; but one, 
 bolder than the rest, took up the gauntlet as their champion, 
 and said, " Don t you want to be like Christ? Don t you 
 want to be holy?" "Of course I do," was my reply. 
 "Well, then," she argued, "you should be willing to suffer 
 persecution, and not make a fuss about a few stones! " I 
 was inwardly amused at her curious logic, but told her that I 
 did not think persecuting me would help them to be holy, or 
 Christ-like ! and I did not intend to exercise their disinter 
 ested benevolence on my behalf ! 
 
 . Riding off in another direction, I came upon a threshing- 
 floor, where the patient oxen were slowly treading out the 
 
I5O THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 wheat, and dragging a heavy sledge-like instrument, the 
 underside of which was thickly set with sharp pieces of 
 flint, reminding one of the passage in Isaiah : " I will make 
 thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth." At 
 another place, they were winnowing wheat, by casting it up 
 in the air, and letting the wind take away the chaff. " The 
 ungodly are like the chaff which the wind driveth away." 
 Many women were busily employed in the harvest-fields, and 
 some of them recognized me as the missionary teacher from 
 Stamboul ; and, greatly to my surprise, very innocently 
 saluted me as " kahana " priest ; ignorant of the true title 
 which should be given to a woman who teaches Christ to 
 her own sex, and confused in their ideas of a new order of 
 things. 
 
 The pastor accompanied me to Nicomedia. We crossed 
 the Gulf in the sail-boat with a number of other passengers. 
 When about half-way across, our fare was taken, and soon 
 after I saw the boatmen counting over the money, and seem 
 ing somewhat perplexed. By-and-by one of them said, 
 " Somebody has paid too much ! " One and another of the 
 passengers asserted their innocence, and at last the pastor 
 rather reluctantly confessed that he was the man. They 
 offered to refund the piastre or two, but he politely waived 
 the subject, and afterward remarked to me, " One in my 
 position is often obliged to pay a little more than others." 
 " But they evidently did not expect it, and were surprised," 
 I replied. He merely said that the boatman was a stranger, 
 and did not know him. And I dropped a few words about 
 educating people to expect more pay ; that I was sure the 
 missionaries did not feel compelled to take that course ; to 
 which he made no reply. I noticed, on our arrival at the 
 
NICOMEDIA. 151 
 
 landing, that he gave his satchel (which was not large) to a 
 boy to carry for him. 
 
 Lator is considered degrading in the East. The Turks 
 and Armenians look on with wonder to see the American 
 missionary carrying his own packages, or using a hoe in his 
 garden if he be so happy as to have a little spot to culti 
 vate. "You missionaries can do it; for your position is 
 settled ; but we cannot ! " has been sometimes said by 
 " helpers " whose traveling expenses were found to exceed 
 those of the missionaries, for the same tour. Self-help, 
 self-maintenance, will in due time work a cure for this false 
 pride ; when a truer, broader education has elevated labor 
 to its true dignity, and made it honorable in all. 
 
 It was a long and weary ascent to the summit of the hill 
 upon which the city of Nicomedia is built; and, quite out 
 of breath, we reached the door of the old Turkish house 
 occupied by the missionary family ; it speedily flew open ; 
 the pattering of little feet was heard upon the stairs, and the 
 children met us, followed by their pleasant, black-eyed 
 mother; and I was soon at home, resting upon the divan of 
 the family-room, the windows of which commanded a fine 
 view of the Gulf of Nicomedia and the blue sea beyond. 
 
 LAST GLEANINGS AND GLIMPSES OF NICOMEDIA. 
 
 A dear Christian sister had begged me to visit her aged 
 mother-in-law, and, before leaving the city, I went down the 
 hillside to her house. The old lady still retained her con 
 nection with the Armenian Church, but seemed to be halting 
 between the old, and the new way, not knowing which to 
 choose, but sometimes going to one church and sometimes 
 to the other, hoping that between the two she would be safe. 
 
152 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Dear old soul ! my heart went out to her in tender compas 
 sion, for the journey of life was nearly ended, and she was 
 only waiting for the summons from the other side. After a 
 while, our conversation became very serious, and I was led 
 to set the only way of salvation before her so plainly that 
 she would be without excuse if she never heard more. She 
 repeatedly wiped the tears from her faded eyes, and at last 
 said, with apparent feeling: " I will confess to you just as I 
 would to my priest. I have such a wicked heart ; what can 
 I do with it ? " " Take it to Jesus ; He came for sinners, 
 not the righteous. Go to Him just as you are, and let Him 
 save you. Repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and thou shalt be saved, is God s own word, not mine." 
 While we were conversing, the daughter sat by, listening 
 with a countenance which betokened deep interest and sym 
 pathy. When I arose to leave, she came to me and ex 
 pressed much gratitude, saying, " The Lord sent you to 
 speak to her." The old lady followed me downstairs, and 
 even out into the street, thanking me again and again for 
 my words. Their house was in the Armenian quarter, and 
 Soorpohi, the daughter, promised to gather the children for 
 an hour of instruction in the Bible every Sunday. 
 
 Nicomedia was twice overturned by earthquakes, in the 
 second and fourth centuries. Perhaps the sun never shone 
 upon more horrible persecutions than were enacted within 
 its walls during the reign of Diocletian the " era of mar 
 tyrs." The ruthless Emperor used every device which 
 fiendish ingenuity could suggest, to " crush out " Chris 
 tianity. " Houses filled with Christians were set on fire, 
 and droves of them were bound together with ropes and cast 
 into the sea." For ten long years the unrelenting perse- 
 
NICOMEDIA. 153 
 
 cutor, like a thirsty bloodhound, hunted down his helpless 
 victims. The climax was reached when, on a Christmas 
 morning, he caused a church filled with worshipping Chris 
 tians, to be securely fastened, closing every avenue of escape, 
 and then set fire to the building, and consumed them all in 
 one horrible holocaust ! A few years later, and Nicomedia 
 was demolished, and its inhabitants buried in its ruins, by a 
 fearful earthquake, as if earth shuddered at the cruel deeds, 
 and sought to bury within her bosom the terrible record. 
 And, till the sea shall give up its dead, what fearful secrets 
 are hidden in its depths ! Under the Emperor Gratian, 
 eighty Christian fathers were put into a ship, which was set 
 on fire, and then driven out to sea, at Nicomedia, A.D. 370. 
 Modern excavations have brought to light many vestiges of 
 past ages in that fated city, reminding one of the prayer of 
 Job : " Oh, earth ! cover thou not my blood ! " 
 
 Passing through the city one day, and slowly descending 
 its steep and stony streets, presenting the general aspect of 
 all Eastern towns, relieved on the outskirts by ancient burial- 
 places, with the sombre cypress standing sentinel over moss- 
 grown graves, and turban ed tombstones, mantled with ivy ; 
 and, now and then, an old, fantastic, pagoda-like fountain, 
 overshadowed by lofty trees, whose mossy trunks spoke of 
 bygone centuries we came down to the borders of the 
 great plain where Diocletian celebrated the imposing cere 
 mony of abdication, the ist of May, A.D. 305. Wandering 
 about among those ancient relics, trying to decipher partial 
 ly restored inscriptions upon aged tombs, eulogizing the 
 virtues of some " Octavia," or " Flavius," we stumbled upon 
 great heaps of human skulls, thrown out from the foundations 
 of a new Greek church, built entirely of stone and marble 
 7* 
 
154 
 
 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 exhumed from the old Roman ruins a striking emblem of 
 the new Church of the living God, founded upon the ruins 
 of the old, effete church in the East, whose light, if kept 
 pure, can never go out ! 
 
of 
 
 CONSTANTINOPLE 
 
 ofC0nflantuio/>7e i? at/out J f 
 
 r,> iTtc fn 
 
 Hiu-env Tor 
 
 Grea A" 
 
 FtirlJiff east ?fi& 
 
 of Scutari 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CONSTANTINOPLE. 
 
 |ERE we are, in the City of the Sultans, the seven- 
 hilled city of Constantine, which rises like a vis 
 ion of enchantment upon the dazzled sight. 
 
 The sun has just risen. Our steamer has passed through 
 the Dardanelles, swept over the blue Sea of Marmora, 
 rounded " Seraglio Point," and dropped anchor in the 
 Golden Horn. 
 
 Mosques and minarets, domes and towers, are flashing 
 back the rays of the glowing sun. 
 
 Up the terraced hill-sides of Galata and Pera the com 
 mercial and diplomatic centres of foreign residents rise a 
 dense mass of red-roofed buildings, relieved by occasional 
 clumps of trees ; and dark lines of the gloomy cypress mark 
 the Moslem s grave. The harbor (with its forest of shipping) 
 is spanned by the great bridge of boats which links the " Old 
 City " to the " New." A mighty stream of life pours through 
 this great thoroughfare representatives of many tongues 
 and tribes, commingling costumes, ancient and modern ; and 
 puffing steamers come and go, swelling or diminishing the 
 tide, as they empty their decks of a motley crowd, only to 
 receive a fresh supply. Above the bazaars and khans, the baths 
 and barracks of the " Old City," tower the swelling domes 
 
 057) 
 
158 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and numerous minarets (tipped with the golden crescent), of 
 St. Sophia, Solyman, and Achmet. On the West is still seen 
 a portion of the triple wall which once surrounded " Istam- 
 boul." Trees have rooted themselves in its aged sides, and 
 a thick veil of greenest ivy vainly strives to hide the ghastly 
 seams and rents made by earthquakes and the savage shocks 
 of bygone battles. On the East, the old imperial palaces 
 are embowered in lovely groves which stretch down to the 
 sparkling waters of the Marmora, dotted over with snowy 
 sails and sunny islets ; and in the far distance is visible the 
 hoary crest of Mt. Olympus. 
 
 Just opposite this famous " Seraglio Point " the scene of 
 so many tragic events is Scutari, on the Asiatic shore, a 
 city in itself as large as Smyrna, and a favorite residence of 
 the Turks. Long rows of barracks line its steep shores, and 
 beyond them is the " city of the dead " where sleep so 
 many of England s warrior sons : And the hospital where 
 Florence Nightingale performed her mission of mercy during 
 the Crimean War, 
 
 " When the waifs of that great strife and anguish, 
 
 Like spars, borne on a receding tide, 
 Came back wounded, came back sick to languish 
 In her shadow on the Asian side ; 
 
 " To those walls where sick men breathing faintly, 
 
 Heard an angel rustling in the gloom, 
 And a woman s presence, calm and saintly, 
 Lighted up the melancholy room." 
 
 Turning to the North-west, we trace the continuation of 
 the Golden Horn, an arm of the sea, curving away, horn 
 like, for six miles to its termination in the " Valley of Sweet 
 Waters." 
 
CONSTANTINOPLE. 159 
 
 Its hilly shores are thickly populated, and its deep waters 
 indeed resemble the " Cornucopia " in the wealth which 
 commerce pours into its bosom. Heretic immense hulks of 
 vessels used by the Turks in the battle of Navarino, in 1827, 
 and more modern ships of war, built for the Government 
 by foreign agency. Here, too, are to be seen the Naval- 
 school buildings, and the great arsenal. 
 
 And now our eyes turn to the beautiful Bosphorus on the 
 North-east, speeding its way, seventeen miles from the 
 Black Sea to the Marmora. Pleasant villages nestle among 
 its hills, and busy towns stretch along its shores; palaces, 
 with latticed windows, charming villas and gardens, whose 
 walls enclose all manner of Oriental delights, deck the water s 
 edge, where the pleasure-loving Turk languidly smokes his 
 inevitable pipe beneath the spreading branches of the plane, 
 the oak, the terebinth, the classic daphne or the lofty 
 umbrella pine, while he watches the stately, white-winged 
 ships moving majestically from sea to sea, the panting 
 steamer, and the graceful canoe-like caique, as it swiftly 
 glides between. Tangled wild-wood covers a hillside, here 
 and there, whose summit is crowned by an imperial kiosk, 
 or miniature palace ; and ancient towers lift their dismantled 
 heads on European and Asiatic shore ; where Darius watched 
 his army crossing the strait. The " Castle of Oblivion " 
 arrests the gaze, whose unhappy inmates were doomed to a 
 swift and silent descent into the watery depths which tell no 
 tales, and luxuriant vineyards cover many a sunny slope, 
 till we reach " Giant s Mountain," and pass beyond to the 
 old forts which guard the entrance to the Black Sea. 
 
 All this is Constantinople : " A compilation of cities, con 
 taining more than a million of inhabitants of every European 
 
l6o THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and Asiatic variety." " Beautiful for situatipn ; " command 
 ing in position ; the great central city and key of the East, 
 which, in the hand of a Christian nation, would unlock the 
 treasures of the world s commerce, and bid them flow to her 
 feet on the bosom of the seas between which she lifts up her 
 stately head. 
 
 " Queen-like, from her terraces and gardens, 
 
 She looks down along the waters blue, 
 On those turrets twain, her ancient wardens, 
 Guardians of the old world and the new." 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 HASSKEUY. 
 
 |HY sons shall come from far, and thy daughters 
 shall be nursed at thy side : That they might be 
 called trees of righteousness, the planting of the 
 Lord, that He might be glorified : And they shall build 
 the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, 
 and they shall repair waste cities, the desolations of many 
 generations." 
 
 High up the hillside of Hasskeuy " noble village" on one 
 of the stony streets that slope down to the Golden Horn, 
 stands a dingy old wooden house. The high stone walls 
 which surround it, the great " door of the gate," with its 
 massive beam to draw over the inner fastenings at night 
 (Gaza-like) and the iron barred lower windows, make one- 
 think of the grim castle of " Giant Despair." 
 
 The grounds are narrow, and without shade trees. The 
 court in front is small, and paved with stone. From the 
 spacious entrance-hall, we wander, up stairs and down, but 
 soon become bewildered amid the many abrupt turnings, 
 narrow corridors, dusky corners, closets, and suites of rooms 
 opening from huge halls, in what seems to be two or three 
 houses thrown into one ! 
 
 It is almost a " Sabbath day s journey " from parlor to 
 
 (161) 
 
162 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 kitchen ! This great laboratory for the wants of the " inner 
 man," is on the ground floor, opening upon a lower street. 
 It is a dismal den ; black with the smoke of half-a-century, 
 and dimly lighted by windows eight feet from the floor. The 
 only chimney in the house occupies most of one side, with 
 places for burning charcoal, and a great arch for heating 
 water, requiring wood for fuel. In the centre of the 
 roughly-paved floor, is a well of water ; and wooden troughs 
 for washing are ranged near by. 
 
 The capacious magazines beneath the main building, con 
 tain heaps of ancient deposits, in "Confusion worse con 
 founded ! " a variety of indescribable rubbish, among 
 which we find an old wine-press, and scores of narrow- 
 necked earthen. "cupes," or jars, of all sizes, for holding 
 wheat, rice, oil, wine, or water; undoubtedly the very kind 
 used for similar purposes in Scripture times. The covers to 
 these primitive vessels were simply flat stones. 
 
 Passing up a flight of stairs, we come upon what was once 
 a fine bath, with marble floor, and dressing-room, now fallen 
 to decay. Every part of the old building tells the same 
 story of long-continued carelessness and neglect. -The 
 upper rooms are profusely decorated with gay frescoes ; here 
 a painted Jezebel looks out of the upper window of a mod 
 ern dwelling ; there a chair stands forth conspicuously, as 
 an object of curiosity; and gaudy flowers figure largely on 
 the Russian canvas ceiling; great chandeliers, festooned with 
 cobwebs, and dim with dust, are suspended in the wide halls; 
 marble slabs support the ends of the divans, and fill the niches 
 in the walls.* But the original color of the paint is scarcely 
 
 * Marble is freely used in Constantinople, being found in great 
 abundance on the shores of the sea which bears its name the Marmora. 
 
HASSKEUY. 163 
 
 apparent on much of the wood-work, so thickly is it encrusted 
 with the accumulations of years. And up and down some 
 of the gaily-painted walls, are dark lines of travel, revealing 
 the presence of the " old inhabitants of the land" who, like 
 the Canaanites, " will not be driven out ! " Around the 
 numerous rents in the miserable matting which covers the 
 floors, the dust and dirt of many years has thickly clustered 
 and congealed ; and beneath, are harbored an innumerable 
 company of living nuisances, which we denominate " F. 
 sharps," in contradistinction from their predatory neigh 
 bors, the " B. flats."* One of the smaller corner-rooms, 
 on the first floor, was evidently appropriated as the special 
 sanctum of the young men of the former household. It is 
 perhaps twelve by sixteen feet in size, with six windows, and 
 a divan frame at one side. The apartment is thoroughly 
 impregnated with the fumes of tobacco. The Turkish 
 
 * " F. sharps," fleas; and " B. flats," bed-bugs, or " board-bugs," as 
 they are termed by the people of the East. We have seen wide 
 cracks, extending up and down the sides of doors and windows in a 
 Greek house, newly rented by a missionary at the capital, that were 
 black with these disgusting creatures. A touch made one re 
 coil with a shudder from the moving mass. These cracks were 
 painted over, but that only destroyed a part of the "standing army." 
 And the missionary mother kept up a skirmish with the assailants, 
 night after night; visiting the couches of her children and " picking 
 off the enemy," who had literally made the faces of the innocent 
 sleepers dark with their presence. This is a small, albeit not a very 
 dainty, bit of the real romance of missionary life. For the benefit of those 
 who may hereafter suffer likewise, it may be well to state that on a 
 similar occasion, when every known remedy had been tried, in vain, 
 I hit, in my desperation, upon an expedient which proved effectual, 
 viz., closing the doors and windows, and burning brimstone in the 
 room, in an open brazier of coal, day and night, for a week at a time. 
 This permeated every crevice, and destroyed them, " root and 
 branch." 
 
164 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 crescent and star forms a part of the centre - piece on 
 the ceiling, and a spread eagle appears at each am>;le. 
 Over the alcove, at one end of the room, is a fresco, 
 representing the six sons of the family kneeling in a row by 
 the sea-side ; a boat is waiting near by, but their eyes are 
 directed to a swarm of bees overhead, as if reading the 
 Armenian inscription: "The business of bees is to make 
 honey." To crown the scene, a great Eye is looking down 
 upon them, and a dove is hovering near; emblems of the 
 omniscient God, and the Holy Spirit. 
 
 In another room, evil spirits seem to have possession, if 
 one may judge from the hobgoblins flying through the air, 
 and the thunderbolts aimed at a church depicted upon the 
 walls. There is ample scope for the imagination, as one 
 wanders from room to room of the old house. 
 
 In its palmiest days, a retinue of twenty servants came 
 and went at the bidding of its proud and wealthy Armenian 
 master. Now, fallen into poverty and decay, the remnant 
 of the household are reluctantly forced to part with a por 
 tion of their family mansion, that they may secure the where 
 withal to live. And the great grandmother and her posterity 
 occupy the other half of the spacious dwelling, entirely 
 secluded from this, and containing nearly as many apart 
 ments. 
 
 After many weeks and months of fruitless search for a 
 suitable building, of sufficient size, this house was secured 
 as a home for the Mission Training-school for Armenian 
 girls. But how gladly would we exchange the great, ram 
 bling, prison-like " palace," (as it was once termed by a trav 
 eler who had no faith in missionary operations), for a plain, 
 neat, convenient, and home-like dwelling ! However, as 
 
HASSKEUY. 165 
 
 
 one of the good fathers says, "Missionaries must learn to 
 put up with anything ! " The cleansing process is an oft- 
 to-be repeated, weary work of years. The ragged matting 
 torn up, the dirt shoveled and carried away by great baskets 
 full, and plenty of water, soap, and sand, inaugurate a new 
 dispensation. As the renovation goes on, we " thank the 
 goodness and the grace " that gave us our birth in a Christian 
 land. 
 
 The upper windows let in a flood of glorious sun-light, 
 more potent than wine to cheer the heart ! The floors, 
 released from long and ignoble imprisonment, look fresh and 
 bright as they echo to our fearless tread. 
 
 The air is purer, and we breathe more freely in this Eastern 
 abode. Truly, " cleanliness is next to godliness ! " 
 
 Look in upon the pleasant parlor; snowy muslin curtains 
 drape the many windows ; a few engravings adorn the walls ; 
 the broad divan is neatly covered with chintz, and a home- 
 carpet is on the floor. A table in the centre, a few chairs, a 
 case of books, and a sweet-toned piano, the gift of a beloved 
 Christian friend,* complete the furniture. One of the largest 
 halls, near the entrance from the lower street, is fitted up 
 with cane settees, and a plain pulpit, to serve as a temporary 
 chapel. Two rooms below are reserved for day-schools, 
 for boys and girls, and the remainder are appropriated 
 to the use of the Boarding-school, and those connected 
 with it. 
 
 The house is now solemnly dedicated to the service of its 
 unseen Master. Every room is consecrated, set apart, for 
 
 * Mrs. Burgess, of Dedham, Mass., who has ever delighted to 
 minister to Christ in the person of His faithful servants both at home 
 and abroad. 
 
1 66 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 His indwelling. The u morning incense " and the " even 
 ing sacrifice " are daily offered upon the altar for the first 
 time erected within its walls : 
 
 " And heaven comes down our souls to greet, 
 And glory crowns the mercy-seat." 
 
 Our missionary home is in the midst of a population of 
 10,000 souls, mostly Armenians, among whom are many of 
 the noble and wealthy of the nation. 
 
 A PARADISE LOST. 
 
 From our upper windows we look down upon the beauti 
 ful grounds of our nearest neighbor across the narrow street. 
 The side next us is screened by a stone wall thirty feet high, 
 built to shut off the view from our landlord s household, in 
 consequence of a bitter feud between the two families, where 
 warm friendship once existed. The spacious and elegant 
 mansion stands at the foot of the hill, fronting the main 
 street; and the grounds are terraced to the top. It is a 
 lovely place. The inner walls are mantled with ivy, or 
 creeping vines, or roses trained over them ; marble vases, 
 filled with gay flowers, adorn the borders of each terrace, 
 and walks of mosaic are shaded by trim rows of acacia, while 
 here and there we catch glimpses of statuary gleaming amid 
 the richly-tinted foliage of the shubbery : the glossy green 
 and vivid scarlet of the pomegranate intermingles with the 
 broad-leaved fig, the silver-lined olive, beneath the open 
 branches of the noble sycamore, the spreading umbrella-pine, 
 and denser shade of the plane and oak. An artistic summer- 
 house (with heavy curtains fastened by rings to the pillars of 
 the porches, like a pavilion) occupies the centre of the mid- 
 
HASSKEUV. 167 
 
 die terrace of this tenantless Eden, where fountains once sent 
 up their silver spray, and a mimic lake was wont to sparkle in 
 the rays of the sun. An orangery, on the upper terrace, shows 
 the need of artificial heat for tropical fruits. 
 
 Alas, for the owner of this charming retreat ! not many 
 years ago esteemed one of the most influential Armenian 
 bankers of the metropolis ; now, driven forth in disgrace from 
 his paradise ! He was an early friend of the missionaries, and 
 when their enemies had succeeded in closing many of their 
 schools, he supported one of them at his own expense. But 
 prosperity made him a mark for the poisoned shafts of envy, 
 malice, and greed. Another more princely palace was newly 
 built upon the Bosphorus, and like Job, he thought to " die 
 in his nest," when trouble came. He was thrown into 
 prison upon a false pretext, and after a mere form of trial, 
 his vast possessions were confiscated with the exception of 
 this place and he was sent into exile to brood over the 
 machinations of his enemies, and the miserable injustice of 
 a government whose highest law is that of might. 
 
 Passing the deserted dwelling, one day, we saw Govern 
 ment officials taking away numerous valuables. Among 
 these were rare and costly gems, gathered from various 
 countries; a diamond worth $100,000, an exquisite French 
 time-piece, etc. But when one wished to purchase any of 
 these rare articles, at the public sale, they were always said 
 to be " reserved for the Padishah " Sultan ! Thus the 
 authorities, notoriously corrupt, from the highest to the 
 lowest grade, divided the spoils among themselves, little 
 heeding the prophecy as true now as of old " their feet 
 shall slide in due time," when their turn to be despoiled will 
 come! 
 
168 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 This banker was afterward proved to be innocent of the 
 charges preferred against him, and the sentence of exile was 
 revoked; but he chose to remain in the Island of Malta, 
 rather than return to the scene of his bitter and undeserved 
 persecutions. While in prison, his wife sent for Dr. Dwight, 
 who often visited him, and read the Word of God ; not 
 without hope that his grievous affliction would " yield the 
 peaceable fruit of righteousness " in this life, and " work out a 
 far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory " in the life 
 eternal. 
 
 OUR NEIGHBORS. 
 
 We receive frequent calls from our Armenian neighbors. 
 Some of the ladies are dressed in the richest of brocades, 
 trailing upon the floor both before and behind, the portion 
 falling in front, requiring to be kept, in walking, between the 
 feet, which are awkwardly turned in for that purpose, and 
 they enter the room by inches ! This double train is care 
 fully caught up in the girdle, before going into the street, 
 and the dress is concealed by the ferijee a loose, flowing 
 mantle, of light, fine material. Our new friends are very 
 polite, and graceful in manner, but their range of thought is 
 exceedingly limited, and, like children, they are greatly 
 influenced by externals. Their attention is at once attracted 
 by dress, manner, and surroundings ; any gift or acquire 
 ment which adds beauty or grace to the person or character, 
 and that impalpable, indescribable something which marks 
 good breeding and refinement, is quickly perceived and 
 appreciated by them. 
 
 There is no " waste " of " precious ointment " in the 
 quality of foreign workers. Every talent finds full employ, 
 
HASSKEUY. 169 
 
 and even the less important, help in laying broad and sure 
 foundations for Zion. 
 
 We return some of these visits, selecting first the family 
 of one of the chief men of Hasskeuy. 
 
 A messenger is sent to apprise them of our intention, and 
 word is returned that we will be welcome. It is a charm 
 ing evening, and the full-moon lights up our pathway ; but, 
 nevertheless, we must be accompanied by a lantern, or run 
 the risk of a night s lodging in the guard-house ! And the 
 higher the rank, the bigger the lantern. 
 
 The konak, or mansion, is surrounded by ample grounds 
 protected by a high wall. It is of immense size, evidently 
 built to accommodate a household of several generations. We 
 are admitted through the great outer door, and ushered into 
 the wide hall, by obsequious servants, and the master of the 
 house, his brothers and eldest son, received us in courtly 
 style at the head of the grand staircase. All the surround 
 ings speak of Oriental luxury. Glittering chandeliers, marble 
 fountains, richly frescoed walls, broad divans, and spacious 
 door-ways draped by heavy damask curtains, which are 
 drawn aside by attendants for our entrance. We seat 
 ourselves upon the embroidered cushions of an inner apart 
 ment, and respond to the numerous salaams of our host and 
 his family. Glancing around the room, we notice a glass 
 case of stuffed birds, a fine French clock, Persian rugs, etc., 
 but no tables, chairs, books, or pictures. 
 
 The older ladies of the household now make their appear 
 ance, and the customary salaams are profusely repeated with 
 every repetition of the health-question ; the weather topic is 
 then discussed, and while we are meditating what next to say, 
 a few friends and neighbors of the family join the company. 
 8 
 
1 70 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Sweetmeats, of rose-leaves or some other choice scented 
 conserve, are now brought in upon a tray, and the mistress 
 signals the servant to convey it first to the gentleman whom 
 she considers the chief of our party; but, greatly to her 
 surprise, he waives the honor in favor of the ladies ; thus 
 giving her a specimen of the courtesy with which woman is 
 treated in Christian countries. 
 
 As each guest partakes of the customary teaspoonful, fol 
 lowed by a sip of water, a salaam circles around the room, as 
 one and another catches his eye, and says, " May it be sweet to 
 you ! " and he returns the graceful salutation extending the 
 right hand, with a bow toward the person addressed, and 
 then bringing it back toward his lips, thence to the forehead, 
 whence he lets it fall. The higher the rank, and the greater 
 the honor one wishes to show to an individual, the lower 
 must be the salaam. 
 
 Worship is a compound word in the Armenian language 
 yergerbakooteun ground-kissing: meaning to reverence, 
 humble, or prostrate oneself in the presence of a superior. 
 In this sense it is frequently used in the New Testament. 
 And when Abraham "bowed himself toward the ground," 
 to greet his angel visitants, he probably made a profound 
 salaam. This graceful salutation is often used in the East 
 where we would simply say, thank you ; and it is extremely 
 convenient when a passing compliment is paid, and one is at 
 a loss for a quick and appropriate response. 
 
 Coffee, in tiny cups, each held by a silver " zarf," now makes 
 its appearance. It is black, strong, and smoking hot, without 
 milk or sugar, and with the fine flour-like grounds floating 
 on the top, considered the cream. Chibouks are next 
 brought for the gentlemen ; a servant lights each pipe, places 
 
HASSKEUY. 171 
 
 
 the bowl in a little bronze plate upon the floor, and hands 
 the amber mouth-piece to the " Agha." This is the signal for 
 a more general conversation. And those who do not smoke, 
 finger their " conversation-beads " very much as a Papist 
 does his rosary. 
 
 It is interesting to note the various groups scattered about 
 the room, and the different languages represented. Several 
 of our party are fresh arrivals from America, and cannot 
 speak in " unknown tongues ; " but one is brushing up his 
 Greek, and another finds in French a medium of commu 
 nication with these polished Armenian gentlemen, one or 
 two of whom can speak a little English, but are much more 
 familiar with Italian, or even Russian ; Turkish and Arme 
 nian predominate, and attract the larger number to the 
 corner, where a lively discussion is in progress, concerning 
 the vital doctrines of a pure Christianity. 
 
 Sitting near the " bride," the wife of the eldest son, a fair 
 specimen of Oriental beauty, richly dressed and adorned 
 with jewels, I try my powers of speech in an endeavor to 
 make the visit profitable. It seems almost insulting to ask 
 the lady if she can read, and my face burns with instinctive 
 blushes, as I put the simple query ; but not a shadow passes 
 over her countenance. Instead, she manifests surprise that 
 one should think of such a thing. " How should she know ? 
 why should she know how to read? " And she shrugs her fat 
 shoulders with supreme indifference. But by-and-by, the 
 avenue to her heart is found. She takes us to the nursery 
 to show her sleeping beauties ; and her hitherto passive, 
 soulless face, lights up with interest as we compare the cus 
 toms of our respective countries. The babe in the cradle is 
 so bound up in " swaddling clothes," that it looks like a 
 
172 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 little mummy! The mother places it in our arms; its body 
 is as unyielding as a stick of wood. But she assures us that 
 the child will not be quiet unless swathed in this way ; that 
 the free use of its arms would make it restless, and that there 
 is less danger in handling an infant when it is thus bound 
 up. It seems cruel, but the children somehow thrive, even 
 when kept for months in the cradle without a daily ablution. 
 
 Armenian children are taken to the church and baptized 
 soon after birth ; and a custom prevails in some portions of 
 the land, of cutting a slight gash in the back, and when the 
 blood flows, applying a little salt, to which allusion is made 
 in Ezekiel xvi. 4. 
 
 Conversation among the ladies becomes more animated and 
 unrestrained after this little episode. They are curious to 
 know about my coming to Turkey; why I came alone, etc., 
 etc., and cannot imagine how a mother could part with her 
 daughter to go so far away. This is a good text for a little 
 sermon suited to their comprehension. So I " catch them 
 with guile," by telling the story of that mother s life, and of 
 a Love greater than that of father or mother, son or daughter. 
 They listen ; it is all new and strange ; but they know . 
 something of a mother s heart, and " a touch of nature makes 
 us all akin." 
 
 Perhaps the little seed may lodge in some hidden cleft, 
 and one day spring up to life. 
 
 And now we motion to depart; but our hostess, clapping 
 her plump hands, summons a servant, and sherbet is served ; 
 soon after we withdraw, amid a general interchange of bows 
 and salaams. 
 
HASSKEUY. 173 
 
 THE HOMES OF THE PROTESTANTS. 
 
 Calling upon some of the members of the Protestant 
 Church and community, we find ourselves among the mid 
 dle and " working classes " of society. In each dwelling there 
 is a row of shoes at the foot of the staircase, varying in size 
 from the head of the house, down to a three-year-old. In 
 compliance with this cleanly custom, which prevents the dust 
 and dirt of the streets from being carried in and left upon 
 the carpets and cushions, we leave our over-shoes at the 
 lower door. A warm welcome awaits our arrival, and the 
 children greet us in a very peculiar and polite way ; taking 
 the right hand of the visitor, they convey it near their lips, 
 and then, bowing, to their forehead. In this deferential way, 
 the younger women salute those of both sexes who are 
 greatly their superior in rank, especially if advanced in 
 years. 
 
 We are struck with the whiteness of the uncarpeted floors 
 in many of these houses. In all, there is the same damask, 
 or chintz-covered divan, a family chest, upon which a Bible 
 and hymn-book are lying, with perhaps a few kindred vol 
 umes and tracts, recently introduced to these homes. 
 
 The numerous windows are curtained with white muslin, 
 suspended by rings, so that they may be drawn entirely 
 aside, and the casement thrown wide open. Occasionally a 
 pile of bedding is seen in one corner, but it is usually stowed 
 away in closets during the day, for family use, upon the 
 floor, at night the common practice among all classes 
 throughout the East. Many of the children appear to be 
 afflicted by a disfiguring eruption upon the face and hands ; 
 but it is owing to nightly attacks from the 4< aborigines " wit- 
 
1/4 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 tily styled by some traveler in the old countries " The pes 
 tilence that walketh in darkness ! " 
 
 Coffee and sweetmeats are served at every house. None 
 are so poor that they cannot treat their visitors, according 
 to their ideas of hospitality. But the frequent repetition 
 becomes a trial, especially when we find that our friends are 
 hurt if we decline the honor. 
 
 The pleasantest part of each interview is the Bible-read 
 ing and prayer, when all the members of the household are 
 quietly gathered in the family-room. 
 
 We are continually learning something new concerning 
 the customs and manners of the people by this actual con 
 tact with family life. Sitting by the side of a fresh, rosy 
 " bride," on one of these visits, I exert my conversational 
 powers in trying to draw her out ; but she merely smiles 
 and nods a response to my remarks and questions. At last 
 the position becomes embarrassing. Seeing this, an old 
 Armenian, who has been quietly watching us, says : " Don t 
 you know why she can t talk? There sits her mother-in- 
 law, and, according to our custom, she cannot speak in her 
 presence." "How long does this restriction last?" I in 
 quire. " O, for a long time, till the mother-in-law gives 
 permission to speak." " How long have you known it to 
 last ? " " For many years ; sometimes as long as forty 
 years." " Why, I should think that one or both would 
 die in that time." " Yes ; sometimes it happens that 
 one of them dies in the time." " But what was the origin 
 of so strange a custom ? " I continued. To this question 
 there was no answer but a shrug of the shoulder, which 
 denoted ignorance and indifference as to that point. " Ah ! 
 I know," I exclaimed, after a moment s thought. "The 
 
HASSKEUY. 175 
 
 tongue has ever been deemed woman s weapon ; and so, to 
 keep the peace in such large and mixed households, you 
 have given the mother-in-law the monopoly of the dangerous 
 member." Whereupon he laughed heartily, and nodded 
 assent. 
 
 The weather changes from summer warmth to a damp, 
 wintry chillness. A stove-pipe, peering from a window, 
 and run up high above the roof, is the sign of " Frank " 
 civilization, wherever foreign residents may find a home 
 in Constantinople; and it is well if passers-by escape 
 the dripping acid which leaves its unsightly and indelible 
 stains upon walls and pavement beneath. But our neigh 
 bors are hovering around braziers of coal, as in winter, 
 when they generally retreat to a low, small room, with 
 southern exposure, and wrap themselves in long, fur-lined 
 robes, which more effectually supply the lack of animal 
 heat. These garments may be seen at all seasons in the 
 streets of Stamboul. Wealthy Orientals provide a goodly 
 number for their wardrobe, varying in lightness and fine 
 ness of texture, for every change of temperature. But 
 there is a class of vagrants in the East so low and de 
 graded, that they never change their clothing, day or night, 
 year in and year out, till it fairly rots upon the person ! 
 And yet, for a mere trifle, the poorest can obtain a thorough 
 ablution at the public baths, with a steaming and soaking 
 sufficient, one would think, to cleanse and wash away, at 
 least, a portion of the " old Adam !" 
 
 When Orientals give themselves to bodily cleansing, they 
 make a business of it. Women take their " boghjas," or bun 
 dles, and children, if they have any, of both sexes and various 
 ages, and spend the entire day at the bath, which, is the 
 
176 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 place for gossiping, match-making, hair-cutting, bleeding, 
 etc., etc. But who can describe the sights and sounds of 
 that Pandemonium ? 
 
 STORMS AND TEMPESTS. 
 
 Autumnal storms are upon us. Terrific gales of wind 
 sweep down from the Balkan Mountains, or the Black Sea, 
 and shake our old house to its very foundations. Howling, 
 like so many demons let loose, they join their forces to the 
 other elements, till night is made hideous. Stove-pipes are 
 tumbling, doors and windows flying open, heavy shutters 
 broken loose and slamming, amid a universal creaking and 
 groaning, as if every inanimate object were suddenly indued 
 with life. An old wall gives way, and the plastering comes 
 rattling about the heads of a part of our frightened flock, 
 who, imagining that the end of all things is near at hand, fly 
 upstairs, to seek refuge with the Varzhoohi. In another 
 room the windows, fastened only by a slight wooden button 
 in the centre, suddenly blow open ; a large mirror (left 
 by the landlord) is hurled from its place, and a thousand 
 fragments are scattered in every direction among the 
 sleeping girls, who come screaming down stairs ! And now 
 a fearful cry pierces through the tumult of the midnight 
 tempest "YA.NGUN VAR ! " Fire there is! "It maybe 
 near; possibly it is our own dwelling," is the first startling 
 thought. Rushing to the window, and drawing aside the 
 curtain, the sky, lighted by a lurid glow, shows the quar 
 ter where the flames are raging, while that awful cry, like a 
 long-drawn-out agony, continually rings forth its alarm, to 
 be caught up and re-echoed all along the shores of the 
 Golden Morn and the Bosphorus, by watchmen stationed at 
 every point. 
 
HASSKEUY. 
 
 A heavy, soaking rain sets in, and the scene changes. 
 The old house is in a mournful, one might almost say 
 tearful, condition, for the dripping that ensues (from broken 
 tiles of the roof) defies description. Tubs, buckets, pans, 
 and pails, in fact anything and everything in the con 
 cave line, is speedily brought into requisition, and for a 
 few days we are enveloped in a vapor bath. The roof over 
 the chapel-room is like a sieve, and the rain patters upon the 
 sheet-iron stove, a ridiculous accompaniment to the preach 
 er s discourse, while his head is bedewed with literal " drop 
 pings of the sanctuary," more sensible than spiritual ! and 
 every now and then, some one in the audience changes 
 his seat, to avoid a sprinkling. But our landlord cares for 
 none of these things, and cannot be induced to make the 
 repairs included in the contract. We are wholly at his 
 mercy, and left to rotate after the same fashion till the end 
 of the chapter ! 
 
 While the wind continues its carnival, each separate 
 pane of (unputtied) glass in the many windows, flutters 
 with every gust, and carpets rise and fall in billowy waves 
 over the wide crevices in the floors. But by - and - by 
 it may be, after a week or two the storm is spent, and 
 sobs itself to sleep like a naughty child. The sun shines 
 the more gloriously for this brief interregnum, and we re 
 member our little discomforts and annoyances " as a dream 
 when one awaketh." 
 
 As the years go on, these night-terrors are varied, at long 
 intervals, by shocks of earthquake, not very severe, but 
 sufficient to make one realize his helplessness in the hands 
 of Him who " looketh upon the earth, and it trembleth." 
 
 The formidable bolts and bars for protecting the school 
 s* 
 
1/8 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 building serve rather to inspire than lessen timidity, by sug 
 gesting the stern necessity in this lawless land, where, during 
 and after the Crimean War, houses were entered, in the 
 immediate vicinity, and the unfortunate inmates, in striving 
 to protect themselves, were horribly mutilated, their noses 
 and ears cut off; and on one occasion a man was found lying 
 in the street with his head severed from the body ! These 
 things, with many a little, nameless, scarcely-confessed fear, 
 add to the unconscious, yet continual, strain upon the nerv 
 ous energy of a missionary teacher, however brave, who as 
 sumes the care and responsibility of a large household in a 
 foreign capital, and labors in a language and among a people 
 not her own. 
 

 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 
 
 I|HAT our daughters may be as corner-stones, pol 
 ished after the similitude of a palace." 
 
 A new term has commenced. Some of our 
 pupils are prompt in returning at the appointed time, and 
 others linger, true to the Eastern custom of never doing to 
 day that which can be deferred till to-morrow ! We fear that 
 it will require another generation before Anglo-Saxon ideas 
 of the value of time are fully implanted. 
 
 Among the new-comers, is an attractive girl of fifteen 
 years, brought by a missionary from an interior town. As 
 we look upon her fair, blushing face, and gentle eyes, gleam 
 ing through the transparent yashmac, or Turkish veil, we 
 wish that he had brought us a dozen such candidates ! Her 
 plump, rounded figure, of medium height, is enveloped in a 
 street-mantle of delicate blue; and as she timidly divests 
 herself of these outer wrappings, we notice that, unlike 
 most of our new pupils, she has retained her native cos 
 tume, the full drawers, tunic, and girdle. The tapering 
 fingers and the whiteness of her dimpled hands, betoken 
 immunity from toil ; and her manner indicates the " gentle 
 woman." But Eva can neither read nor speak Armenian. 
 Turkish is the language of the community among whom she 
 
I SO THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 has lived, and she has grown up in ignorance of her mother- 
 tongue. She takes her seat in the school-room for the first 
 time, on the " day of prayer " usually observed at the open 
 ing of a school term. The exercises are conducted in a 
 language that she cannot understand ; but something in the 
 atmosphere of the place impresses her mind ; she listens to 
 the voice of prayer and praise, sees the solemnity visible on 
 every countenance, and awakens to a consciousness of her 
 sinfulness in the sight of God. It is purely the work of the 
 Holy Spirit. As the days go by, her distress deepens. We 
 meet her here and there about the house, drop a word of 
 comfort, and try to penetrate the seclusion of her solitary 
 soul. The big tears fall upon the floor at her feet, as she 
 listens to our poor utterances in the attempt to show her 
 that " Jesus paid it all ; " and that weary weeks and months 
 of soul-penance are not required to find acceptance with 
 God. Then, with a grateful, yet hopeless, look, she turns 
 away, and we leave her case with Him who knows alike all 
 hearts and all languages, confident that He will perfect the 
 work which He has begun. 
 
 " Oh, that I knew where I might find Him ! " is the cry 
 of other hearts. One of our most promising and amiable 
 pupils returned with a burdened soul from her home in Pera. 
 Her mental distress, in view of her sins, was often so great 
 during the summer vacation, that she could neither eat nor 
 sleep. This greatly disturbed her parents, who, though 
 Protestants, knew nothing of a change of heart; they assured 
 her that she never had been guilty of any great sins ; that 
 God was merciful, etc. IJut their arguments had no power 
 to comfort her after a revelation of her inner-self in the 
 light of God. " The thoughts and intents of the heart ;" 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. l8l 
 
 wrong feelings, motives, impulses finding their root in 
 supreme, though perhaps hidden selfishness, and their fruit 
 in manifestations of pride, anger, ambition, envy, and other 
 evil passions. Ah ! what a long black catalogue it seemed 
 beneath the searching eye of Infinite Holiness! "The ar 
 rows of the Almighty (were) within " " piercing even to 
 the dividing asunder of soul and spirit;" and like David, 
 she cried out, " Mine iniquities have gone over my head ; 
 as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me ! " Blessed 
 wounding of the Heavenly Archer ! " He hath smitten, and 
 He will bind up." 
 
 THE "LIVING SPIRIT WITHIN THE WHEELS." 
 Weeks pass away ; the house has become a Bethel. From 
 early morning till the " retiring bell " at night, the low voice 
 of earnest prayer may be heard ; for all those dusky corners 
 and out-of-the-way nooks, which seemed worse than useless 
 at our first survey, the very holes where wicked prowlers 
 might secrete themselves for midnight raids, are now turned 
 into trysting-places with the King of kings. 
 
 Meanwhile, the school goes on as usual. But a new spirit 
 pervades the daily routine ; voices are more subdued; les 
 sons more conscientiously prepared ; and the domestic work 
 performed with new zest and thoroughness ; every trace of 
 friction is removed, and the entire machinery moves in 
 silence and harmony, as if sharing in the heavenly unction ; 
 order, neatness, and quiet reign throughout the dwelling, 
 and all "walk softly before the Lord." 
 
 " It seems like entering another kingdom, to ccme into 
 this house," says our beloved missionary father, Dr. Good- 
 ell, who frequently closes our afternoon session with a Bible- 
 
182 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 reading and prayer in Turkish. Never were the hearts of 
 teachers and pupils so drawn and knit together in love as 
 now, when one and another comes to tell the story of a 
 Savior found, and sins forgiven. 
 
 Eva has found Him whom her soul loveth. One look at 
 her radiant countenance is enough to satisfy any one who 
 had seen her head " bowed down like a bulrush " for weeks 
 past. Like her of old, she stood without at the sepulchre, 
 weeping, when Jesus called her by name, and her darkness 
 was turned to day. Henceforth, her course is as " the dawn 
 ing light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." 
 And of others it may be said, " This one and that one were 
 born in this house." 
 
 What transformations we are permitted to witness ! Faces 
 once dull and ordinary, seem " transfigured " by the indwell 
 ing light and life ! The change is noticed even by those 
 who have no conception of the cause. " What have you 
 done to my child ? " cried an Armenian mother who saw with 
 wonder the brightness beaming in her daughter s face. " I 
 will kiss your feet ! " 
 
 One dear girl brings her writing-book to the desk for a 
 copy, asking if she may furnish the words ; and when per 
 mission is given, softly repeats, "My beloved is mine, and 
 I am His." The tears start to my eyes as I look upon the 
 ne\v beauty of this bride of Christ; and the prayer of the 
 prophet rises to my lips : " O, thou, the hope of Israel, the 
 Savior thereof in times of trouble, be not as a wayfaring man 
 that abideth but for a night, but tarry with us! " Another 
 of these young converts assists in the care of my room ; and 
 little surprises, little tokens of a new love, are not infrequent 
 on her part ; a vase of fresh flowers, a cluster of grapes, or a 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 183 
 
 basket of nuts and apples, from home, and a newly-scrubbed 
 and sanded floor, as white as loving hands can make it, 
 while the old defiantly black door-knobs glisten with brassy 
 brightness from oft-repeated rubbings, to greet me on my 
 return from some half-holiday. And all is so modestly done, 
 with such a nice sense of propriety, and instinctive shrinking 
 from display, that no other illustration is needed of the refin 
 ing, elevating power of the religion of Christ. Some of these 
 girls were almost as wild as "young colts of the desert," 
 when first placed under instruction. Surely, none but the 
 Hand Divine could soften the harsh discords of their untu 
 tored natures, and produce such sweet and delicate harmony. 
 A slight illness keeps me in my room for a day or two, and 
 Ester seems to consider it her special province to minister 
 to all my wants. Lingering at the door, one evening, she 
 says, " I am pained that you are alone." And when I 
 answer that Christ is ever present, replies, " I know ; but if 
 you were in America, your mother and sister would be with 
 you. It is very hard to be alone ! " and casting a wistful 
 look upon me, as if she would fain supply their place, she 
 gently passes out. This thoughtful love and care for their 
 teacher is very marked in some of our pupils, and a source 
 of heartfelt joy, for it was not always so from the beginning ; 
 and much anxiety has been awakened among those who 
 have shared in the training of these Armenian girls, lest 
 they should consider themselves a privileged class, and 
 claim as a right, that which was bestowed as a favor a not 
 uncommon phase of human nature in mission work at home, 
 as well as abroad. As month succeeds month, the work 
 of grace deepens in our midst. From the close of school, 
 till the " retiring hour " of each day, there is a succession of 
 
1 84 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 gentle taps at the door of my room, as one and another 
 seeks for guidance in the way of life. Blessed days ! 
 yet freighted with a weight of responsibility too heavy for 
 human strength. After a week of more than usual interest, 
 I am too much exhausted to converse with all who wish the 
 privilege on the Lord s day ; and when our usual Sunday 
 evening exercise is ended, propose that all who have a hope 
 in Christ, should retire to another room, and pray for their 
 companions. One after another rises, and silently passes 
 out, till only those are left who are "without hope." For a 
 few moments, the solemn silence remains unbroken, save by 
 the measured ticking of the clock. Every head is bowed, 
 and every face bathed in tears. 
 
 As one of the girls afterwards remarked, " It seemed like 
 the separation at the day of judgment." At the close of 
 school, one afternoon, the hymn, " Hearts of stone, relent, 
 relent," is given out by Dr. Goodell. It is too much for 
 their tender, susceptible state of feeling; and soon head after 
 head is bowed, and trembling tones are lost amid smothered 
 sobs, while Dr. GoodeU and I are left to sing it alone, with 
 quivering voices. Undoubtedly such general manifestations 
 of feeling are in some degree owing to sympathy, the moral 
 magnetism produced by such close and continued contact, 
 and the prominence given to spiritual teaching; but the 
 presence and power of a Greater than man, is too manifest 
 to be disputed. Not one heart remains unaffected; a holy, 
 subduing atmosphere r.nd influence is so all-pervading as to 
 inspire the conviction, " Surely, the Lord is in this place : 
 this is none otlur biu the house of God." There is no 
 visible excitement, but the " still, small voice " is speaking, 
 and like Elijah, we cover our faces, and listen in silence. The 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 
 
 perfect stillness which reigns in every room at the morning 
 and evening " half-hour for prayer," is very solemnizing ; 
 and the faithfulness with which every duty is performed by 
 each member of the household, bears unmistakable testimo 
 ny to the " living spirit within the wheels " of our establish 
 ment. " Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy 
 name give glory." 
 
 THE HOLIDAYS, 
 
 The Christmas holidays are at hand ; but when the ap 
 proaching " short vacation " is announced to the school, at 
 the close of the evening " study-hour," it is received with 
 silent assent, instead of the usual outburst of gladness. Two 
 or three of the girls burst into tears at the thought of leaving, 
 and all gather around my desk to ask that it may be deferred 
 or entirely dispensed with. 
 
 One says, " You do not know, Varzhoohi, how difficult it is 
 for us to do right when we go home ! " Another adds, " We 
 have no place for prayer, nor time to spend in reading or 
 meditation. Our friends tell us we have enough of that at 
 school, and will give us no peace unless we spend our time 
 as they do." 
 
 When I leave the school-room, some of the older, pious 
 girls follow, to plead for those whose minds seem deeply 
 impressed with divine truth. 
 
 They fear that if they leave, at this time, all these impres 
 sions will be dissipated, and their hearts hardened. My 
 heart is touched by the tender appeal, and this new proof 
 of love and interest for the spiritual welfare of their com 
 panions. I well know that peculiar trials and temptations 
 beset most of our pupils during this festive season, which is 
 observed with great ceremony and rejoicings among the 
 
1 86 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Armenians. And every vacation is a time of great anxiety 
 on their behalf; for many of our pupils, whose homes are far 
 away, are then placed with Armenian families, selected by 
 their friends, or by the missionaries, and we send them forth 
 " as lambs, among wolves," not knowing what influences may 
 subvert our teachings, and lead them astray. But if they re 
 main, we must stay with, and care for them, when a change 
 and rest is imperatively needed to prepare us for another 
 term of school and housekeeping duties; for "we have this 
 treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power 
 may be of God, and not of us." So I tell the dear pleaders 
 that we must do all in our power for them, during the week 
 or two that remains, and, in faith, commit these tender, help 
 less lambs to the care of the Great Shepherd, who has said, 
 " None shall pluck them out of my hands." 
 
 It is often extremely difficult to reach the inner life of 
 some of these girls, and secure a full and unreserved ex 
 pression of their thoughts and feelings. They listen atten 
 tively, sometimes tearfully, but are perfectly reticent when 
 an attempt is made to draw them out. After repeated and 
 futile efforts to secure an expression from one who had long 
 appeared serious, and had frequently sought my room for 
 prayer and counsel, the ice is at last broken, and with a great 
 effort she tells me how anxious she has been lest her soul 
 should be lost ; that often, when with the other girls, during 
 hours of recreation, she had seen my eye resting upon her, 
 and had said to herself, " She thinks me thoughtless, but it 
 is not so." We bow in prayer, and when we arise from our 
 knees, Badaskhan throws her arms around my neck, and 
 exclaims, " O, pray for me always ! " The next day I receive 
 the following note from her : 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 
 
 " MY DEAR TEACHER : I will now relate to you in what 
 condition I am; and because I cannot with the mouth make 
 known my heart, therefore, with a letter I cause you to 
 understand. I think you will be glad. 
 
 " Yesterday evening, when you prayed with me, I felt in 
 my heart that my God and my Savior heard my prayer and 
 gave answer. And to-day, when you said, If you have not 
 found Him, it is your fault, instantly I would have opened 
 my heart, but I had not courage to speak. I will say, like 
 David, that * I greatly rejoice, because the Lord has heard 
 my voice; because He bowed His ear to listen to my suppli 
 cations, and I will call upon Him all the days of my life. 
 My beloved, do not think I am deceived. No, no, no ! I 
 feel in my heart that my dear Savior, who gave Himself a 
 sacrifice for me and for my sins, who ascended the cross, and 
 was pierced and tormented, He has received me, and heard 
 my unworthy voice. Oh ! I wish to commemorate His 
 death, and I hope that day will come. If you desire it, I 
 wish to come to your room every evening, and speak about 
 spiritual things. I desire that my companions also seek the 
 Savior till they find Him. Amen. 
 
 " Your humble disciple, 
 
 " (Signed) BADASKHAN." 
 
 Dear child ! I fold her in my arms with emotions too 
 deep for utterance. Only those who know the unspeakable 
 joy of leading souls to Christ, can understand and appreciate 
 this heaven-born bliss. Blessed work, and thrice blessed 
 Master ! It is not merely that one more soul is (we trust) 
 saved, but one more missionary gained for Gospel-work 
 among this people. 
 
1 88 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 In the evening, another timid, dove-like girl comes to speak 
 of what Christ has done for her. Almost for the first time 
 her lips are opened, and she appears very lovely sitting at 
 the Savior s feet. My cup is overflowing, and I cannot 
 sleep for very joy. 
 
 THE RE-OPENING OF SCHOOL. 
 
 School again re-opens, after a brief vacation. A wintry 
 storm is raging, and it seems impossible for any one to come 
 through the driving sleet. But seven of the girls make their 
 appearance, chilled, and dripping from the heavy sea which 
 they had to cross in a Httle boat, two of them coming quite 
 a distance. They gather around the school-room stove, 
 and soon their merry voices are ringing through the house. 
 While their hands are busily employed with knitting, 
 crocheting, or needle-work, they exercise their minds in 
 composing a little song in honor of their school, which they 
 set to a lively Italian air that one of them has picked up. 
 
 As their companions come straggling in, one by one, in 
 spite of the continued storm, they learn the simple ditty, 
 commencing, " Thou art beloved, O school," and all join 
 in the chorus with great spirit, making the old house ring 
 with their melody. 
 
 When the last, lingering one of the twenty-six joins the 
 happy company, she exclaims : " Oh, girls, if there is a heav 
 en on earth, it is this school ! " 
 
 Everything is now in working order, and we resume 
 our daily routine according to the programme for the 
 division of time. The rising bell rings at 5^ o clock. At 
 6 o clock, all assemble in the school-room, and unite in 
 singing a veise of some morning-hymn, followed by a brief 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 189 
 
 prayer for a benediction upon the new day. They then 
 disperse to their closets, for twenty minutes of private de 
 votion. The breakfast-bell rings at 6| o clock-; and the 
 group of neatly-dressed Armenian girls gathered around 
 that simply-spread table is a pleasant sight. After the 
 " blessing," each one repeats a verse of Scripture as her text 
 for the day. Their food is very much that to which they 
 are accustomed at home, though it is served in European 
 style. Breakfast over, they scatter to their domestic work ; 
 and Hovsep, our " Man Friday," comes to know what he 
 shall procure from the market for the day. The kitchen, 
 store-room, etc., are duly inspected ; and when the " prepa 
 ration bell " rings, the morning work is completed, and the 
 house in order. School commences at 83- o clock. The 
 pupils are in their seats, each with an open Bible upon the 
 desk before her. They rise when I enter, and respond to 
 my salutation with a salaam. The first hour, after the open 
 ing exercise, is spent in the study of God s Word, and it is 
 the most delightful of the day. The little work entitled, 
 " Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation," proves a valuable aid 
 in studying the Old Testament dispensation, which is the 
 key to the New Testament. It is enough to inspire one to 
 look upon the little audience at this hour ; such interest is 
 depicted upon almost every countenance, and such fixed and 
 solemn attention given, when Divine truth is brought home 
 to their hearts and consciences. 
 
 No other text-book can wake up mind and strengthen in 
 tellect like the Bible ! Next to the " Book of books," 
 " Wayland s Moral Science " is the favorite study of our 
 advanced pupils. " Upham s Mental Philosophy " is too 
 abstract and abstruse, and after the first few chapters it is 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 dropped. Geography is very distasteful to these Armenian 
 girls, unless combined with history and map-drawing. In 
 grammar, ancient and modern, and arithmetic, they make 
 good proficiency, and manifest a decided taste for music, 
 learning to read the notes at sight, and carrying the dif 
 ferent parts with comparative ease and rhythmical accuracy. 
 A little astronomy and natural philosophy, and, now and 
 then, a lecture on physiology, complete the round of studies 
 in the Armenian language. The study of English has, by 
 my earnest solicitation to the u station," given place to Turk 
 ish, as a missionary language. 
 
 While the assistant teacher is hearing the primary classes, 
 I inspect the different rooms, take note of any defect in the 
 domestic work, and then prepare for my own classes. The 
 morning session closes at 12 o clock, with an hour s inter 
 mission, and a luncheon of bread and fruit is spread in the din 
 ing-room. The afternoon exercises are varied by singing, 
 occasional reading of essays, and instruction in sewing. Our 
 pupils, like all Orientals, are extremely fond of embroidery, 
 and ornamental handiwork of every variety. They show con 
 siderable skill and imitative capacity in fancy work, which 
 quite overshadows the plain and substantial, in their estima 
 tion ; and we are obliged to restrict this inordinate passion 
 for the showy and fanciful, somewhat to their dislike. School 
 closes at 4^ o clock. The succeeding half-hour is spent in 
 private devotion, selected by the girls in preference to any 
 other time at the close of the day. 
 
 AFTER SCHOOL-HOURS. 
 
 A tap at my door, announces the moment when this 
 refreshing quiet and freedom from interruption is ended. 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 19 1 
 
 Some question to be asked, some problem solved, or an inter 
 view sought to explain a difficulty which has arisen. Or, it 
 may be, there is a case of discipline to demand attention, or 
 conversation with one who is anxiously asking what she shall 
 do to be saved. In this way the time passes till the dinner- 
 bell rings at 6 o clock. When this meal is over, the girls are 
 scattered in groups in the halls, or the little garden ; some 
 are singing, one is reading aloud to her companions while 
 they busily ply the needle, and others are enjoying a game 
 of romps. " Study-hour " comes at 7 o clock, and when all 
 are quietly employed in the school-room, I go to the parlor, 
 where Hovsep brings the " post-bag " which has just arrived 
 from Vizier Khan, with letters, papers, circulars, etc., 
 etc. The arrival of the " post " is the great event of the 
 day, especially if French or Austrian steamers have come 
 into port ; for then we may expect letters from the home, and 
 the dear ones far away ; sometimes these little white-winged 
 messengers are freighted with heavy tidings, and we learn 
 how much of joy or sorrow may be condensed in a few 
 strokes of the pen ; how much of life in a passing 
 moment. 
 
 When this survey is concluded, Hovsep brings his account^ 
 for the day s expenses, to be taken down for the weekly set 
 tlement. A tap of the bell announces the close of " study- 
 hour." This is the time to " call the roll," and speak of any 
 remissness in duty during the day, unless it is deemed best 
 to deal with the delinquents alone. Letters received for the 
 school are now distributed, and eager hands are outstretched 
 as the girls gather around the teacher s table, for they carry 
 on quite a large and interesting correspondence with friends 
 at home, requiring some vigilance on my part, lest in break- 
 
IQ2 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ing away from their old, established customs, they also over 
 step the bounds of maidenly propriety. 
 
 Happy voices are making music on every side ; three or 
 four girls besiege me for a story. " And let it be of Ameri 
 ca!" they say, while others beg for an exercise in simple 
 gymnastics, or a game of " Blind man s buff," in the great 
 hall. We adjourn for that purpose, and I am a child once 
 more, enjoying the fun as heartily as the youngest of my 
 merry girls, for there is " a time to laugh ; " and this is our 
 time. 
 
 At half-past nine o clock, the " retiring bell " rings ; and 
 twenty minutes later, I go the rounds, to see if all lights 
 are extinguished, bid my flock " good-night," and receive 
 their pleasant responses, " Asdoodzo pare " the good of 
 God, or, " Anoosh koon vaiala " sweet sleep enjoy and 
 then return to my own room to improve the still hours in 
 writing letters to distant friends, or in penning a brief record 
 of these fleeting scenes ere they become obliterated from 
 memory s page by the effacing finger of Time. 
 
 And thus passes each day, varied by occasional visits from 
 missionary friends scattered at remote quarters of the city 
 calls from English and other foreign residents, or passing 
 travelers, and now and then, an evening spent with our mis 
 sionary neighbors, Dr. and Mrs. Goodell, the only English- 
 speaking family living in Hasskeuy. Sometimes disease, in 
 its numerous phases, makes an inroad upon our ranks, and 
 disturbs our peaceful routine ; an epidemic sweeps through 
 the school, as once, when twenty pupils were stricken, at the 
 same time, with cholera, in its lighter form, and a fearful 
 night was spent, without medical or any human aid, in going 
 from one room to another, administering hot foot baths, 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 193 
 
 mustard drinks, and sinapisms, which, with God s blessing, 
 saved them all. And once, a sad contagious eruption was 
 ignorantly brought back by some pupil, after the summer vaca 
 tion, and spread, before its nature was known. The " veritable 
 (cutaneous) disease " constantly prevailing among the Con 
 stantinople Jews, and a literal fulfilment of the phophecy 
 recorded in Deut. xxviii. 27. As soon as one set was relieved 
 from the quarantine imposed within the dwelling, another 
 set were ready to take their places. Words cannot convey 
 an adequate idea of the trial caused by this dispensation, 
 which actually turned the school into a hospital, while, at the 
 same time, we struggled along with broken classes, and 
 disarranged domestic work, and managed to keep even our 
 missionary friends in ignorance of the fact ! 
 
 Nursing and prescribing for Orientals is attended with un 
 known difficulties. They are utterly ignorant of medicine, 
 in its essential nature and effect, and think that if a little 
 does good, much will do more good, proportionately ! And 
 as for dieting, it is far from their thoughts. Our pupils turn 
 with disgust from rice-water, gruels, and porridges, when 
 ill, and long for the " savory messes " of which they are 
 accustomed to eat at all times. 
 
 WELCOMING A SISTER. 
 
 After many weeks of patient waiting, a message is received 
 from Malta, of the band of fresh recruits, on their way to join 
 our missionary ranks; among them the dear sister from my 
 childhood s home. All things are made ready for the 
 expected arrival. The house is put in prime order by the 
 girls, who are all on the tiptoe of expectation. At last the glad 
 morning arrives ; and a brighter, more perfect day, in Feb- 
 
 
IQ4 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ruary, never rejoiced our eyes and heart. The final, finishing 
 touch is given to every arrangement, and the great hall door 
 is thrown wide open, to admit the expected one With un 
 looked-for delicacy, the girls withdraw to the upper hall, that 
 we may meet alone. 
 
 A few moments later, and we join them ; they greet their 
 new teacher with many expressions of pleasure, while she can 
 only return their salutations with kindly looks and smiles. The 
 scene recalls my own experience, when first introduced to the 
 bevy of dark-eyed Armenian girls, who for months had been 
 praying and watching for my coming; and memories of the 
 brief sojourn in that early school-home, on the banks of the 
 beautiful Bosphorus, crowd thick and fast; the quaint, yet 
 comfortable dwelling ; the dear missionary family; the pleasant 
 garden, where the little children played beneath the loving 
 mother s eye ; the cosy room built for the teacher, command 
 ing a magnificent view of the Bosphorus, whose blue waters 
 lay spread out like a lovely lake, shut in by hills " peeping 
 o er hills," far below the tangled wilderness which sloped 
 down to the red-roofed buildings of the rural village, and 
 opening upon a broad upper terrace, where, beneath the 
 spreading shade of the umbrella pine, from whose lofty 
 branches a noble swing was suspended, our pupils found recre 
 ation, secure from observation of the outer world ; the hill 
 beyond, with its vineyard, and nuts, and flowers, up whose 
 sides they delighted to clamber, twining the wild roses in 
 their dark tresses, or braids, and singing like the soaring lark, 
 as they surveyed the world below from their secure retreat. 
 Ah ! what a fairy land it seemed, on that January day, with its 
 soft breath, its singing birds, and blooming flowers, in strong 
 contrast to the piercing cold and drifting snows which I had 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 
 
 left behind, in dear old Boston, but thirty days before ! And 
 best and brightest of all, was the introduction to such a circle 
 of missionaries as then clustered around Bebek. To meet those 
 whose names had long been as familiar as a household worg!, 
 and to be received as one of the family, by new-found fathers 
 and mothers, brothers and sisters, this was indeed blessed, 
 and it seemed almost like entering heaven ! 
 
 " Achkut loois ! " light to your eyes is the congratula 
 tion now tendered to me by every member of the household. 
 It is pleasant to observe their gladness that I am no more to 
 be " alone." And no one appears to rejoice in this more 
 than Eva, whose thoughtful love leads her to anticipate my 
 every wish, and lighten my care and labors in every possible 
 way. While all my pupils have vied with each other in 
 bestowing marks of affection upon their teacher, in my com 
 parative isolation and lonely burden-bearing Eva has more 
 fully supplied the place of a sister. Whenever ill at night, 
 and obliged to call some one, she was the first to hear my 
 voice, and spring to my assistance. And after doing all in 
 her power, accompanied by many loving and wistful looks, 
 she would retire to a prayer-closet near by, to seek heavenly 
 aid and blessing. Her low, earnest pleadings never failed to 
 touch my heart in those solitary night-watches. 
 
 Eva makes but slow progress in study. She acquired Armeni 
 an with almost as much difficulty as a foreigner ; and the con 
 finement of the school-room proving too great a change from 
 her former free, active life, I have given her, in accordance 
 with medical advice, more exercise in the lighter work of the 
 house. Her neat and orderly habits, and aptness in domes 
 tic employments, form quite an exception to most of our pu 
 pils ; and when once taught our method of doing any kind 
 
196 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 of housework, the lesson never needs to be repeated ; in 
 fact, she strives to out-vie her teacher, though not in a wrong 
 spirit. And she is^. withal, so conscientious and reliable, that 
 she proves an invaluable assistant in the domestic department 
 of the school. 
 
 Her religious nature is strong, and controls her whole be 
 ing; so that, unconsciously to herself, she has acquired a 
 most happy influence over her school-mates. Though far be 
 hind many of them in mental capacity, the " ornament of a 
 meek and quiet spirit" is hers, and her heart is full of that 
 Love without which, the Apostle says, gifts, and tongues, and 
 " all knowledge " are " nothing ! " It is impossible not to be 
 strongly drawn to a character so unselfish and lovable ; yet 
 there exists the same necessity for avoiding any marked man 
 ifestation of partiality, as in a school at home ; for human 
 nature, everywhere, is made up of the same elements. 
 
 Could Iskoohi but remain in the post of assistant teacher, 
 our working force would soon be stronger than ever before. 
 But as fast as one is trained, to whom we can look for 
 help in training others, she is spirited away to gladden the 
 heart and home, and aid in the work of some young evange 
 list. The very thing we desire, yet feel so much in our own 
 work. 
 
 We cannot call upon one of our own number for help in 
 such an emergency ; for, there is no reserve force to be 
 drawn upon among missionary workers ; and when one falls 
 by the way, his fellow-soldier must gird himself to do double 
 duty. 
 
 And now, my very own sister is by my side ! What a full 
 tide of talk sets in, whenever we can be together ! for school 
 goes on without intermission. Sarah looks up with a blank, 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. IQ7 
 
 yet amused expression every now and then, when I uncon 
 sciously address her in the language which has so long been 
 my principal medium of communication ; Armenian words 
 and phrases step, unbidden, into almost every dish of dis 
 course in our sweet mother-tongue ; but I shall soon be 
 cured of this propensity ! 
 
 Our thoughts are much with the beloved mother who has 
 left herself without a daughter to cheer her declining years. 
 We had hoped that she too would come and bless our 
 Eastern home with her presence and prayers. But no ; she 
 must stay and see her Benjamin safely through college and 
 seminary, and then send him forth on the same mission of 
 mercy. Blessed mother ! We can scarcely look at her pic 
 ture for the blinding tears, as we think of her loneliness in 
 the dear old home. 
 
 Surely, He who sits " over against the treasury," and sees 
 His people " cast in of their abundance," will say, as of the 
 widow of old, " Verily, she hath cast in more than they all !" 
 
 LEARNING THE LANGUAGE. 
 
 Sarah at once commences the study of Armenian. Our 
 dear girls are most interested in her progress, and teach her 
 many words. They long for the time when her tongue shall 
 be loosed, and they can become more fully acquainted. 
 But it is a long and wearisome process ; and patience must 
 have her perfect work, when one begins, like a little child, 
 to learn his Aip, Pen, Kim A, B, C and slowly build up a 
 vocabulary in a language which has no affinity to any mod 
 ern tongue ; for whose puzzling prefixes, and affixes, and 
 misplaced particles, there are no rules, and usage alone must 
 be the guide. During my early days of much dictionary- 
 
198 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 studying, and floundering amid heaps of synonyms, with no 
 clue to detect the many obsolete words, how patience-pro 
 voking were those written exercises to be prepared for my 
 Armenian teacher ! And how almost wicked it seemed to 
 try to follow the preacher in his Sunday discourse ; while I 
 was endeavoring to unravel one of his involved and complex 
 sentences, he would pass on to another, and yet another, 
 till I became bewildered and gave up the attempt in despair. 
 How I envied the veriest little ragamuffin on the streets who 
 could rattle off Armenian to his heart s content ! But hard 
 est of all this new experience, was the first attempt to pray 
 in the presence of my pupils. The fear lest I might use 
 some inappropriate word or expression in addressing the 
 Deity in this new tongue, and thus provoke a smile, caused 
 my face to burn and my heart to throb ; after it was over, I 
 felt very much as did a young missionary who had long de 
 layed the duty, and was finally induced to make the attempt 
 at the family altar. He stammered through, in broken ut 
 terances; and, rising from his knees, with flushed face, 
 exclaimed, as he gave vent to his feelings by tossing some 
 little thing across the room, " You ll not catch me again 
 practicing my poor Armenian upon the Lord ! " 
 
 We have been troubled to secure a good teacher for the study 
 of the language. It is not deemed proper for an unmarried 
 student to come into our school ; therefore we cannot employ 
 one who has been trained in the Seminary at Bebek ; and 
 must take the best that we can find from " without." The one 
 now in our employ cannot be better described than in the 
 words of an Armenian, respecting a former Patriarch: "He 
 is just like an empty cistern : If you put your head to its 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 199 
 
 mouth, and say * boo, the cistern says boo ; if you say 
 bah, the cistern says * bah ! " 
 
 " What a blessed thing it is that new missionaries are 
 obliged to learn the language before they can go to work ! " 
 says one of the wise missionary fathers. " Suppose they 
 could dash right in, fresh from their theological seminaries ; 
 why, they would upset our work of years in a few weeks ! " 
 It is hard for " Young America " to accommodate itself to 
 the " Yawash, yawash " slowly, slowly of the Turk ; and 
 one will make sad mistakes if he judges the life and sur 
 roundings of the people from his own standard. Four or five 
 years are said to be requisite for acquiring a good knowl 
 edge of the Armenian language ; though one can commence 
 missionary work, to some extent, within the first year. It is 
 not an uncommon thing for an ambitious young missionary 
 to preach his first sermon in the new tongue which he is ac 
 quiring, within two or three months after his arrival. But 
 he seldom fails in justifying the playful prediction of one of 
 the fathers, " It will be long enough before he preaches 
 another ! " Meanwhile, much may be learned of the people, 
 their manners, customs, modes of thought and feeling ; and 
 how best to adapt oneself to them without offending their 
 tastes, or awakening their prejudices. 
 
 The work of a foreign missionary is but well begun at the 
 expiration of four or.five years in the field. 
 
 CHRISTIAN CULTURE. 
 
 The deep seriousness which pervaded our school during 
 the last term has not disappeared. A letter from five of 
 those who are yet without hope, lies before me. They write 
 
200 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 as follows : " We are much pained that it is so long a time 
 since we came hither, and we still remain in the same condi 
 tion. Dear teacher, we feel that we are sinners; we know 
 that we have transgressed against the dear Savior. We are 
 very thankful to God that He brought us to this beloved 
 school, where we enjoy such privileges ; and we are also 
 thankful to you, that we have such a dear teacher to speak 
 with, and advise us. If we had never come to this school, 
 we should have lived in unbelief and idolatry, and how ter 
 rible would have been our condition ! But what great 
 gratitude are we to show to our God that He has called us 
 from such darkness to the light." 
 
 Another writes: " I much desire to know and do the will 
 of God. I am ready to spend my whole life for Him." 
 
 Anitsa is one of our best scholars. She has a mind of 
 more than ordinary strength and grasp. But her faults are 
 very marked, and her force of character makes us the more 
 anxious for her future course ; nothing but religious princi 
 ple can remedy her defects. 
 
 She learns with great ease and rapidity, committing sev 
 enty or eighty verses of Scripture at a time, and repeating 
 them word for word. Study is her delight; and she will 
 pore over a book for hours, utterly oblivious of her personal 
 appearance or surroundings. Here she comes ! a brunette, 
 with beautiful eyes, a strong Armenian face, and firm yet 
 slender figure, rather above medium height, rushing into the 
 school-room like a young whirlwind just let loose ! hair fly 
 ing, shoes and stockings down at the heels, and a staring 
 rent in her careless dress. She is sent to her room to tidy 
 herself; a dash or two of the brush over the tangled masses 
 of her long black hair; a vigorous pull at the offending cov- 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 2OI 
 
 erings of her feet, and half-a-dozen great gaping stitches, to 
 close the unsightly chasm in her raiment, and she reappears, 
 with head erect, and face serene, while a scarcely suppressed 
 smile ripples around the room, among her mates, as she 
 passes to her seat. 
 
 Alas, for the chest which contains her wearing apparel ! 
 How often have I reduced that chaos to order, while she 
 stood by to learn the lesson, interspersed with many a plain, 
 practical hint, and motherly query as to the kind of house 
 keeper she would prove for a Gospel preacher, to whose peo 
 ple she must be the model in everything that is good and lovely! 
 These private talks always result in manifestations of con 
 siderable spasmodic feeling on her part ; but very likely, my 
 next inspection will reveal a fringe of clothing hanging from 
 underneath the lid, while sundry articles are strewn upon the 
 floor around the queer old chest. Dear child ! I fear that I am 
 not always as gentle and patient as was Paul among the Thes- 
 salonians " Even as a nurse cherisheth her children ;" for 
 the same constant supervision is required in her portion of 
 the household work. But we cannot forget that Anitsa 
 was early left an orphan, with only men to keep the house, 
 and care for her, while she grew up wild and untamed. 
 How she can best be trained in womanly work and ways, is 
 a question that causes much thought and prayer; for she is 
 naturally proud and ambitious, and like most Orientals, con 
 siders labor to be degrading. But she has capacity sufficient 
 to accomplish anything to which she bends her energy and 
 will. So we work on, in the patience of hope, doing and seeking 
 that which will best promote her future usefulness, not only 
 for her own sake, but also for the cause which she will rep 
 resent among her people. If imbued with the spirit of 
 9* 
 
202 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Christ, she may yet do great things for her race. Anitsa 
 will be the first representative of our school, the first educated 
 woman in a distant and extensive region, and her every act 
 will be scanned by many curious eyes. 
 
 I have been reading " Unde Tom s Cabin " in Armenian. 
 It is impossible to give the peculiar dialect of the African in 
 this new dress, and consequently, the slaves are made to use 
 the same phraseology as their masters, which detracts from 
 the interest of the book. But one of the Armenian preach 
 ers says he was perfectly fascinated by it, and sat up all 
 night to finish the story. Our pupils have not yet seen it ; I 
 have hesitated about giving them a book so different from 
 anything they have ever read, lest it should create a distaste 
 for the more solid and serious reading in which they now 
 delight. They frequently come to me with tracts and books 
 such as Flavel s " On Keeping the Heart," Doddridge s 
 " Rise and Progress," Baxter s " Saints Rest," etc., saying, 
 " How beautiful!" as they point out some particular de 
 scription or passage. Bunyan s " Pilgrim s Progress " is a 
 never-failing favorite. 
 
 While I am busy writing in my room, a number of the 
 younger girls seek admittance. I hand them a newly-received 
 copy of the " Avedaper " newspaper to read until I am at 
 liberty. One of them commences reading aloud a story of a 
 little child who asked his mother what it is to give one s 
 heart to Jesus; and when she had explained it in simple 
 language, the dear boy made the offering then and there, 
 and from that time gave evidence of being truly a child of 
 God. 
 
 As Mariam reads, the tears gather in her eyes, her voice 
 trembles, and she stops. Her companions lean over her 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 203 
 
 shoulders, and in silence, they together finish the touching 
 narrative, with- evident emotion depicted upon their counte 
 nances. The group form a lovely picture ; and as I occasion 
 ally glance at them, I can but think how much more tender 
 and impressible are their hearts than those whose minds have 
 been weakened, and consciences seared by constant poring 
 over fiction. 
 
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 " We want to know why we are not Christians? " This is 
 the earnest inquiry of a very interesting class of girls in the 
 school, who have long seemed near the kingdom. They 
 have faithfully used all the means of grace, and then seemed 
 to wait for some manifestation of Divine power in their behalf. 
 I had conversed with them so frequently during the last term, 
 that it now seemed wise to adopt another course. My 
 silence produces the desired effect. They are alarmed, and 
 come to me for help. It is Sunday evening; all of those 
 who do not consider themselves as Christians, have come of 
 their own accord to my room. I repeat the question which 
 some of them have asked, and after a few words to show 
 who is at fault in the matter, I am led to say, " If there is 
 one here who is now ready to make the solemn resolve that 
 she will henceforth serve the Lord, I would like her to man 
 ifest it by rising." All seem much affected, but no one 
 responds; afew more words about the Savior; that, were 
 He here in person, they are sure they would run to Him and 
 wish to follow Him ; and we then kneel in prayer. When I tell 
 them that they are really making a decision, if not to come 
 to Christ, to go on in sin a little longer, as disobedient chil 
 dren, they are much moved. We sit in silence, broken only 
 by the sobs of the weeping girls, while I tremble lest I have 
 
204 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 been rash and unwise in bringing them to a crisis which may 
 leave them colder, and at a greater distance than before. 
 Deeply burdened with the responsibility of guiding these 
 souls aright, I lift my heart in prayer, and at this moment, 
 one dear child, the youngest of the group, rises ; her counte 
 nance expressive of a calm determination, that, let others do 
 as they will, she is determined to live for Jesus. While 
 speaking to her of the joy in heaven over one sinner that 
 repents and turns to God, another arises, and yet another, 
 till the six who seemed prepared for such a step, are all on 
 their feet. Again we kneel, and these tender lambs are 
 committed to the watch and care of the Great Shepherd of 
 Israel. Are not the angels hovering over this house to 
 night ? " Awake, O North wind; and come, thou South; 
 blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out." 
 
 It is delightful to watch the growth and development of 
 some of these " plants of righteousness," in our Garden 
 upon the Golden Horn. Through the " ministry of the 
 Spirit," those who were once full of pride, selfishness, and 
 anger, easily provoked and stubborn, are learning that LOVE 
 brings a sweet rest to the soul ; while self-will and indul 
 gence in wrong feelings, is but torment and slavery ; " like 
 the troubled sea, whose waters cast up mire and dirt," the 
 deep deposits of a fallen nature come to the surface ; and 
 " there is no peace." From time to time, they write little notes 
 which tell me of their spiritual condition. Here is one from 
 a dear child who hoped that her sins were pardoned before 
 school closed last year : 
 
 " MY DEAR TEACHER : Behold, I write this letter to tell 
 you about my spiritual condition. My beloved ; I often 
 look within and examine my heart, and I feel my progress, 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 2O5 
 
 especially these days ; and I always feel my being a sinner 
 also. Besides, I perceive that of myself I have no strength. 
 If my Savior do not help me, and hold my hand, I shall 
 quickly fall. Truly, I often stumble, but He does not let go 
 my hand, but raises me up. Much do I hope that I shall 
 always be like my Savior ; and I have much desire that my 
 sisters also consecrate themselves to that compassionate 
 Savior, and be saved. 
 
 " O, how much did I desire to be with you when you drew 
 near the table of the Lord, the last time ! 
 
 " You said that we ought also to have been there. We, all 
 of us, that is, Takoohi, Makrohi, Aghavni, Horopsi, and 
 I, wished to be partakers. Will that day ever come ? Per 
 haps you will say, Why do you wish to be a partaker ? 
 I wish to be one, because my heart testifies to me that I am 
 a child of God, and for the reason that I wish to commemo 
 rate His death with His members. I sometimes think, per 
 haps they will not look at me, because I am still little ; but 
 I also think that God does not look at the being great or 
 small, only at the heart. I much wish that for me, and for 
 all of us, you would always pray ; and I wish also, that when 
 I do anything wrong, you would call me and give me advice, 
 for I am in much need of advice. I feel that when I fall 
 into temptation, I am afterwards more careful, and become 
 more firmly established. I need much grace. I hope that the 
 Lord will not cast me away from His presence. Your sincere 
 
 disciple, 
 
 "(Signed) MARKARED." 
 
 There is an evident expectation in the minds of those who 
 are admitted to this school, that they will undergo some 
 
206 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 great change. What that change is, they scarcely compre 
 hend, except that it in some way pertains to their religion. 
 During the first year of my missionary teaching, the number of 
 our boarding pupils was increased from twenty-six to thirty- 
 five ; among these were several " harum scarum " little girls, 
 received through yie urgent solicitation of Armenian friends, 
 " because," as they said, " they were so poor; and it would 
 be a charity to provide for them." They were veritable 
 Topseys ; and their persons, dress, and manners, as well as 
 minds, required vigilant watch and care. 
 
 One of them was reproved for telling an untruth. " Why," 
 she exclaimed, in great amazement, " I didn t know it was 
 against the rule to lie! " 
 
 Finding the discipline of the school-room very lax under 
 Armenian assistants, and being at that time unable, for want 
 of a tongue, to take the reins fully into my own hands, I drew 
 up a set of very minute and specific rules, pertaining to 
 punctuality, promptness, neatness in dress, mode of sitting, 
 etc., etc. The touch of the bell regulated the changes of 
 each half-hour, at which time everything necessary for study 
 during the next period, was to be withdrawn from the desks, 
 thus ensuring perfect quiet during the recitations. These 
 rules were translated into Armenian, read to the school, and 
 then fastened upon the school-room door; after a week s 
 trial, the regulations were adopted by a unanimous vote of 
 our pupils, though they considered them " very strict." It 
 was interesting, sometimes funny, to see the effect of the new 
 laws. They quite revolutionized the order of things, and 
 afforded another proof of the fart that everybody likes to be 
 well governed, and is happier for it. Some of the older girls 
 copied them, saying : " When I teach, I shall use these rules." 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 2O/ 
 
 But when a year or two had passed, and they were well 
 grounded in these " commandments," a general sentiment 
 was established in the school which rendered the " Thou 
 shalt," and " Thou shalt not," unnecessary; the specific reg 
 ulations were withdrawn, and our pupils were thrown upon 
 their personal responsibility in keeping the spirit, instead 
 of the letter of the law. Otherwise, we could not expect 
 them to develop self-governing ability when thrown upon 
 their own resources after leaving the school. This is the 
 Divine method ; the " New Testament " order, making, 
 not mere machines of mankind, but intelligent, co-operative, 
 free-willed subjects. 
 
 A very encouraging development of the Christian " grace 
 of giving " was manifested by our pupils in aid of the 
 "Morning Star." We had attended the Monthly Concert 
 of prayer for missions, which was conducted in the chapel 
 on Sunday evening by Mr. Williams, a converted Turk, 
 formerly " Selim effendi :" And on our return to the upper 
 hall, I seized the occasion to speak once more to the school, 
 about systematic benevolence ; alluding to the work that 
 children in America were doing for the heathen, by furnish 
 ing funds for the " Missionary Packet." While we were 
 talking on the subject, two of the girls slipped away for a 
 moment, and returned with twenty-five piastres one dol 
 lar which they placed in my hand. It was a pleasant sur 
 prise, and betokened a latent liberality which only needed to 
 be energized and directed. 
 
 When I met the girls on Monday evening, to talk it over, 
 according to my promise, they were very eager to know 
 more about the new project. After I had told them all that 
 I knew of the enterprise, and the work which would be ac- 
 
208 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 complished among the islands of the Pacific Ocean, by this 
 Gospel-ship, their enthusiasm was awakened, and they asked 
 with much animation, whether they also could help to build it. 
 And when assured that every offering, however small, would 
 be prized, began to contribute their piastres. My hands were 
 soon filled with the coppers ; but missing one of the flock, I 
 passed the coins to some of the older girls to count, while I 
 stepped into an adjoining room. Here I found Victoria, 
 weeping by herself, because she had " nothing to give." 
 Her family were highly respectable, but very poor, and 
 the mother, a good Christian woman, had, with difficulty, fur 
 nished her daughter s necessary clothing. I remembered that 
 a piece of Victoria s " crochet-work " had been lately sold 
 for six piastres, and lifted the load from her heart by the in 
 formation. Her eyes sparkled, and she quickly said, " Put 
 in Jive for me ! " 
 
 The girls had finished counting the money when we re 
 joined them ; but when " seventy-five piastres " was an 
 nounced, all cried out, " It is not enough !" They then put 
 their heads together to see how they could raise more. I 
 left them again, and when passing by a dark corridor, over 
 heard two girls in consultation about the matter. "I owe 
 for a pair of shoes," said one, " and ought not to subscribe for 
 more till that is paid." "But," argued her companion, "if 
 you really wish to do something more, you can ; God will 
 help you. You know whether you can finish a piece of 
 work by a certain time, and that will pay for both." Such 
 conversations, of which their teachers are often unobserved 
 listeners, afford a more faithful index of their true feelings, 
 and mode of reasoning, than could otherwise be obtained. 
 By their own request, a paper was drawn up, and each girl 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 2OQ 
 
 named the sum which she pledged herself to pay by a given 
 time. While this was going on, Victoria, who was leaning 
 on my shoulder, whispered, " Put in the other piastre ! " 
 When the list was completed, the entire sum amounted to 
 two hundred piastres ! Every face beamed with joy, and 
 some of the younger girls fairly danced with delight. " Per 
 haps I shall go as a missionary in that ship ! " said one of 
 them ; and another asked " if our money would pay for one 
 of the timbers ? " 
 
 Their hearts were overflowing with the blessed luxury of 
 giving to those who were poorer and more needy than them 
 selves. And as I looked upon the happy group, most of 
 whom had, as they hoped, commenced the " new life," and, 
 out of their poverty, had contributed generously for the 
 spread of the Gospel, so dear to them, I could but wish that 
 Christians of an older growth in other lands might witness 
 that scene, and learn a lesson from these babes in Christ 
 Such fruit from these tender branches of the vine is inex 
 pressibly cheering to our hearts. May no hidden worm, or 
 corroding canker, sever their connection with the ROOT, and 
 thus leave them withered and bare, only to be " cast forth 
 and burned." 
 
 ENLARGING OUR BORDERS. 
 
 A few months have passed since the coming of the long- 
 looked-for sister, to share the blessed burden and sweet 
 cares of this garden of the Lord. During this period the 
 study of the language has been her principal work, besides 
 rendering some assistance in the sewing department of which 
 she now takes full charge, and also keeping the school 
 accounts. Another member has just been added to our 
 family, in the person of Miss H., a missionary sent out by 
 
210 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the London Jews Society, to teach the Spanish Jewesses of 
 Hasskeuy. There appeared to be no home for her in this 
 vicinity; and, with the consent of the " Station," we granted 
 her earnest request to share a corner of our dwelling. She 
 also is acquiring her missionary language, and a venerable 
 Rabbi comes every day to give her a lesson in Hebrew- 
 Spanish. So the two neophytes can compare progress in 
 their respective tongues, and be company for each other 
 when I am absorbed in school duties. Miss H. is a Chris 
 tian daughter of the house of Israel, of German birth ; and 
 her musical taste and skill contributes much to our social 
 enjoyment. 
 
 The two day-schools on the lower floor of our house are 
 well filled, with nearly a hundred boys and girls in daily at 
 tendance ; their singing can be heard a long distance on the 
 main street, and passers-by often stop to listen. The chapel 
 has proved too small to accommodate all who come to the 
 Sunday services. At first, our pupils were crowded into a 
 little side room where they could hear, and also add to the 
 exercises by their sweet singing. But that did not suffice, 
 and our borders were enlarged by the method so common 
 among missionaries of taking down partition walls. Occa 
 sionally a Turk or a Jew drops into our congregation, in the 
 midst of a discourse ; and at such times the preacher changes 
 from the Armenian to the Turkish language without any 
 apparent effort, as the latter is the business language of the 
 country, and more or less understood by all the people. The 
 chapel is thronged by all classes at our Communion seasons, 
 which are very solemnizing, and the sermon previous, usually 
 holds the attention of the audience to the close. More 
 quiet assemblies I scarcely ever saw. 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 211. 
 
 A Protestant wedding is sure to draw a great crowd, and 
 Pastor Simon never fails to seize the opportunity for a dis 
 course upon the family relation the duties of husbands and 
 wives. As time is of little value in the East, and the people 
 generally are blessed with the " gift of continuance," they 
 sit very patiently through an hour s preaching, previous to 
 the marriage ceremony. In fact, Protestants would feel 
 aggrieved without the full allowance at such a time ! 
 
 Many of the aristocrats of the place have heard the truth ; 
 not a few, like Nicodemus, in secret at the "spiritual night- 
 meetings," as they termed those little gatherings with the 
 missionaries, both in this house, and at their homes, when 
 the work was first commenced in Hasskeuy ; but, like the 
 " chief rulers who believed " the words of Christ, " because 
 of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they 
 should be put out of the synagogue." " Not many mighty, 
 not many noble are called." 
 
 One of the leading priests of Hasskeuy long ago said to 
 Dr. Dwight, " If you will but ensure my bread, I will come 
 over to you ! " He is intelligent, and enlightened, but hopes 
 to reform the " Old Church " by staying in it ; and we hear 
 that some of Dr. Goodell s sermons are reproduced by him 
 in his Sunday services in the Armenian Church ! 
 
 A MEETING FOR WOMEN IN AN ARMENIAN 
 CHURCH. 
 
 " Varzhoohi," said an Armenian woman, "you talk just 
 like our priest ! Come over to Eyub, next Wednesday, and 
 hear him preach to the women." 
 
 We take a caique, and cross the Golden Horn, to the vil 
 lage opposite, at the appointed time. The church is large 
 
212 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and lofty, a massive stone building with vaulted roof. Pass 
 ing through the outer and inner court, we are reminded of 
 the passage, " Take off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the 
 place whereon thou standest is holy ground;" for here are 
 narrow shelves to deposit them till our return. Here too 
 are pictures of saints with tapers burning before them. We 
 enter the audience room ; it is early, and we have ample 
 leisure to survey our surroundings. While we are looking 
 at the richly-decorated paintings, and the jewelled shrines 
 upon the altar, our attention is arrested by sad tones, and 
 rapid utterances broken by sobs, proceeding from the con 
 fessional ; the door is :jar, and now we can plainly hear the 
 gruff voice of the confessor, as he tells the poor woman to 
 " give alms, do penance, burn tapers before the saints " to 
 atone for the sin of her soul by the works of her hands ! A 
 moment more, and they come out; we catch a glimpse of 
 her pale, distressed countenance ; she kisses the " Holy 
 Book " presented to her by the priest, is sprinkled with 
 " holy water," and deposits her offering of silver upon 
 the altar, as she reverently crosses herself. Poor deluded 
 soul ! how I longed to tell her of the atonement made by 
 the Lamb of God, and the blood that " cleanseth from all 
 sin ! " But others are rapidly coming in all wrapped in 
 their white sheets. They cross themselves on entering the 
 church, then advance, and stand with hands outstretched in 
 an imploring attitude toward the picture of the Virgin Mary, 
 whom they call " the Mother of God." After repeated crossings 
 and mutterings of a form of prayer, they kneel, touch the fore 
 head to the floor in worship, and then complacently settle 
 back upon their feet. The next thing in order seems to be 
 an arrangement of their dress ; and when they carelessly look 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 213 
 
 around and catch sight of the " Franks " as they term all 
 foreigners they whisper and gaze with much curiosity. 
 
 Perhaps two hundred Armenian women are now assem 
 bled ; the priest makes his appearance, and immediately the 
 hum of conversation ceases, and all eyes are directed towards 
 him. His tall person is enveloped in a long black robe ; the 
 cowl is drawn over his head, and partly conceals a full face, 
 with heavy dark brown beard, and fine eyes of the same 
 color. Seating himself in the square straight-backed arm 
 chair, within the altar-enclosure, and holding a long staff 
 somewhat like a shepherd s crook in his left hand, he com 
 mences his discourse by saying that when Jesus was on earth, 
 He fed the hungry, healed the sick, restored the blind to 
 sight, and caused the lame to walk : That His goodness and 
 His power remain the same to-day as then. This is won 
 derful for an Armenian priest ! And Iskoohi and I exchange 
 glances of pleasure for we expect a real Gospel sermon 
 after such an introduction. His language is a mixture of 
 ancient and modern Armenian and Turkish ; a kind of 
 patois mostly used by the women, and not easily understood 
 by those accustomed to what the people term " book-lan 
 guage." His words seem to touch the hearts of the audi 
 ence, and we listen eagerly to catch some recognition of 
 Christ as the Physician of the soul the Savior from sin. 
 
 But here we are disappointed. This priest has either not 
 found Christ for himself, or he dare not preach what he be 
 lieves. So the sermon ends in a sort of moral essay, or 
 exhortation ; and the flock of poor starving souls receive 
 but a few scattered crumbs from the Master s table, where 
 there is bread enough and to spare " for all the world ! " 
 How our hearts burn within us for the privilege of proclaim- 
 
214 TIIE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ing to them the " glad tidings of redemption through His 
 blood," even the " forgiveness of sins ! " But we must bide 
 our time. The service ends, and the priest departs. Many 
 curious glances are directed towards us, as the women rise 
 to leave; and some gather courage to ask us what we are, 
 where are we from, etc., while others look and listen in 
 silence. When we tell them of our home, and school, one 
 bright, motherly-looking woman asks, if we will educate her 
 boy. Some of these faces greatly interest us. Not a few 
 of the older women bear the impress of some heavy sorrow, 
 some corroding care ; and more than one heavy sigh comes 
 from a burdened heart, as they pass out uncomforted and 
 unfed. 
 
 We find that a number came over from Hasskeuy, and 
 other places, to hear this priest, who is very popular among 
 the women. It seems that his liberal and enlightened views 
 as well as his popularity, awakened much enmity among 
 brother-priests in the church, and a few months ago he was 
 suspended from office. The women were offended, and re 
 fused to attend the church services ; and consequently, a 
 large proportion of its income fell off. After a time, the 
 authorities were obliged to capitulate ; they came to terms, 
 and the priest was restored. We rejoice over this significant 
 sign of the times, and learn, moreover, that woman has a 
 certain power even in this unchristian land. If the Turks 
 wish to secure an object in opposition to the Government, 
 their surest method is to raise a mob of women ! Of course, 
 they collect all those of the baser sort ; and they are incar 
 nate fiends ! no human power can withstand their raging 
 violence. 
 
 The poet says, <: The difference between a good and a bad 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 215 
 
 man, is as the distance from heaven to earth ; but the differ 
 ence between a good and a bad woman, is the distance from 
 heaven to hell ! " This is emphatically true in the East. 
 According to Oriental ideas, a woman is only equivalent to 
 " half a man ; " she is therefore on a level with the animals 
 too low for law to recognize, and consequently escapes its 
 rigor. 
 
 We return to our work with fresh courage and inspiration, 
 after this new view of the wants of woman in Turkey. Up 
 to this time, we had never attended an Armenian preaching 
 service in the " Old Church ; " for we did not care to go on 
 Sunday, when high mass is said, and their most imposing 
 ceremonies performed ; though the churches are open every 
 day for prayers, and we have sometimes dropped in, and 
 heard the monotonous chanting of the priests and boys, and 
 the rapid reading of the lessons in an unknown tongue ; while 
 clouds of incense arose from the censer swung by some aged 
 priest, who held in his left hand a plate, to receive the con 
 tributions of the people, and with abrupt, sententious words, 
 . enjoined liberality upon every one as he passed to and fro 
 among the crowd : So like the Romish Church, in its essen 
 tial doctrines and rites, yet entirely distinct from that body, 
 and owning no allegiance to the Pope. The Armenian 
 Church is considered heretic, by both the Greek and the Latin 
 Church, and stands by itself, with its own acknowledged 
 head the " Catholicos " and an imposing array of ecclesi 
 astics of different grades, and offices, chief of whom is the 
 " Patriarch," whose office is, however, mostly civil. 
 
2l6 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ORIENTAL TRAITS AND TASTES. 
 
 How like a garden our school appears these pleasant sum 
 mer mornings ! Each of the twenty-six pupils has a small 
 flower-bed which she cultivates, and at the ringing of the 
 bell they appear, with fresh and rosy faces, and heads 
 adorned by garlands, or clusters of gay blossoms. (The love 
 cf flowers and of children is a redeeming trait in the Turk 
 ish character. The swarthiest and coarsest-looking soldier 
 wears a nosegay in his button-hole, and cultivates the ground 
 around the guard-house, or fills its windows with pots of 
 flowers in full bloom, and his hard, stern face, relaxes into a 
 smile of tenderness, as he lifts a little child into a carriage 
 or a boat.) We are glad to foster a taste so pure and refining, 
 implanted by Him who has lavishly scattered His smiles 
 in the heavens above and the earth beneath, making every 
 creation of beauty " a joy forever ! " 
 
 They manifest their Oriental taste in many little ways. 
 The lights are suddenly extinguished in the great hall some 
 evening, and we are invited to witness a display of rare jewels. 
 We approach a group of girls who are glittering with coro 
 nets, necklaces, and bracelets of flashing diamonds ! And 
 constellations are sparkling upon the drapery of two or 
 three. A closer inspection reveals the gems to be but glow 
 worms, and causes a merry peal of laughter to go round the 
 circle at our discovery. 
 
 Another evening we enjoy a very pleasant surprise : We 
 had noticed for several days, that the girls seemed unusually 
 busy out of school-hours, and an air of mystery was thrown 
 round their employments; yet felt sure, from their open, 
 sunny faces, that nothing wrong was brewing. They man- 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 2I/ 
 
 age to keep possession of our dining-room till the tea-bell 
 rings, and we go down as usual. What is our astonishment, 
 on entering, unsuspectingly, to find the room illuminated, 
 and our round table as brilliantly decorated, as if the fairies 
 had prepared our evening meal ! Gleaming through the 
 spangled rose - colored gauze thrown over it, are pome 
 granates severed to show their crimson hearts and golden 
 oranges, with the rind fantastically cut, and ornamented with 
 stripes and stars of gold-paper ; and little gifts of ornament 
 al handiwork, napkin-rings, watch-cases, lamp-mats, cro 
 chet collars, doilies, tidies, etc., etc., lying beside each plate. 
 A transparent jelly-like dish of food quite new to us 
 stands at one end, and a pyramid-cake in the centre, iced, 
 and ornamented with a wreath of flowers. We are dazzled 
 by the display, in commemoration of their New-Year s 
 Eve, old style, and are expressing our surprise and 
 pleasure, when sounds of smothered laughter from the 
 door causes us to turn in that direction, and we find the 
 entire company gathered to enjoy the scene. Boghos, the 
 cook, had been taken, into the secret, and through his aid the 
 arrangements were secured. The cake was his master-piece ; 
 it was hollow, and intended to contain a little bird, which 
 was caught for that purpose. Boghos constituted himself 
 " master of ceremonies," and planned to cut the cake at the 
 right moment, giving a signal to the girls outside, who should 
 enter the room to offer their congratulations, in time to see 
 it fly forth from its frosted prison. But alas for their fanci 
 ful contrivance ! When the cage was all ready, the bird had 
 flown ! It made its escape from a broken pane overlooked in 
 one of the high kitchen windows. 
 
 Among the frequent visitors to our schoolroom, is the 
 10 
 
2l8 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 mother of B. Hachadoor, our former teacher in Armenian 
 Grammar. The old lady learned to read when past sixty 
 years of age, and is very proud of her acquirement. The 
 girls always like to see her come in, and after she is seated, 
 hand her a book, watching with furtive glances the proceed 
 ing which is sure to follow. First one pair of spectacles are 
 drawn from the ample pocket, and carefully adjusted, and, 
 after a trial, holding the book at some distance another 
 pair appears, and mounts above the others, while the girls 
 can scarcely conceal their evident enjoyment of the scene, 
 as, with head thrown back, and book held aloft, still another 
 trial is made ! When this proves unsuccessful, and a third 
 pair of glasses crowns the rest, and the simple, quaint old 
 body, with serene countenance is crooning the now discern 
 ible sentences with an expression of unutterable content, 
 an audible smile and a low murmur of satisfaction runs 
 around the little assembly, in which the teacher joins, while 
 its unconscious object is w r holly absorbed in her new and 
 blessed employment. 
 
 Occasionally a Protestant sister brings to us on the 
 " sewing afternoon," some one "from without," whom she 
 is trying to influence. One of these visitors has greatly 
 interested us a young Armenian woman from another 
 quarter of the city, with a countenance of more than ordi 
 nary character, sweetness, and intelligence. Through great 
 affliction, in the loss of her husband and children, she had 
 been led to seek for comfort which she could not find in the 
 rites and ceremonies of her own Church. At that time God 
 sent to her a Protestant woman of her own race, who told her 
 of Christ as " the Way, the Truth, and the Life." She had 
 teamed to read a little, and spent the afternoon in earnestly 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 2IQ 
 
 poring over the Testament, spelling out verse after verse, 
 with great relish and absorbing interest. When she left, I told 
 her that she might take the Book with her, and make it the 
 guide of her life. She seemed utterly amazed at the great 
 ness of the gift, and clasped it to her breast as a priceless 
 treasure. 
 
 Such visits are productive of far more good to our pupils 
 than those from passing travelers and others, prompted by 
 mere curiosity or politeness. Injudicious questions are often 
 asked and remarks made, in their presence, by those who 
 little imagine the impressions conveyed to the quick ears, 
 and comprehension which catches the meaning of their 
 words. 
 
 "Which is the cleverest of your pupils?" inquires a 
 foreign ambassador. " And do they think and talk of the 
 beaux like other girls ? " asks another representative of a 
 Christian government. And they must sing for their diver 
 sion " something national," if they have any songs of that 
 stamp (which we rarely find), and the conversation that 
 ensues, even when not understood, except by an intuitive 
 perception of its general tenor, often tends to divert and 
 distract the minds of our little family, leaving in some 
 sensitive and delicate natures the feeling that they are on 
 exhibition as objects of common curiosity ; which is decid 
 edly detrimental to the aims that we cherish in their Chris 
 tian nurture. Visits from Secretaries and patrons of the 
 Board of Missions, and those of like spirit, leave a totally 
 different impression. 
 
 We greatly enjoyed the wise counsels, and the hearty ap 
 proval and sympathy of the Senior Secretry, Dr. Anderson, 
 who spent a night in our school-home in his visit to the East 
 
220 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 not long since- He kindly invited me to write to him as 
 freely and confidentially as a daughter to a father, at all times. 
 And though much has been said of his opposition to schools, 
 as a prominent feature of missionary operations, the message 
 which afterwards came from him at Boston to the Constan 
 tinople Station, when funds were low, and retrenchment 
 seemed necessary, was to this effect: "Whatever you cut 
 off, keep that school sustained, and in full operation." And 
 when Secretary Treat had addressed the school through the 
 aid of an interpreter at the close of his more recent visit, and 
 was about to depart for America, they rose to thank him for 
 the words he had spoken ; and the general feeling found 
 utterance in the exclamation, " O let him stay, and teach us 
 always ! " Causing the tears to start to his eyes as he said, 
 " How gladly would I do it. We at the Missionary House 
 have all the drudgery, while you missionaries have the joy of 
 direct work for souls ! " 
 
 Our hearts are more and more drawn to this dear flock. 
 Truly, " the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places ; we 
 have a goodly heritage." Yet the burden of unrelieved re 
 sponsibility for all their interests physical, social, and 
 spiritual by day and by night, month after month, and year 
 after year, is sometimes almost crushing, for we "watch as 
 they that must give account." It is a relief to find that 
 some of the older pious girls share in this feeling. One of 
 these has, of her own accord, printed in large letters, and 
 hung up in the hall, the following passage of Scripture : 
 "But 1 say unto you, that every idle word that men shall 
 speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of 
 judgment." 
 
 In the general government of our pupils, and the discipline 
 
THE TRAINING-SCHOOL. 221 
 
 of the school-room, we have less of " Young America " to 
 contend with than in schools at home ; but the teacher must 
 supplement the lack of early home and religious training ; 
 " precept must be upon precept, line upon line ; here a little, 
 and there a little ; for with stammering lips and another 
 tongue will he speak to this people." 
 
 It is an oppressively warm Sunday afternoon. Careful 
 and troubled about many things, like Martha of old, I leave 
 my room and go through the house to see how our pupils 
 are spending the sacred hours. The door of an upper cham 
 ber is open, but I pause on the threshold, for three or four girls 
 are asleep upon their beds. I am grieved that they should thus 
 squander holy time ; but noticing an open Bible in the hand 
 of one of the sleepers, step gently to her side, and find her 
 finger resting at the verse, " Take heed that ye despise not 
 one of these little ones ; for I say unto you, that in heaven 
 their angels do always behold the face of my Father." There 
 is a whole sermon of rebuke and comfort for me in those 
 words, and softly stealing from the room, I whisper, " Sleep 
 on now, and take your rest. 
 
; ^ 
 
 v. 
 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TRANSFERRED. 
 
 |Y Beloved has gone down into His garden to 
 gather lilies." One of the first - fruits of our 
 Garden on the Golden Horn to be transplanted 
 to that Paradise u where angels walk, and seraphs are the 
 wardens," was Iskoohi, the wife of preacher Hohannes, 
 formerly of Bardezag. 
 
 She was brought home to her native city to die, in the 
 summer of 1861 ; and during one of my visits to Nicomedia, 
 I stood beside her as the end approached, and saw the 
 triumph of her faith in view of death. 
 
 She was lying upon a low couch, wasted by that slow, 
 lingering consumption so distressing to witness, and so 
 deceitful in its progress. Her eyes were closed, as if in 
 sleep ; but when she opened them, and saw me, a smile 
 played over her wan features, and grasping my hand, she 
 said, with husky voice, " O my dear teacher ; how I have 
 wanted to see you ! " In broken utterances, she told me that 
 her soul was filled with peace ; there was no fear of death, 
 for Christ had taken away the sting. I asked if she could 
 say with the Psalmist : " Though I walk through the valley 
 of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil ; for Thou art with 
 me:" and she replied, " O, yes! He ts with me; I cannot 
 
 (222} 
 
TRANSFERRED. 223 
 
 fear." I inquired how her past life appeared, and she said 
 it seemed all vain and empty. " And your good works, do 
 you place any reliance upon them ? " " No, oh no ! " she 
 whispered, " my hopes are all founded on Christ." " What 
 word shall I give to your former companions, your sisters in 
 Christ? " " Tell them, she said, with emphasis, raising her 
 head from her pillow, " tell them to labor first for their own 
 souls, and next for the souls of others ; there is nothing else 
 worth living for ! " and with a deep sigh, she added, " Ofc, 
 I did desire to work for Christ in Bilijuk! but my little 
 children, and sickness prevented." " What do you desire 
 for your only remaining child ?" "That he may live to 
 preach Christ; that is my prayer for him ! " Before leaving, 
 I sang for her a verse or two of the new song, " Come, sing 
 to me of heaven ;" with which she was much pleased, and 
 bade me a tender farewell, again and again expressing the 
 deepest gratitude for all she had received from the " Ameri 
 can Board Society" in connection with the school. 
 
 Early the next morning, word came that Iskoohi had gone 
 where " the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are 
 at rest." Her husband was absent, attending a council of 
 Protestant Armenian ministers, which held some of its ses 
 sions in Bardezag. He hesitated about leaving her, but she 
 said, " Go, do not stay on my account ! " 
 
 I found the body laid out on the floor, according to 
 Eastern custom. The best dress of the deceased was spread 
 over her person, and her head was attired as usual. 
 
 The mother and grandmother sat at the head of the low 
 couch, rocking back and forth in their grief, and gazing upon 
 the face of the departed with distressed countenances and 
 low moans. A number of women were grouped on either 
 
224 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 side ; they had come, like the friends of Job, to mourn with 
 and comfort the afflicted ; and like them, they " spake not a 
 word." The silence was very impressive ; but after a little 
 sympathetic waiting, I tried to improve the moments in 
 turning their thoughts away from the poor earthly taber 
 nacle, to the " house not made with hands eternal in the 
 heavens:" Read again that precious fourteenth chapter of 
 John, and realized afresh the inexpressible blessedness and 
 sweetness of work for Jesus ! 
 
 When I called a second time, B. Hohannes had returned. 
 He seemed deeply afflicted, yet comforted : Said that God 
 had visited him three times in six months ; two little chil 
 dren went before the mother. Speaking of his departed 
 companion, he said : " She was a good wife, and we were 
 very happy together. I can say of her that she was a living, 
 growing Christian ; she was truly a helpmeet in my work ; 
 often when I was depressed, she encouraged and cheered 
 me. Patience and self-denial were among her most promi 
 nent traits of character. She had many trials during her 
 married life; poor health, a number of little children to care 
 for, and little or no help. But she never murmured, or re 
 pined at the allotments of Providence; she was willing to 
 live where her husband could be most useful in the Lord s 
 work. When consumption fastened upon her frame, I 
 thought it might make her irritable, as I had heard of others 
 being thus affected by it ; but it made no difference. She 
 bore all her sufferings sweetly, never giving way to impatience, 
 or complaining. She rejoiced that her two children were 
 taken before her, saying, what a kind Providence it was that 
 they were not left for me to care for when she was gone. 
 That touched my heart ; that she should think of my com- 
 
TRANSFERRED. 
 
 fort after she should be gone ! I bless God that he gave me 
 such a companion. Her last words of advice to me were, 
 1 PREACH CHRIST! preach fervently, and with few words; 
 that is the way to win souls, and I believe that it is the 
 Lord s appointed way ! " 
 
 The funeral service took place at the house, and was attended 
 by all the pastors comprising the council, besides a crowd of 
 Protestants and Armenians. Pastor Simon, of Pera, preached 
 a sermon from the words, "O grave, where is thy victory? 
 O death, where is thy sting ? " 
 
 WAILING FOR THE DEAD. 
 
 A painful scene occurred when the body was removed ; 
 the Armenian relatives, women who still adhered to their old 
 ideas and customs, gave way to distressing demonstrations 
 of grief; wildly throwing themselves upon the corpse, shriek 
 ing, beating their breasts, crying out for her to come 
 back, uttering the most doleful lamentations ; and it was 
 noticeable that those were most profuse in their outcries, 
 and display of grief, who had shown the least love and care 
 for their relative when she was living ! It was custom, as 
 tyranical as fashion, in other lands, that compelled this 
 outward exhibition of a sorrow which in many cases was 
 very little felt. 
 
 A friend once dropped in unexpectedly upon a family 
 where the " mourning women," and especially the young 
 wife of the deceased, had given way to the most extravagant 
 expressions of grief, when the dead was carried forth, but a 
 few hours before. To her surprise, she found them all- as 
 merry as though nothing had happened, and the wife, happily 
 relieved of her unloved and unmerciful tyrant, was at ease, 
 10* 
 
226 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 evidently enjoying her supper, and laughing with the rest. 
 But, on seeing the visitor, she set up a most unearthly howl 
 ing, and went into fearful paroxysms and contortions of 
 her physical frame. Some of the younger widows make 
 themselves almost bald, at such times, tearing out their hair 
 by handfuls, and casting it from the upper windows into the 
 streets below, when the bier is born from the house. It is a 
 costly, and often an unwilling sacrifice, for the women of the 
 East, whose hair is so great an ornament and glory. " But 
 we must do it ! All the neighbors would talk about us, and 
 reproach us if we did not show this honor to our dead," said 
 a woman with whom I once argued the foolishness of the 
 practice. 
 
 The same custom was observed in the time of the prophet 
 Jeremiah. " Neither shall men lament for them, nor cut 
 themselves, nor make themselves bald for them. Neither 
 shall men tear themselves for them in mourning to comfort 
 them for the dead." 
 
 Perhaps there is no sorrow so real and so deep to an Ori 
 ental, as the death of an only son. To this the prophet 
 alludes : " They shall mourn for him as one mourneth for 
 his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that 
 is in bitterness for his first-born." This grief would be 
 greatly intensified in the case of a widow, because her 
 house would be " left unto her desolate," i.e., without a head ; 
 as in the case of Naomi, who said, " Call me Mara bitter 
 for the Lord hath dealt very bitterly with me." And also 
 the widow of Nain, whose real sorrow and utter desola 
 tion touched the compassionate heart of the Savior, and He 
 said to her, " Weep not !" 
 
TRANSFERRED. 22/ 
 
 How doth Death speak of cur beloved. 
 
 When it hath laid them low ; 
 AVhen it has set its hallowing touch 
 
 On speechless lip and brow? 
 
 It clothes their every gift and grace, 
 With radiance from the holiest place ; 
 With light as from an angel s face. 
 
 Recalling with resistless force 
 And tracing to their hidden source, 
 Deeds scarcely noticed in their course. 
 
 It shows our faults like fires at night ; 
 It sweeps their failings out of sight, 
 It clothes their good in heavenly light. 
 
 It takes each failing on our part, 
 And brands it in upon the heart 
 With caustic power, and cruel art. 
 
 Thus doth Death speak of our beloved 
 
 When it has laid them low : 
 Then let Love antedate the work of Death, 
 
 And do this now ! " * 
 
 ISKOOHFS LIFE, 
 
 Iskoohi was a tall, slender, dark-eyed, dark-complexioned, 
 and rather plain-looking yet interesting girl of fourteen years 
 when I first saw her. She had been for some months absent 
 from the school on account of ill-health, and when I asked 
 her why she returned, she said, " There are many villages 
 around Nicomedia where the women are very ignorant, and 
 I wish to learn that I may go and teach them." 
 
 After completing her four years course of study, she was 
 for one year an assistant teacher in the school ; and her con 
 duct in every relation she sustained to us, was such as greatly 
 
 * Mrs. Charles. 
 
228 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 to endear her to our hearts, and confirm our conviction of 
 her Christian character. Her piety, conscientiousness, and 
 maturity made her an invaluable helper in training the 
 daughters of her own people ; and her removal from the 
 school was a loss which was never repaired ; it brought ad 
 ditional cares and burdens upon the teacher who was already 
 overburdened with work in a strange tongue, and a foreign 
 clime, and hastened an inevitable break-down of health. 
 But the penalty was involved in the very success of the 
 work. Just as an Armenian maiden who had the necessary 
 qualifications, was fitted for the post of assistant pupil, or 
 teacher, die was snatched up by some eager young preacher, 
 and we were again left in the lurch ! 
 
 I saw Iskoohi but once in the home where she presided 
 as the village preacher s wife. It was exceedingly plain and 
 simple, yet neat in all its surroundings ; she never aped the 
 European style of living, but conformed to the customs of 
 her own people in so fur as they were not harmful ; thus 
 keeping herself in sympathy with them, and by her example, 
 securing an influence which greatly helped her husband s 
 ministry. Two years after she had " entered into rest," 
 when B. Hohannes was laboring on alone, without wife 
 or home, he referred, with feeling, to Iskoohi s simplicity of 
 taste, and the frugality and prudence, which had enabled 
 him to live without the pecuniary pressure he would other 
 wise have experienced ; and told how much she had aided 
 him by her prayers and counsels, when unable to share his 
 active labors among the people. The increasing patience 
 and sweet submission manifested by her, in those last months 
 of life, when the people of Bilijuk watched to see the spirit 
 fail, as the flesh decayed, had left an abiding impression 
 
TRANSFERRED. 22Q 
 
 upon their hearts, and was still, he thought, bringing forth 
 fruit. 
 
 " Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain ; but a woman that 
 feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." 
 
 MARIAM. 
 
 The second promotion was that of Mariam a dear pious 
 disciple, who died the same year, among her kindred, in 
 her native village of Bilijuk, near Broosa. No one who 
 saw Mariam on her arrival, and introduction to the school, 
 can ever forget the beaming of her bright eyes, and the joy 
 that illumined her dark but expressive face. Nor the sorrow 
 too deep for words, which caused the big tear-drops to fall, 
 when a few months later, that fearful word " retrench" came 
 from the "Missionary House" at home; and like a mother 
 called to part with some of her darlings, we looked to see 
 where the knife should be applied ; who of our flock should be 
 sent away! And the gentle, modest girl had no question in 
 her own mind but that she was to be one of the number. 
 But could the door be closed ? For three long years she had 
 prayed, and watched, and waited for the way to be opened 
 that she might come and be trained as a worker for Christ ! 
 And then God sent a missionary, who found this plant of 
 promise, in the wilderness, and her faith was rewarded. 
 
 Mariam s father was a poor cobbler, but he had somehow 
 learned to read. He received his first knowledge of the 
 truth through the instrumentality of a chance laborer in the 
 Master s vineyard a Protestant, who afterward " fell out by 
 the way." A copy of the New Testament proved a " pearl 
 of great price" in that humble home. Mariam was the 
 eldest child, and joined her father in reading and praying, 
 
230 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 notwithstanding the opposition of her mother. Her simple 
 stories of those days, and the pictures she drew of the father 
 hiding away in some secluded corner to pray with his chil 
 dren, and talk to them of God s Word, undisturbed by the 
 mother, were very touching. She was one of those who 
 " hunger and thirst after righteousness," and it was a delight 
 ful task to break for her " the bread of life." 
 
 But consumption set its seal upon Mariam, during her 
 second year of study. After many vain struggles to resist 
 the inroads of disease, she was forced to abandon the con 
 test. This was a severe trial, not only to herself, but to us 
 who expected her to become a bright and shining light 
 among her people ; but again were we taught that " God s 
 thoughts are not our thoughts." After the entire failure of 
 her health, Mariam remained with us during a few winter 
 months; till the opening of spring rendered it safe for her to 
 be taken home. Her piety shone forth with a brighter lustre, 
 day by day, and her presence in our dwelling was a blessing 
 to its inmates. Her little room often seemed to me the very 
 gate of heaven, as I discoursed with the dear child concern 
 ing the "Better Land," the society she would there enjoy, 
 and the work and worship upon which she would enter. It 
 was very pleasant to note her conscientiousness in regard to 
 the funds of the Missionary Society used for her support 
 and for medical attendance. She mourned that the "Lord s 
 money " should be spent for her, when she could no longer 
 hope to work in His vineyard. It was her heart s desire, 
 and earnest prayer that, if consistent with the Divine will, 
 she might return to her home, and lead some precious souls 
 to Christ, before her life on earth was ended. Contrary to 
 our expectations, that prayer was answered. Her father 
 
TRANSFERRED. 231 
 
 came for her in March, and with many tears that we should 
 see her face no more school-mates and teachers gathered 
 for the last word and look, and watched the frail figure of 
 the beloved sufferer, as she disappeared down the hillside, 
 carefully borne upon the father s back to the boat by the 
 seashore. After recovering from the fatigue of the three 
 days travel, her strength seemed renewed by the change. 
 
 From preacher Hohannes we heard, from time to time, 
 that the promise " My grace is sufficient for thee ; for my 
 strength is made perfect in weakness " seemed fully verified 
 in Mariam s case. Her father s house being old and un 
 comfortable, she was removed to the " chapel-house," where 
 many of her former companions and friends visited her, 
 and heard from her lips of Christ, as " the only way 
 of salvation." She could not speak long without ex 
 haustion, but her words, though few, were well chosen, 
 and came with greater power from one standing on the 
 brink of eternity. 
 
 Preacher Hohannes wrote that he often found quite a 
 company of women and girls collected in Mariam s room, 
 and was able to carry on the work she had begun among 
 those whom he had hitherto been unable to reach. A work 
 of grace seemed commenced in the heart of her sister, a 
 girl of sixteen years, and the voice of praise and prayer 
 often ascended from that sick room. At the close of every 
 letter, there was some sweet message from the dear suffering 
 disciple, who seemed to be indeed a " chosen vessel of 
 mercy" to many souls in her native place. Her repeated 
 expressions of gratitude for favors conferred upon her while 
 a member of the school, were most sincere and affecting. 
 
 In July, the last letter was received, telling us that she 
 
232 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 had left the lower for the upper sanctuary ; " absent from 
 the body, and present with the Lord " she so much loved. 
 
 Her end was peace. A little before her death she dictated 
 a farewell letter to her teachers, again expressing her great 
 gratitude and affection ; and her last message to me was 
 " / will wait to meet you at heaven s gate ! " 
 
 VARTOHI HANUM. 
 
 There was much sickness and suffering in the Protestant 
 community during that year, and our pupils frequently ac 
 companied us in our visits among the families of Hasskeuy, 
 learning lessons of life not easily forgotten. 
 
 One of the older sisters of our little church, the mother 
 of one who was for a brief season in our school, went down 
 into the " valley of the shadow of death," singing, " I will 
 fear no evil, for Thou art with me." 
 
 Her sick room was a " CHAMBER OF PEACE " a hallowed 
 place. Though suffering intensely from an internal cancer, 
 which was slowly, but surely, eating out her life, her face 
 beamed with holy joy at every mention of her Savior; she 
 longed to depart, and be with Him. Said a Protestant wo 
 man, who knew nothing of the love of Christ, " You are 
 willing to go, but you would rather stay awhile longer, for 
 the sake of your son and daughter." " Oh, no ! " she replied 
 with great earnestness, " I long to be with my Savior. I 
 would not stay if I could. He will care for my children, 
 and soon we shall meet above, to part no more forever." She 
 spoke of herself as entirely unworthy ; said her " sins rose up 
 like mountains," but the blood of Christ was sufficient 
 to atone for them all, and that, according to His Word, 
 He would " present her faultless, unblameable, and 
 
TRANSFERRED. 233 
 
 unreproveable, before the throne." Her Bible and hymn- 
 book were always by her side, and she often asked us 
 to sing some of the sweet songs of Zion frequently select 
 ing " My faith looks up to Thee ; " and, " When all Thy 
 mercies, O my God ; " joining her voice with ours in fervent 
 devotion. It was a touching scene : the clasped hands and 
 closed eyes of the sufferer, and the song of praise welling 
 up from a renewed heart, which felt that eternity would be 
 "too short to utter all His praise." She was one of Dr. 
 Goodell s spiritual children, and often longed to hear, once 
 more, " one of his sweet prayers ; " but he was absent in 
 Syria during the close of her earthly pilgrimage. The last 
 time a company of our school girls went down to her home, 
 this dear mother in our little " Israel " was nearing the 
 dark river ; her feet had touched its brink, but all was peace. 
 Not a cloud disturbed the fair, placid countenance upon 
 which we always loved to look. Standing around the 
 death-bed, we sang at her request, the hymn, fi Come, sing 
 to me of heaven," recently translated by Dr. Riggs. 
 
 When we next entered that room, the lifeless form was 
 robed for the grave. But an involuntary exclamation of 
 surprise escaped from every lip, as we looked upon the 
 countenance of our departed friend. Such a smile we had 
 never seen upon the face of Death ! The grey hair was 
 brushed smoothly back from the brow which Time had but 
 slightly furrowed; the head was covered by a neat mus 
 lin cap, and the form simply attired in a white gown. 
 Pure white lilies, and other fragrant flowers, were strewn 
 upon the pillow, and around the beloved Bible, which was 
 placed upon her breast beside the folded hands : These 
 chaste and affecting arrangements were all made without 
 
234 TIIE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 any suggestion or assistance from us. Many of the 
 people came to look upon the beautiful picture, so new 
 to them : the king of terrors " conquered ! The scene was 
 in itself a sermon. There was none of the customary wail 
 ing, or loud cries of lamentation over the dead no mourn 
 ers from without, sitting in speechless silence around the 
 lifeless form, after the fashion of Job s friends, which we had 
 so often witnessed, but chastened grief, as the son and 
 daughter told us that they " placed her precious Bible upon 
 her breast, because mother never could be long without ///" 
 And once, when her spectacles were lost, she mourned that she 
 could no more read its blessed pages, and gave her son no 
 rest till he procured another pair. 
 
 TIIE FUNERAL. 
 
 Several of the missionaries were away at other stations, 
 and none but ourselves were able to be present at the fune 
 ral. Pastor Simon conducted the services. Many Armenians 
 belonging to the " Old Church " were in attendance at the 
 house, where a brief and very appropriate discourse was 
 given. And many others of various nationalities assembled 
 to witness the service at the grave. The plain coffin was 
 simply covered with black cloth, and borne by devout men, 
 Pastor Simon slowly walking in advance, bearing a large 
 Bible as his insignia, or badge of office ; and a company of 
 friends followed after, whose measured steps, and solemn, 
 subdued countenances were in harmony with the occasion. 
 When all had quietly gathered around the open grave, the 
 preacher read those sublime words of Christ : " I am the 
 resurrection and the life ; he that believeth on me, though he 
 were dead, yet shall he live : And whosoever liveth and 
 
TRANSFERRED. 235 
 
 believeth on me, shall never die." Then he turned to that 
 magnificent choral in Corinthians : " Now is Christ risen 
 from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that 
 slept;" ending with the triumphal refrain, " O death, where 
 is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory ?" A few im 
 pressive words to the bystanders concerning " the blessed 
 hope in which we commit the body of this our beloved sis 
 ter to the earth," then, "ashes to ashes, and dust to dust," as 
 the coffin was gently lowered to its resting-place, and a 
 handful of earth thrown upon it. A solemn prayer, ending 
 with the benediction, during which the Protestants stood 
 with uncovered heads, and the people dispersed as quietly 
 as they had come. This solemn sowing in " God s Acre," 
 with undoubting faith in a resurrection-harvest of glorious 
 immortality, through Him who " hath abolished death, and 
 brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel," 
 cannot fail to impress the Oriental mind, so easily moved by 
 object-lessons ; and may prove the seed of a new spiritual 
 life to many souls. 
 
 A few days after the funeral of Vartohi Han urn, I was 
 startled by loud cries proceeding from a Greek house 
 in our neighborhood, and throwing open the window to 
 ascertain the cause, saw a middle-aged woman whose hus 
 band had died but a few hours previously, leaning from the 
 open casement of the upper story, and loudly calling upon 
 the dead to come back, while she tore out her hair by hand- 
 fuls, and threw it upon the pavement below, beating her 
 breast, and wailing, according to the Eastern custom. The 
 dead was being borne over the threshold, lying upon an open 
 bier, and dressed in holiday attire, with a chaplet of flowers 
 forming an arch above the ghastly face ; and a procession of 
 
236 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 black-robed priests, bearing the uplifted cross, and church 
 banners, with a train of boys carrying tapers, and chanting 
 responsively, in monotonous tones, followed; while a few 
 of the higher dignitaries of the church, whose gilded mitres 
 and embroidered vestments added to the display, showed 
 the honor paid to the departed, and the property which 
 could pay for it ! The piercing cries and lamentations made 
 by the women of the household did not cease till the proces 
 sion had passed out of sight. A rude rabble joined the 
 funereal train, and their pace quickened almost to a run, as 
 they passed from street to street, mingling loud talk and 
 unseemly laughter as they approached the place of burial. 
 The dead was partially disrobed, wrapped in a " winding 
 sheet," and laid in the shallow grave, without even a board 
 to cover from the falling earth. The coarse jesting and 
 laughing went on amid the rapid reading and chanting of 
 the priests and boys, and the unmeaning rites which ended 
 the burial service ; when all alike hurried away, without the 
 slightest appearance of solemnity. 
 
 Calling one day upon some of the Protestant Armenian 
 families in Stamboul, I was led to speak of the striking con 
 trast presented by these two funerals in our neighborhood, 
 when one of the sisters said : " Ah ! we were once like those 
 poor Greek women. The grave was all dark, death was a 
 fearful leap, we knew not whither ! But now, praise to the 
 Lord, there is light shed all over it ! We can never 
 enough thank the missionaries for bringing it to us. When 
 our dear ones * die in the Lord, we have the joyful hope of 
 meeting them again." 
 
TRANSFERRED. 237 
 
 HAJI HA TOON. 
 
 There was a quaint old house in Stamboul, belonging to 
 the well-known and honored Peshtimaljian family, which 
 possessed a peculiar charm for me in my occasional visits 
 during the school holidays. It had evidently been a grand 
 konak in olden times, before the family were reduced in 
 numbers and prosperity ; now, many of the larger rooms 
 were unused, and a kind of ghostly stillness and gloomy 
 shade gathered around neglected corridors and empty halls. 
 Indeed, the whole building was dark with age, and curious 
 with ancient carving ; and fancy could people its deep 
 shadows with an endless variety of characters and scenes. 
 The only relic of the past generation in the household was 
 the venerable Haji Hatoon pilgrim-mother so called be 
 cause of a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There was a certain 
 stateliness in her tall, thin person, even in extreme old age, 
 which showed tKe rank to which she belonged, and I was 
 exceedingly interested in her religious history. Her husband 
 was one of the early enlightened, and a pillar of the " new 
 faith," until his untimely death. But Haji Hatoon was bit 
 terly opposed to the " doctrines of the Protestants." It was 
 long after her daughters had accepted the truth, before she 
 would listen to them ; she even shut her heart against her 
 children, and refused to see them, or have any intercourse, 
 till one of her married daughters was suddenly taken very 
 ill, and then her mother-love prevailed, and she went to care 
 for her. Her couch was spread so near, at night, that she 
 could not help hearing the fervent prayer that ascended 
 from the sufferer s heart and lips, and the sweet and sooth 
 ing words of our Savior, which were frequently read to 
 
238 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 her. At first she stopped her ears ; then, by degrees 
 began to listen Avhile the daughter s soul was con 
 stantly sending up the prayer of faith till, at last, the proud 
 and rebellious heart of the mother melted, and she yielded 
 to the workings of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 It appeared, from what these women told me of their 
 former state, that they were more enlightened than most of 
 their neighbors ; their father was a celebrated teacher, and 
 they had learned to read ; and frequently pored over the 
 Psalms of David held in great repute among the zealous ones 
 of the Old Church ; but being written in the ancient language, 
 they gleaned only here and there a word which was to them 
 intelligible : It had, however, " a sacred sound ! " 
 
 They were constant in their attendance upon the services 
 of the church, and considered themselves very religious in 
 those days. Still, there was ever an aching void within : 
 Conscience was awake, but not pacified. In vain they 
 mourned over and confessed their sins, receiving absolution 
 according to the rites of their Church ; the burden still re 
 mained ; Christ, as the only way of salvation, was not made 
 known to them till the "glad tidings" came from the "new 
 world !" "How shall they believe in Him of whom they hare 
 not heard ?" Such instances are very rare among Armenian 
 women. Those who have labored longest, and had the 
 widest experience among the nominal Christians of Turkey, 
 confess that they have found but very few perhaps half-a- 
 dozen persons in all who lived up to the little light they had, 
 and gave such evidence of true piety, that one could scarce 
 ly doubt that, though "seeing through a glass darkly," they 
 yet exercised "saving faith." To such devout souls, the 
 coming of the American missionaries, with a commission from 
 
TRANSFERRED. 239 
 
 Christ to " OPEN THE BOOK, and LOOSE THE SEALS THEREOF," 
 was like the advent of the infant Jesus to aged Simeon, and 
 Anna, the prophetess, who were " waiting for the consola 
 tion of Israel !" 
 
 When verging towards her ninetieth year, Haji Hatoon 
 could not be persuaded to relinquish the privilege of attend 
 ing the " sunrise prayer-meeting " held in the chapel, at 
 some distance from her house. It brought the tears to one s 
 eyes, to see that aged " pilgrim-mother " tottering over the 
 rough pavement, at the dawn of day, often pausing by the 
 wayside to rest her feeble limbs. . As her weakness in 
 creased with advancing years, she could no longer " go rp 
 to the house of the Lord," and worship with His people ; 
 and evening meetings weie frequently appointed at her 
 house by Dr. Dwight, who opened the work in the Old City 
 and for some years his family lived alone amid Moslem 
 neighbors where once it was death for a foreigner to enter. 
 
 Whenever I was present at these neighborhood gather 
 ings, the original and spicy remarks of the old lady never 
 failed to attract and interest in the social conversation which 
 preceded and followed the season of prayer and exposition 
 of Scripture. The light which waned and flickered in its 
 socket, now and then surprised us with a sudden glow and 
 sparkle, which told how strong a spirit had been hers. But 
 it sometimes chafed under the limitations of the decaying 
 frame. "Aman, aman !"* said the venerable disciple, on 
 one occasion. " You all have your cross to carry, but me, 
 poor me; here am I, laid aside as entirely unworthy to serve 
 or honor my Savior!" "Hush, hush, mother !" said one, 
 
 * A common Turkish ejaculation, equivalent to Alas ! or O dear ! 
 
240 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 * have you forgotten what Christ said about Whosoever 
 shall do the will of my Father in heaven ? and don t you 
 think your cross is to lie still, and not fret, and honor the 
 Master by holding up the banner of patience, and love, and 
 unceasing prayer?" This proved a word in season; and 
 Haji Hatoon appeared to grow in the gentler graces which 
 are of " great price in the sight of God." In due time she 
 was gathered to her fathers, as a " shock of corn fully ripe," 
 and as she left no son, her eldest daughter took her place as 
 the chief representative of the family. 
 
 GOISINE IIANUM. 
 
 This interesting woman, the daughter of Haji Hatoon, 
 came to the kingdom as the head of a large household a 
 widow, in middle life. She was possessed of a strength of 
 character, a balance of mind, quickness of perception, and 
 executive ability, rarely found among Eastern women ; and, 
 even in Christian countries, generally supposed to be the re 
 sult of inherited traits, and careful culture. Her piety was 
 unmistakable. When seeking a summer retreat for herself 
 and family, she always tried to secure a place where she 
 could serve her Master among her neighbors. Sometimes 
 they were Jews, sometimes Greeks, or Mohammedans; it 
 mattered not, so she could but reach their hearts with the 
 Gospel of love. Her personal presence was noble and com 
 manding, and she never failed to inspire respect among all 
 classes. Sometimes her labors were so blessed in her sum 
 mer sojourn, that she would send for Dr. Dwight to come 
 and help deepen the impressions made; and on one occa 
 sion I was permitted to aid in her work. When ihe books 
 are opened at the "last great day of account," there will 
 
TRANSFERRED. 24! 
 
 assuredly be seen a record of much Gospel seed sown by 
 this faithful follower of Jesus. 
 
 Her only daughter, and two nieces, children of a widowed 
 sister who lived with her, were among the pupils of our 
 school at Hasskeuy. They, with the rest of their school com 
 panions, became, at one time, very much engaged and en 
 thusiastic in the distribution of tracts ; and more than 500 
 of these little wayside preachers were distributed by our 
 pupils during the year. Returning with them from an even 
 ing meeting at the chapel, during one of my visits, I heard 
 Horopsi say to her mother, " What do you suppose I did 
 on our way to the meeting ? Seeing an open window, as we 
 passed by a house, I tossed a tract within ! " " Child ! " 
 said the mother, " do you know what you ve done? You 
 are now under obligation to pray over that tract every 
 day ! What child s play is that, to scatter seed carelessly by 
 the wayside ! " 
 
 This earnest admonition brought forcibly to mind the in 
 spired words, " He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing 
 precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, 
 bringing his sheaves." It told the secret of the good 
 woman s success as a voluntary worker in the Master s 
 vineyard, and was more to me than many a sermon ! And as 
 I mused upon the marvelous quickening of the intellect, 
 caused by the teaching of the Spirit, I thought she might 
 well say, with the Psalmist, " Thou, through Thy command 
 ments, hast made me wise : I have more understanding 
 than all my teachers ; for Thy testimonies are my medita 
 tion." 
 
 Strong natures are almost invariably marked by strong 
 faults, excrescences, which show the rugged growth, but 
 II 
 
242 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 mar the symmetry and harmony of a rounded and complete 
 character. 
 
 " Our religion is good for just so much as we use it for," 
 said a wise observer of this fact. One Sunday, Goisine 
 Hanum listened to a sermon which her tender conscience 
 took home to itself, with great power; and she let the full 
 light of truth fall upon her infirmities and besetting sins 
 more known to God and herself, than to any human being. 
 But her heart was grieved that the preacher should have 
 thus drawn aside the veil, and shown her faults so plainly to 
 the assembled congregation. The next day she called to 
 see Dr. Dwight, and asked him why he so pitilessly exposed 
 her before the people ! He was greatly surprised, and in 
 quired what she meant ; and when she had explained the 
 matter, assured her that he never once thought of her case ; 
 and that she should accept it as the teaching of the Spirit of 
 truth, which " shall bring all things to remembrance." 
 
 AN INQUIRY MEETING. 
 
 " It must needs be that offences come." I can never for 
 get a gathering which took place at her house, to discuss 
 some points of difference between the brethren and sisters 
 of the church and Protestant community, and the mission 
 aries. More or less disaffection had for some time existed, 
 
 culminating in an open rupture after Pastor S s visit to 
 
 Germany and America to secure aid towards building a 
 large church in Pera. Goisine Hanum was not among the 
 malcontents, but her house was the most central and suitable 
 place for the meeting of Protestant women, and I was re 
 quested to be present on the occasion. Sadly enough yet 
 not strange those who made the most bitter complaints, 
 
TRANSFERRED. 243 
 
 were those for whom the most had been done, in various 
 ways, by the missionaries. 
 
 We listened patiently while they stated their grievances, 
 which amounted to this as one of their number summed 
 them up : " Spiritually, the missionaries have done well by 
 us ; we have nothing to find fault with ; but temporally, we 
 have been allowed to remain in the last degree of poverty ! 
 It is their duty to help us in our social position and support !" 
 
 Goisine Hanum calmly listened to all the sisters had to 
 say on this point one of her own kindred being among the 
 number and then drawing up her full figure, she said im 
 pressively, " All this appears to me to be nothing but the 
 carnal mind 7 It was a shot which took effect ; and in the 
 silence that ensued, I opened the Bible, and turned to Paul s 
 example and experience for light concerning the right 
 method of conducting the missionary work. " I determined 
 not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him 
 crucified. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you 
 (your souls, in the original), though the more abundantly I 
 love you, the less I be loved. For ye are yet carnal ; for 
 whereas there is among you envying and strife, and divisions, 
 are ye not carnal and walk according to man ?" 
 
 The church divided, and the long smouldering fire of dis 
 content broke out afresh every now and then ; but though 
 every effort was made to draw Goisine Hanum from her al 
 legiance to her convictions of duty, she remained firm and 
 faithful to the end, a pillar of strength in the city church. 
 When cholera was slaying its thousands, not many seasons 
 after this painful episode in the missionary work at the 
 capital, this good woman was " taken away from the evil to 
 come." She died as she had lived in triumphant faith 
 
244 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 one of many specimens of ripened and gathered fruit, from 
 seed sown in Armenian soil, through the " ministry of the 
 Spirit " and the Word. " Blessed are the dead which die in 
 the Lord: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from 
 their labors ; and their works do follow them" 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 |T is the close of the last year of the school s existence 
 in the city of Constantinople. 
 
 The wheels of Time have sped more swiftly round 
 with every succeeding year of the cycle which is now numbered 
 with the past ; each laden with its absorbing work, its rich 
 joys, and increasing cares. 
 
 Meanwhile, several changes have taken place in the history 
 of the school ; and among them, the exchange of the " old 
 house on the hillside," four years agone, for another and smaller 
 one on an adjoining street, still higher up the hill, and nearer 
 Dr. Goodell s home. That was a " flitting" long to be remem 
 bered ; and a cleansing process, perhaps, seldom surpassed 
 since the days of Noah. Such floods of water as poured from 
 floor to floor of the fated dwelling ! Such heaps of dirt car 
 ried away ! Such hand-to-hand fights with our old enemies, 
 the " B. flats, and F. sharps !" Through the rapacity of our old 
 Armenian landlord, and the " yawas/woteun " slowness of our 
 new one, we were driven into a narrow space of time to remove 
 all our goods and chattels, comprising the chapel and day-school 
 furniture, with our own. And not a missionary could be 
 spared from pressing work to aid us in the crisis. But 
 our pupils came to the rescue, disdaining any outside help 
 
 (245) 
 
246 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 from hired women, of \vhich, in the early clays, they would have 
 been but too glad. So, on Monday morning, bright and early, 
 the "Philistines" were upon the indolent Turkish family who 
 still lingered in the new premises ; and our raid upon the 
 upper rooms speedily routed them from those below. Up and 
 down, hither and thither, flitted the swift-footed maidens, 
 bringing order out of confusion, and leaving purity and 
 sunshine in their wake. 
 
 As soon as a room was in readiness, they ran back and 
 forth, bringing the smaller articles to the new house, while the 
 larger pieces of furniture were born on the backs of hamals, or 
 porters ; and Sarah and I were here, and there, and everywhere, 
 directing the whole like the generals of an army. Saturday 
 morning came, and the last vestige of our effects, even to the 
 well-curb, was removed from the old place. A great fire-proof 
 magazine at the foot of the garden, with a door opening upon 
 the street, was appropriated for chapel use, and the day-schools 
 were removed to another house. 
 
 Our girls had acquitted themselves so nobly that, as a treat, we 
 sent them all at mid-day to the public bath, under the escort of a 
 faithful woman, with Hovsep, our man-of-all-work, to protect 
 them in going and coming. They returned, toward evening, 
 with rosy, shining faces, and, as I was coming down the broad 
 staircase at the end of the hall, merrily greeted me as their 
 queen, with profound obeisance, followed by a kiss on either 
 cheek, according to their fashion, saying, as if in apology, 
 " }Vc arc sweet ! " Kva afterward came to tell me that they 
 behaved with great propriety, and commanded the respect of 
 the bath - women, who asked many questions about them. 
 She said, also, that there was a great change apparent in their 
 clothing, every one being provided with tidy under-garments. 
 
THE END. 247 
 
 Soon after this episode, came the Annual Meeting of 
 the Mission, and, being very weary, we petitioned the 
 " Station " for permission to take our vacation a month or two 
 earlier than usual. Then our house was filled with guests, and 
 we sometimes had a great company to luncheon, when the 
 meeting occurred at Hasskeuy \ and, counting the children, we 
 numbered seventy in attendance. Our faithful cook was 
 invaluable at such times, saying, with his most deferential 
 salaam, when I told him what a number were to be provided 
 for, "Your friends are welcome if they were a thousand !" And 
 Eva greatly lessened our care and labor, often urging me to go 
 and enjoy the society of my friends, with the assurance that she 
 would try to see that everything was right for the table and 
 guest-rooms, in my place. 
 
 But after those weeks of constant excitement and fatigue 
 were over, and school had again commenced, in the heat of 
 mid-summer, there followed another and more painful episode 
 in a nervous prostration and distressing illness, when those 
 dear pupils tenderly assisted in caring for their teacher during 
 the wearisome days and sleepless nights that were " appointed 
 unto me." * * * And then, a year or more was spent in 
 the home land ; where the vain endeavor to find rest, ended in 
 another prostration, and life trembled in the balance for many 
 days. * * * But a glad return and a joyous welcome 
 followed, like the " clear shining after the rain." * * * * 
 * * And now the end has come. The dear sister who bore the 
 " heat and burden of the day " alone, in my absence, is to 
 return to our mother, who needs a daughter s ministry in the 
 time of old age, when " there is none to guide her among all 
 the sons whom she has brought forth, neither is there any to 
 take her by the hand of all she has brought up." The school 
 
248 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 is to be removed from the Capital to Marsovan, in Asia Minor, 
 to be reopened, after a suspension of one year, with a new 
 teacher from America, and I, henceforth, of my own voluntary 
 choice, as most conducive to health, am to devote my strength 
 to general work among the Armenian women, wherever the 
 Master may appoint. 
 
 A RE VIE W OF RESUL TS. 
 
 In preparing the "Seventeenth Annual Report" of the 
 school, for the yearly meeting of the Mission, I have gleaned 
 some statistics, showing results, from the record kept of each 
 pupil, since its establishment in October, 1845. T ne entire 
 number of pupils enrolled is 128. Of these 83 were received 
 from Constantinople and its suburbs, and 45 from mission- 
 stations in the interior of the country : From Smyrna, 5 ; 
 Broosa, 2 ; Rodosto, 2 ; Nicomedia, 13 ; Bardezag, 3 ; 
 Adabazar, 2 ; Bilijuk, i ; Trebizond, 6 ; Marsovan, 3 ; 
 Tocat, 2; Erzroom, i ; Diarbekir, 3; and Athens, i. Thirty- 
 seven have completed the four years course of study, and sixty 
 have remained under instruction less than two years. Of the 
 entire number, one-half became members of the visible Church of 
 Christ during their connection with the school ; eighteen have 
 married preachers, and twelve are unmarried teachers. Three 
 of those who were under instruction for a longer or shorter time 
 are soon to be married to preachers, one of whom will be settled 
 in Stamboul, one in Marash, of ancient Cilicia, and one in 
 Cesarea, of Cappadocia. 
 
 Of those who have lately left the school, and are actively 
 engaged as co-laborers in Christian work, we hear very 
 encouraging accounts. One has an interesting and prosperous 
 school of forty live girls in Diarbekir, Mesopotamia. TheAVord 
 
THE END. 249 
 
 of God is the principal text-book, and many of her pupils teach 
 their mothers at home. In some instances the family altar has 
 been erected through their instrumentality. The teacher 
 makes it a rule to visit the mothers. They receive her kindly, 
 and several are quite persuaded of the truth. We hear from 
 Mr. and Mrs. Walker that she is also active as a Christian 
 laborer among other women of that ancient city on the shores 
 of the Tigris, often conducting, with great propriety, their 
 weekly meetings, at which as many as fifty are usually present. 
 She also meets with the mothers once a month, and reads to 
 them from Abbott s "Mother at Home" in the Armenian 
 language. 
 
 The wife of the Protestant pastor in that city is one of the 
 recent graduates of this school. Her influence is said to be 
 always in the right direction, but it lacks force. She is 
 naturally diffident and retiring, but very amiable, and greatly 
 beloved by the people. 
 
 Another of our late graduates is the wife of the pastor at 
 Harpoot, Armenia, a woman of more than ordinary 
 ability. She has lately completed the translation of Todd s 
 Question Book on Genesis, besides other important work for 
 her people. One of the last year s graduates, but sixteen 
 years of age, is very useful in Marsovan of Pontus. She was, 
 perhaps, the first to go directly from the school as a mis 
 sionary teacher, to what seemed a foreign field ; and we 
 made the occasion of her leaving, with Mr. and Mrs. 
 Leonard, one of special interest and solemn consecration. 
 She had not seen her parents for a year, but having obtained 
 their reluctant consent, she cheerfully relinquished that 
 pleasure, and only asked that her necessary expenses should 
 be defrayed, while imparting to others what she had so 
 
250 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 freely received. She has proved invaluable to Mrs. Leonard 
 in her work among the women ; sometimes conducting 
 meetings at which more than seventy were present. She has 
 also taught a school of sixteen or eighteen young women, a 
 portion of each day, besides giving instruction in singing to 
 the children collected in the other day-schools established 
 there. Her example, and her frequent letters, exert an ex 
 cellent reflex influence upon those of her former companions 
 who are under training for the same work. 
 
 Two of our graduates are usefully employed at Bardezag, 
 in Bithynia. One is " in her element and glory " as a school 
 mistress, with forty pupils, and Mr. Parsons expresses the wish 
 that he had a score of such workers in his field. The other, 
 for a season thwarted in her desire to teach a school, by her 
 worldly, avaricious father, commenced teaching the women 
 from house to house, and holding mothers meetings 
 among them. Two more are actively and usefully em 
 ployed at Adabazar, in the day-school, Sunday-school, 
 and among the women ; and both are married to preachers 
 of the gospel. Of those in our more immediate vicinity, at 
 Constantinople, one is teaching a small self-supporting 
 school in Ballat. She also gathers the children for Sunday- 
 school instruction from week to week. Another, living in 
 Pera, collects all the Protestant Armenian children at her 
 own home each Sunday, and teaches them the Word of God. 
 One of our former Greek pupils is an assistant teacher in 
 the English boarding-school of Miss Walsh, in Pera. Two 
 of our graduates are also engaged as assistant teachers in 
 the large and important school of the German Deaconnesses 
 in Smyrna. 
 
 Among the early graduates, and "first-fruits" of this school, 
 
THE EN]). 251 
 
 who are helping to elevate their sex, and, by precept and ex 
 ample, are raising the standard of home and family-life 
 among the people, we find the excellent wives of the 
 preachers and pastors now stationed at Rodosto, Nicomedia, 
 Bardezag, Broosa, Aiden near Smyrna, and Bitlis. 
 
 Two others are teaching self-supporting day-schools in 
 Nicomedia and Broosa ; at the latter place, the school is at 
 tended by children of various nationalities, who pay from 
 12 to 14 piastres each, per month, for tuition. 
 
 These are the educated women of the land the repre 
 sentatives of Christian womanhood among the various races 
 of the Turkish Empire ! And their homes are so many 
 lights, shining amid the surrounding darkness. 
 
 REASONS FOR REMOVING TO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 The centres of religious influence are multiplying 
 throughout the land from year to year, and good teachers 
 are constantly called for. These teachers must be furnished 
 from a training-school ; and past experience confirms us in 
 the conviction that the school should be limited to a class 
 of girls of some maturity and strength of character, who 
 will pledge themselves to teach for a specified period, after 
 finishing their course of study ; and also, that teachers for 
 the interior should be trained in the interior. There are 
 too many worldly influences to contend with in the Capital, 
 and its attractions too frequently draw unworthy candidates, 
 who are not easily sent back to their distant country homes. 
 
 Pera, the Frank quarter of Constantinople, is a modern 
 " Vanity Fair ! " One may constantly see there, Roman- 
 Catholic Armenians, Greeks and Periots a mixed class 
 dressed in the extreme of Persian fashion ; ladies, loaded 
 
252 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 down with finery, in over-trimmed silks, satins, velvets and 
 laces, and glittering with jewels and a gay profusion of 
 feathers and flowers, sweep the narrow, dirty streets in com 
 mon with donkeys and their drivers, filthy beggars, and al 
 most every variety of bipeds and quadrupeds, intermingled 
 in one grand and strange medley ! Princes and peasants, 
 bankers and beggars, priests and dervishes, monks and 
 sisters of charity, foreign ambassadors and their suites, in 
 European carriages, and Turkish pashas, mounted on richly 
 caparisoned Arab steeds, followed by footmen in dazzling 
 array, pass in rapid succession in this kaleidoscopic scene. 
 French, German, English, and American ladies are jostled 
 by their closely-veiled Oriental sisters, who shuffle along in 
 great yellow boots, accompanied by children miniature men 
 and women dressed after the fashion of their parents. The 
 doll-like, soulless houris of the harem roll by in their gay 
 Arabas their dark, languishing eyes, peering curiously 
 through the transparent yashmac, at the moving panorama 
 before them. And the senses are almost bewildered by the 
 jargon of many tongues ancient Babel renewed ! Greek, 
 German, French, English, Italian, and Armenian shopkeepers 
 vie with each other in the display of their goods ; and the 
 opera, the theatre, and " saloons " and cafes of every de 
 scription, flaunt out their gilded " signs," in various lan 
 guages ; while " grand hotels," and stately palaces, guarded 
 by cavasses, or government soldiers, meet one at frequent in 
 tervals. Rome lends her enchantment the voices of " sing 
 ing men " and boys, mingle with the swell of the pealing 
 organ, from some gorgeous cathedral, and add to the glow 
 and glitter of its pomp and ceremony ; all combining to 
 confuse and dazzle the unaccustomed eye, and ensnare the 
 
THE END. 253 
 
 heart with the specious allurements of the " Prince of this 
 world." And Dame Fashion asserts her empire: Even 
 Moslem women feel her influence, and are following in the 
 train of the " fickle goddess," so far as they dare. Many a 
 portly Turkish dame strives to reduce her ample waist to 
 finer proportions, by modern appliances, and " crinoline " has 
 found its way into some of the harems of the ruling race ! 
 
 Moslem priests, may declaim, and the Sheik Islam head 
 of the faith issue a proclamation against the gossamer-like 
 muslin which has superseded the thicker " yashmac " of old, 
 and loudly denounce all modern innovations ; but here, as 
 elsewhere, it is breath spent in vain, for fashion will huve its 
 sway ! The awkwardly loose nether garment of the Turk 
 has been generally cast aside for that of European nations, 
 and other changes will follow in due season. 
 
 It is not alone the Bible, and the Missionary, that the 
 swift-winged ship conveys from Christian countries to lands 
 lying in heathen darkness! Commerce brings in its train 
 and scatters widely, the seeds of vice and death, which bear 
 the most bitter fruits at home ; and some of the vilest servants 
 of Satan are considered the representatives of Christian nations, 
 by those who see no other type, or know not that the " chaff 
 and the wheat " must " grow together until the harvest." 
 Such "signs of the times" as "London Tavern," "Grog 
 Shop," and, in great staring letters, strung across one s path 
 way "Wines, and Divers Kinds of DRUNKS Sold Here," meet 
 the eye in various parts of Galata ; and. even in the narrow, 
 nameless, labyrinthian streets of the " Old City," one may 
 meet porters carrying huge barrels branded in unmistakable 
 characters, "New England Rum." It is Satan s Sign As 
 in the time of Job, so now : when the sons of God come, 
 
254 TIIE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Satan comes also ! But the " calm retreat, the silent shade " 
 of a quiet country town, is vastly better suited to the train 
 ing of home-missionaries, than the rush and roar of a great 
 metropolis, with its distractions, its follies, and its wicked 
 ness. Besides the lessening of expense, there is far less dan 
 ger of the students getting out of sympathy with their people, 
 and acquiring expensive tastes, and habits which will unfit 
 them for their future labors. Hitherto, it has required unre 
 mitting care and effort to stem the almost overwhelming tide 
 of worldliness, and the contagion of style, in dress, etc., etc., 
 which, with every year, is becoming more and more power 
 ful at the Capital. Yet, notwithstanding the fact that nearly 
 all of our pupils from the country have been obliged to 
 spend their vacations with city friends, away from our super 
 vision, we rejoice that our efforts have been attended with 
 gratifying success in the case of those who have gone forth 
 to work for Christ. They are all very neat and plain in 
 their dress ; none of them wear bonnets, and their sim 
 plicity of attire would attract attention among their more 
 showily dressed Constantinople friends and companions, 
 some of whom seem carried far away by the strong current 
 of worldly influences into which they have fallen. And it is 
 impossible for us, in this cosmopolitan city of great distances, 
 to extend over them the watch and care which they so 
 greatly need. The " returns " of the school for the end which 
 caused its establishment are far less for Constantinople, 
 than for other places remote from the seaboard. Our 
 best material comes from the country. And in remov 
 ing the institution to Mnrsovan, it is hoped that girls 
 may be secured who are now beyond our reach: and that 
 we may also obviate some of the unavoidable evils of gratuit- 
 
THE END. 255 
 
 ous support in a Mission Board ing-School, by requiring the 
 pupils to furnish at least a portion of what is needed to supply 
 their wants while under instruction. With this in view, the 
 graduating class only was retained during the last year. 
 In addition to the usual domestic work, they have cook 
 ed their own food, without interruption to their stu 
 dies, and with entire satisfaction to all concerned ; and 
 while our expenses have been thereby reduced, many 
 practical advantages have been secured. We have reason to 
 believe, that most, if not all of this class are Christ s disciples, 
 and will become earnest workers in the Lord s vineyard. 
 They are animated by the hope of occupying spheres of in 
 fluence when they leave the school, and many plans are un 
 der consideration respecting their future fields of labor. The 
 already established Christian character of the older girls, and 
 the daily growth and development of some of the younger 
 ones, is cause for thankfulness and hope. 
 
 ONE OF THE METHODS EMPLOYED IN TRAINING 
 WORKERS. 
 
 As a means of preparation for such work, we opened last 
 year, a " Mission Sunday-School" in the house occupied by 
 the day-school, the younger pupils of which formed a nucleus 
 for it. Two or three of our pupils usually accompanied us 
 at the appointed hour, and others, of more maturity, went 
 out into the neighboring streets, to gather in the stray lambs. 
 For a time, our efforts prospered, and the hour spent in the 
 low, dingy room of that miserable old dwelling was the hap 
 piest of the week. We taught the children to sing our 
 delightful Sunday-School songs, and by simple and familiar 
 illustrations of Bible truth, sought to wake up their minds, 
 
256 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and teach them to think. This was a sort of " Model 
 School," in which our own pupils learned to teach, by a liv 
 ing illustration ; and sometimes we yielded our place to 
 them, and listened in turn, while they imparted instruction 
 to the children. Suitable tracts were often given to the 
 children to take home to their friends, and a Scripture card 
 was presented to. each one, which was prized in proportion 
 to the brightness of its colors. They were requested to 
 commit the texts to memory, and repeat them the following 
 Sunday, when the card was exchanged for another. In this 
 way, some of the most precious truths of Holy Writ received 
 a lodgement in many young minds. 
 
 One noble little bey, nine years of age, interested us greatly. 
 When I called to see his good mother, she told me that for 
 several days he had appeared disturbed and troubled about 
 something, and would not tell her what it was. But at last it 
 came out : " Mother," said the honest little fellow, " I knew 
 it was wicked to tell lies, and I tried not to ; but many times 
 I did not speak the truth in my heart, when you asked me 
 where I had been, and what I had been doing." It was 
 blessed work to sow the seeds of truth in such soil, and we 
 joyfully anticipated the time when hundreds and thousands 
 of children should be thus taught by our pupils, all over the 
 land ! But unlooked-for opposition came. The power of 
 the priesthood is not yet broken in Constantinople. Our num 
 bers began to diminish, and we soon learned that the priests 
 had got hold of our tracts, had told the children that they were 
 bad books, and forbidden them to come to the school, under 
 penalty of imprisonment. In some cases, the tracts were 
 torn to pieces before their eyes. It soon became imprac 
 ticable for the girls to go out into the streets, and gather in 
 
THE END. 257 
 
 stragglers; rude boys collected, threw stones, and hooted at 
 them, and they were severely threatened by some of the 
 women for prosecuting such labors among their children. 
 Thus the winter passed away, our numbers fluctuating from 
 twenty to ten, and even less. One Sunday no one appear 
 ed at the appointed hour, and according to the Master s 
 command, I went out " into the highways and hedges," to 
 "compel them to come in." After many fruitless attempts, 
 and almost despairing of success with the noonday sun 
 pouring down his hottest rays I made one more prayerful 
 effort, and succeeded in securing six new boys, from five to 
 twelve years of age. Arriving at the school-room with my 
 new-found treasures, I was cheered by the sight of half-a- 
 dozen of the old ones, who greeted me with smiling faces. 
 The new-comers were bright and active, but very ignorant 
 of Bible truth. We felt that it might be our only opportuni 
 ty, and strove to make them understand something of the 
 nature of sin, and salvation through Christ. They commit 
 ted to memory, in concert, two verses of a hymn, and a 
 passage of Scripture, containing the vital essence of Chris 
 tianity, and also learned to sing a tune or two. We took 
 down their names, and they promised faithfully to come 
 again ; but it was even as we feared, we saw them no more. 
 The good seed thus sown by the wayside, was committed in 
 faith to Him who has promised that His Word shall not re 
 turn unto Him void, while, perhaps, our own pupils realized 
 more largely the present benefits, in learning how to reach 
 and interest little children, in the simple presentation of 
 Scripture truth. But, hearing the tramp of many feet going 
 by the house where I was visiting a sick girl, one Sunday, 
 not many months afterward, I inquired the cause, at that un- 
 
258 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 usual hour. " O," said an Armenian neighbor, who had 
 dropped in, " it is only the people returning from the 
 Church Sunday-School ! The priest has commanded them 
 all to come, men, women, and children ; and they are taught 
 in separate rooms : He says that five years from now, one 
 who does not know how to read, will be a nobody !" 
 
 The year closed with a public examination, which was well 
 attended by missionary and other friends, besides many Ar 
 menians living in the vicinity. There were the usual exer 
 cises, showing the proficiency made by the class in the course 
 of study comprising arithmetic, geography, grammar, an 
 cient and modern, also ancient and modern history, astrono 
 my, and natural philosophy the latter limited for want of 
 suitable Armenian text-books moral science, and Bible his 
 tory ; with the reading of essays, varied by singing, and the 
 exhibition of specimens of penmanship, map-drawing, and 
 needle-work. But the most interesting feature of the closing 
 up of this dispensation was 
 
 THE REUNION. 
 
 This took place on Monday, the last day of June, at the 
 school-home. 
 
 Written invitations had been sent to all the former pupils 
 residing in and around Constantinople, and at an early hour 
 they began to assemble. As many of them came from dis 
 tant localities, suitable refreshments were served, at noon, 
 and the contemplated exercise commenced at half-past one 
 o clock. The gathering took place in the large hall ; former 
 graduates occupying the scats in the centre, and the graduating 
 class, with their teachers, taking one side. The first pupil of 
 the school sat on the opposite side, with her little children, and 
 
THE END. 259 
 
 two of her early associates beside her. There were present 
 thirty of the former pupils, with twelve of their children. The 
 graduating class numbered twelve. Dr. Goodell occupied the 
 chair, with Drs. Hamlin and Riggs, and two Armenian pastors 
 on either side. A number of the mothers of the graduates 
 came with their daughters, and they, with members of our 
 missionary families, filled up the space outside. The exercises 
 were commenced by singing two or three familiar pieces, 
 accompanied by the melodeon, after which Dr. Goodell arose 
 and expressed the joy of his heart at meeting so many of those 
 who had been under instruction in his own house in past 
 years. He then called upon Dr. Hamlin, who had been 
 invited to prepare an address for the occasion. Dr. Harnlin 
 prefaced his remarks by saying that he at first shrank from 
 taking any part in the exercises. It was to him like attending 
 the funeral of the school, for he knew it was to be closed for a 
 year, and, in all probability, it would never be reopened in 
 the city of Constantinople. But he remembered that it was 
 " better to go to the house of mourning than the house of 
 feasting," and decided to come. " And now," he said, 
 " instead of mourning, I see rejoicing, and, instead of death, a 
 great deal of life." He then followed with a very appropriate 
 address on education, especially education for woman. 
 
 After the singing of a spirited school song, Dr. Goodell made 
 some touching remarks respecting the commencement of the in 
 stitution in his home, in Pera, seventeen years before. He 
 alluded to its first teacher, Miss Lovell, in most affectionate 
 terms ; spoke of their many prayers for the teacher who was to 
 be sent from America for the new school for Armenian girls ; 
 how they watched for her coming ; how they welcomed her a 
 stranger in a strange land to their home and their hearts, for 
 
260 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 they knew that she had left all for Christ. He then spoke of Mrs. 
 Everett that lovely sister, who soon came to be associated 
 with Miss Lovell in the schpol ; of the precious revival seasons 
 they enjoyed, when the Spirit came down like a gentle shower, 
 or like a mighty rushing wind, and all hearts were melted, and 
 they walked softly before the Lord. As the venerable speaker 
 went back to those days in the early history of the school, his 
 emotions often choked his utterance, and many a tear-bedewed 
 countenance told of the chords touched in the hearts of his 
 hearers. But when he spoke of the changes he had witnessed : 
 how the young, and strong, and vigorous had early finished their 
 work and gone to their reward before him, he was unable to 
 proceed, and sat down, while smothered sobs from all parts of 
 the room alone broke the silence that ensued. Dr. Hamlin 
 then arose, and, in a voice broken by emotion, spoke of his 
 sainted wife the first teacher of that school. He addressed 
 himself to those who had shared her instructions and her 
 prayers. He told them of a paper he had found after her death 
 upon which their names were inscribed in a way which showed 
 that she had continued to follow them with special prayer till 
 her life on earth closed. He said that if the spirits of departed 
 friends are permitted to visit the abodes of earth, he doubted 
 not that she and her sister teachers were often hovering round 
 their pathway, watching their progress, and longing to meet 
 them in the realms of glory. Dr. Hamlin then left to fulfill a 
 business engagement. After the pupils had sung the anthem, 
 "Jerusalem, my happy home," Dr. Riggs addressed the gradu 
 ating class. He alluded to their having completed their course 
 of study ; that they were now to go forth into the world to 
 impart what they had received : They were to be deprived of 
 the watch and care of their teachers, and assume new and 
 
THE END. 26l 
 
 heavy responsibilities. He begged them, however, to remem 
 ber that they were still in a school that of the Divine Master ; 
 and, instead of one, they had three teachers the Word of 
 God, the Holy Spirit, and Providence. After very impressive 
 and fitting remarks, he presented each member of the gradu 
 ating class with a nice reference Bible, in the name of the 
 American Bible Society, through their agent, Rev. Isaac G. 
 Bliss. Small and prettily bound blank-books were also presented 
 to the graduates from their teachers, in which were written their 
 last words of counsel, with selected texts of Scripture. These 
 little albums afterwards received valuable additions from the 
 pens of Dr. Goodell, Dr. Riggs, and others. The assistant 
 teacher then, in the name of the graduating class, presented 
 Dr. Goodell and Dr. Riggs each, their pictures taken in a 
 group ; after which the class arose, and sang with much feeling 
 and expression, the "missionary call," "My soul is not at 
 rest," which has been finely translated into Armenian. 
 
 Pastor Muggerdich, the husband of the first pupil of the school, 
 made the concluding address. In behalf of all present who 
 had enjoyed its privileges, he tendered hearty thanks to 
 the officers and patrons of the American Board of Missions, 
 and to all those who had been instrumental in founding the 
 institution mentioning particularly Dr. and Mrs. Dwight 
 and expressed their deep and heartfelt gratitude to those 
 missionaries in whose dwellings, and under whose fostering care 
 it had been placed ; to those teachers, some of whom had 
 entered into rest, after arduous and faithful toil ; and others, 
 who still remained, had labored beyond their strength till health 
 had failed : The names, the labors, the memory of each 
 and all should find a lasting monument in their hearts. His 
 allusions were very touching, and, as he proceeded, he waxed 
 
262 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 warm and eloquent. Casting his eyes over the assembly of 
 well-dressed and respectable, intelligent-looking Armenian 
 mothers and daughters, he said that it was the first time he had 
 witnessed such a sight in Stamboul : The first company of 
 educated Eastern women ever gathered in the city of the Sultan 
 for such a purpose ! He blessed God that he was permitted to 
 see that day, and hoped it would not be the last he should 
 witness. He then took a retrospective glance at the past, 
 when there was but one school for girls in all Turkey, 
 comparing it with the present, when many girls are learning, at 
 least to read, and schools for them are being established 
 throughout the land. Addressing himself to those who were 
 mothers, he charged them to remember their responsibilities 
 in training up a generation of Christian men and women. He 
 spoke of the main object for which the school was established, 
 and very impressively urged the duty of imparting what each 
 had received to her sisters who were sitting in darkness. After 
 a few special remarks to the graduating class, who were now 
 to go forth into the Master s vineyard, all united in singing, 
 " When shall we meet again," and the exercises closed with 
 prayer and the benediction. 
 
 It had been very pleasant to us to witness the meetings 
 which took place between those who had been long separated, 
 as they gathered during the early part of the day ; and now 
 they came up to us with tearful eyes, and expressed their 
 thankfulness for the rich treat which they had enjoyed. " It 
 is just what we have long needed," said one; "we live at 
 great distances from each other, and we need such occasions 
 to bring us together, and keep fresh in our hearts the instruc 
 tions that we have received." The wife of Pastor Sdepan, 
 of Broosa, was unexpectedly present, and her eyes glistened 
 
THE END. 263 
 
 as she said " it was worth coming all the way from Broosa, 
 to be present on that occasion." The hall presented a busy, 
 lively scene for the next hour or two : Here, a group sur 
 rounding " Father Goodell," whose white hair commanded 
 the veneration of all, while his genial spirit made him alike 
 the friend of child and matron : And there, a similar group 
 around Mrs. Goodell, who held in her motherly embrace 
 one of the " grandchildren " of the school. 
 
 Little knots were gathered in various corners, and busy 
 tongues were chatting in two or three languages. But there 
 was one scene which stirred the current of our feelings 
 more than any other : It was a number of the early pupils, 
 gazing, with deep emotion, upon the pictures of their sainted 
 teachers Miss Lovell and Mrs. Everett in the " Mission 
 ary Sisters," lately published. Our hearts yearned over 
 some whom we feared had forgotten the faithful teachings 
 of those loved ones ; but memory seemed busy, and voices 
 of the past were revived by the silent pictures over which 
 they were bending. We felt that many of the broken links 
 of love were gathered up, and knit with a firmer grasp by 
 that brief interview. 
 
 Ere nightfall, the company thus gathered for the first and 
 last time, reluctantly scattered to their homes, with many a 
 lingering look and warm grasp of the hand, which spoke 
 more eloquently than words. 
 
 And thus closed the last day of the Mission Training- 
 School for Armenian girls, in the city of Constantinople : 
 June 3ist, 1862. 
 

 
 CHAPTER I X. 
 
 REGIONS BEYOND. 
 
 |WIFTLY, too swiftly, our steamer is speeding 
 through the lovely Bosphorus, onward to the Black 
 Sea ! We strain our eyes to catch the last glimpse 
 of places whose history is inwrought in our very being ; and 
 as one familiar and endeared point after another flashes by, 
 memory is busy with the ever-living past, which has so 
 closely interwoven the woof and warp of our life, with the 
 checkered web of many another. What changes have 
 we not witnessed in the years that are gone ! How 
 many night-watchings were ours ! By how many death 
 beds have we stood, catching faint gleams of the glory be 
 yond ; when the door was shut, with a jar, and we were left 
 to take up the burden where they laid it down, and, with 
 trembling lips and aching hearts, to finish the song which 
 death had interrupted. What toils, and cares, and what 
 comforts, what joys and sorrows, were brought on the swift 
 wings of each flying year ! What " human hopes of ours 
 are dead, and buried out of sight," with no possible 
 resurrection ! 
 
 " Yet from their graves, immortal flowers 
 May spring, and blossom into light." 
 
 But this looking back is not all sad. 
 (264) 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 265 
 
 Dotted over those eight or nine years, like spring daisies 
 gemming the green meadows, are bright spots, sunny days, 
 in our calendar of missionary life at the Capital. The sweet 
 seasons of rest, and refreshment, in the pleasant homes of 
 "fathers and mothers, brothers, and sisters," united to us by 
 a dearer bond than that of kindred. 
 
 The blessed times of Communion, around the table of 
 our Lord and Master, when we sang of the one Great Family, 
 "above, below," and looked across dividing seas, to the 
 country which gave us birth, with heart-throbs and 
 moistened eyes, as the hymn went on 
 
 " Though in a foreign land, 
 We are not far from home." 
 
 The joyous gatherings at "Thanksgiving" time, albeit the 
 dinner was generally without the traditional turkey, and 
 pumpkin pies of New England memory. The " Christmas 
 Trees," delighting children and parents, in the missionary 
 home which contained many a hint of the land of Luther ; 
 and the " musical evenings " there spent in enchanted listen 
 ing to the marvelous strains of the sweet silver flute of 
 Andover memory, in some of Bethoven s choicest sym 
 phonies.* The New Years , and the birthday anniversaries, 
 which were so many milestones to mark our onward pro 
 gress, and a happy means of education to the children of 
 our little colony : Charming rambles over the hills of Bebek, 
 when, with " incense-breathing morn," there came the soft, 
 plaintive call of the turtle dove ; the air resounded with the 
 monotonous chirping of many sparrows, and revivified 
 
 The Rer. W. G. Schauffler, D.D. 
 12 
 
266 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 nature sent up a glad chorus of praise ; or, evening walks, 
 by the sea-side, when the moon, " pale empress of the night," 
 shed silvery lustre over the fairy scene, where the dipping 
 oar sent the light caique skimming over the gleaming waves, 
 and the liquid notes of the nightingale, in "linked sweet 
 ness, long drawn out," quivered on the air, from the deep 
 thickets of the dimpled shore, and hushed every breath to 
 catch its ecstatic warblings. 
 
 The precious reunions which accompanied each May or 
 June, when many a hillside was blushing with delicious 
 strawberries, and the air was fragrant with the breath of the 
 far-famed roses of the "land of the Rising Sun;" and like 
 the Jews of old, "the tribes came up" to the yearly feast; 
 and long-separated, way-worn members of the one mis 
 sionary family, rejoiced to meet again for a brief season; 
 when they brought, from distant stations, thrilling reports of 
 the triumphs of truth, and sat in council, day after day, de 
 vising " ways and means " for taking possession of the entire 
 land in the name of the Lord ! 
 
 The largely attended and enthusiastic Bible and " Evangeli 
 cal Alliance " meetings held in connection with the Annual 
 Meeting of the Mission, presided over by honored represen 
 tatives of our own or other Christian governments ; and the 
 pleasant interchange of social courtesies, with the families of 
 the foreign embassies, on these and other occasions.* The 
 
 * Among those to whom the American missionaries at Constanti 
 nople have been most largely indebted for aid and sympathy in their 
 work, should be mentioned, Lord and Lady Stratford de RadclifFe, of 
 the English Embassy ; the Count and Countess dc Zuylen de Nyevelt, 
 of the Dutch Embassy to Turkey and Greece ; and the Hon. (>eo. P. 
 Marsh, LL.D., and Mrs. Marsh, of the American Legation ; with all 
 of whom their relations, in public and social life, were most harmo- 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 267 
 
 patriotic celebrations of our national birthday anniversary 
 the Fourth of July by all American residents of "old 
 Stamboul," at some point like the lovely valley of the " Heav 
 enly Waters " of Asia, or the " Sweet Waters " of Europe, 
 the verdant meadows sprinkled all over with rainbow hues, 
 in groups of gay Turkish matrons with their offspring and 
 attendants, " making kefe " health upon the green-sward, 
 beneath the lofty trees ; or, perchance, the broader plain of 
 Beyukdere was selected, and our beautiful banner of " Stars 
 and Stripes," flung out its azure and crimson folds upon the 
 
 nious, and productive of good to the cause of evangelization among 
 the various races of the Turkish Empire. 
 
 It may not be amiss, in this connection, to note the " Constantino 
 ple Ladies Association ;" a union evangelical society for the promo 
 tion of Christian education among the Jewish women of the various 
 communities at the Capital. This Society originated during the 
 Crimean War, when a thousand Jews were driven by the bombard 
 ment of Kertch, to seek a refuge beneath the sheltering wings of the 
 Ottoman Empire (as did the Jews of Spain in 1492, when the so-called 
 "gentle and virtuous" Isabella, the founder of the terrible Spanish 
 Inquisition, pitilessly caused their expulsion from the sunny South !) 
 
 It was organized under the patronage of the Viscountess deRadcliffe, 
 with the Countess de Zuylen de Nyevelt as president ; the vice- 
 presidents and other officers being chosen from the various Scotch, 
 English, and American ladies resident at Constantinople ; and meet 
 ing monthly for conference and prayer, most frequently at the palace 
 of the Dutch Legation. A school for the younger children was 
 opened under the direction of Lady Alicia Blackwood, who, with 
 Dr. Blackwood, spent a year of Christian service at Stamboul during 
 the war. The ladies of the Association opened a school for the larger 
 Jewish girls, and undertook the work of religious instruction and 
 teaching needle-work (in German), though it involved much personal 
 inconvenience and real self denial, to wade through the deep mud 
 and encounter the heavy storms of that winter. But when anyone was 
 unavoidably detained, the Hon. Miss Canning kindly filled the vacant 
 place, in addition to her own allotted days of attendance, often spen j- 
 ing two, and even three days a week in this true missionary work, 
 and rejoicing in results which gave hopeful indications for the future. 
 
268 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 breeze, from the topmost branches of the great oak under 
 which Sir Godfrey encamped with his crusaders so long 
 ago! And we sang "Hail Columbia, happy land;" the 
 " Star Spangled Banner;" " God bless our native land ;" and 
 other national airs and anthems, with even intenser love and 
 devotion to our country, for the years of voluntary exile in a 
 foreign land ; and listened to brief speeches, which were es 
 pecially helpful to the younger scions of our Anglo-Saxon 
 race, bom beneath Eastern skies, but still retaining their 
 inherited birthright as American citizens.* 
 
 And now the mind rapidly recalls the many general 
 
 * On one of these occasions, the "Cumberland " was in port, and 
 her gallant commander, Commodore Stringham, courteously invited 
 all the American missionaries and their families to visit his ship. At 
 the time appointed, a goodly company gathered at the wharf ; boats 
 were sent off, and when their officers stepped on shore, and politely 
 saluted us, the crowd of wondering Orientals received a new lesson 
 concerning the "Americanlees ! " As soon as all were seated, the 
 word was given, "push off," and away we went, rocking on the blue 
 waters beneath our beautiful flag, while the band on the noble ship 
 commenced playing a national air, which thrilled every heart. The 
 Commodore and his officers received us with the grace and polish 
 which marks the " finished gentlemen " of our navy ; and after sur 
 veying that exquisitely kept " man-of war," in all its burnished bright 
 ness, we partook of a sumptuous collation, while the band discoursed 
 excellent music. 
 
 When this delightful episode in our ordinary experience was 
 ended, and we were once more rocking in the ship s boats, a parting 
 strain of music came to our ears in the " Yankee Doodle " of by-gone 
 days, followed by " Star Spangled Banner ;" in a moment, hats and 
 caps were off, and a round of cheers from " Young America " rent 
 the air ! 
 
 It was a rare season of enjoyment to missionaries and their chil 
 dren from the distant interior; and its memory was fresh and fragrant 
 for many a year, till we heard that the staunch old " Cumberland " 
 had finally gone down in our own American waters, but with her 
 colors still flying at the must ! 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 269 
 
 convocations for prayer and praise in the " American 
 chapel " at Pera, (which was merely the lower part of 
 a common dwelling house,) of various nationalities, and 
 in various languages, when the house of worship was 
 too small to accommodate all who thronged to partici 
 pate in the exercises, where, not many years before, but two 
 or three Armenians were wont to be present ! Ordinations, 
 when an elder Armenian brother in the ministry bade his 
 young " kinsman, according to the flesh," God-speed ; and 
 " charged him to show himself a workman that needeth not 
 to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Wed 
 dings, when pupils trained in both schools were united, to 
 go forth as home-missionaries among their own people, even 
 to the most distant, and the darkest portions of the land. 
 And the national Thanksgiving day, of the Armenian Protes 
 tants, publicly observed each December, with suitable relig 
 ious services, in commemoration of their religious liberty, 
 secured by a special Firman from the " Sublime Porte," 
 through the efforts of missionaries, and the intervention of 
 the representatives of the British and American Govern 
 ments. But how vain and bewildering is the attempt to 
 gather up in one strand the separate and severed threads 
 which have woven the daily and yearly web of life, so 
 thickly fraught with events full of significance in the history 
 of a Mission, and of individuals ! 
 
 There are scenes in the picture-gallery of the mind, whose 
 faintest outlines have been burnt into the very soul, by a 
 photographer more powerful than the Sun ! There are vol 
 umes of unwritten history, and battle-fields of mental con 
 flicts and conquests unseen by any eye save that of 
 the Recording Angel ! Families have been broken, 
 
2/O THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and scattered ; children have grown and left the pa 
 rental roof to pursue their studies in the home -land; 
 and, now and then, one has returned to aid in teaching the 
 younger brothers and sisters. New workers have come to 
 take the places of those who have fallen by the way, and 
 fresh fields have opened on every side. The pioneer, who, 
 in the dawn of early manhood, was sent, in 1830, to 
 " spy out the land,"* might well say, like one of old, " With 
 my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become 
 two (yes, three) bands!" For the mission has been thrice 
 divided since its formation ; instead of " The Armenian Mis 
 sion," there are now, " The Western," "Eastern," and "South 
 ern Turkey Armenian Missions," besides the new Bulgarian 
 Mission in European Turkey. How has the " little one 
 become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation!" 
 What a living fountain of truth has sprung up in the old city 
 of Constantine, and Chrysostom, in the press, with its various 
 agencies, sending its life-giving streams to the remotest parts 
 of the land ! True, a few " little foxes " have threatened 
 harm to the " tender vines " and promising fruit of the cen 
 tral vineyard, causing pain and searchings of heart among 
 the most faithful of its laborers. (" Oh, for a persecution, as 
 in the early days of the mission!" sighs one of the ardent 
 elder brothers, to " fan into a flame every spark of grace left 
 in the hearts of those converts who seem to have forgotten 
 their first love !" " O Lord," prays one of the " fathers," in 
 unfeigned humility, " If we are a hinderance to Thy work, 
 take us out of the way ! Send by whom Thou wilt send, 
 but let not Thy cause suffer loss through our infirmity!") 
 
 * The Rev. II. G. O. Dwight, D.D. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 2/1 
 
 But occasional reverses in missionary work may be only the 
 necessary discipline and training of the missionaries " God s 
 husbandry " for a higher sphere, and a nobler service, in the 
 life beyond, when their " appointed time " and work on 
 earth is ended- " Seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, 
 summer and winter, day and night," will not fail in the spir 
 itual more than the natural kingdom of our God : And the 
 " Watchman of Israel " hath said of His own earthly vine 
 yard, " I the Lord do keep it : I will water it every moment ; 
 lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day." Therefore, 
 tremble not, faint heart, for the kingdom of the Lord ! " Be 
 not afraid, nor dismayed ; for the battle is not yours, but 
 God s." 
 
 THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. 
 
 As a sudden flash of lightning lifts the curtain of 
 night, and reveals the minutest objects in a widely-extended 
 landscape, so faithful memory, in some rare moment, draws 
 aside the veil, and the mental vision travels backward with a 
 speed surpassing the swiftly-rolling spheres in their courses. 
 
 But we come back again to the realities of every-day exist 
 ence, and take up the thread just where it was dropped, very 
 much like the rescued drowning man, who, in the brief mo 
 ments of apparent oblivion, has been startled by a vivid por 
 traiture of all the events and feeling of his life : scenes long 
 overlaid in the mind by the accumulated soil, and drift 
 wood borne on the busy current of the work-day world- 
 
 We are passing Therapia, and Beuykdere, our last familiar 
 way-marks and must take a farewell look at the summer 
 homes of Scotch and English friends, the well-known country 
 seats of the different " Legations," and the old Greek palace 
 where a few happy days were spent in the commencement of 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 our missionary life : and now we are steaming around 
 "Giant s Mountain," and, swiftly passing between the huge 
 ancient sentinels which guard the passage, enter the Euxine. 
 Looking around to see who are our fellow-passengers, we are 
 particularly attracted by a stately Turk, evidently of the " old 
 school," who is earnestly conversing, in his own tongue, with a 
 " Frank" gentleman. His appearance is very striking as he 
 stands near by, holding a long pipe ot rare workmanship in his 
 left hand, while with the right he occasionally givds emphasis to 
 his words. His tall, commanding person is rendered more 
 regal by a flowing, fur-lined robe of the finest texture, and a 
 Damascus blade gleams from the rich folds of his cashmere 
 girdle. The full turban of many colors which crowns his head 
 is also of the costliest cashmere. As we glance at the finely- 
 cut features, the noble beard of silvery whiteness, and note the 
 kingly bearing of this haughty Osmanli, it is easy to fancy that 
 some Sultan, or Grand Vizier of olden time is before us. Now 
 his countenance lights up with a glow of animation, and again 
 a look of ineffable scorn plays over his face, as he speaks of 
 "the signs of the times," the ruin which is coming to his 
 country through the innovations introduced by foreigners, such 
 as steamers, modern ships-of-war, etc., etc. He says that the 
 nation is " doomed ;" "the end is soon coming ; there is no 
 hope for the world." And when told that he and his nation are 
 only standing still, while all the rest of the civilized world is 
 moving on in the march of progress, he gives that pecu 
 liar shrug of the shoulder and a toss of the head, which 
 conveys more plainly than words his view of the hopelessness 
 of the case ; thus ending the conversation, while, with all the 
 stolidity of his race, he resigns himself to the soothing, 
 benumbing influence of the inevitable pipe. This incident is 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 2/3 
 
 to us strikingly significant of the condition of the entire Turkish 
 nation drifting, drifting, they know not whiihcr ! And while 
 their proud hearts are stung with a sense of conscious weakness 
 and dependence upon foreign powers, whom they inwardly 
 despise, they passively say, like the people of old, " Come, let 
 us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." 
 
 Ey-and by we notice our lordly Turk upon his knees on a 
 Persian rug spread by his obsequious servant, where, having 
 satisfied himself as to the points of compass, he is going 
 through his usual prostrations and forms of evening worship to 
 the one God, looking toward Mecca, the Jerusalem of his hopes, 
 and apparently oblivious of the crowd that surrounds him. 
 The wind freshens, and those who suffered little in crossing the 
 ocean, are compelled to pay double tribute to old Neptune on 
 this notedly stormy sea. On the morning of the third day of 
 our short voyage we reach Samsoon, our destined port. A 
 little white tent is glistening upon the hill above the English 
 consulate, and there, for three days, a faithful missionary 
 brother from Marsovan has eagerly watched for our arrival, 
 forewarned by the vigilance of Dr. Anderson, the Foreign 
 Secretary of the Board, of the danger and risk we should incur 
 in staying even one night in a place so notorious for its poison 
 ous malaria. Our steamer has scarcely dropped anchor in the 
 harbor before his glass apprises him of the fact. Ere long we 
 see him waving his hat in a little boat, which is soon alongside, 
 and he leaps on board with outstretched hand and a warm 
 welcome in our own sweet mother tongue more precious than 
 those can understand who have never led a pilgrim-life in a 
 strange land. After- getting our luggage through the Custom 
 house, Air. Leonard very considerately seeks a quiet point 
 where we may land, away from the din and confusion of the 
 12* 
 
274 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 busy wharf and the filthy town. It is delightful to spring out of 
 the boat upon the beach and rest beneath the friendly shade of an 
 overhanging tree, where a caravan of camels are browsing ; and 
 we walk through green fields to the house of the English Consul, 
 who, with his wife, has kindly offered to entertain us. We are 
 deeply interested in the romantic history of our lovely and 
 accomplished hostess. She is a Greek by birth, and her 
 parents were among the hapless victims of the horrible 
 massacre in the island of Scio, which made of that enchanting 
 paradise a "desolation and a wilderness, where no man 
 dwelleth." Her brother and herself, then little children, were 
 sold as slaves by the cruel Turks, but they fortunately fell into 
 the hands of a British Consul who was stationed at Algiers. 
 He redeemed the little captives, and educated them with his 
 own children. In process of time the young Greek girl 
 developed into a very charming maiden, and the eldest son of 
 her benefactor became in turn her captive. After a suitable 
 amount of baffled hopes and heart-history on both sides, he 
 succeeded in winning the prize, and they seem very happy in 
 their isolated home. Their two boys are away at school in 
 England, and the little Ferida is the pet of the household. She 
 was baptized by Mr. Leonard, a friend standing as godmother 
 by proxy, for one of Queen Victoria s maids of honor. 
 
 THE JOURNEY OVERLAND. 
 
 After an early* dinner, our horses are brought, and we 
 bid our friends good-bye, as we turn our faces towards the 
 wilderness. Three hours of slow travel to the south-west, 
 completes the first stage of our journey. 
 
 The sun has gone down behind the mountains, and our 
 sent is pitched upo.i a grassy slope at the foot of a hill. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 2/5 
 
 Sarkis builds a little fire at one side, and makes a refreshing 
 cup of tea ; and Mr. Leonard brings forth sundry deli 
 cacies provided by his good wife, and a folding table, im 
 provised for the occasion, something like a campstool, only 
 higher, upon which we spread our cloth and the dainty re 
 past, for which our ride had given us a keen appetite. 
 And while we chat around our humble "board," we "en 
 vy not earth s kings with all their little trifling things." 
 Our beds are made, and Mr. Leonard is busy in swinging 
 his hammock from a tree near by. 
 
 Sitting in the door of the tent, we listen to the voices of 
 the night. The tinkling of bells upon a neighboring hill 
 side, where shepherds are watching their flocks ; the lazy 
 droning of the insect world, or occasional faint notes of 
 mother-birds who are putting their little ones to sleep, 
 and leading their evening song of worship ! The soft rip 
 ple of a little brook falls with soothing cadence upon the 
 ear, and the stars come out, one by one, and look lovingly 
 down upon the peaceful scene. The very air is full of 
 sweet content; and involuntarily we chant the shepherd s 
 Psalm : " 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." We cannot stop there; and 
 continue the sweet refrain : " He restoreth reneweth my 
 soul ; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His 
 name s (Love s) sake. Yea, though I walk through the val 
 ley 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 
 
276 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord (Heaven) 
 for ever." 
 
 And when we "lay us down" in peace to rest, we remem 
 ber the faithful promise of the great Shepherd of Israel : "I 
 will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land ; and 
 they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the 
 woods." 
 
 Rising at an early hour in the morning, the tent is taken 
 down while we are eating our simple breakfast. The light 
 reveals the fact that my little traveling bedstead was set 
 over, and /, a nest of red ants ; and it solves a midnight 
 mystery, for the little creatures fiercely resented the in 
 trusion, and their sharp stings burnt like so many coals of 
 fire ! Mariam had spread her bed upon a carpet, in another 
 place, and fortunately escaped. We jog along, hour after 
 hour, a distance of twenty miles ; the country is pleasant 
 and picturesque, and tree?, shrubs, and streams of water are 
 abundant. Now and then we dismount, and leading our 
 horses, walk awhile for a change, gathering the flowers that 
 grow by the wayside ; the ground is blue, in many places, 
 with a profusion of the wild larkspur, and gay with poppies, 
 pinks, peonies, pheasant s eye, verbena, heliotrope, and other 
 plants, which are carefully cultivated in gardens at home, 
 but spring up spontaneously in this region of the Black Sea; 
 occasionally, a snatch of some old song beguiles the 
 monotony of the way ; or, one whose horse is more spirited, 
 dashes off into a full gallop, and is soon lost to sight; while 
 another plies the whip to follow suit, and is only rewarded 
 by a weary arm, for the stubborn beast will not budge an 
 inch faster than the " pack horses," who carry the "loads." 
 
 By-and-by the favored one returns with equal speed, and 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 
 
 many pleasant demonstrations, hair flying in the wind, eyes 
 sparkling, and face glowing with the exercise ; thus goes the 
 day. We spend the night at a rude mud khan, and take our 
 first lesson in the accommodations offered by the best hotels 
 of the land ! 
 
 Everything and everybody (except the horses) is piled 
 into one nondescript room, and we make the best of the 
 situation. But when we try to sleep, alas ! for the begin 
 ning of woes ! The first part of the programme is a canine 
 concert, which exceeds anything we have ever heard or 
 imagined, of its kind. It is midnight before one woe is 
 past, when, lo ! another cometh ! A strange " kartijee, " or 
 driver, plants himself on a box beneath our open window, 
 and improvises a serenade (for our special benefit, no doubt) 
 which is simply infernal ! 
 
 At first, we are amused, as well as provoked, but as the 
 hideous howling and growling goes on, now rising, now 
 falling, with an occasional interval of silence which inspires 
 the hope that it is only doomed to bitter disappointment, as he 
 again takes up the atrocious strain, it becomes excruciating ! 
 Remonstrances from the " effendi " produce no effect, and 
 the night is slowly wearing away. But at last, Sarkis be 
 comes desperate, and suddenly hurls a heavy boot at the 
 offender ; a forcible argument, which effectually quenches 
 his musical ardor, and sudden silence ensues ! 
 
 The khan is " a good place to go from ; " we start on our 
 way long before sunrise, for it is Saturday, and we have yet 
 thirty miles of travel before us. It is a long and weary 
 day, with only one break in our line of march, when we 
 take a brief rest, and eat our luncheon in the refreshing 
 shade of a grove of oaks; for the August heat is very 
 
278 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 oppressive, and continuous riding in the sun produces an 
 overpowering languor. But nothing can exceed the kindness 
 of our missionary escort ; his delicate appreciation, and an 
 ticipation of all our wants, awakens the deepest gratitude. 
 We have a spice of adventure towards the close of our 
 journey : When within four hours distance of Marsovan, 
 word is given of a band of robbers, who attacked a caravan 
 the last night ; and Mr. Leonard stops at the nearest village 
 to secure a guard. He succeeds in getting a foot-soldier 
 only, the rest being out in pursuit of the robbers. Much of 
 our way now lies through a wild and romantic region, 
 among frowning rocks, and steep precipices, fit places to 
 shelter a lawless banditti. In the course of an hour or two, 
 we learn that the band has been chased over the mountains ; 
 the soldier departs, and we go on our way rejoicing. As we 
 descend into the plain, we meet strings of rude wagons, 
 drawn by oxen, or buffaloes. Their coming is announced 
 long before they make their appearance, by an indescribable 
 groaning and creaking, and sharp, shrieking sounds, which 
 grate and jar upon the sensitive ear, like the working of a 
 coarse file. This accompaniment is supposed to be highly 
 relished by the animals, and pieces of iron are inserted in 
 the ponderous wheels of each vehicle, for the express pur 
 pose of producing it ! 
 
 MARSOVAN. 
 
 The city is seen in the distance, built upon a gentle 
 acclivity, and surrounded by pleasant vineyards, and waving 
 fields of grain. An amphitheatre of lofty hills, or young 
 mountains, rises around the plain, now robed in blue mist, 
 and now tinged with rainbow hues from the setting sun. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 279 
 
 The last hour seems interminable ; night settles down upon 
 us as we pass by tall hedge-rows, and beneath the spreading 
 branches of lofty trees, skirting the town. Fancy takes the 
 reins, and pictures nobl6 avenues, leading to many an elegant 
 and illuminated mansion, or " Palace Beautiful," of the land 
 we have left behind ; and Prudence, Piety, and Charity com 
 ing forth to meet the way-worn travelers, with the words : 
 " Come in, thou blessed of the Lord ! this house was built 
 by the Lord of the hill, on purpose to entertain such pil 
 grims in." 
 
 But we pass on in silence, turning street after street, un- 
 cheered by gleaming lights, or words of welcome. At last, 
 a door is reached ; it opens, and we ride in ; the lantern 
 which throws its dim light upon the dark mud walls, discov 
 ers a common, dreary court-yard. But we have scarcely 
 alighted upon the ground, almost too weary to stand, ere a 
 sister s arms are around us, and her joyful welcome greets 
 our ear ! 
 
 Another moment, and the beloved Markared flings herself 
 into our arms, weeping and laughing by turns in her joy at 
 meeting her teacher ; and, child-like, clinging fast, while we 
 pass through a dark, inner court, and up a flight of stairs 
 into the warmth and light of the missionary home ! 
 
 The purity and sweetness of the little parlor causes 
 us to pause at the open door. After our experience in 
 a Turkish khan, it seems like entering heaven ! We look 
 down upon our travel - stained and dusty apparel, with a 
 sense of unfitness, almost expecting to hear one say, 
 " Friend, how earnest thou in hither, not having a wedding 
 garment?" But loving hands draw us in, and spread the 
 snowy pillows for our repose upon the inviting divan, where 
 
280 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 exhausted nature quickly loses itself in a blessed sleep. It 
 seems but a moment, when we are gently awakened, and 
 summoned to partake of needful refreshment. It is all so 
 like a dream, a vision of enchantment ; and we rub our eyes 
 to assure ourselves of the gracious reality Are we in 
 deed in the heart of Asia Minor, or is this a table spread for 
 us in one of the dear old homes of our loved fatherland ? 
 The dazzling whiteness of the cloth, the glitter of the table- 
 furniture, the vase of sweet flowers in the centre, the white 
 and brown bread, the yellow butter, creamy cake, and the 
 dainty fruit, with the more substantial roasted fowl, and 
 feathery potatoes, and the fragrant tea, with its delicious 
 cream ! Our hearts swell with loyal pride in a country whose 
 representative sons and daughters can thus, by the labor of 
 their own hands, and the exercise of taste and ingenuity, more 
 potent than gold, gather around them the comforts of an 
 American home; transforming a mud hovel into a palace, 
 and a howling wilderness into a very garden of Eden ! 
 
 Truly, " the solitary place " may well be " glad for them," 
 and the "desert rejoice and blossom as a rose!" If one 
 ever realizes the blessedness of a Christian home, it is in 
 such a translation as this of ours. The rare and refined 
 courtesy and grace which presides over every arrangement, 
 adds a double charm to our new surroundings; and our 
 hearts are filled with the melody of thanksgiving ; truly, our 
 <: cup runneth over" 
 
 " When the worn spirit wants repose, 
 
 And si^hs her (Jod to seek, 
 How sweet to hail the evening s close 
 That ends the weary week." 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 28l 
 
 THE WORK. 
 
 The cry of the muezzin from the minaret of a neighboring 
 mosque, calling the faithful to prayers, is the first sound that 
 breaks the stillness o the sweet Sabbath morn. It is the 
 signal selected by the Protestants for their early morning 
 worship ; and looking out of the window, we see them hast 
 ening to the place of prayer. The chapel is on the ground- 
 floor, below the rooms occupied by the missionary family. 
 It is a long, low room, with several good-sized windows 
 looking out upon the little garden on one side, and two or 
 three very small ones near the ceiling, on the side next 
 the street. The walls are whitewashed, and the floor is 
 covered with coarse sackcloth. A space at one side is 
 slightly partitioned off for the women, and a table standing 
 upon a little platform at the end opposite the door, serves as 
 a pulpit. The place is well filled ; there are nearly two 
 hundred present; strong, hearty, independenMooking people, 
 mostly sitting upon the floor, though there are a few clumsy 
 chairs and a bench of native workmanship, occupied by the 
 chief dignitaries of the place. The second service is con 
 ducted by preacher Yeghia, and the opening exercises are just 
 concluded, when the wife of the head-man of the Protestant 
 community makes her tardy appearance, pushing her way to 
 the front, and with motherly pride, holding aloft her boy, a 
 child six months old. The little fellow looks comical enough, 
 tricked out in a full military suit of blue cloth, with standing 
 collar, and big brass buttons to the swallow-tailed coat ! The 
 father has recently returned from Stamboul, bringing his 
 " first-born son " an outfit which shall excite the admiration 
 and emulation of all the community. But the incongruity 
 
282 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 does not seem to affect the people, and after the momentary 
 bustle, their attention is given to the sermon. It is very pleas 
 ant to see so many Bibles opened when the chapter is read 
 and the text given. A full chorus of voices join in singing a 
 hymn to the good old tune of Balerma, at the close. The 
 Sunday-School is very interesting. On one side are from 
 fifty to eighty women and girls, and on the other, the men 
 and boys, divided into ten classes. In one corner sits our 
 own Markared a pearl among her countrywomen, as her 
 name signifies surrounded by a large class of girls, her fair 
 face beaming out from the white sheet which is thrown over 
 her head. The offer of a Testament from the " badveli " has 
 inspired a number of boys and girls to commit to memory 
 certain portions of Scripture. Markared says that two boys 
 and six girls have committed the first fourteen chapters of 
 Matthew, and can repeat them without mistake. Four other 
 girls have learned from five to eight chapters ; and one wo 
 man who has lately received the truth in the love of it, has 
 learned five chapters in Turkish, by herself, and says that 
 she is going to learn the whole of the Gospel of Matthew. 
 Only a year ago, some of these boys and girls thought it hard 
 to learn the usual lesson of seven verses ! When they are 
 all ready, a special assembly will be called to hear them, 
 and the prizes will be awarded. The interest of the people 
 in that public exercise is very marked, and gratifying to both 
 teachers and pupils. 
 
 During the week, Markared occupies one end of the chapel 
 for a school-room, and eighteen or more large girls and young 
 married women come to her for instruction from three to 
 four hours each day. This is a new thing for Marsovan, 
 and the school is looked upon as a "peculiar institution." 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 283 
 
 Besides the common primary branches, she teaches them to 
 sing by note, and initiates them in the mysteries of crochet, 
 worsted, and needle-work. 
 
 Mr. Leonard s study is quite remote from the family 
 rooms, reached by a flight of stairs from the outer court. 
 He is busy from morning till night, scarcely ever taking off 
 the harness. Turks and Armenians alike call to read and 
 converse with him at all hours of the day. An old Imaum, 
 or Turkish priest, comes quite often. Native helpers come 
 to report or consult concerning their work in the various out- 
 stations ; and others write frequent letters, which require 
 special attention. 
 
 Markared often renders valuable assistance in translating 
 these letters from Armenian into Turkish Mr. Leonard s 
 missionary language and in making up the monthly ac 
 counts as they come in from the various out-stations; he says 
 that she is worth more in that line than some of the educated 
 young men whom he has employed. 
 
 Just now, he is trying to reform and remodel the Prot 
 estant day-school, teaching the teacher how to govern and 
 train his pupils ; and in order to carry out the new regula 
 tions, he is obliged to spend much time in the school-room. 
 It required considerable moral courage on the part of the 
 missionary to administer corporal punishment to two or three 
 unruly and hitherto unmanageable boys, which he felt 
 obliged to do, although one of them was the son of a head 
 man among the " old Armenians." We were anxious for the 
 result, but Mr. L. was away at sunrise the next morning, 
 attending the early session of the school before breakfast, 
 and he found the boy in his place, behaving much better 
 than usual. 
 
284 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Mrs. Leonard also receives frequent calls from the people, 
 at the other end of the house. Many come from mere curi 
 osity, and the sewing-machine and melodeon are never- 
 ceasing objects of wonder and delight. They gaze curiously 
 at the specimens of htr handiwork, paintings and sketches 
 upon the pure white walls ; and the tables, and book-shelves, 
 which Mr. Leonard constructed from packing-boxes, and 
 Mrs. L. stained or painted with her own hands ; the car 
 pet, the chairs, and the cushions of the divan, the mus 
 lin curtains of the windows, and the vases of flowers, all 
 undergo a similar scrutiny. But they are never suffered to 
 leave without hearing the Word of Life. And some of the 
 groups that surround this missionary sister form a delight 
 ful picture. The wife of a Turkish effendi, who has learned 
 to read and write, is greatly struck with the song, " Away, 
 away the bowl," asks permission to copy it for her husband, 
 because he is sometimes too free with the wine bowl ! 
 
 Another Turkish woman calls, who, greatly to our surprise, 
 can repeat the whole of one of Mr. Leonard s sermons, and 
 yet affirms that she has never entered the chapel. " Well, then, 
 some one else heard it and repeated it to you," says one. " No ; 
 no one told me," is the reply ; and, after puzzling us a little, 
 she says, " I listened through a chink in the garden wall, and 
 heard every word !" 
 
 It is touching to see the numbers of sick people who 
 come to the " hanum " for help. Mothers bring their little 
 ailing children that she may prescribe for them, and they tell 
 their own ailments with perfect confidence in her wisdom and 
 skill, although she never studied or practiced medicine till she 
 came to this people. The other morning I was surprised to 
 see several men among those who sought her aid ; but learned 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 285 
 
 that she had attended the husband of a former servant-wo 
 man during a course of typhus fever, and carried him safely 
 through. This, of course, involved great care and labor. She 
 could not trust the family to administer the medicines, and 
 took many a long walk through the mud and snows of the win 
 ter to do it herself. 
 
 I am sometimes reminded, at meal-time, of the experience 
 of our Savior and His disciples, when " there were many coming 
 and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat," for the 
 people throng around the open passage between the dining- 
 room and kitchen, and the " hanum " leaves the table, too busy 
 in attending to their wants to heed her own. But her happy 
 face shows that it is her * meat to do the will of Him who 
 sent" her to labor among this people. 
 
 The favorite wife of a Turkish grandee was very ill not many 
 months ago, and Mrs. Leonard was called in haste to see her. 
 After his wife s recovery, the Effendi showed his gratitude by 
 repeatedly sending presents of fruits and flowers ; and when he 
 next called upon the " Hoja," or teacher, begged permission 
 to see and converse with " the lady." A remarkable request 
 for a Turk to make. The sex in general has been held in such 
 low repute by Osmanlis, that oftentimes they would sooner 
 speak of a dog than of a woman ! 
 
 These faithful workers have been alone in Marsovan since 
 coming from Cesarea, two years ago, and they greatly enjoy the 
 society and sympathy of a missionary sister. We have made a 
 few calls among the people, and are planning a tour among 
 the villages during the two or three months of my visit. 
 
 A NE W DISPENSA TION. 
 
 We should suspect some danger near 
 Where we possess delight," 
 
286 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 says the old hymn. And certainly the first few weeks of my 
 stay in Marsovan were filled to the brim with happiness. 
 
 Then followed a severe illness, only warded off for a season 
 by the change and rest after the closing up of the Constanti 
 nople dispensation. 
 
 " So we three went slowly down 
 
 To the River-side, 
 Till we stood in the heavy shadows 
 
 By the black, wild tide." 
 
 When the dear missionary brother and sister no longer 
 dared to trust their own skill, and study of medical books, a 
 messenger was despatched to Yozgat, the nearest telegraph 
 station, to summon the missionary physician from Sivas, seven 
 days distant. " Posting," day and night, he accomplished the 
 five days journey in two, and, when he had received a telegram 
 in reply, started back as swiftly as he went. " Our days are 
 swifter than a post " when life moves on in the even tenor of 
 its course ; but when freighted with heavy fears, and dying 
 hopes, as the faint spark of life fades, and flickers, and seems 
 about to expire, while the intensely longed for help comes not, 
 oh, how slowly, slowly do the leaden-winged hours and days 
 go by ! 
 
 "I think, in a little while," 
 
 I said, at length, 
 " I shall see His face in the City 
 
 Of everlasting strength ; 
 And sit down under the shadow 
 
 Of His smile, 
 With great delight and thanksgiving, 
 
 To rest awhile." 
 
 " One post shall run to meet another." Four or five days 
 have passed away, and a second messenger is despatched, 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 28/ 
 
 to meet the first, and bring back news of the doctor. At 
 last, he returns with the joyful tidings that the " hakim " is 
 on his way, and will arrive in an hour or two ! 
 
 As the sun goes down, the doctor throws himself from his 
 jaded horse, and comes to the relief of the worn-out, 
 anxious watchers, who can scarce restrain their tears for 
 joy, the responsibility has been so great. But the crisis is 
 just past, and the danger is over; the life saved, Dr. West 
 says, by the prompt application of leeches to the head, 
 which arrested fatal inflammation of the brain. 
 
 The loving ministration of a tender mother could not 
 surpass the unwearied devotion of the friends who have 
 supplied the place of those far away. A part of the 
 " hundred fold " promised to those who have forsaken all 
 for Christ s sake and the Gospel s. 
 
 The people have heard of the " great hakim," and Dr. 
 West is constantly beset by crowds that, as in the time of 
 our Savior, are " taken with divers diseases and torments " ; 
 the halt, the maimed, and the blind, and those that are 
 " possessed" with, they know not what ! Within a few days 
 he performs many wonderful surgical operations, and his 
 fame spreads abroad ; the outer and inner court-yard over 
 flow with persistent claimants upon his attention, and the 
 house is in a state of siege ! Doors are locked, to prevent 
 people of all sorts and conditions from swarming in every 
 part, like some of the plagues of Egypt ! And the tumult with 
 out, makes itself more or less felt within. In the midst of 
 it all, there comes a telegram, recalling the doctor to attend 
 upon his own sick child. The news of his speedy departure 
 flies like wild fire through the town ; a surging crowd 
 speedily collects in the streets around the missionary dwell- 
 
288 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ing, each one holding up his little cup, and clamoring for 
 medicine ! The doctor, calm and undisturbed, as usual, gives 
 a few directions to his assistant, promises the people to train 
 one of themselves to be their physician, mounts his horse, 
 and speedily disappears for a hurried march toward home. 
 
 Then follows a season of delicious quiet, and exceeding 
 peace. We have had a fresh experience to fit us for our mis 
 sionary work : that Christ did actually die that he " tasted 
 death for every man," was a revelation ! 
 
 We spend hours and days in feeding upon the Word, so 
 new, so rich in meaning, that we are amazed at treasures we 
 never saw before ! Priceless jewels flash and glow and 
 sparkle from every page of Holy Writ, Sapphires of truth, 
 rubies of love, diamonds of faithfulness, pearls of promises, 
 opals of light, emeralds of eternity, and amethysts of royalty ! 
 How marvelous that the eyes of so many should be 
 " holden," that they cannot see these wondrous riches, this 
 amazing wealth so lavishly bestowed upon us by the King 
 of kings ! And then we speak of the King, " our Father," 
 and of his Son, our Elder Brother, " as we are used often to 
 speak one to another; " 
 
 " The Lord standing by, 
 
 In the shadows dim, 
 Smiling, perhaps, in the dark, to hear 
 
 Our sweet, sweet talk of Him." 
 
 As the warm current of life returns to its accustomed 
 channels, the busy threads of every-day work are, one by 
 one, taken up, and plans long deferred, are carried into 
 execution by the faithful workers in this vineyard of the 
 Lord. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 289 
 
 O UR SURRO UA r Z>IXGS. 
 
 It is the vintage season in Marsovan. Old men, women 
 and children, are gathering in the abundant harvest of 
 grapes, and every avenue to the city is thronged with horses, 
 mules, and donkeys, going to and from the vineyards ; some 
 laden with huge baskets of the luscious fruit, which 
 they are conveying to the city, while others are returning for 
 fresh supplies. The merry jingle of bells, suspended from 
 the necks of the animals, forms a rude accompaniment to 
 the wild songs of their drivers. The air resounds with 
 their shouts and rejoicings ! Every now and then a poor 
 patient donkey may be seen, with a great basket on either 
 side, and three or four sturdy urchins mounted between, 
 singing some merry vintage song at the top of their voices, 
 while with hands and feet they belabor the faithful beast to 
 quicken his pace. It is the busy, happy season of the 
 year, a time of joy and gladness. 
 
 The sugar of the grape is nearly all that the people use 
 for sweetening their food, and they prepare it by boiling the 
 juice to a thin, dark, slightly acid syrup, called petmez. 
 Another preparation has the appearance of molasses candy. 
 Flour is mingled with the petmez, and it is worked until 
 it assumes a light, yellowish color. Sometimes, strings of 
 nuts are prepared, and dipped into this mixture, after the 
 manner of tallow candles; these, when dried, are about 
 the size of a common cucumber, and are considered very 
 nice confectionery by the people. All the live-long night, 
 for weeks after the grapes are gathered, one may hear the 
 strokes of the women, who are hard at work in giving the 
 desired complexion to this refined preparation of grape- 
 3 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 juice. There is no cessation in the labor till the end 
 is accomplished ; and day and night the city rings, from 
 end to end, with the vigorous slaps of the unwearied house 
 wives ! The wine is made as in ancient times, men and 
 boys treading out the grapes in great wooden troughs. 
 The refuse is then distilled, by each family of sufficient 
 means, and a strong, colorless liquor obtained which is 
 termed rakee ; it is pure brandy. 
 
 " Wine shops " were for the first time legalized by the 
 Turkish government, during the Crimean war ; the result 
 of unchristian influence exerted by some of the English of 
 ficers, in the campaign, appealing to self-interest in the sale 
 of licenses, as a source of revenue. 
 
 One always hears plenty of bacchanalian songs, and maud 
 lin outcries, in passing such Satanic pit-holes, in any part of 
 the country. But there is little of open, staggering street- 
 drunkenness. Among the people generally, " they that be 
 drunken, are drunken in the night." 
 
 Temperance, total abstinence, is, however, recognized as 
 a part of Protestantism. 
 
 It is one of the blessed fruits of the Gospel leaven in 
 this land of vineyards and new wine. Mr. Leonard has re 
 turned from a week s tour among the nearest villages, and 
 once more " we three " ride out together among the pleas 
 ant vineyards and gardens surrounding the city. It is Oc 
 tober ; a subdued, hazy light covers the face of nature with 
 a gossamer-like veil ; it plays upon the surface of the moun 
 tains, half concealing, half revealing their soft undulations ; 
 at sunset, the painting is too beautiful for words to express 
 one s admiration. And the trees, grand old monarchs, 
 stretching out their great arms so loftily and protectingly, 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 29! 
 
 they seem almost human, and we love them ! One of these 
 English walnuts shades a space of more than fifty feet in 
 diameter. The narrow paths of the gardens are bordered 
 by little murmuring streams, for purposes of irrigation, and 
 as our horses pass along, single file, we bend low to avoid 
 contact with the drooping branches of the trees, and the 
 trailing vines which form a thick bower overhead. Wild 
 and luxuriant hedges of clematis abound, and occasionally 
 a mud wall enclosure is seen. Here and there is a broad, 
 open space, with scattered clumps of trees, and lovely views 
 from the openings ; and farther on, below the town, is 
 a willow-fringed brook, desecrated by tanneries, and the 
 deposits of slaughter-houses. Marsovan is certainly highly 
 favored in situation and climate. The air is full of elec 
 tricity ; a delightful breeze from the Black Sea visits us 
 every day, and greatly modifies the heat of summer. Sweep 
 ing through the mountain forests on its way, it is robbed of 
 all its harsher qualities, and brings life and healing on its 
 wings, making music among the trees at night, as soft and 
 soothing as a mother s lullaby. With all these natural ad 
 vantages, the place might be famous for its healthfullness, if 
 only the people understood, and applied, the most common 
 sanitary principles to their surroundings. But here, as else 
 where in the East, disease and death lurk in every street 
 and dwelling ; in the air we breathe, and the water we drink 
 an invisible enemy, poisoning the very fountains of life ! 
 Some night, when we are wrapt in sleep, a gentle rain begins 
 to fall ; its coming is the signal for pestiferous cess-pools to 
 be opened across the narrow street, and their foul contents 
 poured into the pathway beneath our very windows, till every 
 breath one draws is reeking with an indescribable effluvia 
 
2Q2 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and deadly stench, which drives us from our bed? to the 
 remotest corner of the house ; and the very recollection 
 sickens us for weeks thereafter ! 
 
 The interior of the town is not as inviting as its exterior. 
 Dingy mud houses, one or two stories high, closely huddled 
 together, narrow, dirty, roughly-paved streets, with here and 
 there a public fountain, shaded by a tree or two ; the market 
 place, shops, khans, churches, and mosques, describe the 
 general characteristics of all Turkish towns. Two or three 
 Turkish konaks are pointed out as houses "built with 
 blood," literally verifying the prophet Jeremiah s descrip 
 tion : " Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unright 
 eousness, and his chambers by wrong ; that useth his neigh 
 bor s service without wages, and giveth him not for his 
 work : That saith, I will build me a wide house and large 
 chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled 
 with cedar, and painted with vermilion." 
 
 In the olden time it was very common for Turkish grandees 
 to impress into their service the despised Armenians, and 
 other "Christian dogs," as they called the "rayahs," or sub 
 jects. Carpenters, masons, and other artisans were forced to 
 toil for months, without even receiving the bread they con 
 sumed ! In one of the court-yards of these great konaks, 
 there still stands the rough block where the poor man who 
 dared to resist the power of the oppressor, was summarily 
 beheaded. 
 
 The low doors of all these rayah dwellings bear silent tes 
 timony to the lawlessness of the ruling race in the years 
 gone by, when it was common practice for a Turk to ride 
 his horse into the house of a Christian subject, and demand 
 anything that he might please to fancy. My head has often 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 293 
 
 received striking proof of this significant fact. It is easy to 
 stoop in entering a house, but when earnestly engaged in con 
 versation at leaving, one forgets the necessity, and suddenly 
 comes in contact with unyielding timbers in a most unmer 
 ciful thwack ! And superior height, which in other respects is 
 a decided advantage in commanding the respect of Orientals, 
 here proves a detriment ! Turning aside, on our way home, 
 we pause beneath the almond tree which shades the conse 
 crated spot where the noble young missionary, Sutphen, was 
 laid to rest ere he had really commenced his missionary 
 work among this people. The autumn leaves are beginning 
 to fall, and every one is to us a sermon : " We all do fade 
 as a leaf:" "The wind passeth over it, and it is gone:" 
 " One shall be taken, and the other left." 
 
 The fifth chapter of Second Corinthians is the theme at 
 my first meeting with the women, held in the chapel. There 
 are seventy-one present, and they seem impressed by truths 
 that have been so lately tested in my own experience. 
 
 WINTER WORK. 
 
 The snows of winter are falling around us ; the first storm 
 of the season came about the middle of November, and Mr. 
 Leonard started that morning for a long tour among the 
 more distant out-stations, bordering on the Black Sea. 
 The roads are very bad, and traveling is often dangerous 
 among the mountains. But this is the great seed-time and 
 harvest season of souls in Turkey ! The storms of winter, 
 as severe as in New England, drive the people into their 
 dwellings ; and for lack of employment, they congregate in 
 coffee-shops, khans, and stables to gossip and while away 
 the long hours. 
 
2Q4 TIIE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Mr. Leonard s diocese is the ancient province of Pontus. 
 Samsoon is its seaport, with Sinope at the western extremity, 
 and Trebizond at the eastern, and all that region extending 
 south as far as Tocat, comes properly under his supervision. It 
 is a vast field for one man to work, and until the last two years, 
 Marsovan was almost the only spot into which the Gospel 
 plough had entered. Helpers are now stationed at seven 
 places, called out-stations ; and others will be opened as fast 
 as young men can be obtained from the Mission Seminary. 
 One of these new centres of Gospel light has as many villages 
 around it as there are days in the year ! And many places 
 of great importance are ready and waiting to be occupied for 
 the Master. 
 
 It is classic soil; the old battle-ground of Greeks and 
 Romans. The town of Zileh, now occupied as an out-station 
 of Marsovan, is near the very spot where Julius Caesar uttered 
 the memorable words, " I came, I saw, I conquered !" Not 
 long since, Mr. Leonard, in one of his missionary tours, 
 visited a village where are old ruins, and copied several 
 Greek inscriptions, by request of the French Commissioners 
 who spent some time in this region collecting materials for 
 the Emperor s book. Some of these he found on door 
 steps, the wall of a barber s shop, and similar places. Mrs. 
 Leonard cannot but be anxious for her husband s safety, 
 during the four or five weeks of his absence, at this inclement 
 season. A letter from Samsoon tells us that his journey 
 thither was made with great difficulty ; and we shall probably 
 hear nothing more till his return. 
 
 I can appreciate, as never before, the situation of a 
 missionary wife, left alone with the " few sheep in the 
 wilderness," while her husband goes forth among the moun- 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 295 
 
 tains to seek and save the lost. The first year of their life at 
 Marsovan, this noble missionary sister v, ho left a delightful 
 home beyond the sea, and, till she came to Turkey, had 
 never known trial or hardship bravely stayed behind, with 
 only a servant for protection, after she had buckled on the 
 armor of her " knight-errant," and bade him God-speed, as he 
 sallied forth to fight the battles of the Lord. The next year 
 Markared came to share her solitude, and aid in her 
 unwearied labors for the women. And now it is great 
 delight to have a sister by her side. Hand in hand, we go 
 from house to house, through the streets and lanes of this 
 city, trying to follow in the footsteps of the Master. 
 
 The meetings for women are generally held among the 
 Protestant families, in different neighborhoods, to secure the 
 attendance of those " from without," who would not come to 
 the chapel. 
 
 In several instances, " old Armenians," /. e. t those still 
 holding allegiance to the Old Church, have opened their 
 houses for these religious gatherings ; and when the language 
 used is Turkish, not a few Moslem women attend. On one 
 occasion the room was quite filled with them a hitherto 
 unheard-of thing. 
 
 Some of the houses are very poor. The windows are filled 
 with oiled paper instead of glass, and there is no fire to take 
 the chill from the wintry atmosphere. A common mangal, or 
 brazier, at one end is surrounded by the older women and chil 
 dren, who warm their fingers over the half-ignited coals. 
 Babies cry, and old women, unused to such meetings, talk or 
 scold ; but good order is generally maintained, and much 
 interest manifested. It is exceedingly pleasant and interesting 
 to see one whom we have trained for Christian work, conduct- 
 
296 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ing the exercises (now and then) in a very appropriate and 
 impressive manner. Markared has a pleasant, attractive face ; 
 her eyes are blue, and her voice and manner are winning and 
 modest. The women listen respectfully to her teachings, 
 though she is not yet seventeen years of age ; and the pupils, 
 some of them older than herself, look up to her with increas 
 ing regard and admiration for her varied talents. She takes no 
 airs upon herself because of her position (almost that of a 
 daughter in the missionary family), but goes about wrapped 
 up in her white sheet, like all her countrywomen, and, conse 
 quently, is much beloved and sought after, and her influence is 
 decidedly good among the people. But she lacks the stamina 
 of a more mature and less amiable character, and needs the 
 motherly guidance which is ever ready to establish her in all her 
 " goings out and comings in." It not un frequently happens that 
 a woman slips into the school-room, apparently as a visitor, but 
 with a suspicious-looking bundle under her arm. This is laid 
 aside until recess, and then, with an imploring "gaghachem" 
 I entreat she lays an embargo in the shape of a " Frank 
 dress " to be cut and fitted upon the time and strength of the 
 gentle, yielding teacher, who would rather sit up at night, 
 working without pay, than deny the request. But this increas 
 ing demand for modern taste and skill in matters of dress is 
 one of the little straws which show the influence exerted by 
 the Capital over inland towns by means of its commerce. 
 
 Four or five of Markared s pupils have commenced teaching 
 some of the women to read. One of them has three under 
 her instruction. The girls exchange pupils. For instance, the 
 daughter does not teach the mother or other members of her 
 own family, because she says they will not mind her as well as 
 some one from another house ; that they are not ready to lay 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 297 
 
 aside their work when she is ready to give them a lesson. The 
 other day I spent an hour or two in the school, which is now in 
 the missionary house, and found, upon inquiry, that the mother 
 of one of Makared s best pupils thought that she could 
 never learn to read, and had given up the attempt. So I 
 engaged one of the youngest girls to teach her, giving her a 
 Lancastrian card for that purpose. The next meeting was held 
 at this woman s house, and, with many smiles, she brought out 
 the card and showed me that she had learned three letters. 
 The room was more than filled with attentive listeners. While 
 I was talking to them of our Savior s words to Nicodemus, a 
 woman came in, and, with many harsh words, drove her 
 daughter away. We sang "Just as I am" at the close, and 
 afterwards a young woman asked to see that hymn, and 
 commenced reading it in a low tone, while others gathered 
 around to listen. As I looked upon the little group, I 
 wondered if Charlotte Elliot ever dreamed, in the retirement 
 of her invalid seclusion (when it came to her by inspiration), 
 where and how she, through it, would preach a living faith in a 
 crucified and living Redeemer. It were well worth a life-time 
 of trial and isolation to be the channel of such a soul-cry, going 
 up to Heaven from so many lands and in so many tongues ! 
 
 THE MISSIONARY S RETURN. 
 
 " The Badveli has come !" shouts Sarkis, and we all hasten 
 to welcome him home. Markared is a very child, almost wild 
 with delight. But the poor man is too exhausted for many 
 words. He looks like a battered soldier returned from the war, 
 covered with mud from head to feet, his hair matted, and face 
 so thin, that one would scarcely recognize him. We know that 
 he needs all the comforts of home to repair the damages of the 
 
 13* 
 
298 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 past weeks of work and travel among the mountains. A good 
 Protestant brother had accompanied the missionary on his 
 tour, and from his lips we learn of the perils encountered in 
 their journeyings: Sometimes, losing their way in the blinding 
 snow, they wandered about for hours, suffering from cold and 
 hunger, in danger of finding no shelter for the night, and were 
 only too glad and grateful to secure a corner in some miserable 
 hovel till day should dawn. At another time, the roads were 
 broken up by a sudden thaw, and their horses would flounder 
 and fall under them, and the food and lodging provided by the 
 hardy mountaineers, at the various points where they stopped 
 to carry on their work, was hard fare probably very much like 
 that to which the Apostle Paul was accustomed in his 
 missionary travels ; for he says : " In weariness and painful- 
 ness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, 
 in cold and nakedness." But, though such experiences are felt 
 more keenly by one of a finely-strung nature and delicate 
 physical organization, whose early life has been exempt from 
 privations and exposures, yet the faithful missionary can say 
 with his prototype, " None of these things move me, neither 
 count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish 
 my course with joy and the ministry which I have received of 
 the Lord Jesus." The motto of this earnest, faithful brother 
 who " endures hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ " has 
 been from the first that of the " beloved disciple" : " Because 
 He laid down His life for us, we ought to lay down our lives 
 for the brethren." 
 
 It is the first day of the New Year. At sunrise we go down 
 to the chapel, where about eighty people are assembled, to begin 
 the year with prayer and praise. The missionary reads the 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 299 
 
 ninetieth Psalm, makes a brief and impressive address in Turk 
 ish, we sing a hymn to " Old Hundred," and the " morning 
 sacrifice " appears to be offered up with " much incense " 
 of devotion from many hearts. Preacher Yeghia speaks (in 
 Armenian) of the year just gone, its accounts sealed up till the 
 day of judgment ; of our ignorance of the future, and God s 
 method of leading and teaching us by His providence. He 
 says that to each one of us is presented a blank, which we are 
 to fill up for eternity. In conclusion, he remarks that it will 
 indeed be a New Year to souls who shall be born of the Holy 
 Spirit. One of the most spiritually-minded of the brethren 
 closes with a prayer, which comes with fresh unction, from the 
 depths of his heart. After the meeting, many of the brethren 
 come upstairs to exchange greetings with the family. It 
 is pleasant to see their beaming faces, and hear their " Shunor- 
 havor nor dare ! " Happy New Year. 
 
 Suitable refreshments have been provided for the occasion, 
 and the preacher and teachers are presented with beautifully 
 printed copies of the New Testament in Armenian, with 
 references, just received from the Bible House, New York. A 
 number of complimentary calls are received during the 
 day from Turks and Armenians, among whom are several 
 women, and we exchange little gifts among ourselves in com 
 memoration of the anniversary. 
 
 The " mountains round about " Marsovan are white with 
 snow, and the trees are shorn of their beauty, but even at 
 this season it is a pleasant place. The air is dry, sunny, 
 and bracing ; the weather cold and clear, but with no high 
 winds as at Constantinople. Mr. Leonard is taking observa 
 tions for the year. The mercury has not been higher than 
 
300 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 40, or lower than 15 Fah., and the average, since Dec. 
 ist, has been 25 at sunrise. The prevailing wind has been 
 north for the last month. 
 
 KOHAR HA NUM. 
 
 The Holy Spirit has been working among as for months 
 past, as silently as the " dew that descended upon the 
 mountains of Zion;" and we believe that a number of these 
 Armenian women and girls for whom we have prayed and 
 labored, are truly " born again." What joy is like unto our 
 joy, over souls saved for all eternity, and new workers 
 gained for the Master s vineyard ? We want no miserable, 
 earthly calculation which estimates the " cost of conversion 
 at $1,000 " per soul ! In God s Arithmetic, and the wonder 
 ful economy of grace (past the comprehension of such 
 sordid minds), each grain that we reap in these harvest fields 
 is counted as a living seed that will bring forth fruit a 
 hundred and a thousand fold ! 
 
 Kohar means precious stone, diamond;* and she who 
 bears this name among her people is, indeed, a rare woman, 
 like one of the uncut jewels, commonly worn by Orientals, 
 to be polished, and shine forever, we trust, in the Savior s 
 crown; for she is a miracle of grace. I saw her first, at her 
 own house, soon after my arrival in Marsovan ; an Armenian 
 gentlewoman of about twenty-eight years of age ; of more 
 than ordinary dignity, tempered by natural sweetness of 
 disposition ; figure of medium height, round and plump, 
 and a remarkably intelligent and attractive face. The dwell 
 ing was very superior in its finish and surroundings, and 
 
 * Possibly a cognate of the Hindoo word " Koh-i-noor." 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 30! 
 
 everything bespoke a family of the higher class. Mrs. 
 Leonard said that Kohar Hanum had some time since 
 learned to read, and was so anxious for the education 
 of her people, that she had taught seven others of her own 
 rank ; that she was eager for instruction, had long been 
 an occasional attendant at the meetings for women, but 
 " loved the world and the things of the world ; " adding, " I 
 am afraid that she will lose her soul ; she knows the truth, 
 and yet went to the vank, or monastery, last Sunday with a 
 gay party of Armenian friends, and spent the day in feasting 
 and merry-making. I wish you would try to rouse her to 
 a sense of her danger." Before we left, an opportunity oc~ 
 curred, in speaking of the harvest season just past, to refer 
 to our Savior s words : " What shall it profit a man if he 
 gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ?" Kohar 
 seemed impressed ; her face was very solemn, and after a 
 few more faithful words, we went away, praying that God 
 would water the seed sown in her heart. 
 
 I have never seen a case of more powerful conviction of 
 sin. Her pride rose up like a mountain, and kept her back 
 for many weeks ; but it has been completely humbled : Con 
 science gave her no rest until she had opened her whole 
 heart to the faithful " hanum," who had so long sought to 
 bring her to Christ. Kohar s circumstances have been very 
 peculiar, and more trying than anything we had ever 
 imagined ; and when, at last, the struggle was over, and the 
 inner history of her life revealed, I saw her lay her head in 
 the " hanum s " lap, and sob like a child. 
 
 A new chapter which can never be written was opened 
 in our experience of life among this people ! But a new life 
 was also begun, from that hour, in another soul ! Her greatest 
 
302 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 sorrow was her union to an utterly uncongenial husband ; 
 she was willing to be a servant, to go anywhere, and do 
 anything, if only she might be /reef 
 
 After hours of earnest conversation, Kohar was led to 
 understand her duty, as never before. Lifting her face, 
 kindled and glowing with new light and holy purpose, she 
 said to Mrs. Leonard, " Now, I see ; I must labor for his soul, 
 as you- have labored for mine /" And as she rose to leave, she 
 added, impressively, "You have saved a soul !" And kissed 
 her hands, her eyes, and her face ! Her husband, a little, 
 sickly, effeminate man, but an " eshkhan," or ruler, of wealth 
 and rank among the people, was much incensed at the change 
 in his wife. It enraged him to see her so cast down on ac 
 count of her sins ; and he forbade her coming to the 
 Protestant meetings, tore her Bible into fragments, and 
 even locked her up in the house, lest she should come to 
 us in his absence. Finding that all his threats and persecu 
 tions were of no avail, he then, for the first time, lifted his 
 hand and struck her a brutal blow ! She was stunned and 
 shocked ; and even he was ashamed, for he was not in 
 sensible to the superiority of his noble wife, and had mani 
 fested his pride and regard for her, in various ways ; 
 bringing rich silks and furs from Stamboul, for her adorn 
 ment ; and, in view of his infirm constitution, had willed 
 the house and other property to her as his heir. This will 
 he destroyed ; and also, for a time, succeeded in hiding the 
 gold and jewels which were her dowery, and, therefore, be 
 yond his personal control- 
 
 But her new-found joy, and hope that she is " accepted 
 in the Beloved," enables her, like Paul, to " suffer the loss 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 303 
 
 of all things," if only she "may win Christ, and be found 
 in Him." 
 
 One morning the family went to a christening feast, and 
 Kohar managed to slip away, and spend the day with us. 
 We were very much occupied when she came in, and she 
 begged us to go on with our work. I handed her a newly- 
 arrived copy of the Avedaper to read. After a little, the 
 business was accomplished, and I came to visit with her ; she 
 looked up from the paper with a smiling face, and pointing to 
 an article about the love of Christ, which she had been read 
 ing, said, " How sweet this is ; I want to kiss it ! " Putting 
 it to her lips as she spoke. "Why is it? Once, when I 
 came here, my heart went out to other things ; when I saw 
 anything handsome, I longed to possess it ; I loved gold and 
 ornaments. But now they all seem to me like so much dust ; 
 and my heart goes out after other things ! " " Ah, my dear 
 sister!" I could but reply, " If any man be in Christ, he 
 is a new creature ; old things are passed away ; behold all 
 things are become new/ 1 That is the why* of it! For, 
 the Word, which cannot lie, says, * If any man love the world, 
 the love of the Father is not in him. " 
 
 TAKING UP THE CROSS. 
 
 Kohar is a truly modest, retiring, womanly woman ; but 
 she has begun, in earnest, to work for Christ, and the leaven 
 of her influence is already working powerfully in another 
 family, so that we lift up our hands in wonder, and say, 
 " What hath God wrought ? " She says that she is ready to 
 leave all and follow Christ ; and asks, " Can anything separ 
 ate me from His love?" 
 
304 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 She " took up the cross " soon after the wonderful change 
 in her own experience; and it happened on this wise: 
 Markared had charge of the meeting for women, one day, 
 in a place where it had never yet been held; neither of 
 us (missionaries) were able to be present, and the rain fell 
 so fast that we feared very few would attend. But she re 
 turned, toward evening, with the good news that the room 
 was full ; she counted fifty women in that low, dark, miser 
 able place. Kohar was there, although it was nearly a mile 
 from her house ; and after the story of Jonah had been read, 
 and explained, she followed with an excellent exhortation to 
 those present to repent, and turn to the Lord while the door 
 of mercy is still open. 
 
 This was something entirely new; and, coming spontaneously 
 from one so well known and so high in social position, pro 
 duced a deep impression upon the women. That such a 
 " hanum " should condescend to honor that place with her 
 presence was, in itself, wonderful : For the Armenians have 
 great pride of rank and race ; but to hear such words from her 
 lips, was still more surprising. Markared said that it was a 
 lovely picture ; it moved her heart to see Kohar rise and 
 "stand up for Jesus" in that old dingy room, and, with all the 
 beauty and dignity, the grace and sweetness of Christian woman 
 hood, entreat her poor Armenian sisters to come to the Savior 
 she had so lately found. A woman who had long opposed the 
 truth, requested that the next meeting might be held at 
 her house, and urged Kohar to be present. 
 
 On her way home, she stopped a moment to see us, and her 
 heart was full of peace and joy. "What is it?" she inquired; 
 " I never before felt so peaceful and happy." Dear soul ! .she 
 is one of Christ s blessed, obedient " little children ;" the cur- 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 305 
 
 rent of His love flows unobstructed through the heart now 
 wholly given up to Him ; and her joy is " full." And yet her 
 trials are many. For months she is shut away from the house 
 of God ; her heartless husband rides, rough shod, over all her 
 new convictions of right and wrong, and delights to torment 
 her by bringing home numbers of his friends to dinner on Sun 
 day, etc., etc. 
 
 Sometimes she is troubled about her duty, and comes to us 
 burdened with important questions ; but prayer is her great 
 resource, and she has learned the meaning of those words of 
 Christ : " In the world ye shall have tribulation ; but be 
 of good cheer : I have overcome the world ;" and in Him she 
 finds peace. 
 
 Thus the once heavy cross is clasped to her breast, with fly 
 ing pennons, and the thorns spring to flowers beneath her 
 fearless feet as she presses on in the Heavenward path ! How 
 beautiful she is, adorned with the " ornament of a meek 
 and quiet spirit." Formerly Kohar wore a quantity of gold 
 around her head and neck, according to the custom of her 
 people ; but all these bands and circlets have been quietly taken 
 off, without a word from any one. 
 
 Not long since, she brought ten gold pieces to the mission 
 ary, to be appropriated for supplying those persons with Bibles 
 who were unable to pay for themselves but no one was to 
 know this. 
 
 BREAKING A BETROTHAL. 
 
 I had been spending part of an afternoon in a day-school 
 taught by another of my former pupils, and on my return, 
 found Kohar and Vartig, a young girl who attends Markared s 
 school, waiting to see me. They had come to seek aid and 
 counsel in a matter of great importance. 
 
306 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 It seems that Vartig was betrothed when she was but five 
 years of age. She is now thirteen or fourteen, and her friends 
 wish her to marry, but she protests against it; she has tasted 
 the sweets of knowledge, and is very anxious to study. 
 Besides, she has received the truth, in the love of it, and the 
 young man is a bigoted Armenian, with no sympathies in com 
 mon, and, according to the custom of the country, she has no 
 personal acquaintance with him. 
 
 Kohar is a neighbor of this girl, and they have often spent 
 their evenings together in reading the Word of God. She has 
 felt so strongly in regard to her own early betrothal and 
 marriage when she was but thirteen years of age that she 
 deeply sympathizes with Vartig, and has openly espoused her 
 cause. To " break a betrothal " seems like sacrilege to this 
 people ; the bond is almost as binding as that of marriage. 
 But it is not so bad, Kohar thinks, as breaking a heart ! And 
 that is our feeling. 
 
 Finally, the young man says that he will release the girl if 
 she will return the four gold pieces with which he sealed the 
 contract ; but her mother has spent the money, and has no 
 means of refunding it. 
 
 I queried whether they had come like so many others 
 in the hope that we would furnish the necessary sum ; and 
 asked Kohar what they would do about it. She merely said 
 that she hoped the means would be found. We had a long 
 and interesting conversation, and knelt together in prayer to 
 seek our Father s blessing. 
 
 I told them both to try to glorify God in the place and 
 under the circumstances in which they were providentially 
 placed ; that He knew just the discipline we most needed. 
 While speaking of the bitter cup which the Sinless One 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 307 
 
 drank for us, and of His agony in the garden of Gethse- 
 niane, they both wept; and, at last, Kohar would not let me 
 talk any more, fearing it would make my head ache, but 
 reached up and kissed my forehead, calling me her "dear 
 sister." Before they left the house, she quietly slipped the four 
 gold coins, to ransom the poor girl, into Mr. Leonard s hand, 
 but begged that no one should know whence it came. 
 
 The betrothal money was paid back ; but Vartig s eyes 
 sparkled with fun, as she told us that the young man was more 
 willing to give her up, because he feared, after such a show of 
 independence, that she would not be obedient ! Such a thing 
 was never before known in Marsovan, and it will be noised all 
 over the city. 
 
 KOHAR S FA MIL Y. 
 
 Kohar s mother is one of the most winsome old ladies that I 
 have ever seen in this country. The change in her daughter, 
 with whom she lives, greatly troubled her at first, but she did 
 not join the husband in his bitter persecution. Little by little 
 the truth found lodgment in her own heart, and now, at nearly 
 seventy years of age, she too is sitting at the feet of Jesus. My 
 heart always bounds when I see her mild, pleasant counte 
 nance, for she reminds me of the mother so far away. She is 
 learning to read the Word of God for herself, and, whenever I 
 call upon them, she always puts on her glasses, and brings her 
 book for me to hear her spell out a few words. 
 
 It cost her a struggle to give up the Old Church, and she 
 said, with much simplicity, " It came hard to me to part .with 
 our place there, and know that others would come in and take 
 it !" the "chief seat in the synagogue." Kohar has no chil 
 dren, but a little adopted daughter and two nieces attend 
 Markared s school, and they also are learning to follow Jesus. 
 
308 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 For the last few months I have had in my room every week, 
 a "convert s prayer-meeting," in which each one takes a part. 
 The first time Kohar was present, she was greatly overcome by 
 the petitions of these young disciples. She lingered after they 
 had gone, and, wiping away her tears, said, " Oh, Varzhoohi ! it 
 melts my heart to hear these lambs confess their sins ! What 
 have they done compared with me ?" 
 
 As she grows in grace, she longs, inexpressibly, to spend 
 her life in Christian work for her people. Her husband 
 frequently visits the surrounding towns and villages, on 
 business, and when his enmity to the truth had seemed to 
 subside a little, she ventured tremblingly, to propose to ac 
 company him, and teach the women ; gathering courage 
 with the effort, she pictured the good that might thus be 
 accomplished; when he fiercely turned upon her, and, in as 
 thundering tones as his small capacity could send forth, 
 commanded her to be silent, and never again dare to men 
 tion the subject ! (We learn most of these facts about the 
 " Agha," from Kohar s nieces.) Poor man ! his conscience 
 is ill at ease. One evening, when they were alone, he ap 
 peared so much more genial than usual that, in her great 
 anxiety for his soul, Kohar made another venture, and read 
 aloud in his hearing from the New Testament. He listened 
 a moment or two, and then ordered her to stop : saying, 
 in answer to her gentle, pleading remonstrance, " / do not 
 want to know ! The more I know, the greater will be my re 
 sponsibility /" forgetting that he will be held responsible, 
 at the last day, for thj sin of shutting his ears! Oh, the 
 soul-melting pathos of Christ s wail over such wilfully closed 
 hearts ! " How oft would I have gathered you, but ye 
 would not." With their own hands they forever shut the 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 309 
 
 door of hope and heaven against themselves! The very 
 stones might weep at such a sight ! 
 
 A DINNER A LA TURQUE, 
 
 The " Agha " has started off on one of his business trips, 
 and Kohar comes to the " missionary sisters " with a pressing 
 invitation to dine at her house ; and I am to spend the night. 
 She wants us " all to herself, for a good visit ! " So we go, 
 at an early hour, and she receives and entertains us as 
 honored guests. The smiling little Shooshan takes great 
 delight in escorting us over the dwelling, and we are struck 
 with the neatness and order everywhere apparent. By-and- 
 by, the mother, and an elder niece, sit down with us at the 
 low, round table, or tray, to partake of the food which is 
 served by Loocea and Shooshan, while our hostess presides 
 over the preparation of each course as it comes on, smoking 
 hot, in metal-covered tureens. Such an array of fish, flesh, 
 and fowl, such pastry, and such preserved fruits, I have 
 never before seen in an Armenian house. It is a dinner fit 
 for a king ! Some of these dishes would not disgrace 
 Delmonico. The " pilaff," of Egyptian rice, each kernel 
 round and full, made up with the broth and white meat of 
 tender fowls, the pyramid thickly sprinkled with pine nuts, 
 and Zante currants; the " dolmas," long, delicate squashes 
 (which grow by the yard) cored, and filled with a savory 
 pieparation of rice and minced-meat, and boiled in young 
 grape leaves. The stew, of quinces and mutton ; the roasted 
 and boiled chestnuts; the indescribable dumplings; the 
 " stuffed " baked tomatoes ; the crisp and flaky pastry, rich 
 with butter, cream and honey ; and rosy apples, apricots, pears, 
 melons, pomegranates, and rich clusters of grapes, perfectly 
 
310 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 preserved in wine ! The fish, fowls, and lamb are broiled, 
 or roasted to perfection ; and as one course is followed by 
 another, and still another, we are urged to eat of this or 
 that favorite dish, gotten up especially for our benefit. Our 
 kind hostess comes herself to inspire our flagging courage 
 with new zeal, selecting the daintiest, choicest portions, and 
 seeming so happy in her overflowing generosity, that I can 
 not disappoint her, and am willing to make a martyr of my 
 self for the nonce ! (I wonder if Paul had such an experi 
 ence, when he said, "I have learned to abound!"} The 
 dear good woman evidently believes in the " perseverance of 
 the saints ; " but she has not yet learned the " limit of 
 human ability ; " and so it comes to pass that she sits, in the 
 small hours of the night, by the couch which her loving 
 hands have heaped high with the softest, downiest beds and 
 cushions in the house, wondering, in her simplicity, as she 
 bathes the aching head, " what has made the Varzhoohi so 
 ill! " 
 
 But I can never forget the conversation and the family- 
 worship of that evening ! I happened to mention Mount 
 Holyoke Seminary, and its wonderful influence in our own 
 and other lands ; and Kohar said, earnestly, " O, please, 
 tell us all about it !" So they all gathered at my feet, the 
 dear old mother, the daughter, and the three girls, looking 
 up with eager interest, and uttering an occasional exclama 
 tion of surprise, while I told them the story of Mary Lyon s 
 childhood, youth, and womanhood ; what faith in God, and 
 a life of entire consecration to His service, had accom 
 plished for the world. Of the amazing fact (made known 
 after her death) that she had been the means, directly, of 
 the conversion of sixteen hundred souls! Kohar s eyes 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 3! I 
 
 sparkled, her face glowed with enthusiasm, and, clasping her 
 hands, she exclaimed, " O, Varzhoohi ! why cannot we get up 
 such a school among our people ? I am sure we can, if we try. 
 / would do anything for it ! " As I looked into her earnest, 
 upturned face, and saw the soul shining through her eyes, 
 I could but think that she, under other circumstances, 
 might, indeed, have been a Mary Lyon among her people. 
 If he who u hateth his brother," is esteemed by God a 
 " murderer," then surely the love and the longing which is 
 forbidden expression in acts, will be counted by Him as 
 equivalent to accomplished deeds ; and at the last, to their 
 own great surprise, many of God s ** hidden ones," of whom 
 the world has never heard, will shine in resplendent glory 
 among those who have " turned many to righteousness." 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 Our hearts bleed for our beloved country, rent by contend 
 ing factions, and deluged with blood ! It is a terribly prolonged 
 struggle, and we stand powerless and dumb in the dim dis 
 tance, longing and praying that the fearful strife may soon 
 end. But we know that God sits serene above the storm, 
 and when His purposes are accomplished, He will say to the 
 Destroying Angel, " It is enough : put up thy sword !" 
 
 The desolating wave has swept across the broad Atlantic 
 and the blue Mediterranean, and reached the door of many 
 a peaceful missionary dwelling in this land. Drs. Goodell, 
 Schauffler, and Dwight, of Constantinople, have each a son 
 in the Union army. Dr. Schneider, of Aintab, has two sol 
 dier boys ; and Mr. Rhea, of Persia, has two brothers in the 
 Confederate army, besides many others, who have fathers, 
 brothers, or cousins fighting on both sides ! 
 
312 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 And even here in the heart of Asia Minor, the " American 
 War " makes itself felt among all classes of people. A few 
 weeks ago there was a rumor in town that the " war was over," 
 and consequently, the price of cotton had fallen so low that the 
 market was glutted. This report created a great panic among 
 the merchants of the city. Many came to the missionary to 
 know if it were true, and what he had heard from the seat 
 of war. It so happened that our mail failed us that week, 
 for the first time. A new mudir, or governor, had just been 
 installed over Marsovan, and to all inquiries, word came 
 that the post " had passed through unopened," or, " there 
 was nothing for us !" 
 
 Mr. Leonard told the people that it was too good news to 
 be true, at this date ; and that the panic was undoubtedly ex 
 cited by speculators, to frighten people who did not take the 
 "Avedaper!" our evangelical Armenian and Turkish news 
 paper. 
 
 Thus are " the ends of the earth " brought together these 
 " latter days." 
 
 LOOSINTAK. 
 
 They were examining candidates for admission to the 
 church, in the chapel, and several of our dear young converts 
 were of the number. So I quietly slipped in, and sat down 
 behind Loosintak, who did not see me, and the questioning 
 went on : " Well, Loosintak, but what first led you to think 
 of your soul ?" said good deacon Margos. " It was what I 
 saw in the Varzhoohi s sick-room." she answered. " How was 
 that ?" " Why, I thought that I must have a religion that could 
 make one so happy in view of death." This was wholly un 
 expected ; I had not even known the fact ; and the tears rush 
 ed to my eyes; for God had led me in, at that moment, to 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 313 
 
 learn a new lesson of His all-wise and overruling Provi 
 dence. 
 
 Loosintak is a steady, substantial girl of eighteen years. 
 She belongs to an excellent, but decayed family, and has not 
 married, because the ravages of small-pox have destroyed her 
 beauty, and her friends are too proud to give her in marriage 
 to one who is beneath her in rank. She is already consid 
 ered quite an ancient maiden among her people. During 
 my illness she was called in to help, and with our dear Marka- 
 red, often ministered to my necessities. When I afterwards 
 gave her a large reference Bible, she seemed almost over 
 whelmed by the gift, and clasped it to her bosom, saying, " You 
 have made me happier than if you had given me a kingdom !" 
 She took it home, and her younger sister one of Markared s 
 brightest pupils wept for joy, and slept with it in her arms 
 all the night : for it was the first Bible that ever entered the 
 house as their own possession ! She might well sing : 
 
 " Holy Bible, Book Divine, 
 Precious treasure, thou art mine !" 
 
 for the sweet child had learned to kno\v its worth, and es 
 teemed it above all riches: "The gold and crystal cannot 
 equal it, and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of 
 fine gold : No mention shall be made of coral or pearls, for 
 the price of wisdom is above rubies." 
 
 The Armenian name, Loosintak, means " crown of light." 
 In after-years, God may say to this young woman whom He 
 has reserved, and set apart for His own special service, 
 " Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear ; 
 forget also thine own people, and thy father s house." And 
 she will be a Jight-bearer to many of her sisters in distant 
 tf 
 
3 14 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 places, carrying that Bible to those who are now sitting in 
 the darkness and degradation of Satan s bond-women. For 
 if, as we firmly believe, " GOD HAS A DEFINITE LIFE-PLAN 
 
 FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL, GIRDING HIM, VISIBLY OR INVISIBLY, 
 FOR SOME EXACT THING, WHICH IT WILL BE TRUE SIGNIFI 
 CANCE AND GLORY OF HIS LIFE TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, "* 
 
 to be in harmony with this plan is the secret of true hap 
 piness ; it invests every circumstance, however small, with 
 new significance. And oh, how unspeakably sad to reject 
 His guidance and miss the meaning of one s existence ! 
 
 AM A SI A. 
 
 The Winter has sped away with its constant succession of 
 busy days and weeks, and Spring has opened upon us. At 
 Amasia, an ancient city, thirty miles south-east of Marsovan, 
 there is a German colony, engaged in the manufacture of 
 silk for a large nouse in Freiburg. 
 
 The gentleman who stands at the head of the enterprise, 
 is a warm friend of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard, and during the 
 Winter has frequently written, urging his oft-repeated re 
 quest for a visit. But missionary work prevented ; at last 
 a messenger arrives, in hot haste, with the word that 
 his master is very ill, and begs them to come without de 
 lay. I accompany them : We start at an early hour 
 in the morning, passing over a plain which is a very 
 gradual descent, for Amasia is one thousand feet lower 
 than Marsovan. There is very little to vary the monoto 
 ny of the way, and we push on, reaching the rocks at 
 
 * Bushncll s " Sermons for the New Life !" 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 315 
 
 the outskirts of the town just as the sun goes down. A little 
 farther, and we cross the old Roman bridge which spans the 
 "Red River," and strike into the town. 
 
 Bald rocks, piercing the sky, with the tombs of the kings 
 of Pontus cut in their face, frown upon us from every side, 
 and this strange old city of Strabo, the ancient Geographer, 
 is wonderfully interesting. But we cannot linger to gaze. 
 On, on, up the steep hills, to the mansion so beautifully situ 
 ated, where Death is doing his fatal work. Alas ! it is too 
 late. The dying man merely recognizes his friends, and is 
 gone, beyond recall, leaving four motherless children with 
 out a protector in this foreign land. The two lovely daugh 
 ters, seventeen and eighteen years of age, but lately returned 
 from school in Germany, are stunned by the blow. Their 
 brothers are away at school in the fatherland, and the little 
 girls ate too young to comprehend their loss. In the absence 
 of a guardian, or any other responsible person, the mission 
 ary attends to a few necessary details of business : The 
 office, and rooms containing valuable papers and effects, are 
 carefully closed, and a Turkish official places a great black 
 seal over the lock of each door. Watchmen are then sta 
 tioned around the house, for protection at night. A telegram 
 is despatched to summon one of the firm from Germany, 
 and preparations are made for the funeral. 
 
 A fearful pall and desolating gloom has fallen upon the 
 house, so lately full of life and gaiety. The little Hilde- 
 garde, and Emilie, (the one nine and the other three years 
 of age,) feel its chilling influence, and creep up to us con 
 fidingly, with childish wonder and awe, broken now and 
 then by a momentary out-gush of rippling laughter at the 
 antics of some playful pet. 
 
3l6 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 It is Sunday, and the great hall, and adjoining rooms, are 
 crowded with people of all classes and various nationalities, 
 who have come to attend the funeral services. Jews, Greeks, 
 Turks, Armenians, Italians, French, Germans, and Americans 
 are well represented, and all can understand, more or less, 
 the one common tongue Turkish in which the missionary 
 sets before them life and death. It is a solemn discourse 
 from the text, " This year thou shalt die." Glancing around 
 upon the strange, motley assembly, I see earnest attention 
 depicted upon most of the countenances : the death of one 
 is the means whereby many for the first time hear the words 
 of life ! 
 
 We gather around the open grave, upon a sheltered ter 
 race within the grounds, where the bereaved husband so 
 often wept and mourned by the tomb of his beloved and 
 beautiful Emilie the bride of one short year and now he 
 is laid by her side, while the funeral hymn, so sad, so sweet, 
 rises and falls in mournful cadence from the lips of his coun 
 trymen, in the words, " Hort auf mit Trauern und Klagen :" 
 
 I. IV. 
 
 " Cease, ye tearful mourners, And from its corruption, 
 
 Now your hearts to rend : This same body so;ir, 
 
 Death is life s beginning With the self-same spirit 
 
 Rather than its end. That was here of yore. 
 
 II. V. 
 
 All the grave s adornments, E en as duly scattered 
 
 What do they declare By the sower s hand, 
 
 Save that the departed In the fading autumn 
 
 Are but sleeping there ? O er the fallow land, 
 
 III. VI. 
 
 What though now to darkness Nature s seed decaying, 
 
 We this body give ; First in darkness dies, 
 
 Soon shall all its senses Ere it can in glory 
 
 Re awake and live. Renovated rise. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 317 
 
 VII. X. 
 
 Earth, to thy fond bosom When thou must this body, 
 
 We this pledge entrust ; Bone for bone restore, 
 
 Oh ! we pra) , be careful Every single feature 
 
 Of this precious dust. Perfect as before. 
 
 VIII. XL 
 This was once the mansion O, divinest period ! 
 
 Of a soul endowed Speed upon thy way ; 
 
 With sublimest powers, O, Eternal Justice ! 
 
 By the breath of God. Make no more delay. 
 
 IX. XII. 
 
 Here Eternal Wisdom When shall love, in glory, 
 Lately made His home ; Its fruition see ? 
 
 And again will claim it, When shall hope be lost in 
 In the days to come ; Immortality? " 
 
 The last solemn services are rendered, and the people 
 disperse : But now comes the after-part the saddest, the most 
 terrible* time to those who are left behind in this wide, 
 wilderness-world. Oh ! how like a great, grinding machine it 
 sometimes seems, pitilessly crushing one s heart to powder ! 
 " They persecute him whom Thou hast smitten : and they talk 
 to the grief of those whom Thou hast wounded" moaned the 
 sweet Psalmist of Israel probably after the death of the 
 darling child who was taken away for his sin. But "He 
 knoweth our frame ; He remembereth that we are dust ;" and 
 whispers: "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I 
 comfort you." 
 
 These delicate, inexperienced young girls are left in a 
 community of common, illiterate Germans, greedy of gain ; 
 many of whom, now that their head is gone, are given up to 
 drinking and other irregularities. There is no one in the colony 
 to inspire confidence and offer counsel and protection to the 
 daughters of their late employer in this time of their sore need. 
 
3l8 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 We cannot leave them thus alone. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard 
 feel compelled to hasten back to the work which is suffering 
 loss in their absence ; but, after much consultation, it is pleas 
 antly arranged that I stay with the stricken ones till some 
 one shall come from Germany to care for them. 
 
 TWILIGHT TALKS. 
 
 The bustle and distraction of the last week or two is over, 
 and we are sitting, in the still, twilight hour, around the cheer 
 ful blaze of a wood fire. The little Emilie climbs into my lap, 
 and Hildegarde draws her stool to my feet, and lovingly leans 
 her head against me. They quietly listen while the older sis 
 ters talk (in a singular mixture of German, French, Turkish, 
 Armenian, and English) of past scenes their school-life in 
 Germany, and the return to Amasia, after an absence of 
 four years. Their father had come out, with a company, 
 to meet them, and was standing, for a moment, after dis 
 mounting, when he was suddenly kicked by a horse, se 
 verely injuring his right knee. He had been ailing for 
 some time, and, in the low state of his system, nature 
 was slow in repairing the harm received ; under the treat 
 ment of a traveling quack, an Italian, who boasted loudly of 
 his medical skill, he was undoubtedly bled to death. They 
 said that their father was completely deceived by the false 
 promises of the so-called physician, who assumed great 
 authority, and would not allow them to send to Sivas for Dr. 
 West ; and it was only at the last that they managed secretly 
 to send the messenger who summoned their missionary friends. 
 
 When their father left them and their two brothers in the 
 " vaterland," he brought home a "new mamma" the mother 
 of the precious pet of the household. She was a lovely Chris- 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 319 
 
 tian woman, and her little French Bible, which is brought for 
 me to see, bears marks of careful study. Her influence over 
 her husband was very marked, and, after her early death, he 
 was led to seek comfort from the living source whence she 
 drew her daily supplies. 
 
 I am greatly interested to see how well these young ladies 
 understand all the various arts of housekeeping. They are 
 adepts in baking and brewing ; are initiated in all the mysteries 
 of clear-starching and ironing ; can wash, and cook, and carve, 
 if need be, and look very attractive in their dainty white caps 
 and aprons, when engaged in household work. All these accom 
 plishments were acquired at the Moravian school, where they 
 spent three years : (Their fourth year of study being spent in the 
 family and under the tuition of a French pastor.) This school 
 has a special department for practical training in domestic duties 
 and employments ; a sewing-room, for instruction in cutting and 
 making one s garments ; a kitchen, where each pupil is required 
 to take lessons in the culinary line ; a dining-room, where she 
 learns to carve and serve, and a laundry, where everything in that 
 line is learned by practice, under careful instructors. This " do 
 mestic course " is considered quite as important, if not more so, 
 than the intellectual, by practical and prudent German parents, 
 and it is generally relished by the sensible girls, who look forward 
 to the natural fulfillment of a home-sphere, for which it is an 
 excellent preparation. It would be an admirable appendix to 
 our American boarding-schools for young ladies, and might well 
 displace some of the studies which tax the mental at the 
 expense of the physical development.* 
 
 * We believe that the Millenium will dawn when wives and mothers 
 learn that the CHEMISTRY OF COOKING is more important than any other 
 science or philosophy in its effect upon the health, happiness, and 
 
320 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 THE TOWN. 
 
 Amasia is truly a very picturesque old town. It would be 
 famous if near the seaboard and easily reached by travelers 
 who would portray its peculiar features to the worlJ. From the 
 windows of this house, we look down upon the narrow valley, 
 through which leaps and roars a mad-rushing river ; its banks, 
 on either side, and up the hill slopes, thickly crowded with build 
 ings of every description, for a mixed population of perhaps twen 
 ty or thirty thousand. Huge rocks rise in lofty grandeur around 
 it so closely that they seem immense battlements, reared for a 
 safeguard. An old fortress, perched, like an eagle s nest, upon 
 the summit of the highest peak, sternly frowns upon the world 
 below. Thither the kings of Pontus whose open, vacant 
 tombs now stare down upon us from their high places used to 
 "flee as a bird to the mountain" in times of danger. What 
 tomes of history lie buried in these silent rocks ! What 
 pillars of testimony are they to an unrecorded past ! There is 
 a subterranean passage, said to be five or six hundred feet in 
 length, and a well of water, in the heart of this natural rampart 
 of great use in ancient times, when besieging armies 
 encompassed the place. The passage is occasionally explored, 
 and my brave missionary sister at Marsovan once descended it 
 in company with a few friends, and had to be almost dragged 
 
 up again a feat she will never again care to perform. It is 
 
 jf 
 now early in April. The climate of Amasia is much warmer, 
 
 and the season a month in advance of Marsovan. The soil of 
 the surrounding country is very fertile, and fruits of various 
 
 usefulness of their families. The LABORATORY of the KITCHEN is respon 
 sible for a vast amount of the vice and intemperance of our land ! 
 
REGIONS BEYOND, 321 
 
 kinds are grown in great profusion. The apples are the best 
 in the Empire ; a very choice variety, of delicious flavor, speci 
 mens of which were sent to England by the British Consul at 
 Samsoon, the last season, and received one of the first 
 premiums. Fish and game are abundant, and this region is 
 very attractive to sportsmen. A singular phenomenon occurred 
 here two months ago, in the shape of a waterspout, which came 
 with a mighty, rushing sound, and emptied itself upon the lower 
 part of the town. Houses were torn from their foundations ; 
 men, horses, and oxen, with their heavy wagons, were swept into 
 the river. Women and children wept and screamed, while 
 many fell upon their knees in terror, and prayed, thinking that 
 the day of judgment had come. When the cloud passed away, 
 strange fish, of a size never before seen, were found scattered in 
 the streets, and were speared on the river banks. And wives 
 and mothers went up and down the shore, wringing their hands, 
 and seeking their lost ones. Whence the flood came is still a 
 mystery. One can scarcely imagine that such a body of water 
 could have arisen from the Black Sea, a hundred miles away. 
 It has been suggested that there may be a lake on the summit 
 of some mountain not far distant which gave rise to the deluge ; 
 but this is mere conjecture. Traces of the indisputable fact 
 remain in dilapidated coffee-shops, and other houses near the 
 river, where the earth is all torn up, and great boulders choke 
 the streets. 
 
 Besides faz"fabrica " silk manufactory there are excel 
 lent flour mills, established here by the German colony, and 
 they prepare a good quality of macaroni, and " semolena " a 
 preparation of wheat resembling farina, much used by mission 
 ary families. They have also a saw-mi 1 ! in a wild, romantic place 
 beyond the town, where the water comes down as at " Lodore " 
 14* 
 
322 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 foaming, and roaming, and glancing, and dancing, and flash 
 ing, and splashing amid thickets of heavy timber, in whose 
 branches the birds sing the livelong day ; and there are charm 
 ing grottoes and cool retreats for mid-summer in that secluded 
 place. 
 
 PROTESTAN TISM IN A MA SI A . 
 
 A "helper " and his wife, both from our Mission Schools, were 
 stationed in Amasia, more than a year ago, to labor among the 
 Armenians of the city (which is an out-station of Marsovan). 
 But the work has evidently made " progress backward " 
 during their ministry. The husband is puffed up with vanity 
 and self-conceit, and full of high notions though originally a 
 " servant of servants." The wife was also from a very poor 
 family ; she is a good, amiable woman, but the slowest of the 
 slow, and greatly disappoints us in allowing her husband s in 
 fluence to keep her from sympathy with her own people. 
 
 When I go down to the chapel-room on Sunday, 1 find the 
 preacher reading one of his stiff, cold essays to empty seats. 
 Where there were once forty or fifty regular attendants, there 
 are now not half a dozen. This is very sad. Alas ! that 
 so-called helpers should be hinderers of the work of Christ. 
 But arguments, persuasions, and counsel, however kind and 
 faithful, and oft-repeated, are lost upon " the man who is wise 
 in his own conceit." 
 
 The testimony of impartial judges, living in the city, is 
 all against his usefulness ; and, ere long, he is dismissed 
 from the service, by the missionary, who has never been 
 satisfied with his course, but has patiently borne with his im 
 pertinence and assumption, hoping that the man would out 
 grow such childishness. This sin he lays at my door, and 
 comes in wrath to pay me a visit. After he has relieved his 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 323 
 
 mind of the heavy burden, and become more calm, he begs 
 me to use my influence to get him reinstated. This I 
 frankly say, I cannot do ; but tell him how he can show to 
 every one his desire to serve the Master. " There is a vil 
 lage a few days distant from Marsovan, where the people 
 are begging for a teacher. They offer a house, and a cer 
 tain proportion of his support. Now, if you will go there, 
 and work at your trade (he was originally a tailor), sufficiently 
 to make up the rest, you may do great good, and no one 
 can say that you do not love Christ s service." 
 
 The preacher is very angry ; he can scarcely restrain 
 himself until I finish speaking, and then, forcibly striking 
 the table, he says, " / go to a village! I tell you, there 
 is no command in the New Testament for one like me 
 to work in the villages ! " And when I refer him to 
 Jesus, the Son of God, who " went about all the cities 
 and villages, teaching, and preaching the gospel of the 
 kingdom," he quickly leaves the room. Villagers are 
 looked down upon by city people as a low and inferior 
 class, very much as in ancient times, when the word signi 
 fied " villain ! " 
 
 The Armenian church is not far distant, and, hearing 
 the chanting of the evening service, I find my way to 
 the women s gallery, and quietly sit down among them. 
 The place is crowded, but very little attention seems to 
 be given to the services. In fact, few can see or hear 
 enough to awaken any interest. At the tinkling of the lit 
 tle bells, the women cross themselves, and bow, and mutter 
 a few words, but they are much more engaged in gossiping, 
 and a busy hum of voices prevents my catching scarce a word 
 of the reading and chanting that is going on below ; so I enter 
 
324 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 into conversation with a sad, weary-looking woman sitting at 
 my side, telling her something of " what we all believe " about 
 Christ; and presently open my little Armenian Testament, 
 and read a few verses. Others begin to listen, and by-and- 
 by I have quite an audience. It is delightful to unfold to 
 them the teachings of our Savior in the Sermon on the 
 Mount, in their own spoken language. When I leave, they 
 beg me to come again, and give them more of the " sweet 
 words;" which I gladly promise to do. But on the morrow, 
 when I ascend the stairs, push away the inner door of green 
 baize, and enter, no welcome awaits me. Instead, there is a 
 buzz of confusion, and remonstrance, in the hive ! One 
 coarse, loud-voiced woman rudely bids me begone ; and 
 even raises her hand to enforce her words with an emphatic 
 shove; but I draw myself up, and calmly look at her; her 
 hand drops, and she shrinks back, somewhat abashed. I 
 see some of those who were so cordial yesterday, but their 
 faces are averted. As I linger a moment, the one with whom 
 I had the most conversation, comes in, leading her little boy 
 by the hand. I ask her the cause of this treatment, and 
 she kindly answers, " The priests are very angry because 
 you came ; they have forbidden us to see or listen to 
 the woman with the Book / and it is better for us that 
 you go ! " I turn away, sad at heart, for these priests, 
 like the Scribes and Pharisees of old, u shut up the king 
 dom of heaven against men ; they neither go in them 
 selves, or suffer them that are entering to go in." The few 
 Protestant families in the city seem spiritually cold and 
 dead, and the work is in a very discouraging state. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 325 
 
 TIDINGS FROM HOME. 
 
 A packet of letters comes from Marsovan, containing 
 several from the far-away home-land. A glance at the well- 
 known superscription assures me that one is from my mother ; 
 I open it, and the first words are these : " Will you weep, 
 or will you rejoice, when I tell you that your (so long and 
 sorely afflicted) brother G. is no more an inhabitant of 
 earth ? As for me, I look up, and see my five sons there, 
 with their father, and can say, exultingly, SURELY, I 
 
 HAVE HELPED TO PEOPLE HEAVEN!" Blessed mother! 
 
 always so delicate, so unfitted to battle with earth s storms, 
 and with such unspeakable love and tenderness for her chil 
 dren. It is a miracle a wonderful triumph of faith, that 
 the loss of her " Benjamin," in whom so many hopes were 
 garnered, does not call forth the cry, " All thy waves and 
 thy billows are gone over me ! / am come into deep waters /" 
 But God is faithful : He hath delivered " in six troubles, 
 yea, in seven there shall no evil touch " His beloved. 
 These thoughts shape themselves into a few simple lines : 
 
 The billows bore her up ! 
 She rose upon each crested wave 
 
 That swept her treasures from her sight, 
 Nearer to Him who gave, 
 
 Higher, to heavenly light. 
 
 The billows bore her up ; 
 Amid the fierceness of the storm 
 
 That burst upon her ag6d head, 
 She saw the Master s form, 
 
 And, " Peace; fear not !" He said. 
 
 The billows bore her up ; 
 Faith rose triumphant o er the grave, 
 
326 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 On heaven born wings, beyond the night, 
 Victorious palms to wave, 
 With the Redeemed in light. 
 
 The billows bore her up; 
 With eyes uplift, and heart in heav n, 
 
 She sang, " All safe ! but gone before ; 
 My barque is only driv n 
 
 Where tempests beat no more ! " 
 
 THE ARRIVAL FROM GERMANY. 
 
 Herr Metz has arrived from Germany; he is the son of 
 the head of the house in Freiburg, and the younger, 
 traveling member, of the firm which has its branches in 
 various parts of the world. Through some Turkish 
 stupidity, the telegram was fourteen days in reaching its 
 destination, and it is nearly a month since it was sent. He 
 seems very grateful for my stay during the interval. It is 
 interesting to note the change produced among the people 
 by the presence of an earnest, energetic, wide-awake man ! 
 It is like a fresh breeze from the north, infusing new life, 
 and setting all the wheels of the machinery in regular 
 motion. Every man, woman, and child in this German 
 colony feels the healthful effect ! Another proof that, after 
 all, everybody likes to be well governed. They are certainly 
 happier for it, whether they acknowledge it or not. On 
 Sunday, their chapel is opened once more, and a respectable 
 congregation attend the service, of which he takes charge. 
 The school-master used to perform this office, but he died a 
 year ago, and of late there has been no one to take that 
 place. They are without a pastor, and Herr Metz is anxious 
 that "Missionary Leonard" should come, and "give the 
 people the Communion," while he is with them ; for they are 
 all members of the Lutheran Church. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 327 
 
 But this he cannot consent to do. Their drinking and 
 Sabbath-breaking habits makes the name they bear a by 
 word and a reproach among the people of the city, and 
 greatly hinders the work of Christ. The Mission is in 
 debted to the firm for a valuable property in Tocat, which 
 they generously sold at a merely nominal price* for the 
 Seminary formerly established there, and it seems ungracious 
 to refuse the request of their excellent representative ; but 
 the Book says : " If any man that is called a brother be a 
 fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a 
 drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one no, not to 
 eat." 
 
 A good Protestant brother is passing through the town, on 
 his way to Marsovan, and arrangements have been made for 
 my return, under his escort. 
 
 The horse is brought to the door, and I am ready to 
 mount, when the bright, sparkling little fairy, Emilie, looks 
 up appealingly, and says, in the sweet English she has lately 
 learned, " Darling Miss ! dont go away!" but the quiet 
 Hildegarde clings to my dress, while tears silently fall from 
 her eyes. It is hard to leave the precious, motherless lambs. 
 
 Just after we pass out of the city, the unruly beast who 
 has been pressed into unwilling service, suddenly plunges, 
 and throws me from his back ! Fortunately, we are beyond 
 the rugged rocks and scattered boulders, so that not much 
 harm is received. But the thirty miles on his back, proves 
 a very trying ride, and tis great joy to see once more 
 the old mud house at Marsovan ! 
 
 * The commodious konak was unfortunately burnt, two or three 
 years after its occupation, but the land is an excellent site fcr a 
 chapel. 
 
328 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ANNUAL MEETING. 
 
 It is the time " when the tribes go up " to Constantinople, 
 for the yearly Meeting of the Mission, and we are among 
 the delegates. Three days of travel, mostly by the mountain 
 route, brings us again to Samsoon. When we reach the 
 summit whence the blue sea is spread out before us, we 
 shout for joy, and wave our handkerchiefs as to a dear old 
 friend ! An Italian steamer takes us swiftly to our destina 
 tion : It is crowded with a migratory multitude of all ages 
 and races, " some in rags, and some in tags, and some in. velvet 
 gowns," going to Constantinople to seek employment; many 
 of whom are secured by agents, who pay their fare, and own 
 their services for a certain period. At the landing we meet 
 other delegates, who have come by different routes. Some of 
 them have spent weeks in the weary, overland journey, jog 
 ging along, day after day, with wives and little ones, on 
 horses, mules, or donkeys, carrying most of their necessary 
 food and bedding with them. Their faces are bronzed, per 
 haps blistered, by long exposure to the sun, and their attire 
 is rather antiquated, according to modern ideas. But the 
 worn travelers hasten to the various homes assigned for their 
 reception. T.he greetings that ensue, are such as one may 
 imagine will attend the final gathering in the Father s House 
 above ! 
 
 This is the first visit of more than one missionary-wife 
 and mother, after prolonged isolation from the society of 
 English-speaking people. How her heart throbs, and what 
 unbidden tears choke her utterance, as she looks once more 
 upon dear familiar faces, and listens to loving voices! A 
 thousand details which no correspondence can supply, fur- 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 329 
 
 nish the theme of social converse, when the heart finds full 
 utterance after long repression. 
 
 Not infrequently such isolated laborers in the foreign 
 field have passed through experiences of sorrow and suffer 
 ing which intensify the emotions with which they return to 
 the missionary homes at the Capital, where they were first 
 welcomed on their arrival from their native land, at the 
 commencement of their new life. Little ones have been 
 given and taken away ; the husband, or the wife, has been 
 early smitten down. Or, a failure of health renders it im 
 peratively necessary for them to relinquish their chosen 
 work, and return to America. Some have brought their 
 precious children, the " olive plants " which have sprung 
 up around them in the wilderness, to cheer and bless their 
 solitude, only to send them home to be educated, and then 
 go back alone to their heaven-appointed work. 
 
 Turning the corner of a street, some day, I suddenly 
 come upon a rather queer- looking company, advancing 
 from the opposite direction. The ladies all wear (home 
 made) " sun-bonnets," and -the children are somewhat 
 ancient in appearance ; one of the overgrown boys is 
 actually wearing the swallow - tailed wedding coat of a 
 missionary, who went out seventeen years before ! It 
 is a party of missionaries, fresh from Persia, on their way 
 to America ! Ah ! how my heart does them rever 
 ence ! Fidelia Fiske, in her sun-bonnet and old-fashioned 
 dress, is more a queen among women than was she of Sheba, 
 in royal apparel, with her train of attendants, and caravan 
 of earth s choicest treasures ! * 
 
 * Yet the noble woman who had so long and so faithfully ministered 
 to the daughters of Persia, where the edicts of fashion are never 
 
330 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 These seasons of reunion in Constantinople homes are like 
 Bunyan s visit to the " Delectable Mountains," whence he 
 saw the gates of the " Celestial City." Kindred spirits are 
 drawn together with more than magnetic power, and sweet 
 foretastes are enjoyed of the " rest that remaineth," and the 
 fellowship of saints above. To the fresh recruits, just ar 
 rived from the land of our fathers, it is a grand preparation 
 for future work. 
 
 SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. 
 
 A day or two of rest and refreshment passes. The dele 
 gates are nearly all present, and now commences the daily 
 sessions of the missionary convocation a "Meeting of the 
 Board," on a small scale! 
 
 The first half-hour is spent in a devotional exercise, and 
 after all the preliminaries are arranged, business proceeds in 
 the usual order. There is a formidable list of subjects on 
 the " docket," mostly relating to the " wants of the In 
 terior ; " and the discussions are animated, and often in 
 tensely interesting. The Training-Schools, the Press, the 
 Postal and Diplomatic Departments, and the Treasury, each 
 in turn receives a share of attention. Now and then, a 
 knotty question, or a difficult problem causes hours, and 
 
 known, felt sensitive about appearing before her own countrywomen 
 in her singular garb; and, on the sea voyage to her native land, con 
 fessed that she was somewhat troubled about it. But our Father, who 
 " knoweth that ye have need of these things," put it into the hearts of 
 some kind Christian women of the Bowdoin church, in Boston, to meet 
 her with a carriage, on her arrival at India Wharf. And when she reach 
 ed the room prepared for her entertainment, she found her wardrobe 
 supplied with every article of dress necessary for her own self-respect 
 and comfort ; and as perfectly fitting as if the Lord had ordered her 
 measure to be taken and sent on in advance, by express ! 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 331 
 
 even days, of earnest and anxious discussion. Our beloved 
 and honored " Father " Goodell sits among us, his head grown 
 hoary and his frame feeble in the service ; but he occasionally 
 electrifies us all by a sudden flash and sparkle of the old-time 
 play of wit and fancy. Some subject in connection with 
 the funds of the Mission has elicited considerable thought, 
 and during a pause, he naively says, " The care of money 
 is very perplexing and responsible work, especially that of 
 the LORD S MONEY. When I was Treasurer of the Mission, 
 years ago, I was greatly troubled at the end of the year, and 
 could scarcely sleep at night, because there was a surplus 
 in the Treasury, and I could not tell how it came there ! 
 Well, we were just going to divide it up for various objects, 
 when lo ! there came a letter from Persia, saying that it be 
 longed to them ! It was owing to changes in the currency. 
 But a Treasurer should be a very godly man. In fact, a 
 Treasurer is always in danger of falling from grace. The 
 treasurer of our Savior s little company went out and hanged 
 himself ! " This excites a general smile, which deepens 
 into laughter, when our faithful and facetious Treasurer, Mr. 
 Pettibone (then in the chair), looks up, with a merry twinkle, 
 and quietly says, " Any more suggestions, brethren ? " 
 
 Some of the questions to be settled are as trying and as difficult 
 as those which frequently come before the " Prudential Commit 
 tee " cf the " Board " at home. There may be a missionary in 
 the field who ought not to stay ; his presence is actually harmful 
 to the work of this his brethren are painfully conscious ; for 
 mistakes are far more fatal in this land than in a Christian coun 
 try. A precedent once established cannot soon be broken down, 
 and " custom " has powerful sway among the people. A mission 
 ary who lacks the essential qualifications for foreign service, may 
 
332 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 put back the work of evangelization for a score of years, and 
 cause the loss of many souls. But who shall tell him that he 
 had better go home ? And, suppose he has gone home, for a 
 season, and wishes to return ; according to custom at the Mis 
 sionary House, letters come from the Secretaries, asking the 
 brethren if, judging from the past, they truly wish his presence 
 and cooperation in the field ; virtually throwing the responsi 
 bility upon them. It is a delicate matter, and requires the 
 exercise of no small degree of moral courage, and a willingness 
 to bear opprobrium, rather than allow the cause to suflei 
 irreparable loss. Kind Christian hearts instinctively shrink 
 from hurting the feelings of a brother ; but, shall the Savior be 
 " wounded in the house of His friends ?"* 
 
 These and kindred subjects are freely talked over by 
 the "brethren and sisters" in our little evening gather 
 ings at the various homes. "Missionary policy" is a fer 
 tile theme, and "uniformity in the pay of native agents" 
 comes under this head. Mr. Parsons, of Nicomedia, hu.j 
 long advocated an approach to uniformity on this basis, 
 viz.: that every preacher should receive one-third more sal 
 ary per month than the wages of the best artisans in the 
 place where he labors. This he considers a just proportion, 
 not beyond the ability of the people to assume, when they 
 shall come up to self-support. It works disastrously when the 
 preachers and teachers at one station receive much larger sala 
 ries than those tinder the supervision of a missionary in 
 
 * Experience and observation confirm the conviction, that MORAL 
 COURAGE is one of the rarest of virtues among Christians at the pres 
 ent day. Many a servant of Christ (like Elijah) boldy hews to pieces 
 the priests of Baal, before the Lord, and then FLEES FROM THE 
 
 WRATH OF AX OFFENDED WOMAN ! 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 333 
 
 an adjoining station. The love of money is indeed the "root 
 of all evil." Wherever there is trouble among these infant 
 churches, money seems to be at the bottom of it ! It is not 
 strange that Secretary Mullens, of London, who has himself 
 been a missionary of wide experience, should say to the band 
 who were going to Northern China, " Try to gel along without 
 money" 
 
 Some of the young missionaries are here from Bulgaria. 
 They are laying foundations, and meet with many discourage 
 ments. One earnest soul, panting for conquests, like a soldier 
 in full armor rushing into the battlefield, is disheartened. The 
 people do not come in crowds, and sit, with open mouths, to be 
 fed ; on the contrary, they repel, and resist, in many cases, the 
 entrance of the truth. His Sunday congregation " averages two 
 and one-half," he says ; and the work is slow and painful to one 
 who came, glowing with ardor, from a precious outpouring of the 
 Spirit in the church at home, where his labors had been 
 abundantly blessed. The husbandman hath need of "long 
 patience, until he receives the early and latter rain." And, oh ! 
 how much does he need the sympathy and prayers of " them 
 that tarry by the stuff" at home, in this most trying and most 
 important period of his work. 
 
 The day is not far distant when these faithful servants of 
 Christ, who now go forth "weeping, bearing precious seed, 
 shall come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with 
 them." 
 
 Earnest conversations are held by the younger members of 
 the Mission concerning the basis upon which the work of 
 evangelization shall be built. Shall it be Education using 
 schools as machines with which to work upon the people ? Or, 
 shall the Master s plan the Apostolic method of preaching 
 
334 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the Gospel, take the precedence ? My own experience, thus 
 far, leads me to advocate the latter as the more normal, and 
 hence the more healthful mode of development. It will be a 
 slower process ; apparent results, so earnestly craved, will not 
 so early cheer the eyes and heart ; but, where the soil is first 
 prepared, the good seed will more deeply take root) and, in due 
 time, bring forth a glorious harvest. After people have 
 accepted the truth, and their eyes are open to see the need of 
 Christian education for their children, they are much more 
 grateful for aid in that direction, and much more ready to do 
 for themselves; instead of reversing the order, and considering 
 the missionary under- obligations to them, because they have 
 done him the favor of sending their children, and consequently 
 expecting, if not demanding, the supply of all their bodily 
 necessities, and perhaps, also, their future employ and support, 
 whether they are useful or not! This fact is patent ; it under 
 lies all Christian work for the masses, in all lands, because we 
 deal \vith human nature, which is everywhere the same. 
 
 Another question of importance in the Meeting, is the loca 
 tion of new missionaries, the final decision having been 
 left by the Secretaries of the Board to the Mission assembled 
 for consultation ; and many things must be taken into con 
 sideration in each case : the language to be acquired ; the 
 climate ; the needs of the various places ; and of the mission 
 aries who eloquently assert their claim to the new-comers. 
 Letters are read from headquarters at Boston, in which 
 appears that dreaded word " RETRENCH !" 
 
 It cuts to the heart like the piercings of a sword. Are the 
 churches at home so poor that the knife must be applied 
 to vines that have just begun to bear living fruit in this less 
 favored land ? 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 335 
 
 Must the door be shut against the souls that are only now 
 beginning to press into the kingdom ? 
 
 At this point every heart melts, and business is suspended 
 for a brief season of prayer. 
 
 THE SERMON, THE REPORTS, AND THE LAST GREAT 
 DA Y OF THE FEAST. 
 
 The annual sermon is preached by one of the " fathers." 
 He has chosen for his text the words of Joshua " There 
 remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." After 
 reviewing the past history of the Mission, he turns to the 
 present, with its increasing facilities and encouragements 
 and ever and anon rings out the pathetic appeal, " The har 
 vest truly is great, but the laborers are few ; pray ye, there 
 fore, the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth more 
 laborers." 
 
 The interest culminates when the different " Station 
 Reports " are read. English friends, and others of va 
 rious nationality, Scotch missionaries to the Jews, and 
 perhaps a passing traveler or two, are with us on this 
 occasion. Our friends at home, who receive but a 
 meagre portion of these thrilling narratives in the col 
 umns of the Missionary Herald, cannot conceive the in 
 terest of a " Missionary Concert," where reports come fresh 
 and glowing from the heart, before they have had time to 
 cool in crossing the Atlantic ! To the laborers, assembled 
 after long and patient toil in separate portions of the field, 
 nothing can be more inspiring than this outlook. Every 
 heart feels the grandeur of the enterprise ; every hand is 
 placed more firmly upon the " Gospel-plough," and every 
 eye looks up for the blessing, without which, " Paul may 
 
336 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 plant and Apollos water in vain ;" and then we sing, " I love 
 thy kingdom, Lord," as we never sang it before ! 
 
 A week or ten days have quickly passed, and the last 
 " great day of the feast " has arrived. We gather around 
 the table of our Lord and Master ; not many words are 
 spoken ; hearts are too full ; but the solemn silence is elo 
 quent; and chastened countenances speak of that " inward 
 and invisible " communion, of which the outward is but a 
 sign and symbol. The last hymn is sung with quivering 
 lips ; the benediction is pronounced ; but no one is ready 
 to go down from that mount of blessing : a spell seems to 
 bind every one to the spot. " Sifting together in heavenly 
 places" at last whispers one; and hands are grasped, and 
 tears and smiles commingled, form a rainbow-like radiance 
 upon many a face. 
 
 Heart has been knit to heart in a bond that can never be 
 
 broken. 
 
 " Our hopes, our joys, our aims are one, 
 Our comforts, and our cares :" 
 
 It is hard to separate, not knowing what may befall 
 the different members of our beloved band, before an 
 other year comes round. We cannot forget that, but one 
 year ago, a strong and noble brother whom we had just 
 learned to love, fell by the hand of the assassin, on his 
 return ; and the young wife soon followed her husband to the 
 grave. We glance with tender emotion at those heads already 
 wearing the " crown of glory;" the " fathers " seem ripe for 
 Heaven. But, 
 
 "When we stand with Christ, in glory, 
 Looking o er life s finished story," 
 
 how shall we thank Him for linking our hearts and names in 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 337 
 
 earth s grandest service, with some of the choicest, purest, 
 and most self-abnegating spirits the world has ever known ! 
 The pioneers of this Mission, the leaders in this " REFOR 
 MATION," were no ordinary men. They were as truly " born 
 for this time, and work," as was Paul, or Luther. They rank 
 among the true heroes of earth s history. Ah ! how infinitely 
 inferior seem the names and exploits of Napoleon, of Wel 
 lington, and Nelson beside these captains of the Lord s host 
 Dwight, Goodell, Schauffler, Hamlin, Riggs. Most nobly 
 have they stood at the helm to guide the richly freighted 
 Gospel-ship through troubled waters to a port of peace. In 
 the darkest hour their faith has never failed. As the work 
 of God widened and deepened throughout the land, with the 
 passage of each year, they were gradually, though reluctant 
 ly, withdrawn from much of that direct individual labor 
 which, from the beginning, was so remarkably blessed in 
 results. Constantinople became more and more the great 
 ARMORY to prepare weapons for the outlying fields of battle. 
 Little time was left for hand-to-hand encounter with the ene 
 my in their own midst. And every man at his separate post 
 fairly staggered beneath the burden imposed upon him. 
 
 THE. WORK AT THE CAPITAL. 
 
 With every year the machinery of the Mission becomes 
 more weighty and complicated. The Press, with its transla 
 tors, and proof-readers, and colporteurs, ever crying, " Give, 
 give!" The Treasury, with accounts in many different and 
 fluctuating currencies, looking forward to the fountain-head, 
 at Boston, and backward to each missionary station in its 
 estimate for the current expenses of each year. The Postal 
 Department, increasing its taxations with each addition to the 
 IS 
 
338 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 missionary force. The Educational " Bureau," establishing 
 and superintending schools. The Diplomatic Bureau, di 
 gesting and preparing reports of persecution from remote 
 districts, carrying each case before the English and Ameri 
 can Ambassadors for representation and redress at the 
 Sublime Porte. The " Commissariat," receiving and for 
 warding supplies of all kinds for the army cf the Interior. 
 The " Sanitary " Department, caring for the battered soldiers 
 who come back to Constantinople as the " Army Hospital ;" 
 or, sending them on their way to the fatherland once more 
 to breathe their native air, and revive amid old scenes and 
 old friends. And the "Committee of Reception and Enter 
 tainment," of comers and goers, to " bring them forward on 
 their journey after a godly sort." Persia pours her tide of 
 missionary life through Constantinople. All the wants of 
 that Mission are supplied through this channel. Now, a 
 wave from the shore of the Western World sends a noble 
 company of devoted men and women to this port, to tarry 
 for a little, and then proceed by the Black Sea to ancient 
 Trepezius Trebizond where they commence the tedious 
 journey of weeks, over rugged mountains and desolate 
 plains, infested, oftentimes, with bands of robbers. Anon, 
 a reflex wave brings back over the same weary, toilsome 
 route, a stricken remnant, or a few broken-down laborers 
 whose strength scarcely suffices for the journey home, re 
 ceived as " angels, and entertained " awares I * * * * 
 All this is but a part of the blessed burden that must ever 
 fall to the share of the missionaries at the Capital. " Besides 
 those things that are without, that which cometh daily, the 
 care of all the churches." Stamboul is the heart of the 
 Turkish Empire ; and with each throb, it sends streams of 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 339 
 
 life, or of slow poison, ending in death, through every artery 
 and vein of the great system ! This fact renders its thorough 
 occupation and evangelization of vastly more importance 
 than any other point in the field. It is essential to the spirit 
 ual welfare of each missionary station in the interior, that 
 the representative churches at the Capital be well grounded 
 in the faith, letting their " light shine." Loss here, inevitably 
 entails suffering there, sooner or later. But this has not al 
 ways been fully appreciated by those at a distance from the 
 centre, whose hearts have been filled with the needs of their 
 own immediate fields ; for missionaries are not angels, but 
 men and women, with all the weaknesses and wants of com 
 mon humanity. Consequently, the Capital has often, if not 
 always, been inadequately manned, and its overtasked labor 
 ers might well take up the lament, " They made me keeper 
 of the vineyards, but mine own vineyard have I not kept." 
 Oh, that the Christian world could but rise to an elevation 
 whence, with one sweeping glance, it might survey this vast 
 battle-field, and take in the grandeur of the warfare that is 
 going on ! Surely, neither men nor money would be wanting 
 for this army of which Christ is the " Commander-in-chief!" 
 
 THE OUTLOOK. 
 
 The Turkish Empire is the home of many races. A vast res 
 ervoir into which the severed fragments, the debris of ancient 
 nations, have been swept by the flood of time and the ravages 
 of war : Each race retaining its own distinctive language, re 
 ligion, and, more or less, its national customs and costume; 
 but all alike subject to one government, abjectly yielding al 
 legiance to the Moslem usurpers of the soil. Of the thirty 
 millions who comprise its population, the ruling race Os- 
 
340 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 manlis form but little more than one-third : The remainder 
 is made up of Greeks, Armenians, Syrians, Arabs, Jews, Cir 
 cassians, Turkoomans, and Koords, with an intermixture of 
 the descendants of the ancient Medes, Chaldeans, and Par- 
 thians : Besides the Slavic races of European Turkey, among 
 whom are four millions Bulgarians, the millions more of Rou- 
 mans or Wallachs, in the Danubian principalities, the Arnauts, 
 or Albanians, the Druses of Syria, and the Copts, Nubians, 
 etc., etc., of Africa. It is a huge conglomeration, forming one 
 unwieldy nation, with no common bond of union, no spirit of 
 patriotism to produce a powerful public sentiment. But God 
 evidently preserved and brought them thus together for some 
 far-reaching and all-wise purpose. His hand set in motion 
 the forces which should pour a tide of new life into this de 
 caying empire, and mould its disintegrated and antagonistic 
 masses into one living body, whose Head shall be Christ the 
 Lord. 
 
 This is the Christian Crusade of the nineteenth cen 
 tury ; far exceeding in moral sublimity that of the olden 
 time, when the kings of the earth banded themselves to 
 gether to rescue the Holy Land from the hand of the Turk ! 
 
 How wonderful that the Great Commission, the Master s 
 last Command, uttered in this very land, more than eighteen 
 hundred years ago, should have been caught up, and re 
 echoed in the New World, by a nation not yet a century old ! 
 That scores of its sons and daughters should carry the 
 " glad tidings " from the Caspian and Black Seas on the 
 north, beyond the Mediterranean on the south : In the 
 country of Eden, and Ararat, the cradle of the human race ; 
 on the plains of Mesopotamia, the home of Abraham ; 
 among the mountains of Koordistan, and all along the 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 341 
 
 course of the sacred rivers Euphrates and Tigris, where 
 Jeremiah wept, and Daniel prayed ; and the Nile, where 
 the " Lawgiver " was raised up to deliver his people : In 
 Palestine, where the " Word was made flesh and dwelt 
 among men," the land of Gethsemane and Calvary, and 
 through all the provinces of Asia Minor, where once the 
 feet of the apostles trod ; that now, as then, " Parthians, 
 and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, 
 and in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phry- 
 gia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Lybia 
 about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 
 Cretes and Arabians," may hear the " wonderful works of 
 God, every man in his own tongue !" " And that repent 
 ance and remission of sins should be preached in His 
 NAME, among all nations." 
 
 SUMMER - SCENES. 
 
 Here we are again, at our work in Marsovan. We enter 
 into all its details with new zest, after our recent conference 
 at Constantinople, and with a feeling somewhat akin to pity 
 for our sisters there, whose time and strength must neces 
 sarily be so devoted to " serving tables," that they are de 
 prived of much that fills and satisfies our hearts. And in 
 the intervals of leisure, it is very pleasant to review the 
 scenes of those two weeks. Before leaving, we took a little 
 trip to Nicomedia, and enjoyed a rather novel experience 
 on the way, in the Turkish steamer. It was densely 
 crowded, people sitting flat upon the deck, and we found it 
 almost impossible to secure a spot where we might spread 
 our rug. By dint of perseverance, and perhaps a little 
 pressure, we finally managed to settle ourselves in the im- 
 
iTrt i7i. ( :_* ^nmrLs. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 343 
 
 rheumatism, a few years before her death, and when her 
 favorite physician, Dr. Millengen, (who, by the way, was one 
 of Lord Byron s medical attendants in his last illness), in 
 formed her of these mineral waters, and their virtue in 
 olden times, she at once ordered the baths restored. When 
 they were ready, she proceeded thither, and proved their 
 efficacy ; and since that time the place has become the re 
 sort of many who are similarly afflicted. A number of Ar 
 menian women, sitting near us, were going on a pilgrimage 
 to one of the many " holy places " in the country, sanctified 
 by some saint, that they might pay the vows which their 
 souls had made in times of trouble. Three or four of them 
 were nuns ; the first that I had seen belonging to the Arme 
 nian Church. They were full of curiosity about me, and 
 my " belongings ; " and after a deal of questioning, evidently 
 classed me among the saintly sisterhood ! They said that 
 they had " renounced the world," and had taken upon them 
 selves the vow of celibacy. Their ignorance of spiritual 
 things was pitiable ; with all their pretensions to sanctity, 
 they could not obtain even a dim comprehension of a 
 Christian life which, while in the world is not of it. And 
 after I had read a few passages from the New Testament, 
 they showed their distaste by avoiding further conversation. 
 O, who would dare to 
 
 " Break the sweet ties that God hath given, 
 
 And seek to win His heaven 
 
 By leaving home-work all undone, 
 
 The home-race all unrun, 
 
 The fair-home garden all untill d, 
 
 The home-affections all unfilled ; 
 
 As if these common rounds of work and love 
 
 Were drags to one whose spirit soared above 
 
344 T1IE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Life s tame and easy circle, and who fain 
 Would earn her crown by self-taught toil and pain, 
 And leave the home where blessings fall like light 
 For self made, by-paths, shaded o er with night !" * 
 
 By-and-by, I heard some one humming an operatic air, 
 and looking around, recognized a well-dressed Armenian 
 merchant, whom I had before met in Nicomedia. He told 
 me, with great enthusiasm, of the new Armenian theatre in 
 Pera, an imitation of the French ; that all the actors were 
 Armenians, and that it was " a grand means of educating 
 their children ! " " In this way," he said, " we can repro 
 duce the former glory of our Armenian kings and queens, 
 and awaken a spirit of loyalty and devotion to our nation ! " 
 We talked long and earnestly ; he said that he belonged to the 
 " liberal party " in the Armenian Church ; and assured me 
 that French influence (and, alas! French infidelity) was 
 steadily gaining ground among them. Thirty lads from the 
 best Armenian families of Constantinople, had recently gone 
 in a chartered steamer to Paris, to be educated. 
 
 RECEIVING VISITS AND VISITING. 
 
 We are busy writing letters for the post, on the afternoon 
 of a Saturday, when a company of fifteen common, rude 
 Turkish women " storm our castle," and we "surrender arms ;" 
 / . e., throw down our pens, and give ourselves to the task of 
 satisfying their curiosity, by showing them over a part of the 
 house, keeping our eyes open, lest some small articles should 
 disappear ! Picture a group of fantastically-dressed women 
 thowing aside their black masks, and black and white silk 
 
 * Dr. Iloratius Bonar. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 345 
 
 veils, or common white sheets surrounding the sewing- 
 machine, which is swiftly turning off its work their mouths 
 open, and eyes staring! " Ajieb ! Mashalla!" Wonderful! 
 God is great ! they cry at last. After they have gone, we find 
 that our choicest flowers have borne them company ! This 
 is the season when we may expect many such incursions. 
 And very little can be accomplished in the way of teaching 
 them, they are so hard and coarse, so innately vulgar. It 
 is with difficulty that we can keep them within bounds, and 
 yet we do not like to close our doors and refuse them ad 
 mittance. 
 
 It is vastly more agreeable to go the rounds, following up 
 the old man whom we have employed to teach many of the 
 elderly women to read at their houses. Fifty dollars a year, 
 furnished by a kind friend in New York, pays for his labor; 
 he has from twenty to thirty pupils, and the results are very 
 encouraging. Passing into the little court-yard of a humble 
 dwelling, I see, through the open door and window, the 
 good woman I came to visit, sitting at her loom, with her 
 book open beside her; she is not aware of my presence, and 
 it is pleasant to watch her as she swiftly plies the shuttle, 
 and then pauses to spell out a few words, when her work 
 goes on again. I enter the room ; she greets me with 
 a bright smile, and says, " O, Varzhoohi ! I have just read a 
 verse all by myself, and it is so sweet T And the toil-hard 
 ened, withered hands take up the Testament, and she slowly, 
 and stumblingly reads, " Come unto Me, all ye that labor and 
 are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ;" while my eyes over 
 flow with tears of joy ; for she had utterly despaired of learning 
 after many vain attempts, and it was long before she could 
 be persuaded to "try once more." "Well, mother, are you 
 15* 
 
346 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 not glad now, that you made one more trial, and did not 
 give it up entirely?" " O, yes, I am very glad!" she an 
 swers; "I prayed to the Lord with all my heart, and He 
 helped me ; blessed be His name !" She leaves the loom, 
 and sits down in the door-way, and we spend a delightful 
 half-hour in reading and talking about the Word, closing 
 with a prayer. 
 
 In another house, the pleasant-looking woman of about 
 sixty years of age, who keeps herself and everything about 
 her so tidy, brings her primer, and, sitting at my feet, spells 
 out a few sentences, stopping now and then to tell me, with 
 childlike simplicity, about her weak eyes, and how she has 
 applied leeches behind her ears, hoping thus to improve her 
 sight so that she may get on faster. She says, " If I can only 
 learn to read a chapter in the Bible to myself, when I am 
 here alone, I shall be content ;" and is greatly pleased with 
 a few words of encouragement. There are a number of 
 younger women who have learned more rapidly, and can 
 now read a chapter quite well. 
 
 Public sentiment, which was once so bitterly arrayed against 
 education for woman, is gradually changing, at least sufficient 
 ly to allow them to learn to read, if no more. One day I 
 met some women going home from a meeting conducted by 
 Markared, and as I passed, I heard one say to the other, 
 "What makes her so pretty?" "Because she reads!" re 
 plied her companion. And she was right. They had un 
 wittingly discerned something more than mere beauty of 
 form or feature : It was the mind, the soul, shining through 
 its earthly tabernacle ! 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 347 
 
 SUMMER FRUITS. 
 
 Marsovan is reinforced ! At the Meeting of the Mission it 
 was voted to remove the two Training- Schools from the Capi 
 tal to this place. Mr. and Mrs. Dodd were transferred from 
 Smyrna to assist in the work, and they just have arrived with 
 their three children, accompanied by Miss Fritcher, the new 
 teacher, fresh from the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
 will follow in a few months. They are all here at present, 
 and the old house is brimful of life ! We hardly know how 
 to accommodate ourselves to this " intermediate state ;" it is 
 such a contrast to the quiet, even tenor of our daily course, 
 hitherto. 
 
 The season is warmer than last Summer, and remarkably 
 fruitful. In the Spring, Mr. Leonard hired a garden, not verf 
 distant, for the purpose of growing some vegetables. There 
 were numerous fruit trees in it, but they had been unpro 
 ductive for the last year or two, and its owner " let it out " 
 for a moderate sum. Probably the deeper ploughing and 
 working of the soil was what they needed, for everybody is 
 amazed at the result, and none more so than the old 
 Turk, who repents him of his bargain ! The trees 
 were loaded with luscious cherries, golden apricots, purple 
 plums, the white and black mulberry, and blushing, downy 
 peaches ; and now we are luxuriating on delicious pears, 
 which melt in the mouth like honey ! They are of a size 
 and color rarely equalled, brought to the house by the bushel, 
 in great baskets. There is a little shanty in the garden, 
 where the watchman stays at night ; " a lodge in a garden 
 of cucumbers." 
 
 We call to mind Joseph s counsel to Pharaoh during the 
 
348 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 seven years of plenty in the land of Egypt, and think it wise 
 to "gather up the food of this good year;" and therefore, 
 resolve ourselves, " brethren and sisters," into a " paring 
 bee," for an evening or two of each week, to prepare the 
 fruit for drying. And while our hands are busily at work in 
 the old dining-room down stairs, our tongues find full em 
 ployment ; each one " bringing forth out of his treasure, 
 things new and old." 
 
 Now and then a scintillation of wit, a playful sally, or a 
 spicy repartee, causes a merry laugh to go round. We are 
 not afraid of a bit of fun, " sanctified fun," some one calls it ; 
 but it is fun, nevertheless ; and we should be a stupid set if 
 we did not " let nater caper" once in awhile, as Dr. Lyman 
 Beecher used to say. 
 
 " Why should the children of a King 
 Go mourning all their days?" 
 
 If anyone has a right to be happy, it is the Christian ! And 
 if, as Dr. Chalmers wisely said, " The happiest life is that 
 which has the fullest occupation, with the highest aim," then 
 missionaries should be the happiest people under the sun ! 
 
 "Varzhabed" lias just returned from a trip to the mountains, 
 and comes in to show us a "new shrub" which he has discov 
 ered, bearing crimson berries. We look at it, and exclaim with 
 delight, " It is the genuine red currant of our gardens at home !" 
 How like a friend it seems. That green sprig, with its crimson 
 clusters, carries us back to the thick rows of bushes, almost 
 forming a hedge, around the garden where we played in child 
 hood. We see the great apple tree in the corner, whose low, 
 broad arms encircled us on many a hot summer day as we 
 nestled in its green bower with our book, and little heeded 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 349 
 
 what the future might bring. This incident leads to a conversa 
 tion about plants that are not indigenous to this country. The 
 strawberry, the tomato (in general use), and the potato, were 
 introduced by foreigners. It is a singular fact that coffee, now 
 so notoriously the beverage of the Turk, was once prohibited 
 at the Capital, and a heavy penalty imposed upon those who 
 should sell or drink it. Tobacco also fell under the ban of a 
 Grand Seignior of the olden time; and an unlucky wight, who 
 was caught smoking his pipe, had it thrust through his nose, 
 and was paraded by a public crier through the streets of 
 Stamboul upon a donkey, with his face turned to the tail ! This 
 despotism may be the secret of its universal use ; for from the 
 time of " Mother Eve," human nature craves that which is 
 forbidden. 
 
 We have accepted an invitation to visit the vineyards of some 
 of our friends, and partake of their "pleasant fruits." What a 
 change a few short months have wrought ! Where, in the early 
 Spring, we saw but an orchard of brown stumps and bundles of 
 withered "branches gathered to be burned," there is now a 
 waving field of verdure richly laden with the tempting fruit. The 
 heavy purple clusters lie prone upon the ground in many 
 places ; their weight is too great for the branches ; and we 
 continually call our companions to look at this or that magnifi 
 cent mass of the white, limpid variety, crowded together and 
 pressing their neighbors in each cluster like corn in an ear 
 bursting with fullness. 
 
 There are Bible illustrations on every hand. If the pruning 
 knife had not been fearlessly applied in the Spring time, where 
 now would have been the " much fruit?" 
 
 As we survey the abundance around us, the words of the 
 Psalmist spring to our lips : " Thou crownest the year with 
 
350 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Thy goodness, and rThy paths drop fatness. The little hills 
 rejoice on every side ; the pastures are clothed with flocks ; the 
 valleys, also, are covered over with corn ; they shout for joy ; 
 they also sing." 
 
 HAJIKEUY. 
 
 This village of a few hundred houses is an out-station of Mar- 
 so van, about four hours distant, under the care of the teacher 
 of the day-school, an honest, simple-minded brother, known by 
 everybody as " Deacon Movses." Saturday morning, at nine 
 o clock, Mr. Dodd and I start off to spend the Sunday there. The 
 roads are excellent, the weather propitious, and our hired horses 
 are in good condition. We greatly enjoy the ride, reaching the 
 place just at the " noon call." The good deacon is quite taken 
 by surprise when his gate swings open and we ride in ; but he 
 limps out to meet us with a cordial welcome : a little, insignifi 
 cant-looking man in person, but with a good face : Deacon 
 Movses is generally esteemed as a consistent Christian ; 
 though exceedingly slow in movement, lacking energy of char 
 acter, yet faithful and persevering ; and so meek and gentle 
 withal, that he frequently insinuates himself where a bolder 
 and more aggressive spirit might fail. He was formerly a 
 barber, and knows but little besides his Bible. 
 
 The house occupied by him for residence, school-room, and 
 chapel, consists of three rooms ; the walls are low and rough, 
 the floor of earth, and the windows open, or partly closed with 
 strips of white paper. The location is excellent, being on the 
 line between the Turkish and the Armenian quarter. The dea 
 con, though middle-aged, is unmarried, and his poor old mother 
 usually keeps house ; but she happens to be away at this time. 
 A number of the school children have been assisting him in his 
 domestic duties, and they have so plentifully sprinkled the earth- 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 351 
 
 floors with water to lay the dust in sweepthg, that we can find 
 no comfortable place to seat ourselves. The low windows are 
 set far back under the veranda, and not a ray of the sun pene 
 trates within the rooms ; therefore some time must elapse ere we 
 can venture to take possession. However, we find a corner out 
 side, where we spread a mat, and prepare the food which we 
 brought with us. Meanwhile, crowds of children and neighbors 
 gather to gaze at us and watch our proceedings. Their presence 
 proves so annoying that they are sent away by the deacon, who 
 places some one at the outer door to prevent intruders till we 
 shall be ready to receive those who come. And there the crowd 
 wait, with eager impatience, our time to admit them. After we 
 have rested a little, and put away our things, the word is given, 
 the door thrown open, and they rush in, pell-mell, as if we were 
 so many wild animals on exhibition ! When we rode into the vil 
 lage we heard many exclamations of surprise at my appearance. 
 " It is a girl, a girl ! Look, look !" and people rushed to their 
 doors and windows. But a few grains of truth are sown, while 
 they are satisfying their curiosity, and, after the first rush is 
 over, I am glad to welcome a company of Armenian women, 
 who appear not only willing but anxious to hear the Gospel ; 
 others join their number, and all listen quietly and attentively. 
 While I am talking in Armenian, Mr. Dodd has succeeded in 
 drawing around him a group of Turkish mothers, to whom he is 
 speaking in their own language. 
 
 Thus the afternoon passes away, and, as the sun goes down, 
 we are too tired to talk any more. We go out for a walk, 
 visit the Armenian church, which is quite new in appearance, 
 and the school (of one hundred children), and find igno 
 rance and superstition reigning in both. We pass out of 
 the village, among the great cabbage gardens, and along 
 
352 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 a delightful path lined with roses and clematis, above a 
 little brook which softly murmurs its way beneath the over 
 hanging trees and shrubs. Coming out upon a hillside, a 
 spot is pointed out beneath a clump of trees, where, in pleasant 
 weather, the few Protestants of the village are accustomed to 
 gather for public worship, and passers-by in the valley below, 
 are often drawn aside to join them. Near this point there is a 
 mulberry plantation, and a large house fitted up for the care of the 
 silk-worms. Cattle are quietly grazing in the green meadows, and 
 flocks of geese slowly saunter by. Numbers of idle women and 
 children follow us from place to place, and bring the inmates of 
 each house to the door by their noisy cries, and we are glad to 
 shake them off at last. We make our cup of tea, and eat our 
 supper in Turkish fashion, sitting in one corner of the veranda, 
 not yet venturing to occupy the rooms within. But the air 
 grows cool, and preparations are made for the night. Mr. Dodd 
 has brought a couple of hammocks, and one of them is swung 
 for me in the school-room, being fastened to a rafter over 
 head, at one end, and to the lattice of the low window opposite 
 at the other ; making an inclined plane which I cannot help eye 
 ing rather suspiciously. The only furniture of the room is a 
 mat or two on the floor, and an earthen vessel full of wheat in 
 one corner. A box or stool is brought, from which I can 
 clamber into my lofty couch ; and, after extinguishing the light, 
 I make my first essay with great caution, but speedily find 
 myself turned over and landed unceremoniously upon the floor ! 
 The sudden fall produces a literal earthquake, shaking the old 
 mud walls of the little dwelling in a way which brings out the 
 friends in haste from the kitchen, anxiously inquiring if any 
 harm has been done ! The next attempt is more successful, and 
 I am fairly suspended for the night, beyond the reach of fleas, 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 353 
 
 and other vermin. But, oh ! the misery of a position where one 
 is forever slipping, slipping, slipping downward ! 
 
 Day dawns at last, Sunday morning, never more joyfully 
 welcomed; and this is my first and last experience with ham- 
 mocks ! 
 
 At nine o clock the Armenian women come in, till they 
 number thirty-five. I read to them the twelfth chapter of Luke, 
 and afterward the twenty-third Psalm, setting before them the 
 road that leads to eternal death, and the way of life and peace 
 everlasting. They are very quiet, and keep me talking for 
 two hours or more. At noon Mr. Dodd takes charge of the 
 regular meeting. There are twelve men and three women 
 present. It is impossible to get any rest between the services. 
 If I shut myself in the school-room, women and children per 
 sist in gathering around the windows, rudely gazing and talk 
 ing about me ; and, if I go out, it is no better ; so I submit to be 
 persecuted for the sake of the Cause. At three o clock the chil 
 dren come to the Sunday-school. There are many new-comers 
 and goers, and the number increases to fifty or sixty. A 
 tract is given to each of those who can read ; and the chil 
 dren read portions of Scripture, repeat the commandments, 
 and answer questions. We sing many hymns, and I talk to 
 them, and tell stones which illustrate Divine truth. In this 
 way two hours are spent, when we are obliged to send them 
 away, for we are tired, if they are not ! In the evening nine 
 persons come to a service in Turkish, and thus ends the day. 
 I make my couch on the hard floor, with plenty of small, 
 sharp tormenters to keep me company ; but the school children 
 come before dawn, and take possession of the room. 
 
354 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 THE RIDE TO A GREEK VILLAGE. 
 
 After breakfast, which is quickly dispatched, we ride to the 
 silver mines of Geumish, four or five miles south-west of 
 Hajikeuy. The road lies over a pleasant plain, surrounded by 
 mountains. 
 
 We stop at the Greek village, of two hundred houses, and 
 visit its church, which contains many specimens of curious 
 carving and the usual quantity of pictures, among which a repre 
 sentation of the Angel of Death, and the Last Judgment, are 
 very prominent. 
 
 In the school near by, we find a hundred boys reading 
 ancient Greek, and it is interesting to see some of them 
 poring over Xenophon and Homer! We are treated with 
 great courtesy, and invited to a Greek house, the master of 
 which is the head-man of the silver-works. 
 
 Here w r e are offered rakee, and sweetmeats and coffee are 
 served. When the men leave the room, the women come in 
 for a chat with me ; one of them has been at the missionary 
 house in Marsovan, and she urges me to stay. W r e mount our 
 horses to ride over to the works, in the town, which contains 
 three or four thousand Turkish houses. As we pass through 
 the village, on our way, it is amusing to see the queerly- 
 dressed Greek children, scampering, with their dogs, over 
 the roofs of the houses, which are built half underground. 
 The women come out, and stand in the narrow doorways, to 
 look at us ; they present a neat and somewhat picturesque ap 
 pearance in their quaint attire. After we have watched the 
 smelting process, and procured a few specimens of the ore, 
 we return to the house, to partake of the good dinner very 
 kindly prepared for us ; and when it is over, Mr. Dodd has 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 355 
 
 an opportunity to read and preach to a company of Turkish 
 women who have come in, full of curiosity about me. 
 
 On out return, we have the company of a young Armenian, 
 who affects the Turkish dandy. He is gaily mounted on a 
 fine horse, carrying a gun over his shoulder, and two pistols 
 and a dagger in his richly ornamented belt, which has many 
 elaborate " fixings " dangling at the side. His showy htad- 
 dress is covered with cords and tassels of black silk, resem 
 bling braids of hair, a part of which fall over the neck and 
 shoulders. His light cloth jacket, with its slashed sleeves, 
 is profusely covered with embroidery, in gold and silver, 
 mingled with colored silk ; he wears loose white trousers, 
 and embroidered leggins, tightly laced, reaching to the 
 knee. Dashing his spurs into his horse, he starts off at 
 full speed, flourishing his gun, which flashes in the sun 
 light, and altogether, forming a striking contrast to the 
 poor little deacon who is seated upon a broad pack- 
 saddle, with rope stirrups, and a coarse, ragged sheep 
 skin thrown over the back of his angular old nag, whose 
 spirit has been roused by his dashing neighbor, and 
 now follows, full tilt, after him ! Our horses catch the 
 inspiration, and away we all go ; a sort of John Gilpin ride 
 to the bewildered deacon, who holds on to his one-sided 
 rope-bridle, with all his might, and breathlessly begs the 
 rest of us to slacken our speed ! But this is not easily ac 
 complished, and he cuts such a ridiculous figure as his 
 bagging blue trousers fill with air, and float out on the 
 breeze, while his elbows bob up and down, describing most 
 awkward angles, as he unwillingly joins in the race, that we 
 cannot suppress our mirth. We make the remainder of the 
 trip in twenty-five minutes ; and after our horses are rested, 
 
356 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 return to Marsovan, at a somewhat slower speed, though 
 accomplishing the usual four hours ride in two. 
 
 VIZIER KUPRI. 
 
 It is a cold December morning, and the snow lies thickly 
 upon the ground, but the horses, which were previously en 
 gaged, are brought to the court-yard, and soon after 
 eight o clock, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard and myself are on our 
 way to Vizier Kupri, a town of considerable size, and an 
 " out-station " of Marsovan, one day s journey distant. Our 
 road lies over the mountains, where the snow is eight 
 or ten inches in depth, and through dense forests, whose 
 stillness is broken by the pleasant sound of the woodman s 
 axe. It is very slippery descending the mountains, and 
 we walk a part of the way. After four or five hours of 
 travel, we stop to rest at a little Greek village, and eat our 
 luncheon beside the rude fireplace, where a few sticks are 
 burning, in the house which we are permitted to enter. A 
 number of Greeks, mostly young men, are going about the 
 streets with their knitting-work in hand, and some of them 
 pay us a visit, making the needles fly, while they discourse in 
 Turkish with the " Badveli." We have never before seen the 
 odd spectacle of men knitting their own hose, and wonder 
 whether the custom is due to the sensible wives and mothers 
 who have learned that " Satan finds some mischief still for 
 idle hands to do ? " 
 
 We reach the town of Vizier Kupri as the muezzin is 
 calling the faithful to evening prayers ; ride through the 
 dark, narrow streets in the dreary chill of coming night, 
 and are soon at the house of the only Protestant, openly 
 known as such in the place. A hearty welcome awaits us, 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 357 
 
 and we are conducted to an upper room, just vacated by 
 the " helper " stationed here. The weather is growing ex 
 tremely cold, and we are very glad to have the little sheet- 
 iron stove, brought by the " Badveli," put up for us, instead of 
 depending for warmth upon the brazier of coals provided by 
 the family. We expect to spend a fortnight, in missionary 
 work, and have accordingly brought the essentials in food and 
 bedding. When we are a little settled, the family gather in 
 our room for a visit. There are, our host and his wife, six 
 children, and a widowed sister, besides a bedridden grand 
 mother, who stays in the stable below, for warmth, they say. 
 Our beds are spread upon the floor (Mr. Leonard and Sarkis 
 camping down in the outer room, which is far from com 
 fortable.) We are very weary, and sleep till a late hour in 
 the morning. But we cannot get a glimpse of the sky 
 through the oiled paper of our windows, and feel as if im 
 prisoned ! It is Saturday, and before our preparations for 
 housekeeping are completed, the women begin to pour in 
 upon us. There is a perpetual stream of comers and goers 
 during the entire day. Sunday morning, before light, we 
 hear the children singing, in bed, in the room beneath, " I ll 
 awake at dawn of the Sabbath morn ; " and occasionally the 
 father s voice joins in the strain. Public service is held at 
 ten o clock, in the outer room, where the missionary converses 
 with the men who call upon him ; there are perhaps thirty 
 in attendance ; after it is over, a number of women come 
 into our room, and we read and talk, for an hour or two, of 
 the things concerning their peace and happiness. They 
 say, " We are beasts ! We were born to? soon ! If we had 
 come into the world later, we might have done as you do." 
 This is the first missionary visit of one of their own sex. 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Night again finds us glad to rest, and glad for the work that 
 has made us weary ! Mr. Leonard has succeeded in finding 
 a piece of glass, in one of the shops, not much larger than 
 the palm of his hand ; but when it is inserted in one of these 
 paper window-panes, the transformation in our room at day 
 dawn is really wonderful. We catch a glimpse of the blue 
 sky, we see the blessed sunshine, and are no more like caged 
 birds, pining for freedom ! 
 
 A SPECIMEN OF TURKISH POLYGAMY. 
 
 The father, mother, and two wives of one of the Turkish 
 soldiers still in prison at Amasia, have come to entreat that 
 he may be pardoned and released. " Thereby hangs a 
 tale : " 
 
 One day, last summer, as several of our party were 
 riding in the outskirts of Marsovan, and I was at a little 
 distance from the others, a heavily armed cavass suddenly 
 sprang from a side path, and seized my horse by the bridle ; 
 Avhen I cried out, in Armenian, another one came up and 
 seized the other side, looking sternly at me. The next mo 
 ment, Mr. Dodd, hearing voices, but not understanding 
 Armenian, looked around, and instantly rode towards them 
 with his whip uplifted, whereupon they left my horse and 
 seized his, one of them drawing his dagger ; then they left 
 him, and attacked Mr. Leonard, who had speedily come up in 
 the rear. The three ladies of the party quickly sped away 
 to a place of safety ; help was summoned from town, and after 
 a little skirmish, in which the drunken cavasses several times 
 tried to discharge their pistols (which, fortunately, had be 
 come wet, by their tumbling into a stream of water), and 
 missed fire. They were secured, sent to Amasia for trial, 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 359 
 
 and there imprisoned ; where, by order of the authorities in 
 Constantinople, they have remained till the present time. 
 
 It appears that the home of one of them is in this town. 
 The special pleading of his parents and wives is truly Oriental. 
 They humble themselves at the feet of the missionary in a 
 way which is degrading and almost disgusting, repeatedly 
 kissing the hem of his old study-gown, and they would even 
 kiss his boots, if he would allow them to do so ! One of 
 the wives is young and rather pretty ; she has two children ; 
 the other is much older, utterly devoid of beauty, and child 
 less. I fancy that she is the drudge of the family. When 
 Mr. Leonard makes out the paper they so much desire, their 
 gratitude is unbounded, and they faithfully promise, for the 
 offender, total abstinence from intoxicating drinks hence 
 forth forever ! The common Turk does not usually have 
 more than one wife. A plurality of wives is a luxury in 
 which only the wealthy can indulge, and the poor man must 
 content himself with but one ; unless, indeed, he can man 
 age to make them support him and his establishment a 
 thing not unknown in more civilized lands, where there is 
 but one wife to bear the burden ! 
 
 SOWING THE SEED. 
 
 During our stay we visit a number of houses, and every 
 where there is abundant opportunity to sow the good seed. 
 To the older women, who cling tenaciously to the mean 
 ingless rites and ceremonies of the Old Church, we present 
 Christ as our Sacrifice, and ever-living High Priest. To the 
 younger women, more especially, make known the tender, 
 compassionate Burden-bearer, the sorrowing, sympathizing 
 Savior. They gather around us in groups of eight or ten 
 
300 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 at each place ; and at one house when I commence reading, 
 in Armenian, the story of Nicodemus, a young woman ex 
 claims, u My man read that last evening! He reads every 
 evening, before he goes to bed, in one of your Bibles!" 
 This leads us to give her a tract on " Growth in Sin," and 
 one entitled " Light of the Soul " to another woman, who 
 says that her husband and two brothers are readers. We 
 also give a number of tracts to boys who can read, and per 
 suade the mothers to send their little daughters to school. 
 
 After some of these visits, we extend our walk beyond the 
 town, and mark the traces of ancient history in broken col 
 umns, scattered stones, and ruined walls; presently we come 
 to the bed of what was once a river of no mean size ; and 
 on our way back notice, here and there, slabs, covered with 
 partly defaced Greek inscriptions, built into the wall of some 
 miserable old dwelling. 
 
 Our compassion is excited for the aged mother of our 
 host, who is stowed away in the stable by her daughter-in- 
 law ; she says, in extenuation, that really the place is much 
 warmer ; and, besides, the old woman curses and swears so 
 fearfully and is so filthy, that she wants her out of the way 
 for the sake of her children. I beg permission to go in and 
 see the aged invalid ; and finally, one of the boys is sent 
 with me, bearing a torch. As we approach the dark corner, 
 he calls out, " Granny, here s a lady come to see you !" But 
 we hear no voice in reply ; he calls again, louder than be 
 fore, and still no sound ; awe-struck, I whisper, " She is 
 dead ! she has died here in this dark hole, all alone !" when 
 there is a slight stir, a wavering movement of the miserable 
 heap, and the indistinct mumblings of imbecile old age come 
 up to us in a far-away, sepulchral voice. I take the torch 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 361 
 
 from the boy s hand, and let the light fall upon the face. It 
 is deadly white, the features sharp and \ inched, and the 
 eyes, unnaturally large, are glaring from their sunken sock 
 ets, like some starved wolf held at bay in its den. A 
 sad, sad sight ! It would not sound strangely if she 
 should exclaim, as did a childless Armenian mother the 
 other day " God has forgotten me /" But, possibly, she is 
 too far gone to feel. I touch the cold, shriveled hands and 
 feet; send the lad for a fresh dish of hot ashes to place 
 beside them, and with an unuttered prayer for help, make 
 the almost hopeless attempt to awaken a spark of life in her 
 shrouded soul, and lift the dimmed eyes heavenward. Thank 
 God ! there is a response, though very feeble, as the precious 
 words of Christ are repeated close to her dulled ear. And 
 I gather courage to point the dying woman to Him who was 
 wounded for our transgressions ; by whose death alone we 
 receive the gift of eternal life. It is her eleventh hour, and 
 the flickering flame seems ready to expire ; but one look 
 directed to the cross, in faith, will as surely bring salvation 
 now, as when the dying thief hung by the crucified Redeem 
 er ! I cannot leave this sister-woman in her dismal dun 
 geon without a prayer by her bedside ; and when I rise from 
 my knees, she mutters something which sounds like thanks. 
 The boy says, " Granny is crying !" as we leave the place, 
 and it gives me an opportunity to beg him to be kind to 
 her. When our fortnight is ended, and we are about to 
 leave Vizier Kupri with the humble hope that some souls 
 have been led to see their need of Christ, and that others are 
 " walking in the truth " we make one more faithful appeal 
 to our host and his wife in behalf of one whom every natu 
 ral instinct should teach them to love and cherish ; ending 
 16 
 
362 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 our argument with the counsel to put themselves in hex 
 place, in anticipation of the time when, perhaps, their own 
 children shall copy their example. They are pleasant, kind- 
 looking people, and seem not to imagine that there is any 
 cruelty in their conduct. 
 
 UP HE A VALS. 
 
 11 For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts 
 of heart : Why abodest thou among the sheep-folds to hear 
 the bleatings of the flock?" sang Deborah, the " Mother in 
 Israel," and the deliverer of her people. And to the Corinth 
 ians, Paul wrote, "It hath been declared unto me of you, 
 my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that 
 there are contentions among you." So now, this Protestant 
 community, and infant church of Christ in Pontiis, is passing 
 through the transition state, incidental, if not inevitable, to 
 every mission. A peculiar combination of circumstances has 
 finally culminated in an outbreak, which will, we believe, 
 prove a purifying process, and ensure a more permanent 
 state of health and peace hereafter. 
 
 For some years before its present occupation, the Station 
 had been left to itself, with only temporary supplies, and an 
 occasional visit from a missionary. No faithful shepherd 
 could be found to stay and watch over the flock, " rightly 
 dividing the word of truth." Three years ago, the " candle 
 stick " was almost "removed out of its place." The people 
 had " heaped to themselves teachers ; having itching ears / 
 (well illustrated by their comments on a plain Gospel ser 
 mon from " What must I do to be saved ?"- " We don t want 
 such preaching; everybody knows that ! Give us something 
 that we don t understand! preach to us about the living 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 363 
 
 creatures and wheels of Ezekial ; the * roll that the prophet 
 ate, and the visions that he saw : Tell us about the can 
 dlesticks, the seals, and * vials, and plagues of Revela 
 tion ; and the * woman, clothed with the sun, the moon 
 under her feet, and the twelve stars on her head. THAT S 
 
 THE KIND OF PREACHING THAT WE WANT !") And there 
 
 were roots of bitterness left in the church ; a " Diotre- 
 phes," a " Demas," and an " Alexander the coppersmith," ever 
 ready to serve Mammon instead of Christ. On the arrival of 
 the Missionary who settled among them, these men and others 
 waited upon him to inquire what business he would recom 
 mend (or furnish) to them. His quiet, yet decisive refusal 
 to " know anything among them save Jesus Christ and Him 
 crucified," did not conciliate their favor : And his persis 
 tent and uncompromising adherence to fae principle of aim 
 ing at self-support, in the salaries given to " helpers," only 
 served to increase their discontent. It was nearly two 
 years before he could secure a preacher in Armenian, and 
 during that period, conducted all the services himself, in 
 Turkish, which was not so well relished or understood by all 
 the people.* The preacher who was finally obtained remained 
 but a few months, being seized with the medicine-mania, a 
 prevailing epidemic among many of the young men ; flatter- 
 
 * This may seem strange to those who estimate the value and use 
 fulness of a foreign missionary by the number of languages he has 
 acquired. As a rule, however, the most faithful and successful labor 
 ers in WINNING SOULS, and TRAINING THEM FOR THE MASTER S SERVICE, 
 have but one missionary language : unless called to purely literary 
 work in the translation of the Word of God, etc., as for instance, Drs. 
 Riggs and Schauffler of Constantinople, who are " BORN LINGUISTS," 
 and speak and write with more or less ease, fifteen or eighteen lan 
 guages. But this does not raise them a whit above their brethren 
 
364 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ing himself that when once a practicing physician, he could 
 and would preach the Gospel to his people freely and with 
 out charge. When he left, a still younger man was sent from 
 the Capital to be both preacher and teacher. He had many 
 high notions, and little idea of self-denial, or obligation for 
 his support and education, for the term of nine years. 
 Claiming, in fact, that such a sacrifice of time, on his part, 
 was an imperative reason for expecting much more from the 
 missionaries. Indeed, " why should not he, who considered 
 himself in every respect their equal (if not superior), live as 
 comfortably as they?" 
 
 The renegade helper dismissed from Amasia had settled 
 himself in the place, with malice prepense to work against 
 the missionaries ; and joined heart and hand in " sowing dis 
 cord among the brethren." They devised various ways of 
 stirring up and keeping alive the growing dissension. Looking 
 over the list of contributions in the " Missionary Herald," 
 they estimated the probable amount apportioned for their 
 people, comparing it with the actual expenditure by the 
 Missionary for Gospel-work, and the expense of his own 
 maintenance; thus increasing their ground of complaint, as 
 they supposed, very much after the manner of a Protestant 
 washerwoman in Constantinople, who once said to some of 
 
 who arc equally devoted and zealous in other departments of the ONE 
 GREAT WORK ! The missionary whose main business it is to preach the 
 Word, " in season and out of season," may pick up " the colloquial 
 of one or two commonly spoken tongues, sufficiently for all ordinary 
 purposes; but no man whose heart burns with love and zeal for the 
 Kingdom of Christ, can turn aside for the mere study of languages, the 
 time and strength which should be given to the thousands around 
 him who are perishing for the Bread of Life ! A false estimate of his 
 ability, and a refined selfishness, may lead a young missionary astray in 
 this matter, to his own great loss, and that of the work. 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 365 
 
 my pupils, " Let us ship all these Missionaries to America, 
 and use the money collected for us, which they spend 
 upon themselves, in doing something for our people !" 
 An experiment, by the way, which would undoubtedly 
 result as it did in a place in another field, where the 
 people were suffering from famine, and the Protestant 
 pastor s appeal, published in Constantinople, produced 
 an abundant response in money, clothing, etc., a part of 
 which the " Committee of Brethren " loaned to the people, 
 on certain conditions, they, meanwhile, speculating upon 
 the principal (intending, eventually, to purchase land, and 
 thus secure a permanent " poor fund,"), until they worked 
 themselves into a great state of bewilderment and confu 
 sion of ideas, ending in a general break-up ! 
 
 The grown-up son of the aforesaid woman so far profited 
 by his mother s wise teachings, as to walk, one day, into the 
 house of a Bible-agent (mistaking his bearings), and say, 
 after gazing at the surroundings awhile, "All this is ours ; 
 for it was bought with the money of the American Board !" 
 This seems, as it is, very childish ; and we have constantly 
 to keep in mind that the mass of this people are but grown 
 up children. For centuries they have been ground down under 
 the iron heel of the oppressor, and it is not strange if they 
 often mistake LIBERTY for LICENSE, and assume as a right 
 what was granted as a favor.* It is well for us, some- 
 
 * Alas for unsanctified human nature! One of my own pupils 
 (who was also for a time an assistant teacher in the Train ing-School 
 at Hasskeuy), writes to Markared, in a bitter and complaining spirit ; 
 she says : " We should have been taught the piano and French in the 
 school ! It was our right T She was a good scholar, but proud, am 
 bitious, and worldly in her spirit and aims : a very different character 
 
366 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 times, to look at things with their eyes. The influx of new mis 
 sionaries for the two Training-Schools, before their work is 
 quite ready for them, or they for it, and no tangible results 
 can be seen, has doubtless had its effect upon some already 
 discontented souls. After much search for a house of suitable 
 size to accommodate the Girls School, and a missionary 
 family, an old Turkish konak was leased for a term of years. 
 It is a wretched affair of a building, we think, with a great 
 stable under the living-rooms, not more than two of which 
 receive a ray of sunshine to dispel the musty smell and the 
 sickening perfumes which come from below. But to the 
 people, it looks very grand : " And here are so many more," 
 
 from the gentle Eva, who, on my return from America, had to be re 
 proved once or twice, and said, with tearful eyes, and warm heart, 
 " The more you rebuke me, the better I love you / " 
 
 When in England, seeking restoration to health, before venturing 
 upon the excitement and nervous strain of life in the United States, I 
 took lodgings for a few weeks in a pleasant village of Yorkshire : And 
 
 while there heard much of the charities of Lady D e, from the people 
 
 who were her tenants. Lord D. was widely known as the " Christian No 
 bleman;" and after his death, Lady D. built the beautiful church which 
 they had planned; and two hospitals, or "Homes" foraged and disabled 
 men and women. She also caused all the IIDIS where 1 iquor was sold to 
 be closed; repaired and improved the cottages, adding bay-windows, 
 and enlarging and beautifying the yards, enclosing them with rustic or 
 iron palings (whichever the tenant preferred). A cow and a pig was 
 given to every peasant who did not own one, and a row of stables 
 were built for their accommodation. Besides all this, Lady D. went 
 in person to visit the sick, and sent or carried port wine, or any deli 
 cacy they might need ; and she once made the journey to London with a 
 little blind boy, paying ^100 for the removal of cataracts from his 
 eyes, restoring the sight. Another lad, the son of a journeyman tan 
 ner, showing a taste for music, she placed him under the best masters 
 iu London, and afterward made him the oiganist in the village church. 
 Many of the young girls were received into her own household and 
 trained in domestic work. One of these girls, who was greatly be- 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 367 
 
 they think, " to be supported out of the money given by the 
 American churches!"* 
 
 Finally, the ownership of the chapel, towards which the 
 people originally contributed a tenth or twelfth, is made a 
 pretext for open dissension. But the real point at issue is 
 the control of the pulpit. At one of the many meetings 
 called by the Protestants to settle this vexed question, the 
 missionary who had, like Paul, " for the space of three years, 
 ceased not to warn every one, day and night," spoke to the 
 brethren of their ingratitude ; when one of the " baser sort " 
 sprang up and said, " You shouldn t complain We treat 
 you missionaries better than they are treated in some places !" 
 
 loved by all, unfortunately fell into a trap-door in the cellar and was 
 drowned, her body not being discovered for several days : This gave the 
 family a great shock, and the entire household went into mourning for 
 two weeks : (All this was done without any sounding of trumpets ; and 
 English friends in London listened with the deepest interest to my 
 story of one who, like the Queen, was a " mother to her people.") 
 But, are the people grateful for all this unwearied kindness and gen 
 erosity?" I inquired, my mind and heart full of the great problems 
 of human nature in its various phases. 
 
 "No! We have long since ceased to look for gratitude /" was the 
 chastened reply. How much more grateful would they have been 
 (when the blessings of a true independence and self-help should have 
 gathered around them) for the disinterested benevolence which, as 
 parents for their short-sighted children, heeded not their crying and 
 fretting, but put them upon their own feet, and taught them how to 
 care for themselves, in viewof coming manhood, and its responsibilities! 
 
 * " The old idea is not dead yet, that to be a missionary is to enter 
 upon an ease-taking, money-making work. The highest salary that 
 is paid any American Missionary is 1,500, without a house, paid by 
 the Presbyterian Board in Western Asia. From $600 to $ 1,000, ac 
 cording to the relative expensiveness of living, is about the average for a 
 married missionary. Unmarried missionaries receive from $300 to 
 $600, and as to ease-taking, just let any complainer try the work." 
 Christian Weekly. 
 
368 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 "How is that?" he inquired. "Why, they KILL them ! " 
 said the man, very impressively. " Yes; and cat them too!" 
 said the missionary, with a smile. This made the others 
 ashamed, and they rebuked the forward brother, telling him 
 to hold his peace hereafter. 
 
 It is a time of trial and rebuke ; a time when the servants 
 of Christ need the support and sympathy of Christians 
 at home ! But surely, the Master is with them, or they 
 could not maintain that quiet dignity, that firm, yet gentle 
 poise which will admit of no compromise for the sake of ex 
 pediency. They will not plaster over the old sore, " heal 
 ing slightly the hurt of the daughter of my people, say 
 ing, Peace, peace, when there is no peace." It is a time for 
 the exercise of faith and patience; unceasing prayer and 
 watchfulness. 
 
 But, " we know that all things work together for good to 
 them that love God ; " and the end justifies our most ardent 
 hopes and desires. 
 
 When the disaffected ones see that nothing can be gained, 
 they give the signal, u To your tents, O Israel ! " and the 
 secession of a minority, headed by the ambitious preacher, 
 is the temporary result. But his reign is soon over, and the 
 stray sheep return to the fold, considerably humbled by 
 their late experience, and much more teachable than before. 
 
 This " shady side of the picture," which we missionaries 
 are accused of never showing to the world, has been looked 
 upon by our good Kohar, and other true, loving souls, with 
 silent amazement. It has not once shaken their faith in 
 God, or in His servants, but it has taught them that if 
 Satan, the great " Accuser of the brethren," cannot prevent 
 the building of Christ s church, he will subtily seek to un- 
 
REGIONS BEYOND. 369 
 
 dermine its walls, by working within it ; for, as the Apostle 
 Paul says, " Satan himself is transformed into an angel of 
 light : Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be 
 transformed as the ministers of righteousness ; whose end 
 shall be according to their works." 
 
 It is the " mystery of iniquity," known, and deplored, in 
 every church, and every land where the " wheat and the 
 tares grow together until the harvest." To His faithful 
 servants, the Master says, " Remember the word that I said 
 unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord : I have 
 given you an example that ye should do as I have done to 
 you : For even hereunto were ye called ! " 
 
 Henceforth, this church, more firmly grounded in the faith, 
 pursues an onward and upward course, well meriting the 
 encomium bestowed by one of the missionary fathers, who 
 tarried by the way, after a survey of the land, some months 
 ago, before the Station was reinforced, and pronounced it 
 " the best trained church and congregation he had seen in all 
 that region ; " and the Sunday-School " a very Garden of the 
 Lord ! " 
 
 16* 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 HARPOOT. 
 
 T was the first day of the New Year, when we 
 at Marsovan received tidings of a breach 
 made in the far-away camp upon the shores 
 of the Euphrates, by the loss of the teacher in their Train- 
 ing-School for girls ; and the Macedonian cry, " Come over 
 and help us ! " rang in our ears. After much consultation 
 among ourselves and with the senior missionaries at Con 
 stantinople, it was finally decided to defer the opening of 
 the school here, for a season, that Miss Fritcher and I 
 might go together, and " stand in the gap," till some one 
 should be sent from America to fill the vacant place. But the 
 winter was very severe. Some of our occasional rides for air 
 and exercise were taken when the mercury was ten degrees 
 below zero ; and it happened, now and then, that a few of the 
 poorer children belonging to our Infant Sunday-School 
 would present themselves at the dining-room of the mission 
 ary house, where it was held, with their little bare feet 
 bleeding, from contact with the ice, on their way thither; 
 and our first work would be to bind up their wounds, and 
 tie on some old shoes, to protect them in going home. Even 
 when the spring opened, we were doubtful when it would be 
 
 safe to commence the journey, owing to the unusual amount 
 (370) 
 
IIARPOOT. 371 
 
 of snow which had fallen during the winter, rendering the 
 roads quite impassable in many places. While in this sus 
 pense, a messenger arrived from Siva?, bringing a telegram 
 from the missionaries at Harpoot, directing us to start as 
 soon as possible, for the school had opened, and the travel 
 ing in that region was good. This was Saturday, April pth. 
 On Monday, the footman " girded himself " for his jour 
 ney, and returned to Sivas, with letters, and a telegram, 
 to be sent to the friends, informing them of our decision. 
 Tuesday was the day appointed for parents to pray 
 for the conversion of their children. An interesting 
 service was held in the chapel, and after it was over, the 
 women remained for my farewell meeting. There were 
 nearly seventy present, although a heavy rain had been fall 
 ing all day.* 
 
 They gave marked attention to my parting words of 
 counsel, and then came, one by one, to say, " Yertak parov," 
 go with good, and as each received a special word, suited to 
 her case, her countenance betrayed the emotions of her 
 
 * It seemed appropriate on this final occasion, to present some 
 thoughts concerning the Day of Judgment, from the words, " For we 
 must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one 
 may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, 
 whether it be good or bad : Knowing therefore the TERROR of the 
 Lord, we persuade men." After a few preliminary remarks, the fol 
 lowing practical and faithful application was made: My sisters, 
 you and I will be there ! Let us try to realize the scene: Suppose 
 the Books opened those wonderful ACCOUNT BOOKS and your names 
 called, one by one ; when the Judge asks you to render an account 
 of your stewardship, Durohi, Takoohi, Mariam, what will you say? 
 Will you begin to excuse yourselves ? Can ) r ou say, " I did not know; 
 I was ignorant, and no man cared for my soul ! " 
 
 What do you think HE will say ? Listen ! " I made you for my glory; 
 I GAVE MY ONLY BEGOTTEN AND WELL-BELOVED SON TO DIE FOR YOU 
 
3/2 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 heart. The aged mother was there, whom the brethren 
 examined for admission to the church, last year, and found 
 so ignorant of the doctrines, that they concluded not to re 
 ceive her; when she went away, saying that she knew she 
 was not worthy, but she "did love Christ f and was afterwards 
 accepted upon our testimony. The kind old body tottered 
 up to me, with a fervent, " God bless you ! " It was all 
 she could say. 
 
 We lingered, reluctant to leave the place where we had so 
 often gathered around the Mercy-Seat, feeling that we might 
 never again meet in that sacred spot. At last, Kohar drew 
 me aside, and wiping the tears from her face, earnestly in 
 quired, " Who will teach the children of your little Sunday- 
 School, when you are gone ? " When I told her that Mrs. 
 Leonard would take charge of the children, though she 
 feared that they would not understand Turkish as well as Ar 
 menian ; but that Markared could not teach them because of 
 her own " Mission Sunday-School," at the other end of the 
 town she very modestly offered to assist in it so long as her 
 
 I sent teachers to instruct you in my Word. You thought that I 
 did not notice your life (you who have professed better things, 
 and lived according to the devices of your own hearts). But I 
 saw all your ways ; here they are, written down ! I saw your heart; 
 no true love to God was there ; I heard you slander my servants, your 
 best friends ; I saw you go from house to house, speaking idle words ; 
 I saw you flatter people before their faces, and afterward, heard you 
 say everything bad about them ; I saw you in my House; you sat there 
 as one of my people, but you only worshiped me with your lips, even 
 in my Holy House, you talked (or thought) of worldly things, and 
 slandered ! You served Satan. You arc his child ! Go, therefore, 
 and dwell with / //// / And all the assembly of holy beings will say, 
 Amen ! For Thou, Lord, art holy, and righteous, and just, and true!" 
 Then suppose He should call up one of these mothers : Badaskhan 
 or Tcurfanda, "What has become of those children that I gave you 
 
HARPOOT. 373 
 
 (still persecuting) husband should be absent on his pilgrim 
 age to Jerusalem. She then spoke of the day-school for 
 girls, supported by friends in New York, and taught by one 
 of my former pupils. " Will that now be given up? O, it 
 must not be ! " she continued, without waiting for a reply, " We 
 must keep it going on ; we sisters in the church must get up 
 a Society to support that school for little girls, rather than 
 have it given up ! " As I looked at her face, all aglow with 
 interest, and feeling, and remembered that she was childless, 
 I felt that the dear disciple had been truly baptized into the 
 spirit of Christ. Precious jewel ! Would that there were 
 more like her throughout this land ! 
 
 THE DEPARTURE. 
 
 Saturday, the i6th of April, was the day appointed for 
 our departure, that Sunday might be spent in Amasia, and, 
 indeed, prove a day of rest, at the commencement of the 
 long journey. Accordingly, our preparations were all com 
 pleted the previous day, and in the evening, the little mis- 
 
 to train for God and Heaven ? How did you bring them up ? Did you 
 teach them to honor my Sabbath, and reverence my sanctuary ? You are 
 a member of my church; you talked piously, saying, Lord, Lord, but 
 your life, your example, your heart was all wrong! You knew your 
 duty, but you did it not!" Do you say. " God is merciful; God is 
 Love." Remember Lot s wife ; remember Sodom and Gomorrah ; 
 remember Ananias and Sapphira ! My dear sisters, we may never 
 again meet on earth. I wish so to speak to you that the blood of 
 souls will not be required of me at that Day. When the Judge 
 says, "I sent you to Marsovan ; what said you to those women? 
 Where are the souls that I committed to your instruction ?" I wish 
 to feel that if you are lost, / am not to blame. A few last words 
 of encouragement and counsel to those who were " walking in the 
 truth," and the meeting, which had proved a very solemn one, closed 
 with prayer. (Such teaching may seem harsh, but it was needed by 
 some, and good for all.) 
 
3/4 TII E ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 sionary circle of three families came together to celebrate 
 the Lord s Supper. The service was conducted by the be 
 loved brother who first brought me to that home, where 
 such a rich experience had been mine. After a vivid por 
 traiture of the farewell gathering of our blessed Lord with 
 His disciples, he turned to the covenant which God had 
 made with his people Israel : " Behold, I send an Angel be 
 fore thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the 
 place which I have prepared," repeated and intensified by 
 Christ, in the words, " Lo, /am with you alway." It was 
 a precious season ; not only strengthening our hearts for the 
 toilsome way before us, but also knitting more closely the 
 bonds which united us to one another, as brothers and 
 sisters of the household of faith, acknowledging but one 
 Head, the Great Shepherd of the sheep. 
 
 Saturday morning came, clear and bright ; the air pure 
 and refreshing. At seven o clock, we were mounted, ready to 
 depart. A crowd of Protestant friends assembled in the great 
 court-yard of the konak, to bid us " God-speed ; " and 
 among them was our dear Kohar, who again said, " How 
 can I let you go ? I have yet so much to learn! " Quite a 
 company of these friends escorted us out of the city, and 
 the two missionary brothers and Mrs. Leonard rode with 
 us for an hour or two ; then we parted; saw them turn their 
 horses heads in the opposite direction, and paused, till they 
 should pass out of sight ; caught the last glimpse of waving 
 hats and handkerchiefs, on a distant knoll, and slowly turned 
 to pursue our way, feeling much as if again leaving our 
 kindred of the childhood home, to go forth among strangers 
 in a strange land ! 
 
 \Ve form quite a respectable caravan. Mr. Dodd, our mis- 
 
HARPOOT. 375 
 
 sionary escort, is mounted upon his own steed, with leather 
 bags, shawl, and rubber cloak attached to his saddle. Miss 
 Fritcher looks very gay upon her pony, with bright yellow trim 
 mings to her saddle-bags fresh from the saddler s, suiting his 
 taste far more than hers. And I follow, firmly seated upon a 
 high, steady horse belonging to the muleteers, surrounded by 
 numerous "traps" in the shape of cloaks, shawls, umbrella 
 and parasol, a small satchel fastened to the horn of my saddle, 
 containing sundry little comforts, besides the inevitable saddle 
 bags, bulging out on either side with plethoric significancy. We 
 are dressed to suit the occasion, and the country, entirely 
 ignoring the requirements of the world we have left so far 
 behind. Our head-gear is certainly not of the latest Parisian 
 style. My sun-bonnet is a nondescript invention for the 
 journey, an immense " calash," somewhat like those the grand 
 mothers were wont to wear in olden times. It proves exceed 
 ingly convenient as a protection from the sun, and, when we 
 meet a lordly Turk, I can withdraw my head into its deep 
 recesses so far as to almost obviate the necessity of a veil. 
 That of my companion is smaller, a rather dainty white one, 
 since she is more recently arrived from the outer world, and not 
 wholly disenthralled from its tyranny ; but the sun looks upon 
 her more frequently, and, in the end, my blue "parachute" 
 bears off the palm ! We amuse ourselves by imagining the sen 
 sation our present appearance, with our retinue, would create 
 on Broadway, New York, or Washington street, Boston. 
 
 Haji Simeon, a good, stalwart, Protestant brother, who 
 knows the country through which our road lies, and is to be 
 our man-of-all-work, secure places for lodging at night, and 
 oversee the muleteers as far as Sivas, comes next, sitting 
 astride his bedding, etc., etc., piled upon a pack saddle. 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Close behind is the took, and the kitchen, both mounted upon 
 one horse ! Two boxes, containing the necessary articles of 
 food, cooking utensils, and dishes, are strapped across the 
 horse s back, swinging out on either side, and an earthen jug 
 for water, and a tin cup or two dangle from the broad saddle on 
 which Sarkis has placed his bedding and a great, shaggy 
 sheepskin coat, himself mounted on the top of all. Three 
 mules, carrying our trunks, camp-bedsteads, with the bedding in 
 huge leathern sacks, two donkeys, and three muleteers, who take 
 turns in riding, bring up the rear. In securing " animals" and 
 making the bargain for this journey, the men were thrown in ! 
 They " find themselves" 
 
 THE JOURNEY. 
 
 And now we are fairly on our way, rapidly passing over the 
 broad, grassy plain, where herds of cattle and flocks of sheep 
 are quietly feeding, attended by their shepherds. We ride 
 through a couple of Turkish " mud villages." Numbers cf 
 storks, held in reverence by the Moslems, are fearlessly stalk 
 ing about on their long legs, or perched upon deserted chim 
 neys, whence they look down with stately composure upon our 
 party. Their return from Egypt is considered a sure sign of 
 settled weather ; and when the singular clapping is heard from 
 the old tree overhanging the mosque, near the missionary home 
 at Marsovan, where a famous stork has made its nest, its 
 arrival is hailed with great demonstrations of joy. 
 
 At noon-tide we rest by a stream of water, beneath the shade 
 of a grove of young willows, and partake of the excellent 
 luncheon provided by the dear friends from whom we have 
 parted. 
 
 As we approach the rocky ramparts of Amasia, beautiful 
 
HARPOOT. 377 
 
 flowers, springing from their stern embrace in many a rugged 
 cleft, greet us with a smiling welcome the timid hare-bell 
 trembling in the breeze, as it nods its drooping head to the 
 passers-by. A little further on, and we come to a per 
 fect wilderness of verdure. Banks of sweet, blue-eyed vio 
 lets look modestly up from their lowly beds, with here 
 and there " spring - beauties," delicate anemones, flowering 
 shrubs, and graceful vines. On the other side of our pathway 
 are numerous trees, the silver-leafed poplar, or the aspen, larch, 
 beach, oak, sycamore, and olive, just robed in their new and deli 
 cate spring-dress, amid the deeper-hued hemlock, cedar, pine, 
 and holly, with the clematis and hawthorn interlaced, and the 
 wild rose peeping out from the hedge-rows, preparing for a later 
 display. Between the thick foliage of the drooping branches, 
 we get occasional glimpses of the dazzling greensward beyond, 
 and from the deepest thicket catch the faint, soft warblings of 
 the nightingale as evening shades begin to fall. We receive 
 a cordial welcome from our German friends, with whom we spend 
 a pleasant Sabbath, while the men put up at a khan in the town. 
 
 Monday morning finds us again ready for our journey, much, 
 refreshed by the rest, and a feast of American letters, and notes 
 from the missionary circles at Marsovan, Constantinople, and 
 Harpoot. Miss F. received twelve from the United States, and 
 was no more grateful than I for but two ; reminding me of a 
 story respecting one of the early missionaries to this country, 
 who waited long after her arrival for a home-mail, and when, at 
 last, it came, she was greatly disappointed, and actually shed 
 a few tears, because there were only sixty" letters for her ! 
 In process of time she rejoiced over even one. 
 
 It is nine o clock before Haji makes his appearance with the 
 horses. The clouds, which have hung darkly over us all the 
 
378 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 morning, threatening another rain like that of yesterday, break 
 away, and the sun again shows his face. 
 
 Herr Stroh accompanies us a little way. He is very polite 
 and attentive, notwithstanding our " outlandish rig," which he 
 declared " very sensible" to \hQfniulcin, in whose mirth over 
 it we heartily joined; pointing out numerous relics of ancient 
 architecture in passing through the town ; slabs covered with 
 inscriptions, inserted in the walls, or forming the doorsteps of 
 native dwellings ; and particularly calling our attention to some 
 old buildings on the outskirts, as specimens of the Moorish or 
 Saracenic style. The gateways are exquisitely beautiful ; the 
 elaborately-carved stone resembling the finest embroidery or 
 lacework. We ride for some distance over an old aqueduct, a 
 rocky wall looming up on either side. Here our German 
 friend courteously wishes us a good journey, and returns to the 
 silk works, which he superintends, and we go on our way 
 rejoicing in the beauty so lavishly showered on every side. The 
 glorious sunshine, the glad music of birds and rushing streams, 
 with now and then a sparkling, foaming cascade, dashing 
 headlong among the bleached rocks ; flowers are blooming 
 everywhere ; wild goats clamber up the mountain sides, and 
 flocks of sheep are scattered over the verdant plains, with here 
 and there a shepherd dotting the peaceful picture. By-and-by 
 we meet a few villagers, and from the bag which one of them 
 carries over his shoulder issues certain sounds suggestive to our 
 "man Friday" of savory edibles for supper: Whereupon he 
 stops to bargain with the owner thereof. Looking back a few 
 minutes later, we see feathers flying in the air, and ere long 
 Sarkis joins the company with his prize all plucked and ready 
 for a stew fastened to one of his boxes, where it swings, 
 " a specimen of suspended animation/ 
 
HARPOOT. 379 
 
 LODGINGS AT THE FIRST HOTEL. 
 At four o clock we reached our " hotel," at Yeni-Bazaar. 
 This mud khan stands alone in the open country ; a long, 
 low building, comprising a range of small rooms around a 
 larger one in the centre, appropriated to the horses and 
 other beasts of burden. Each room is capped by a rude 
 chimney. Our caravan fills up the vacant places in the 
 " inn," which is, undoubtedly, very like the one in Bethlehem, 
 where Joseph and Mary sought shelter, betaking themselves, 
 for want of room, to the part assigned to the animals. We 
 were fortunate in securing an end room, with a separate outer 
 door, secluding us from the other travelers. We bend low 
 to enter our new quarters; the place is about twelve 
 by fourteen feet in size : four bare mud walls ; the 
 floor and fire-place at one end being all of the same 
 material and dingy color ; two or three chinks near the 
 roof, admit the light and air, and with the chimney, fur 
 nish sufficient ventilation ; and we are thankful to escape 
 from the cold, piercing wind of the last hour or two ; grate 
 ful to be by ourselves, instead of camping down in the 
 stable by the side of our horses and mules, and, mayhap, a 
 lower order of creation ! While we are waiting for our lug 
 gage to be brought in that we may find a seat, the low 
 door-way is crowded with curious gazers of all sorts and 
 conditions. A mat and piece of sackcloth are spread upon 
 the floor, and here we take our position, while the horses 
 are being unloaded. The luggage is stowed away for safety, 
 as compactly as possible, at one end of the apartment ; that 
 is our " store-room ;" the little bedsteads are put up, with 
 a curtain hung before them, that we may rest; and this 
 
380 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 corner is both " dressing-room " and " bed-chamber." Sarkis 
 makes a fire, and prepares a refreshing cup of tea, at the 
 end which we denominate " kitchen and dining-room;" after 
 which, we get out our " note-books " to " write up," in the 
 central " parlor and library," seated upon camp-stool or sad 
 dle, as the case may be, in place of easy-chair, or sofa ! 
 And we are very merry over the contrivances to make the 
 most of our limitations. 
 
 At this moment, Haji puts his head in at the door, and says 
 that there is an opportunity to send letters to Marsovan ; 
 and while our pens are busily employed in writing to the 
 friends who are following us with their prayers, the " chick 
 en stew " is simmering over the fire, and Sarkis bobs 
 in and out, in the discharge of his culinary duties. Din 
 ner is announced at eight o clock, in our aristocratic 
 hotel ; the hours are kept according to the most approved 
 style, though the table arrangements are certainly very 
 unique ! A couple of boards are placed upon a box, 
 over which napkins are spread, and tin plates ranged, very 
 near the edge, to leave space for the indispensable dishes in 
 the centre. Things are considerably crowded, and jostle 
 their neighbors without much ceremony ; but there is one 
 comfort : everything is close at hand, and needed condi 
 ments and comestibles can be reached from bags and boxes 
 almost without rising ! The fowl proves to be a tough subject ; 
 we suspect its ancient origin, and eschew it, after many vain 
 endeavors to extract a supply of nourishment ; turning for 
 consolation to the toast and rice, which are saturated with 
 the broth. When the meal is ended, we finish and send off 
 our letters, spend a half-hour in singing new Sunday-School 
 tunes in the " Golden Censer," and after " family worship," 
 
HARPOOT. 381 
 
 betake us to rest for the night. Mr. Dodd spreads his couch 
 on the other side of the room, and Snrkis lodges with Haji 
 and the muleteers. We sleep well, and rise early ; the beds 
 are taken down and packed, while our simple breakfast is 
 prepared and eaten ; and when we are having prayers with 
 in the dismantled room, Sarkis is washing dishes, and pack 
 ing up his " kitchen," outside. 
 
 THE FOURTH DAY. 
 
 All things being ready, we start soon after seven o clock. 
 Our route is again south-eastward ; a cold wind from the 
 north-east is uncomfortably chilling for the first two hours, 
 and the roads are muddy from recent rains. But as we 
 proceed, our eyes are again cheered by sweet spring flowers, 
 and the songs of birds, the clear note of the cuckoo rising in 
 the intervals. A range of noble mountains surrounds the 
 pleasant plain, which, like the country selected by Lot, 
 seems well watered and fruitful. We see Turkhal, and its 
 ancient castle, not far away. The scenery around the town is 
 said to be exceedingly wild. Hamilton, in his work on 
 Asia Minor, says of this place : " The most remarkable fea 
 ture is the castle-hill, which is completely insulated, and 
 rises to the height of six or seven hundred feet, the castle 
 being situated on the very summit. The rock is a semi- 
 crystaline limestone." The ancient name, given by Strabo, 
 is Gazionra ; described as a royal residence, and one of the 
 strongholds of Mithradates, in Pontus. 
 
 As the hours move on into the afternoon, I become 
 very weary, and even a moment of rest upon the bosom 
 of mother-earth is a luxury ; but " the loads " go on, and 
 we must keep together. The last two hours drag their 
 
382 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 slow length along interminably; and the rain falls fast 
 as we approach the Koordish or Circassian village, where 
 we are to spend the night. The men look very pictur 
 esque in their high, shaggy, black hats, and long blue 
 coats, the belt bristling with weapons, and a cartouch 
 on each side of the breast. These Circassians are very 
 straight and spare in figure, a little above the medium 
 height ; they are generally known as a lawless class, and eye 
 us sharply as we draw up in the dirty court of the khan, 
 where women and children join the crowd called forth by 
 the arrival of the "Franks." We dismount and enter the 
 great room in the centre of the building ; it has quite an im 
 posing dome, but a glance at the dirty earth floor, and the 
 narrow platform extending around the sides, where a num 
 ber of travelers are passing through the various stages of 
 rest or refreshment, quickly dispels the illusion of grandeur. 
 We can take our choice, mingling with the common herd in 
 this " outer court," or securing a little sanctum, in a small, 
 dark, inner room. We prefer the latter, and a man is forthwith 
 ordered to prepare it for our reception. The clouds of dust 
 which speedily issue from the door give unmistakable evidence 
 of its condition ; a dirty mat, and one or two pieces of carpet 
 are spread for us, and we take possession of our cheerless 
 quarters. Sarkis has gathered a few bits of wood, which he 
 is chipping off for kindlings to make a fire in the miserable 
 hole of a chimney ; I ask him the name of the " inn," and 
 he simply indicates it by drawing his knife significantly 
 across his throat: "CUT-THROAT khan!" I exclaim, in 
 horror, to my companion, who is no less startled than my 
 self at the intimation. We survey our little room with keen 
 scrutiny ; there are no outer doors or windows, nor even a 
 
HARPOOT. 383 
 
 chink in the wall for egress; it would be impossible 
 to escape through the narrow chimney, and we are com 
 pletely shut in, at the mercy of those fierce, armed men, if 
 they should choose to attack us in the night ! But our 
 thoughts at once turn to Him who neither slumbers nor 
 sleeps, and we dismiss our fears. My narrow bed is soon pre 
 pared, and yielding to overpowering fatigue, I fall into a 
 sound sleep, from which I am awakened to partake of supper ; 
 but feeling more the need of rest than of food, after a little re 
 freshment I again seek my couch, where my senses are 
 quickly locked in slumber, till the two wide-awake ones call 
 me to come and sing. Stupefied, and but half- conscious, I 
 am like one in a dream : It seems a little like Paul and 
 Silas singing in prison ! but they are really in earnest, and I 
 must rouse myself and tune my voice to sing " praises unto 
 God." The door-way is filled with listeners, to whom we 
 sing the Gospel of Love : " Peace on earth, and good-will to 
 men." When we kneel in prayer, they are silent, and respect 
 our worship ; and we say, with the Psalmist, " I will both lay 
 me down in peace, and sleep : for thou, Lord, only makest 
 me dwell in safety." Our quarters are even more cramped 
 than last night ; and when the beds are all spread, one has to 
 wait for the other, there is so little space to stand ! 
 
 When at last all is still within, the rain pattering upon the 
 roof makes soft and soothing music, and we sleep till the first 
 call to arise, at half-past two o clock in the morning ! This 
 Mr. Dodd decidedly declines doing, and the muleteers leave 
 us alone till a little after four. The breakfast, of boiled eggs, 
 and coffee, is dispatched, and we read the ninety-first Psalm, 
 with a deeper appreciation of its meaning than ever before ; 
 offering grateful thanks for the peace and protection of the 
 
384 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 night. The real name of the place is " Executioner s Khan," 
 so called because that office was held by the man who built 
 it, and its vicinity to the spot where the execution of several 
 noted robbers took place. 
 
 FIFTH DA YTOCA T. 
 
 The rain is over, and the morning proves bright and 
 pleasant, though the roads are very muddy, and there will 
 be no walking to-day. Our route lies through an extensive, 
 treeless plain ; the summits of the mountains are enveloped 
 in fleecy clouds, and as the sun rises in his strength, they 
 slowly roll away, and disappear, till all those rocky heights 
 are bathed in the warm glow of living light. It is a grand 
 sight, and inspires faith in the final triumph of truth over 
 every barrier raised by the god of this world ! 
 
 A traveler joins our party; a fine-looking Jew, returning 
 to Tocat. He converses in Hebrew-Spanish with Mr. Dodd, 
 who, with Mr. and Mrs. Parsons of Nicomedia, labored for 
 several years among the "lost sheep of the house of 
 Israel." "I am hurrying home," the stranger says, " for 
 tomorrow is Passover." And after a moment s conver 
 sation, he adds, somewhat plaintively, " We have no sac- 
 rifice now ; neither at Jerusalem." Mr. Dodd is speaking 
 of the One Great Sacrifice for sin, the Savior of the world, 
 when a number of peasants, miserable specimens of humanity, 
 pass by, and the Jew, pointing to them, derisively inquires, 
 " Can these poor sticks be saved?" He listens with con 
 strained politeness for a few moments, while the great plan 
 of redemption for the entire race of man is spread before 
 him; then says, with a shrug, "I am an ignorant man; "I 
 leave these things to the Rabbis ; " and quickening his 
 
HARPOOT. 385 
 
 horse s pace, the misguided son of Abraham, from whose 
 heart the veil is not yet removed, presses on his homeward 
 way. We take our luncheon, and gather flowers on the banks 
 of the rapidly flowing " Iris," tiny white and azure-eyed 
 blossoms, which tell us, " God is here also ! " "" Stars of 
 Bethlehem " look up from the road-side, and link them 
 selves with compassionate thoughts of those who still reject 
 Him who was " made like unto His brethren," that He 
 might make them " SONS OF GOD !" 
 
 The approach to Tocat is very fine ; we pass over a good 
 carriage road, with pleasant gardens and vineyards on either 
 side ; great rocks and mountains tower heavenward, their 
 sides richly tinted with many hues, like vast specimens of 
 mosaic ; red earth is very prominent in the soil. The ruins 
 of an old castle rise conspicuously, overhanging the city ; we 
 cross an old Roman bridge, with five massive arches, and 
 watch the men and boys who are fishing on the banks of 
 the river. The number of good buildings is surprising, 
 though here, as in all Eastern cities, the old and the new are 
 strangely intermingled. From many of the walls, and more 
 modern structures, large tablets, of Moorish, or Greek 
 origin, bearing inscriptions, peer out upon us like ghosts of 
 the past. 
 
 This is the city where the blessed missionary, Henry 
 Martyn, laid down his life. We stop at a khan close by the 
 towering rock which bears the castle on its apex, in the very 
 heart of the city; and crowding through the place where the 
 animals are fastened, pass up a flight of stairs, which lead 
 to a large, comfortable room, with the luxury of a board 
 floor. There are yet two or three hours before sunset, and 
 after a brief rest, we sally forth, under the escort of the 
 17 
 
386 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Protestant helper, who has called to welcome us ; bending 
 our steps to the Mission premises not far distant, a quiet, 
 secluded quarter, within the town. Here Dr. and Mrs. Van 
 Lennep were stationed for a few years, in connection with 
 the Theological Seminary for the Interior; but when the 
 buildings were destroyed by fire, the place was abandoned. 
 The grounds are beautiful ; nowhere in this country have 
 we seen so charming a place occupied by the missionaries 
 of the American Board. Five or six terraces are covered 
 with a variety of trees and shrubs, amid whose leafy bowers 
 the clear, sparkling water gushes from a great marble basin ; 
 the air is fragrant with the perfume of roses, and vocal with 
 the melody of the feathered songsters who make thoir home 
 in this deserted paradise. But the sweetest, the most fragrant, 
 and most sacred spot within this enclosure is the grave of 
 Henry Martyn. We pause in silence beneath the Weeping 
 Willow, whose drooping branches caressingly touch the tomb, 
 as they gently sway back and forth, and our thoughts are 
 busy : How little did I ever dream that my feet would one 
 day stand by the grave of the, Missionary whose name, from 
 earliest childhood, had been a household word ; and whose 
 touching memoir was perhaps the first secret inspiration that 
 finally led to a similar service ! My little " Daily Food " is 
 in my pocket, and it seems a singular coincidence that the 
 verse for the day should be, " Blessed are the dead which 
 die in the Lord :" the remainder of the passage comes home 
 to my heart with new force and depth of meaning : " Yea, 
 saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors : and 
 THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM." Near the new and hand 
 some monument lately erected by the East India Company 
 through the persistent efforts of Dr. Van Lennep stands the 
 
HARPOOT. 387 
 
 old tombstone which he, with his students, rescued from 
 oblivion, digging it from the earth, where it had long lain 
 unheeded till it was shrouded from sight. It is a simple, 
 time-stained tablet, with a rudely-cut inscription in Latin. 
 Close by that honored grave, sleeps his own first-born, 
 " Henrico, " a lovely boy of five or six years, who was a 
 young preacher of righteousness to the Armenians during 
 the last year or two of his brief life. We gather a few 
 leaves and rose-buds, as a memento of the hallowed spot, 
 and, as we turn away, softly sing : 
 
 "Asleep in Jesus ; far from thee 
 Thy kindred and their graves may be ; 
 But it is still that blessed sleep 
 From which none ever wake to weep." 
 
 Tocat is the chief commercial centre of this region. Its 
 situation is very picturesque, and many of the dwellings are 
 embosomed in gardens ; but though in the very midst of 
 mountains of the finest marble, it is almost entirely built of 
 wood and sun-dried bricks. There are fifteen mosques in 
 the city, one of which, in the Saracenic style, is very old. 
 It is circular, with two wings, and a large portico built of 
 the most beautiful marble in a variety of colors. 
 
 SIXTH DAY AMONG THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 We make an early start in the morning for a long day s 
 ride among the Chamlu Bel, or Pine Ridge Mountains. How 
 grand they are ! What thoughts they inspire of Him who 
 piled them up so lavishly our Rock and Refuge from ths 
 storms of earth ! The distant peaks, lifting their snowy 
 heads against the clear blue sky, look pure and solemn, as if 
 
388 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 holding communion with their Maker. Nestling close by 
 banks of snow some of which are ten feet deep in the 
 shaded nooks of these upper regions we meet again our 
 sweet spring friends " God s smiles " in blooming flow 
 ers ; and on every side, rushing streams are hastening to 
 rejoice the world below. As we descend from some moun 
 tain height, sunny slopes decked with the yellow primrose 
 greet our steps ; " star-flowers " lift their pure eyes, and 
 little strangers, clad in pale blue, nod a welcome. 
 
 Evening advances ; the shadows deepen among the moun 
 tains, and they are wonderfully beautiful and impressive. Our 
 accommodations at " Kharghun " are somewhat different from 
 any we have yet found. S?,rkis and Haji lodge in a corner 
 of our one inner room, and just outside are eight horses, 
 two donkeys, and three Turks ! We are very weary after 
 being in the saddle for twelve hours, and greatly annoyed by 
 men and women, who come "for to see the hanums" 
 They walk in without ceremony, exaiaine and pronounce 
 upon our looks and clothing,, as coolly as if we were put up 
 for sale in a slave-market! It is impossible to secure any 
 rest, and we are constantly obliged to watch, lest they steal 
 some of our effects. Mr. Dodd takes pity upon us, and mildly 
 remonstrates, telling the intruders that we are weary, and 
 wish to be alone. But his words produce little effect, till 
 Haji, who has had more experience with this type of human 
 ity, comes to the rescue, and issues a stern command, which 
 speedily disperses the curious crowd. It is perhaps accord 
 ing to the " law of compensation," that " tired nature s sweet 
 restorer," which so often refused to come at our call, when 
 surrounded by all the comforts of a Christian home, should 
 now overpower us as soon as our heads touch the pillow ! 
 
HARPOOT. 389 
 
 SEVENTH DAYSIVAS. 
 
 Our next station is Sivas. One more day s journey, due 
 south, and we shall rest in the homes of missionary friends ! 
 We are in our saddles at six o clock in the morning, glad 
 to take full draughts of the pure air of heaven, the wine of 
 life, so fresh, so free, and yet so little prized ! The way is 
 not very pleasant : a shower, of two hours duration, comes 
 on, and we jog along, single file, looking like a disconsolate 
 company of monks, in our rubber cloaks, with the hoods 
 drawn over our heads. The clouds empty their watery 
 contents upon us four times during the day. We have just 
 alighted, to walk down a steep hill into the plain which 
 stretches invitingly below, when suddenly, claps of thunder 
 reverberate among the mountains ; vivid flashes of lightning 
 play about our defenceless heads, and before we can suc 
 ceed in remounting our horses, a perfect deluge is let loose 
 upon us ! Oh, how the last two hours stretch their weary 
 length ! At every turn in the road, we longingly look for 
 our haven of rest; but, like an ignis-fahius, it constantly 
 recedes. At last, however, to our great delight, it comes in 
 view ; and after many turnings and windings, we find our 
 selves pacing its muddy streets, arid are soon welcomed, 
 and at rest, with one of the three families who are stationed 
 in this city. This is the evening of Friday, and we remain 
 for a few days, to rest and make the necessary preparations 
 for the yet longer journey which lies beyond. 
 
 It is not a time to see much of the missionary work at 
 this Station, for the weather is very inclement ; but we enjoy 
 the society of Mr. and Mrs. Livingston, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Winchester and their little ones; and among the Protestant 
 
390 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 friends who call to see us, are two of my former pupils from 
 Constantinople, one of whom is married to a promising 
 pupil of Dr. West, who, with his family, is now absent at 
 Cesarea. 
 
 TWELFTH DA Y. 
 
 We leave Sivas on Wednesday morning, the 2yth of April, 
 taking the " post route " south-east, on the line of the telegraph 
 to India ; and, when we are really on our way, a signal flashes 
 along the wires to Harpoot. From the high ground beyond 
 the city we obtain a fine view of it, with the ancient " Halys" 
 rushing past. 
 
 The rains are over, and the air is pure and exhilarating. We 
 are refreshed by our prolonged season of rest, and the wild 
 rocks which are piled around our pathway echo to the songs of 
 our pilgrimage. Madame Guyon s delightful hymn " O, Lord, 
 how full of sweet content " is often on our lips. But more fre 
 quently than any other do we sing, " In Heavenly love 
 abiding," Anna Waring s sweet pilgrim-song : 
 
 " Wherever He may guide me, 
 
 No want shall turn me back ; 
 My Shepherd is beside me, 
 
 And nothing can I lack : 
 His wisdom ever wakcth, 
 
 His sight is never dim ; 
 He knows the way lie taketh, 
 
 And I will walk with Him." 
 
 After a ride of six hours we descend to more uniform and 
 monotonous scenery. Not a tree can be seen ; not even a 
 shrub to which we may tie our horses while we rest and partake 
 of refreshment. Our muleteers are in advance, and the Turk 
 ish guard, who was secured at Sivas, is with us, our good Haji 
 having departed on his own business. A few boulders at a 
 
HARPOOT. 391 
 
 turn of the road present our best halting-place. One of the 
 horses is fastened to a projecting stone, another is held by the 
 cavass, and Mr. Dodd secures his own by fastening the bridle 
 to his leg ; proceeding to open the saddle-bags containing our 
 luncheon. At this stage of affairs a large drove of horses, 
 mules, and donkeys appears in the road. They are upon us 
 before we are aware, and in a moment our horses become wild 
 and unmanageable ; one of them breaks loose and rushes among 
 the confused and tumultuous crowd; Mr. Dodd is dragged 
 some distance into the midst of the caravan, and the cavass 
 has his hands full with the two wild, plunging horses he is 
 trying to hold. It is a moment of terror. Miss Fritcher and I 
 clamber high among the stones to a place of safety, our hearts 
 full of unspoken fears for our brother s life. Certain possibili 
 ties flash through our minds : " If our protector is taken from 
 us in this wilderness, what will be our fate ?" But " the Angel 
 of His presence" saves us : Greatly to our joy, Mr. Dodd is 
 enabled to disentangle himself and obtain the mastery over his 
 steed ; and, after a little, the other horse is secured. 
 
 Still trembling from the fright, but with hearts full of grati 
 tude for our preservation, we hasten to resume our march, 
 taking from the open bag sufficient to satisfy the cravings of 
 hunger should our lost appetites return. This little episode 
 has fatigued us more than many a day s journey. 
 
 We reach the small Koordish village of Oulash, in good 
 season. Here again the people persistently crowd around, 
 feeling of our garments, and talking all manner of gibberish, while 
 we inhale the disagreeable odor of their persons and breath. I 
 tell them that we wish to be alone awhile, when one of the 
 women exclaims, " She speaks Armenian !" and immediately 
 sends word to her son, a " reader in the church," who soon 
 
392 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 makes his appearance, and enters into conversation. He says, 
 in answer to my question, " We have no Bible in the house, but 
 there is one in the church." After hearing several hymns read 
 and explained, they reluctantly retire, and we are left to make 
 our preparations for the night in the one room which serves for 
 all the company. However, the great chimney furnishes suffi 
 cient ventilation, and we sleep soundly till day dawns. 
 
 THIRTEENTH DA Y. 
 
 We travel but four hours to-day, that we may make our stop 
 ping-place for Sunday at a convenient and comfortable khan. 
 The road becomes more and more wild and desolate as we 
 proceed on our journey. There is not a tree to be seen in any 
 direction, and very few flowers. A couplet of an old hymn fre 
 quently comes to mind : 
 
 " Lord, what a desert land is this 
 That yields us no supply." 
 
 It is mid-day when we reach " Deliklitash ;" there is no 
 khan in the village, and Mr. Dodd tries in vain to obtain 
 a room. We seat ourselves among the stones of the burial- 
 place at the edge of the village, and are quickly surrounded by 
 a company of women and children, many of whom are but half 
 clothed, and so diseased and filthy that the sight is sickening. 
 We are forced to turn our eyes away from misery which we 
 cannot relieve. 
 
 Meanwhile the cavass is canvassing the place, and, greatly to 
 our relief, after an hour of weary waiting, he makes his appear 
 ance, bringing word from the Mudir that we may occupy his 
 house, We find a large upper room, carpeted, and with a few 
 cushions ranged around the wall. A crowd of officious 
 
IIARPOOT. 393 
 
 hangers-on, " office-seekers" if not holders, surround us. The 
 great man comes to pay his respects. Coffee is made by his 
 " cup-bearer," who asks us for sugar to " sweeten them all 
 round." After a prolonged sitting, hisTurkship withdraws, and 
 we are left to enjoy a little quiet and freedom by ourselves. 
 
 This is the region of flat roofs : We saw at Sivas, for the 
 first time, a few specimens of " the grass upon the housetops, 
 which withereth afore it groweth up." 
 
 Hearing the usual cry of the muezzin, at sunset, and not hav 
 ing noticed a mosque in the little rude village, we look out, and 
 see him standing on a roof near by, where the people are col 
 lecting for worship. They come from adjoining roofs by means 
 of an inclined plane, or from below, by climbing a rough ladder. 
 When the " Imaum," or priest, arrives, the evening service 
 begins, and all unite in the act of devotion. It is a novel 
 sight. We watch with interest the simultaneous bowings, 
 kneelings, and final prostrations of the body toward Mecca; 
 and afterward listen to the explosive responses, the deep 
 " AMIN !" which every now and then bursts from the motley 
 congregation of men and boys as the priest rapidly proceeds 
 with his discourse. As soon as the service is ended, they 
 scamper off like so many school-boys let loose ; and we laugh 
 to see them going their several ways, clambering up and crowd 
 ing down in various attitudes. 
 
 FO UR TEE NTH DA Y. 
 
 Our next station, " Alijikhan," is said to be nine hours 
 distant. The road lies over rocks and mountains, and a cold, 
 piercing wind prevails during the day, which makes riding very 
 hard. After a few hours a heavy rain adds to our discomfort, 
 and the wind increases till it is like a terrific gale at sea. We 
 
 17* 
 
394 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 bend our heads to many a furious blast, which howls in our 
 "rigging" of rubber cloaks, and almost takes away our breath. 
 My gentle " Gray," a pony purchased at Sivas for the journey, 
 cannot endure this constant battling with the storm, and, when 
 it reaches its height, at the summit of a mountain, he resolutely 
 turns about and refuses to face such music ! In vain I urge him 
 on ; he is impervious to any appeal of the whip or other forceful 
 argument, and stands "stock-still," while the rest of the party, 
 unconscious of the dilemma, are fast vanishing from sight. The 
 situation is really becoming dangerous, for the way may be 
 lost; and, as a last resort, I try "moral suasion," putting my 
 head down by pony s ears, and stating the case, with many kind 
 pattings and soothing words. This works like a charm ! he 
 immediately turns and commences the steep descent, and ere 
 long, the other horses are seen in the distance. 
 
 The rain pours faster and faster, and, towards evening, wet, 
 cold, hungry, and nervously exhausted, we stop at a wretched 
 village. We are shown a room from which the family have just 
 been ousted by their " lord and master " for the sake of a few 
 piastres. The entrance is so dark that we can see nothing, 
 and, after groping about a little, stand still, and call for a guide 
 and a light. It is a narrow, filthy place, and the air is thick 
 with impurity from the stable, into which the door opens. But 
 we are very thankful for even this shelter from the storm. Our 
 damp outer garments are strung around the room, and we hover 
 over the smoky fire, sipping our tea and trying to look cheerful. 
 
 It is a night of troubled tossings. In the darkness, certain soft, 
 crawling creatures are dashed against the wall with a feeling 
 of desperation ! What they are we know not, nor care to know. 
 
 It is a good place to go from ; and, oh, how we revel in the 
 pure mountain breezes when once more on our way ! 
 
HARPOOT. 395 
 
 FIFTEENTH DA Y. 
 
 " To Hassan-Chilibe six hours;" says the genial muleteer 
 exchanged for the Turkish guard at Deliklitash. When we 
 approach the place he rides on in advance and secures a good, 
 almost new room for us in a private house, where we spend a 
 Sabbath of rest. Sarkis buys a tender lamb of a villager, and 
 has ample time to prepare food sufficient for several days. We 
 are all so thoroughly exhausted by the continued strain of the 
 last few days, that we conclude to stay in our clean, airy quar 
 ters over Monday. It is sweet to think and speak of the 
 " Lord of the way," who has provided such entertainment and 
 rest for His weary pilgrims. We read, and sing, and worship 
 in this secluded corner of the earth, far away from any temple 
 dedicated to our God ; but His presence fills our souls with 
 unspeakable peace. 
 
 To us remains nor place nor time, 
 Our country is in every clime ; 
 We can be calm and free from care 
 On any shore, since God is there." 
 
 Finding that our Koordish host can read, Mr. Dodd presents 
 him with a copy of the Gospels and Acts, in Arabo-Turkish, and 
 he at once seats himself in the doorway and reads aloud for a 
 long time, Sarkis explaining in a very simple manner. The 
 family are very quiet and do not intrude, but welcome us when 
 we ask permission to come in and see them at their work in 
 the large, low, rough-looking room at one end of the house. 
 
 There is an opening in the centre of the roof to let in the 
 light and let out the smoke which has so darkened the great 
 rafters. Under this aperture sits the "house-mother" baking 
 bread. Near her is a vessel of coals covered by a flat sheet of 
 
396 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 iron. She rolls out the dough in thin cakes about the size of a 
 common breakfast-plate, and with a quick motion deposits it 
 upon the heated iron. It is soon browned, and, \vich a wooden 
 spade, she slaps it upon the huge pile beside her on the bare 
 earth floor. This bread is unleavened, coarse, dark, and 
 gritty. We are very politely presented with several cakes and 
 urged to eat ; and, really, it is quite sweet and not at all 
 unpalatable. These people are more cleanly than any villagers 
 we have yet seen. A married daughter is busily employed at 
 a large carpet-loom, and we watch the slow and simple process 
 of forming the singular figures of the thick Koordish rugs and 
 carpets. Close by sits the aged grandmother, with distaff and 
 spindle, and one of the older children is winding yarn upon a 
 clumsy reel. We cannot converse with these women with any 
 freedom, for their stock of Armenian words is very limited ; but 
 they seem much pleased with our call, and are wonderfully 
 delighted with the picture in a book which we are reading, 
 the memoir of " Susan Underwood," by Mrs. Dr. Anderson. 
 While their heads are bent over the book which is to them such 
 a curiosity, we notice the singular workmanship of their 
 ornaments, necklaces, beads, and heavy bracelets of gold and 
 silver and long to tell them of treasures to be laid up in 
 Heaven, and ornaments of priceless worth. 
 
 Hearing a peculiar sound as we pass out of the door, we 
 look up, and see upon a neighboring " housetop " " two women 
 grinding at the mill." 
 
 EIGHTEENTH DA V. 
 
 It is the 3d of May. We again set forth upon our wind 
 ing way ; the morning is pleasant, though somewhat cloudy, 
 and the road very uneven ; now we are climbing rocks, and 
 
HARPOOT. 397 
 
 now descending through narrow mountain passes, frequently 
 meeting trains of camels, mules, and donkeys. 
 
 The mountain scenery of this region is truly magnificent. 
 There are grand gorges and chasms, vast rents in these ada 
 mantine walls, as if some mighty hand had torn them apart, 
 and made a path-way for the roaring cataracts and foaming 
 torrents which pour through them ; reminding one of the 
 sublime words of Habakuk, " He stood, and measured the 
 earth : he beheld, and drove asunder the nations : and the 
 everlasting mountains were scattered ; the perpetual hills did 
 bow : The mountains saw Thee, and they trembled : the 
 overflowing of the water passed by : the deep uttered His 
 voice, and lifted up His hands on high." We have with us a 
 foot-soldier as " guide and guard," while passing through 
 this desolate district, where bands of robbers sometimes 
 pounce upon unwary travelers. 
 
 After emerging from these wild passes, it is delightful to 
 come again upon the telegraph wires ; they link us to the 
 great, beating heart of the world which we seem to have left 
 so far behind ; and a sort of companionship is established 
 between us ! 
 
 The night is spent at a forsaken " Cafe " in " Hakim- 
 Khan," which we reach at an early hour. The old town 
 seems more respectable than any that we have seen since 
 leaving Sivas. Our wonder is often excited in traveling 
 through this desolate and unproductive region, with Harpoot 
 in view, that there should be any possible inducement here 
 for men to build a city. Yet that immense old Khan, near 
 by, upon whose roof a donkey is leisurely grazing, tells a 
 story of by-gone days, when, perhaps, its massive wails and 
 lofty arches echoed to the tread of stately kings, with their 
 
398 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 retinues, or the commanders of armies who have feasted 
 upon their spoils, leaving a desolate country in their track. 
 Over the great door-way is an inscription in Roman and 
 Arabic characteis. We enter the vast hall, and wander 
 among suites of desolate rooms with their broken fountains, 
 while fancy pictures the stern knights of olden time, in their 
 helmets and coats of mail ; or gay cavaliers, who may here 
 have laid aside their armor and given themselves to conviv 
 ial pleasures for a season. 
 
 We saunter to an open space on the outskirts of the town, 
 and are scarcely seated beneath the trees, when a number 
 of Rebekahs and Rachels, who are going to, or coming from 
 the public well, with their pitchers on their heads or shoul 
 ders, pause on their way, and soon draw near to see the 
 strangers. One of these bronzed maidens has a large ring in 
 her nose ; it is the first nose jewel that we have seen in Turkey. 
 They are particularly interested in comparing the whiteness 
 of our hands with their own, and their simplicity is very 
 child-like : Gloves are entirely new to them, and cause many 
 exclamations of surprise as they curiously gaze and chatter. 
 
 We find that the "old inhabitants of the land" have un 
 disputed possession of the two narrow shelves, or platforms, 
 where we bestow ourselves for the night, and " flea- 
 powder " is brought into abundant requisition ; a modern in 
 vention which they despise, and too often disregard! But 
 again we sing : " Our bondage here will end, by-and-by, 
 by-and-by !" 
 
 Mountains, mountains everywhere ! If we did not 
 know the part that they have to perform in equalizing the 
 temperature of the earth s surface, etc., etc., we should 
 be tempted to say, " What a waste!" Descending one of 
 
HARPOOT. 399 
 
 these lofty heights, we see a train of camels slowly passing 
 around the summit of another which lies in our route. The 
 rocky path seems but a narrow line, and those who are at 
 the highest point, appear to be treading in the air. We wait 
 for the caravan, rejoicing that we are not fated to meet 
 where neither train could find sufficient footing to allow 
 the other to pass, or even to turn and retrace their steps ! 
 The very thought of such a collision shakes our nerves. 
 
 Reaching " Argawan " at dusk, we find a good place, 
 a comfortable room, and are chatting over our tea about 
 the probable perplexity of the friends at Harpoot re 
 specting our movements, when Mr. H. N. Barnum walks in, 
 giving us a delightful surprise ! He has brought pleasant 
 notes from the missionary sisters, and fresh supplies for our 
 empty larder ; and his advent makes us feel that our long 
 and wearisome journey is indeed drawing to a close. 
 
 T WEN TIE TH DA Y THE E UPHRA TE S. 
 
 In leaving Argawan, we for the first time see women 
 churning .butter in a goat-skin, with the hairy side turned 
 in. It is suspended between two poles, and is pushed back 
 and forth by each woman in turn, very much like a child in 
 a swing. 
 
 We are but well on our way, when a new experience 
 befalls us; Mr. Dodd yields to the kind persuasion of 
 the brother who has joined us, to try a new horse, which 
 resents the exchange, and throws him and his saddle-bags 
 high in the air, and dashing furiously into a pond near by, 
 speeds away like the wind, through the fields beyond ! 
 When he is finally caught, there is a general state of insub 
 ordination among the other horses ; and mine deliberately 
 
400 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 lies down and rolls over, pinning me, for a moment, to the 
 ground, in dangerous proximity to the prancing steeds. 
 Truly, "ahorse is a vain thing for safety." All are again 
 mounted, after this little episode, when a storm of hail beats 
 about our heads, followed by rain. It is hard riding over 
 some of the rough places where we cannot walk. During our 
 luncheon, in a wild, romantic spot, the gentlemen are obliged 
 to hold their horses, lest another outbreak should occur. 
 
 We are passing over a high bluff at half-past four o clock 
 in the afternoon, when lo ! at our feet, a swift-rolling, tur 
 bid, yellow stream, with steep banks rising on the opposite 
 shore! It is the Euphrates "that Great River" along 
 whose flowery path our first parents strayed in the happy 
 days of primeval innocence. How changed the face of 
 nature since that blissful time ! It oppresses one with a 
 feeling of sadness akin to that of the captives who hung 
 their harps upon the willows which shaded its banks in far 
 away Babylon, and sat down to weep, saying, " How shall 
 we sing the Lord s song in a strange land?" The river has 
 evidently receded from its bed ; it is not more than a quar 
 ter of a mile wide at this point, and the shore is so devoid 
 of vegetation, that one can scarcely find a leaf or flower 
 worthy of preservation as a memento. 
 
 The rude ferry-boat now touches the land, and we scram 
 ble in; the higher .order of creation taking possession of a 
 narrow elevation at the upper end, while the lower order, 
 in the shape of horses, mules, donkeys, etc., fill the larger 
 space within the clumsy old "scow." The men push off 
 with their long poles, and it is slowly worked across the 
 rushing, muddy current. 
 
 We are all safely landed, scale the steep ascent, and pass 
 
iiARrooT. 401 
 
 through a quaint, yet pleasant place called " Gaban Maden," 
 where vegetation is rank, and trees are very abundant. A help 
 er is stationed here, at whose house we spend the night. While 
 we are resting, Mr. Richardson, of Arabkir, makes his ap 
 pearance, giving us another pleasant surprise. Maden is one 
 of his out-stations, and he has come to meet us, and look 
 after it. Mr. Barnum is now holding an evening service in 
 the humble chapel. We find that the helper s wife, who was 
 for eight months in the school at Harpoot, has twenty pu 
 pils, whom she teaches three days each week. After some 
 conversation with her and a few Protestant women who have 
 called to see us, we partake of a simple supper, followed by 
 evening worship, when we join in singing, " Thus far the 
 Lord hath led me on," and raise another " Ebenezer " to 
 His praise. Our good host and hostess are very kind, but 
 evidently somewhat puzzled to provide lodgings for so 
 many guests ; and they have sent out to borrow some beds 
 of their neighbors ! We seem to have come into another 
 climate ; it is so warm that most of our party prefer sleeping 
 in the open air, where, however, they fall an easy prey to 
 the gnats and sand-flies, who have already commenced their 
 Summer carnival. 
 
 THE TWENTY-FIRST, AND LAST DA Y. 
 It is now Friday, the 6th of May, and the last day of our 
 journey ! We start at an early hour in the morning, and 
 passing out of the town, are soon clattering over the atrocious 
 " Turkish pavement," on a side-hill, above the rapid stream 
 at our right. Here we meet " Asiz Pasha," with his harem and 
 train of attendants. There are three "moffahs," (covered boxes, 
 with seats, swung over a horse s back,) for the favored beau- 
 
402 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ties, and the rest are carefully veiled, and mounted on horses 
 or mules. The stones of the pavement are broad, and worn 
 so smooth, that our horses are constantly slipping, and one of 
 them falls ; it is hardly safe to ride, and yet we can scarcely 
 maintain our own footing, and might easily be precipitated into 
 the roaring current below ! My horse has lost one of his shoes, 
 and the other makes a painful clattering, soon following its 
 companion. We are two or more hours in passing over 
 this part of the road, and gladly leave it to enter upon the 
 plain. 
 
 It is a long day; and when, at last, it draws to a 
 close, and the lights and shadows of evening begin to play 
 over hill, and vale, and mountain, we spy our Harpoot 
 friends watching for us upon the summit of a hill. Mr. 
 Wheeler is there at the head of the Girls School; Mr. 
 Allen with the young men of the Seminary, and Mrs. Allen 
 and Mrs. Barnum, mounted on white donkeys : Besides 
 the pastor and his wife, (one of my former pupils,) and a 
 crowd of men, women, and children of the Sunday-School 
 and day-schools, who greet us with a joyous song of wel 
 come. The meeting with these brothers and sisters is like 
 a home-reception at " Thanksgiving time ! " 
 
 Slowly, slowly, the procession winds around the numerous 
 hills, over a narrow road built by the students ; with here 
 and there glimpses of the vast plain which stretches a thou 
 sand feet below the barren, rocky heights upon which the 
 city is built, and the snow - capped mountains beyond, 
 which enclose that " GARDEN OF EDEN," with its many 
 villages peeping out from their trees and vineyards ! 
 Gladly we turn the last curve, pass the Chapel and Seminary, 
 around the corner by the " Barnum cottage," and into the 
 
HARPOOT. 403 
 
 court-yard of the Konak, where we meet the smiling 
 face of Mrs. Wheeler, who helps us up the steps into her 
 cosy parlor, and bids us " WELCOME TO HARPOOT ! " 
 
 At last, we have reached the goal of our hopes : the 
 point to which our longing eyes have been directed for 
 nearly three weeks ! It now seems to me that I shall be 
 compelled to stay here the rest of my days ; that nothing 
 would tempt me to retrace the weary way, especially that 
 climax of slipping, and straining of nerves and muscles, in 
 the fearful road by Maden. It is an aggravation to think 
 that the distance of 350 or 400 miles, which we have 
 traversed, as it were by inches, could easily have been ac 
 complished by rail within twenty-four hours ! That, had 
 the Turks a spark of modern enterprise, there might be a 
 railway direct from Trebizond, a distance of 175 miles, and 
 the entire journey from Constantinople would require but 
 from three to four days ! 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 EDEN. 
 
 E are recovering from the reaction which invariably 
 follows a prolonged period of travel in this country, 
 and the excitement consequent upon finding our 
 selves in a strange place, amid new surroundings. It is not 
 easy for some natures to transplant their interests and affec 
 tions ; and as we look out upon this dingy, treeless city 
 of Harpoot, where houses, walls, and streets are of one 
 uniform clay-color, our thoughts lovingly and yearningly 
 turn toward the green shades of Marsovan ; and the dreary 
 prospect before us sends momentary tides of desolation 
 through the heart. But we ascend to a higher plane of 
 vision, standing upon the flat-roof of the konak, and look 
 ing southward, beyond our immediate surroundings, upon a 
 smiling plain a thousand feet below, which extends a distance 
 of 60 miles from East to West, dotted all over with towns and 
 villages, and encircled by magnificent mountain ranges, whose 
 snow-crowned summits, sixty miles away, tower above their less 
 stately neighbors. A lovely lake, like that of Galilee, sleeps 
 within their embrace; a branch of the Euphrates curves 
 its gleaming arm around this wondrous mosaic of emerald 
 and agate, carnelian and onyx, with the golden sunlight 
 resting upon embowered villages, of which we count 
 (404) 
 
EDEN. 405 
 
 twenty-five without, and fifty with the aid of a glass, 
 their beaten paths crossing and recrossing the plain, in 
 every direction. 
 
 It may indeed have been, as the people say, " the very 
 Garden of Eden," where Adam and Eve together watched the 
 opening of blushing flowers and the ripening of luscious fruits, 
 after the marriage ceremony " the crowning," as the Orientals 
 call it had been performed ; for, " in the day that God 
 created man male and female created He them, and BLESSED 
 THEM, and CALLED THEIR NAME ADAM." Here, perhaps, they 
 plucked and ate the forbidden fruit, whose prolific seeds have 
 borne bitter harvest all over the face of the wide, wide world ! 
 
 And this lost Paradise, so long trodden under foot by the 
 Destroyer, " her hedges broken down, so that all they which pass 
 by the way do pluck her, wasted by the boar out of the wood, and 
 devoured by the wild beast of the field :" This vineyard, 
 planted "eastward" by God s "right hand" at the opening 
 of man s history (" a river went out to water it ;" and from 
 thence it was parted and became four heads ; and the fourth 
 river is " Euphrates :") This long-deserted Garden is to be 
 "regained" for the "second Adam," and made to "blossom 
 as the rose ;" to " blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy 
 and singing ; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the 
 excellency of Carmel and Sharon ; and the REDEEMED shall 
 walk there." 
 
 It is a grand, an inspiring outlook. Descending from this 
 elevation, which has so quickened our faith and zeal, we enter 
 the school-room, where fifteen boarders and fifteen day pupils, 
 with the wives of the students, are gathered in what was once 
 a great stable underneath the main building. Here is our 
 work, a garden of God s own planting ; vines to be trained for 
 
406 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 a harvest of " much fruit " and perpetual self-propagation. Mr. 
 Wheeler introduces Miss Fritcher and myself to our new 
 pupils, and their smiling faces express unfeigned gladness. 
 Elbice, the assistant teacher, was my pupil in Constantinople, 
 and she gives me a special welcome. We are shown the five 
 or six small lodging-rooms opening from a corridor leading to 
 the school-garden ; and, at the end by which we entered, the 
 little dining-room, with the assistant teacher s sleeping closet 
 opening from it, and the kitchen adjoining. This latter part is 
 all new, built beneath the little parlor and bedroom prepared 
 for the missionary teacher, with a flight of stairs leading from 
 the narrow passage to her door. 
 
 The konak is a large, substantial native house, mostly 
 built against a side-hill, and facing the south, with an enclosure 
 on the west containing a pleasant terrace, and the school play 
 ground below ; the cottage occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Barnum 
 standing at its extremity, on the lower street, and the stable 
 between the two. The place was purchased some years ago of 
 an Armenian merchant who had failed in business, and was glad 
 to dispose of it for a merely nominal sum to Mr. Dunmore, who 
 first selected Harpoot as a centre of missionary operations, and 
 laid the early foundation of the work in this region. Its situa 
 tion, at one extremity of the city, is in many respects very 
 advantageous. Opening a little gate at the end of the terrace 
 next the " sacred corner," hallowed -by those who have 
 " fallen asleep," we pass through the grounds surrounding 
 the neat-looking chapel, and find in its large, airy, upper 
 roonis, a company of twenty or thirty students, mostly of ma 
 ture years, gathered from various parts of Armenia and Me 
 sopotamia, who are preparing to teach the gospel to their 
 countrymen. 
 
EDEN. 407 
 
 Mr. Allen is the principal teacher, though Mr. Barnum and 
 Mr. Wheeler each share to some extent in the instruction of 
 certain classes. 
 
 From the Theological Seminary we turn to another and quite 
 important class of this community of perhaps one hundred souls, 
 centered here for Christian training. The row of humble dwell 
 ings on the street close by, are mostly occupied by the married 
 students and their families, while they are under missionary 
 instruction. In one of these rooms a number of simply con 
 structed hammocks are swung across each angle, and from side 
 to side. Every hammock contains a baby ; and on the bits 
 of carpet, and scattered cushions, are seated the one, two, 
 or three-year-old children, attended by a motherly woman and 
 one or two of her daughters. This is the "primary depart 
 ment " of the " university." 
 
 It is a quarter past eight in the morning. The chapel bell* 
 is sounding its clear tones over the Harpoot hills the signal 
 for the pupils of both schools to assemble ; and from the house, 
 top, we watch them as they begin to answer the summons. 
 Some of the mothers are hastening to deposit their infants in 
 the general nursery, and hurrying off the older children to the 
 day-school; while others, not so cumbered with care, are more 
 leisurely setting forth. The city girls may be seen ascending 
 or descending some steep street, and here and there joining 
 their companions. A group of women, clad in their native 
 costume, with a dark kerchief thrown over the head for a veil, 
 draw near, some studying and others knitting by the way. 
 
 Half-past eight o clock. The outer door is now closed, ami 
 the tardy ones must wait in the court-yard till after prayers. All 
 
 * Which is simply a bar of steel, suspended above the chapel roof, 
 and struck by a mallet. 
 
408 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 are in their seats, with the open Bible lying on the desks before 
 them. We enter. They rise and respond to our morning 
 salutation. A portion of Scripture is read, in turn, followed 
 by a brief comment and personal application of its truths ; and, 
 after a song of praise, we bow around the Mercy-Seat to ask 
 the Spirit s guidance and the Father s blessing for the new 
 day. 
 
 Twenty minutes have passed, and at the stroke of the bell, 
 the various primary classes file off, right and left, with mili 
 tary precision, to their recitation-rooms, and the first class 
 seat themselves in a row, on the floor, in front of the table, 
 for a Bible lesson. Recitations in arithmetic, geography, 
 grammar, reading and spelling, fill up the morning hours, 
 with a ten or fifteen minutes recess, when the mothers go to 
 the " Nursery " to look after their little ones : An hour s 
 intermission takes place at noon, after which they again 
 assemble : A general exercise in writing, followed by Jones s 
 catechism, and a little astronomy and moral science for those 
 who are sufficiently advanced, varied by exercises in singing 
 and spelling, fill up the time till four o clock, when the school 
 closes with prayer, and the women hasten home to prepare 
 the evening meal for their husbands and children. Miss 
 Fritcher has taken charge of the domestic department, and 
 classes in arithmetic and geography, while perfecting her 
 knowledge of Armenian, and I assume the religious instruc 
 tion, and general discipline of the school. 
 
 SA NI TA R Y S URR UN DINGS. 
 
 Spring has advanced into Summer, and the chilling rains 
 of May, which came in almost regular succession every after 
 noon, have given place to warm breezes and unclouded sun- 
 
EDEN. 409 
 
 shine. The people now sleep at night upon their flat roofs ; 
 and it is quite interesting, sometimes amusing, to note the 
 unique arrangements of the various families dwelling on the 
 slope of the hill below us. Occasionally an Armenian who 
 is more openly zealous for the faith than his neighbors, offers 
 his evening prayers upon the house-top, so loudly that all 
 who choose may hear him, a type of the self satisfied Phari 
 see of olden time. 
 
 The atmosphere is very dry, and full of electricity ; and if 
 only the people of this city understood and applied sanitary 
 principles to their surroundings, Harpoot might be one of 
 the most healthful towns in all the East : Its situation 
 so high above the level of the plain is admirably 
 adapted for such regulations; but the great want of the 
 place is water, and when a sweet shower softly distils its 
 blessed dews, instead of the fragrant incense ascending to 
 heaven from springing grass and grateful herb, the air is 
 filled with noisome exhalations from open and stagnant 
 sewers, reeking with long-time accumulation of filth ! The 
 narrow pipes almost impossible to cleanse extending far 
 underneath this old house, add their full quantum within, to 
 the vile odors without, when summer heat is at its height ; 
 and there is no escape from the slow poison, which will sure 
 ly make itself felt at no distant day, in undermining the 
 physical system of those who, sleeping or waking, inhale it 
 with every breath. This, however, is, to a greater or less ex 
 tent, the case with almost all of the houses occupied by mis 
 sionaries in Turkey; and it undoubtedly has much to do 
 with the failure of health. 
 
 If Marsovan is famous as the " capital of fleadom," surely 
 Harpoot is entitled to equal celebrity, for their renowned con- 
 i8 
 
410 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 freres the U B flats " have here taken up their seat of em 
 pire ! and when sand-flies, gnats, and mosquitoes, to say 
 nothing of an occasional scorpion or centipede, are added to 
 the fraternity of plagues, on these suffocating Summer 
 nights, sleep is a very difficult, if not impossible task to sen 
 sitive mortals ! The rooms below were first occupied by the 
 students of the Seminary, who now rejoice in their more airy 
 and healthful quarters above the chapel, where they catch 
 every breeze that sweeps over the hill-country beyond, and 
 enjoy a fine and extensive view of sky and mountain 
 scenery. Our school - room is spacious, and somewhat 
 chapel-like, with its two substantial pillars in the centre, 
 its neatly white-washed walls, with a space colored black, 
 extending around the sides, to serve for various crayon ex 
 ercises, its ceiling of uneven rafters, the trunks of trees 
 from which the bark was simply peeled, good board floor 
 and comfortable chairs and desks ; but its low position, and 
 small, high windows at one side, opening upon a close, nar 
 row street, shut in from the breezes by a wall of houses op 
 posite, affords very small chance for free ventilation. We open 
 the door into the court-yard in front, but that is surrounded 
 "by a high wall and the " door of the gate " kept closed ; and 
 the door at the end of the corridor opposite, leading into the 
 little play-ground, but that is bounded by the stable ! And 
 with such a company to occupy the room during the hottest 
 part of the day, it is no wonder if the air is, at times, almost 
 stifling, especially to one who returns to it after a little 
 absence in the upper regions! It becomes very evident that 
 my health will not long endure this heavy atmosphere; and 
 noticing how it overcomes with drowsiness the women who 
 are unaccustomed to the confinement of a sedentary life, I 
 
EDEN. 411 
 
 frequently send them out to shake themselves, Samson-like, 
 and recover strength ! 
 
 A FREE LECTURE ON CLEANLINESS. 
 
 So it comes about that on one of the Wednesday after 
 noons appropriated to general exercises, I arm myself with a 
 pair of bellows, for illustration, and propose a plain and 
 simple lecture on the air, and the office of the lungs, intend 
 ing to wind up with a practical lesson on personal cleanliness. 
 
 This is something new ; curiosity is aroused, and the 
 women are now all wide - awake. I must simplify and 
 illustrate as to children, for many of them were perfectly ig 
 norant when admitted to the school ; some of them are con 
 siderably older than myself; one is the mother of twelve 
 children, and one is a grandmother! Their husbands were 
 selected because of their fitness for the ministry, but the 
 wives had to be taken just as they were, whatever the mate 
 rial ; and we must make the most of it, that they may be true 
 help-mates to their companions when placed over a vineyard 
 of the Lord. Holding up the bellows, I inquire its use ; and 
 many voices answer, " To keep the fire going ; to make the 
 fire burn !" " Well, now I am going to tell you about a pair 
 of bellows that God has given every one of you to keep the fire 
 of life burning in your bodies." I find that some of the 
 older women do not know the Armenian word for lungs : 
 But after puffing the air with the bellows, and explaining 
 how we take it in and give it out, through the agency of 
 those internal organs, they seem to understand ; and I pro 
 ceed to speak of pure air, and the change it undergoes after 
 it is taken into the human system : how the refuse the 
 spoiled air is rejected, for a fresh supply of fuel which will 
 
412 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 bring roses to the cheeks, brightness to the eyes, and vigor 
 to the brain. 
 
 From this I show what happens when the pure air is ex 
 hausted, in a poorly-ventilated room, or church, where many 
 people are gathered for an hour or two : how dull and heavy 
 they become, because all the good air is used up ; and since 
 they must go on breathing, are compelled to take in, and use 
 over again, what they and their neighbors have already re 
 jected ! No \vonder if some of the more delicate ones go 
 home with a headache, or dizziness, after inhaling such 
 poison ! " What would you think of putting food into your 
 mouth which another had masticated?" Ugh ! the looks of 
 digust, and unmistakable shrinking, and shrugging of shoul 
 ders, plainly show what my simple-minded audience think 
 of this strong, if not coarse figure. But I am perfectly will 
 ing to disgust them, for their ultimate good : Inveterate 
 diseases require strong remedies. I next speak of other things 
 that render the air impure : the habit, so common among 
 Orientals, of sleeping in the clothing worn during the day, 
 and of bathing, and combing the hair but once a fortnight, 
 or even a month ! 
 
 This leads to a talk about the important office of the skin, 
 with its millions of pores minute breathing-places; and 
 the cleanliness, so essential to health and happiness ; that 
 our Maker has given us a faithful sentinel to warn us of 
 danger, in the delicate olfactory nerves. After speaking of 
 the absolute necessity of a purer atmosphere in the school 
 room, if they wish me to stay and teach them, and stating 
 my own habits in this regard, I propose that they should 
 take a sponge-bath, and also comb their hair every day. 
 Thus far, the pupils, especially the women, have listened 
 
EDEN. 413 
 
 with absorbing interest : but now, many hands are raised, 
 and when permission to speak is given, one and another 
 says, * But how can we bathe, when we have but one room, 
 and all the family sleep there ?" " To be sure ; but the men 
 first rise and go out, do they not ? Where there s a will, 
 there s a way! Get behind the door, under your sheet; 
 dip your towel in water, and half wring it out, apply it vig 
 orously for two or three minutes, and the thing is done ! 
 And if you go to the public bath once a fortnight, for a reg 
 ular soaking and steaming, you will need nothing more in 
 that line." 
 
 "But about our hair; how can we comb it every day, 
 when it takes such a time to braid it ?" " I suppose you 
 must learn to do without so many fine braids; you know 
 what the Book says, Not with plaited hair; if it takes so 
 much time, and interferes with higher duties, I should say 
 that it must give way to a simple coil, or two or three large 
 braids beneath your ordinary head-dress." This seems 
 rather hard ; it is a breaking away from customs handed down 
 from time immemorial, and they look sober over the prospect ; 
 but I proceed to expatiate upon cleanliness of clothing. 
 Finding that very few have sufficient changes, the following 
 plan is laid before them : " Lay aside at night, where the 
 air will play upon it, as much as possible of the clothing 
 worn during the day; if you have but two suits, change 
 every day, exposing to the sun and wind that which has 
 been worn one day, that it may be resumed the next, ending 
 on Saturday when you wear your cast-off garments with a 
 general washing of the whole ; removing far from your dwell 
 ings all decaying vegetable and animal matter, and thor- 
 ughly cleansing your rooms, that everything may be sweet 
 
4H THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and pure for God s eye on His holy day : You may optn 
 your Bibles and read His own words on the subject: Dent, 
 xxiii. 14 : l For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of 
 thy camp to deliver thee : therefore shall thy camp be holy : 
 that He see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from 
 thee. " The question is now put, " Will you accept, and 
 carry into practice these simple regulations?" After much 
 hesitation, and many doubts expressed by the women, they 
 all agree to try them for one week. . . . The trial proves 
 satisfactory, and when put to vote, the "Rules of Cleanli 
 ness " are unanimously adopted by the school. A marked 
 change is ere long effected in the atmosphere of the school 
 room, and a no less apparent transformation in the clearer 
 complexions and brighter eyes of our pupils who are learn 
 ing that " Cleanliness is next to Godliness." 
 
 A " bodily exercise " (which profiteth mitcJi) is now added 
 to the morning programme, somewhat after this fashion : 
 " Any one who has broken the l Rules of Cleanliness may- 
 rise." Ten or a dozen women and girls are on their feet: 
 "What have you done, Mariam?" "I came without comb 
 ing my hair." "What is your excuse?" " I had to go down 
 to the fountain for water many times this morning, and my 
 time was little." " Tahkoohi, what is your offense?" " My 
 dress had a rent in it." " Why did you not mend it ?" " I 
 had no time." "Well, Sara, what have you to say?" " My 
 dress appears dirty; it is faded, and will not look clean!" 
 "Anna, which rule have you broken?" "I did not bathe 
 this morning!" "Why not?" "Truly, Varzhoohi, it was 
 not possible ; we lodged in one of the villages last night, and 
 there were fifteen or twenty others who slept in the same 
 room, and I couldn t find a corner anywhere !" This excites 
 
EDEN. 415 
 
 a smile. Another says that her stockings were not mended, 
 or her apron was soiled, and so on: And after a few words, 
 suited to each case, the examination, which ha-, occupied 
 ten or fifteen minutes, closes, and the " court is dismissed." 
 
 Months pass away, and our pupils return from a long va 
 cation. When I inquire whether they have kept up the 
 practice of daily bathing, etc., many of them say with much 
 emphasis : " We could not get along without it ! We are so 
 much stronger, and feel so much better for it in every way, 
 that we just kept on the same as in school-time!" This is 
 very pleasant ; and it is still more gratifying when, a com 
 mon sentiment being established in the school, the rules can 
 be dropped, and the pupils thrown upon their moral re 
 sponsibility. Self-government, in this particular, really 
 works too vigorously for the comfort of new-comers, 
 who are at once told, by pupils more zealous than wise, 
 " You will be expected to comb your hair and bathe every 
 day, in this school ; and no one comes with soiled or torn 
 dress, or unmended stockings !" etc., etc., quite overwhelming 
 the poor bodies at the outset, with what, to themselves, was 
 a gradual revolution. But if all these women train their 
 children in these healthful habits, and by their example and 
 influence, introduce the same among surrounding families, 
 what a blessed thing for the next generation ! 
 
 VISITS AMONG THE FAMILIES, AND HOME-SCENES. 
 One of our good, simple-minded women has been absent 
 from school for a few days, and toward evening of a warm Sum 
 mer day, we pay her a visit. We find her lying on a humble 
 couch spread on the floor in the scantily-furnished apart 
 ment, and by her side a queer little bundle, looking like a 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 veritable mummy. On inspection, it proves to be " number 
 thirteen !" a black-eyed, dark-complexioned boy-baby. Five 
 other children are playing about the room ; the oldest boy is 
 away, and six of the original twelve have died. The mother 
 is thirty-six or thirty-seven years of age ; her husband was a 
 useful pioneer among the villages, before receiving any special 
 training from the missionaries; but Mariam was considered 
 exceedingly stupid and indolent. Her mind is certainly not 
 very strong, but it has wonderfully waked up since she en 
 tered the school. Hovsep says that when the babe was but two 
 days old, she was up and performed an example in arithme 
 tic upon her slate ; and that she would have been back again in 
 her class before the week was ended, had she not suffered 
 from an attack of ague and fever caused by eating a large, 
 raw, unpeeled cucumber ! On our way home, we call upon 
 Teurfanda, the grandmother among our pupils : A large, 
 motherly-looking woman, of perhaps forty-two years. She is 
 briskly at work in her tidy house, surrounded by her well- 
 ordered and interesting family. Both husband and son are 
 in the Seminary, the former having been for years a helper. 
 Teurfanda finds it more difficult to ascend the u hill of sci 
 ence," even far enough to be able to read her loved Bible, 
 than to perform any amount of physical labor ; but she 
 prays, and perseveres, stumbling along most wofully in her 
 combinations of the thirty-eight Armenian letters, but yet 
 pressing onward, and learning much from the general exer 
 cises of the school, and listening to recitations in which she 
 cannot take a part. 
 
 Descending the hill, we stop at a house where t\vo or three 
 families have each a room. The first room is occupied by a 
 couple who have been married but a few months. The hus- 
 
EDEN. 417 
 
 band is in the senior class of the Seminary, and it is hoped 
 will prove a useful minister of the Word. Shumon is a fresh, 
 comely woman, about twenty-eight years of age ; her face in 
 dicates character and intelligence. We esteem her one of 
 our choicest gems. She was a widow, and her daughter, 
 twelve years old, is one of our boarders, mother and child 
 being in the same class. The desire of her heart has been 
 granted in coming to the school, and it is delightful to see 
 how she drinks in instruction from the Word of God. Her 
 selfish, grasping relatives stripped her of all her household 
 effects when she married a Protestant, taking even her 
 personal ornaments in defiance of the law; but though 
 left so destitute of worldly goods, her room almost bare, 
 but perfectly neat, we hear not one complaint, or peti 
 tion for aid, only the overflowings of her heart s content. 
 She and her husband are truly of one heart and one mind ; 
 and referring to this, in the fulness and simplicity of her 
 soul, she says, with charming modesty, " I often wonder if 
 ever two people were happier than we !" then, as if fearing 
 she had said too much, a blush mounts to her face, and she 
 adds, " Of course, I don t mean in your country, but in this 
 land, among our countrymen and women !" It is a most re 
 freshing and genuine bit of the poetry of life, and speaks 
 volumes for the elevating, refining power of a living Christian 
 ity. We have time for but one more call. As we enter the 
 door, two bright, active children run to tell mother that the 
 teachers have come. Elmas leaves her cooking, and wel 
 comes us with a beaming face. What a contrast to her ap 
 pearance when first admitted to the school ! Then so 
 coarse, so stupid, and utterly ignorant, that she seemed but 
 a moving, breathing clod of clay, beside her wide-awake, in- 
 1 8* 
 
418 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 telligent-looking husband ; and I almost queried if indeed it 
 enshrined a soul, to be awaked from its lethargy ! But even 
 learning the alphabet appeared to inspire her with self- 
 respect, and raise her a few degrees above the " donkey 
 race," as women are termed in the benighted region from 
 which she came. And as the Summer wore away, a new 
 light began to play over her face; the awakened soul shone 
 from the eyes, her person and apparel received more atten 
 tion, and by-and-by, when she came attired in a new print 
 dress, to attend one of the more private and informal exami 
 nations of the school, her fresh, rosy face looked wholesome, if 
 not handsome, and many marveled at the change. We do not 
 expect that Elmas will acquire much more of book-learning 
 than the ability to read her Bible, write her husband a letter 
 when he is away from home, and keep their small household 
 accounts ; but even this much will cause her to be looked 
 upon by the women of her native village, as highly educated ; 
 at least for a few years, until the standard is raised. 
 
 Meanwhile, her mind and heart are constantly expanding, 
 and her conscience becoming enlightened in the new atmos 
 phere to which she has been introduced ; and we trust that 
 an enduring Christian character is being slowly, but surely 
 built up, through the invisible teaching of the Spirit of all 
 truth. 
 
 What a new world is opened to such an one ! The com 
 monest words of her language must seem instinct with a life 
 and meaning never before known : Wife, husband, mother, 
 children, love, God, heaven : and the reality, the blessed ex 
 perience, of a " house " changed to a " home / * Ah ! it must 
 
 * The Eastern languages have no word for home, because they lack 
 the thing ! 
 
EDEN. 419 
 
 indeed seem like being born into another kingdom ! How 
 does mere human knowledge, earthly wisdom, sink in com 
 parison with that " from above," which produces such fruits 
 in the heart and life. Alas ! for those born and reared be 
 neath the full blaze of Christian light and truth, who lightly 
 esteem this heavenly wisdom ; who have " forgotten God, 
 and burned incense to vanity;" their one life spent in min 
 istry to self, in disappointed dreams, and 
 
 " Reveries so airy, with the toil 
 Of dropping buckets into empty wells, 
 And growing old in drawing nothing up." 
 
 How will these Armenian women, who have gladly re 
 ceived but the crumbs which fall from the Master s table, 
 ** rise up in the judgment and condemn them !" 
 
 SUMMER TRIPS. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler and Mr. Barnum attended the an 
 nual meeting of the " Eastern Turkey Mission," which was 
 held in Erzeroom. They returned to us toward the close of 
 June, after a hard journey, in which they really suffered 
 for want of food. Bread was scarce, and poor, and so coarse 
 and dark, that one would imagine the bit they kept as a 
 specimen, to be merely a piece of old, smoky plaster ! 
 
 They were accompanied by two village girls, to be trained 
 in this school for a distant Station. But these fresh candi 
 dates brought with them so much of " animal life," that we 
 were almost in despair at the sight : their hair and clothing 
 fairly swarmed with one of the plagues of Egypt ! Of course, 
 they were at once sent to the public bath ; but that did not 
 cure the evil, and unceasing vigilance was required on our 
 part, to keep the enemy at bay, during the months of their 
 
420 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 stay : They also proved very deficient in moral sense, and 
 finally, after much patient toil had been bestowed upon 
 unfruitful soil, they were returned to their homes. 
 
 Both schools have a brief vacation in mid-summer, and at 
 its commencement, there comes an urgent invitation from 
 our friends at Arabkir to attend the installation of a former 
 Harpoot student, over the church in that city : Mr. Allen 
 is the only Missionary who can leave, and Miss F. and I, 
 with one of the helpers, accompany him, starting on Wednes 
 day, after an early tea, riding two hours to the village of 
 Heulakegh, where we spend the night. The missionaries 
 have here a " little chamber on the wall," with a bed, a ta 
 ble, a stool, and a candlestick, such as the good woman of 
 Shunem prepared for the prophet Elisha : And whoever 
 comes to spend the Sunday, in teaching and preaching, will 
 find a clean and quiet corner. We, however, decide to 
 sleep upon the roof, and extra beds and coverings are bor 
 rowed for our use. But the fleas, and the sand-flies more 
 tormenting than mosquitoes, "who say grace before their 
 meals " added to the heavy " yorghan," or " comfortable," 
 make us very uncomfortable ! And the novelty of the po 
 sition, the deep blue heavens arching over us, and the full- 
 orbed harvest moon sailing in stately splendor as queen of 
 the night, can scarcely atone for these discomforts, and we 
 heartily rejoice when the first rays of morning gild the hori 
 zon, and the air is filled with the household chatter of in 
 numerable mother-birds who are training their young to use 
 their wings. We prepare our tea, boil a few eggs, and with 
 other eatables which we brought with us, make a famous 
 breakfast, followed by " family worship," all on the house 
 top, in the quiet dawn. Then, mounting our horses, we 
 
EDEN. 421 
 
 sally forth for the day s journey, avoiding the worst part of 
 it as we approach Gaban-Maden, by passing through a ravine 
 in the partially dry bed of the stream, which we cross and 
 recross many times. We stop at noon, under the shade of a 
 large tree, bathe our feet in the rippling water, and after 
 partaking of a luncheon, enjoy a refreshing sleep. The 
 night is spent at Maden, and in the morning we again cross 
 the Euphrates. The heat is excessive, and we long for a 
 cooling bath in the sacred river. But learning that none of 
 the missionaries have ever enjoyed the luxury, we put away 
 the thought. Our good, quiet brother, however, intends to 
 gratify the desire, and when we are safely landed on the 
 other side, he slips away for a few moments, and returning, 
 informs us of a secluded spot beyond the rocks, where we 
 may safely bathe, kindly offering to hold our horses while we 
 are gone, and charging us not to venture too far into the 
 rapid current. We provide ourselves with the necessary ap 
 parel, and soon find a pleasant cove under the rocks. And 
 oh ! the luxury of bathing in the cool, clear water, after all 
 the uncomfortable, steaming heat of the morning ! We revel 
 in it, and in the associations connected with the stream, 
 wondering whether " Mother Eve " enjoyed it any more 
 than we ; and how she arranged her dripping tresses, as she 
 bent over the pure current that mirrored back the love 
 liness, which we cannot help wishing had been bequeathed 
 to us her daughters ! Hastily gathering some shining peb 
 bles, as mementoes of the spot, we finish our toilet, and re 
 turn to the patient brother, feeling almost as cystic and 
 rejuvenated, as if we had indeed bathed in the " fountain of 
 perpetual youth !" We find no trees to cast a grateful shade 
 over our pathway, as we resume our journey northward, and 
 
422 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 realize the full force of the words which convey so much to 
 summer travelers in this country, " The shadow of a great 
 rock in a weary land." 
 
 At mid-day we rest, for a little, by a wayside fountain ; 
 and our good missionary brother makes a canopy for us by 
 extending his traveling shawl from it, to a pile of stones which 
 he has gathered for the purpose ; when we depart, we leave 
 the " heap " as our " Ebenezer," according to the custom of 
 the country. The afternoon ride is pleasanter, through 
 harvest fields where the reapers are busy, and women and 
 children are gleaning after them ; and through green meadows 
 with silent streams gliding through, whose presence is only 
 known by the verdure which marks their course. Our ap 
 proach to a harvest-field is always marked by the coming forth 
 of a man or boy, bringing in his hand a little sheaf of wheat, 
 which he presents to us as the "first fruits, "expecting a 
 " backsheesh " in return. This is an ancient custom, and a 
 few paras are usually bestowed as an encouragement to the 
 cultivators of the soil. 
 
 AKABfCIR, AND THE ORDINATION. 
 
 We reach Arabkir soon after the sunsetting, and gaze with 
 delight upon the wealth of living green in which it is em 
 bowered, in the bosom of a lovely valley, and reaching up 
 the slope of the surrounding hills. A few wheat-fields with 
 their golden harvest, gleam amid their emerald setting, in 
 the heart of the town, and the contrast to Harpoot is as 
 striking as it is refreshing. It appears that the old city was 
 deserted during a time of civil war and oppression, when 
 troops were quartered upon the people, and they fled to their 
 gardens and vineyards, a few miles distant. Here, also, we 
 
EDEN. 423 
 
 find narrow streets and fearfully rough pavements ; and af 
 ter a long, rambling ride up and down through the place, 
 Mr. Richardson comes forth to meet us, and we gladly dis 
 mount at the door of a cottage, which looks so home-like, 
 that our hearts bound at the sight ; at the entrance stands 
 one of our own American sisters, her face all aglow with the 
 welcome she is waiting to give us, and by her side is the 
 dear daughter, grown from the four-year-old who first came 
 with her parents from America, to a young lady of fifteen, 
 just returned from the Deaconnesses School at Smyrna, to 
 gladden the solitary home where death had entered and 
 taken a younger sister. Over their shoulders peep a num 
 ber of curious eyes belonging to Armenian hangers-on, but a 
 gesture from Mrs. Richardson sends them away, and we are 
 folded in her motherly embrace : A few moments more, 
 and we gather around the table spread for our refreshment 
 in the cottage-home, which was planned and built by Mr. 
 and Mrs. Clark, formerly of our Mission. 
 
 The Sabbath dawns ; Mr. Allen preaches a good sermon 
 in the chapel, from the words, " But lay up for yourselves 
 treasures in heaven ;" afterward Mr. and Mrs. Richardson 
 present their babe for baptism. It sounds strange, and yet 
 very pl easant to hear a missionary address the parents 
 in Armenian, as " dear brother and sister," and many eyes 
 moisten when he speaks of their little daughter, consecrated 
 to Christ a few years since, and lately taken by the Good 
 Shepherd to the heavenly fold : But when the baptismal water 
 is applied to the child, whom they covenant to train in the 
 fear of the Lord, he speaks the sacred Names of the Holy 
 Trinity, in our blessed mother-tongue, which sounds pecu 
 liarly clear and sweet ; the transition rendering it doubly 
 
424 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 grateful to the ear. It brings to mind the words of an English 
 writer : " A man should love and reverence his native lan 
 guage, as the awakener and stirrer of all his thoughts, the frame 
 and mould of his spiritual being, as the great bond and medium 
 of intercourse with his fellows, as the mirror in which he sees 
 his own nature, and without which he could not commune 
 with himself; as the image in which the wisdom of God has 
 chosen to reveal itself to him." On Monday morning, Mr. 
 A. is quite unwell, and continues to grow worse ; we think 
 it an attack of ague and fever, and all the usual remedies are 
 prescribed and taken, but without effect. Tuesday is set 
 apart as a day of fasting and prayer for the church, prepara 
 tory to the ordination, which takes place on Thursday. 
 
 The morning prayer-meeting, held at sunrise, is well at 
 tended, and very interesting. Constant accessions are made 
 to the number by helpers and brethren coming in from the 
 villages to attend the exercises. On Wednesday morning 
 the business commences. The Council is formed, and officers 
 chosen : B. Tomas, pastor of the Diarbekir church, is select 
 ed as Chairman, and B. Marderos of the Harpoot church, 
 Secretary ; Mr. Allen is not able to be present. The dele 
 gates, representing other churches, take their seats in front 
 of the audience ; and as I look upon the goodly company, I 
 only wish that Christian friends at home could be present on 
 this interesting occasion. The examination of the can 
 didate occupies three hours, and is mostly conducted by 
 Pastors Tomas and Marderos, with Mr. Richardson. 
 The people, closely seated upon the floor of the plain 
 but pleasant chapel, listen intently to the questions and 
 answers. I never heard an examination which was more 
 thorough and searching, showing clearly the ability of 
 
EDEN. 425 
 
 the two Armenian pastors. No one seems to weary ; in fact, 
 the time is too short. Such occasions are wonderfully 
 helpful in teaching the people the ground-work of faith, 
 the essential doctrines of the Gospel preached by Christ. 
 In the afternoon, six young men are examined for licensure, 
 five of whom are from the Arabkir field, and were educated 
 at Harpoot. This examination proceeds no farther to-day 
 than the evidence of their personal piety : But it is exceed 
 ingly interesting to see how the people listen ; how eager 
 they are to catch every word. 
 
 THE RETURN SICKNESS AND DEATH. 
 
 We leave Arabkir on Thursday, with many fears lest our 
 brother s strength should prove unequal to the journey, but 
 he is very anxious to get home. His illness increases on the 
 way, and as we slowly pace along, he looks ready to faint in 
 the burning sun, and suffers from a raging thirst, with " no 
 cooling stream at hand." And though he is very patient, 
 and scarcely speaks of himself, we cannot restrain the 
 growing fear that he may die by the way-side. Friday after 
 noon finds us slowly pressing on, step by step, when we long 
 for wings to speed us on our way ! 
 
 Miss F. has suffered much from the heat, and the hard 
 gait of her horse in descending the hills, and her 
 strength fails ; but the good Armenian brother who is with 
 us, lends a helping hand, and cheering one another with 
 words of faith and hope, we again push on, that we may 
 reach Harpoot before the night sets in, as the morning may 
 find Mr. A. unable to travel. 
 
 The sun goes down, and darkness surrounds us, but 
 silently and slowly we still press on our way over hill and 
 
426 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 valley, with unutterable longings for the distant gleaming of 
 Harpoot lamps ; but the darkness grows deeper, and not a 
 ray of light pierces the gloom to revive our fainting hopes : 
 We lose our way, and after wandering about, are forced to 
 retrace our steps, till, at midnight, faint and dizzy, we ap 
 proach a Turkish village ; but no house will open its doors 
 to take us in ; and after many vain endeavors to find at least 
 a corner for the one so ill, we camp down upon a threshing 
 floor, under the shelter of some stacks of straw, spreading 
 the bundles upon the hard, uneven ground, for a couch, 
 and then, as the Apostle Paul wrote of his shipwreck, we 
 "wish for the day !" 
 
 With the first rays of morning, we set forth ; my strength is 
 now ready to fail ; but a cracker and a few drops of brandy, 
 which most fortunately we have with us, revive the fainting 
 courage, and although the hours go by on leaden wings, as if 
 they would never bring us to the end, at last it is reached ! 
 we turn the final corner, and find ourselves once more with 
 the dear friends in the konak. 
 
 Mr. Allen is quite ill for several days, and before his re 
 covery, little Katie, who has been ailing, is seized with the 
 same disease dysentery. Within a few days, baby Hattie, 
 and the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, are both 
 attacked with measles, and for a week there is scarcely a 
 well person in the two families. We have no physician to aid at 
 this trying time, and the care and responsibility, added to 
 the sorrow, is very great. Dwightie Wheeler is the first to be 
 taken from the lovely group of missionary children, who 
 made a picture that delighted my eyes and heart when I 
 first saw them assembled to welcome their u new aunties." 
 
 The measles settled upon his lungs, the weakest part, 
 
EDEN. 427 
 
 and produced congestion. It is very hard for the parents to 
 part with the noble little fellow, who has given so much 
 promise for the future, even at the age of two years ; but 
 they bow submissively to the Divine will. Two days after, 
 on Thursday, the i2th of August, Dr. West is summoned, by 
 telegraph, from Sivas. The opening of the School is delayed 
 for a few days, that Miss F. and I may more entirely devote 
 ourselves to nursing the little sufferers by night and by day. 
 A response, with medical directions, is received from the 
 doctor, on Friday ; he travels " by post," and reaches Harpoot 
 on Monday ; but both of the children are very low, and he 
 gives little hope of their recovery. Three days and nights 
 of ceaseless and silent watching by the little cribs, with many 
 prayers, and tears, and ebbing hopes as the pulse grows 
 weaker, and the breath fainter ; and then, the lovely babe 
 of nine months sleeps her last sleep. 
 
 Katie lingers, sweet and patient to the last, responding to 
 the gentlest query, in the night-watches, though with gasp 
 ing breath, " Yes, Auntie." As her fond parents bend over 
 their fading flower, their stricken hearts are almost broken. 
 But when He who gave,takes the last one of their three precious 
 daughters, within the short space of three years, they un- 
 murmuringly say, " Thy will be done." Katie breathes her 
 life away, on Saturday, August 2yth ; and for the third time 
 in three weeks, a little coffin is made from packing-boxes 
 which we lovingly cover with black cloth, and line with 
 plaited muslin, in Mr. Wheeler s study; and then lay 
 the little sleeper to rest, with geranium leaves and a few 
 pure white blossoms, and opening buds, strewn around the 
 pillow, and within the folded hands. On Sunday, the 
 ** sacred corner " of the terrace again receives the casket 
 
428 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 committed to the keeping of mother-earth, and with our sym 
 pathizing Armenian friends, \ve sing: 
 
 " Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb ; 
 Take this new treasure to thy trust." 
 
 The falling earth once more sounds the knell of buried 
 hopes, and after the solemn benediction, beneath the bend 
 ing skies, we turn away to the desolated home, and leave the 
 peaceful sleepers, " while angels watch their soft repose," in 
 the land of the stranger. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Barnum are now passing under the cloud 
 which threatens to deprive them of their two tender, fragile 
 little ones ; they are affected, like those just gone, with 
 measles and dysentery. 
 
 At this crisis, Dr. West receives a telegram from Sivas, 
 which compels him to leave us. He says, in answer to my 
 query, that much of the illness in these families is owing to 
 their proximity to several vile sewers, three of which were 
 opened by people on this street, while we were watching by 
 the little sufferers; and the very room where they lay was so 
 filled with the noxious gas that every breath was poison ! 
 His own system was somewhat affected by it (in the same form 
 of disease,) during his stay ; and it needs no argument to 
 prove that the more sensitive and delicate mucous mem 
 brane of children, must inevitably become vitiated, produc 
 ing malignant diseases of the vital organs. Many children 
 in the city are dying from the same cause, and one of our 
 Armenian neighbors, in referring to the mortality, innocently 
 says, " There is something in the air this year which seems 
 to poison every child that has the measles." Alas! we know 
 what the ""something" is, but are impotent to save precious 
 
EDEN. 429 
 
 lives where the evil is so wide-spread and continued ! The 
 season is said to be very unhealthy. A sirocco from the 
 arid plains of the South, frequently visits us with its scorch 
 ing breath, bringing clouds of fine dust on its wings. There 
 is not a tree on the Mission premises beneath whose shade 
 the little ones may play ; and more than sixty persons must 
 breathe the air of this dwelling from day to day, besides 
 numbers of Armenians and Turks who frequent the konak. 
 There is no health-retreat, no mountain resort, to which 
 these stricken families may flee in times of danger; and, 
 through all the stifling heat of the long Summer, the father 
 and mother in the cottage untiringly watch over their dar 
 lings, and see them slowly fade and die, soon following their 
 little play-mates to the " everlasting gardens ;" first the timid, 
 dove-like Fanny, then the loving, enthusiastic Willie Good- 
 ell, who has yielded his will to Jesus, and no longer fears to 
 follow his little sister to heaven : And again, with aching 
 hearts and tearful eyes, we prepare the little coffins, and see 
 fresh treasures buried out of our sight ! Mr. and Mrs. Barnum 
 would be utterly stript, but for a little nestling that came to 
 comfort them a few days before the end. 
 
 THE MISSION OF LITTLE CHILDREN IN MISSIONARY 
 FAMILIES. 
 
 I realize more forcibly than ever before, some of the trials 
 peculiar to the foreign -missionary family: The lack of 
 suitable food for the children ; the vain search for a supply of 
 good milk ;* the constant and soul-vexing succession of poor 
 native nurses, who cannot be trusted, where the missionary 
 
 * Cows are used for agricultural labor, like oxen, in the East, and 
 the milk of sheep and buffaloes is much more esteemed by the people. 
 
430 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 mother is too enfeebled to furnish nature s most healthful 
 nourishment to her offspring; these are a few of the wearing 
 " little things " which must be experienced to be fully appre 
 ciated. But what is home without the children? especially a 
 missionary home, where the family, in its entirety, is a living 
 object-lesson to the people, who see all its endearing relations 
 sanctified by a high and holy love which has its birth in heaven. 
 Are they not all "ministering spirits?" Ah ! how many and 
 how precious lessons have we learned from the five " wee 
 bairnes " whom God has taken ! 
 
 It was once said by that eminent scholar and teacher, Dr. 
 Arnold, of Rugby, that "no student would continue long in 
 a healthy religious state, unless his heart was kept tender by 
 mingling with children, or by frequent intercourse with the 
 poor and suffering." "No one can truly mingle with chil 
 dren," writes another, " without unsealing new points of 
 tenderness and mystery. When God makes men fathers, by 
 one more precious means, he is carrying on the education of 
 the world. He teaches us by the children as much as He 
 teaches the children by us." And surely, if any one needs 
 such blessed helps, it is the foreign missionary, who is 
 constantly associated with a people who look to him for 
 guidance and teaching, and draw largely upon his mental 
 resources and physical strength, without affording him the 
 opportunity of contact and comparison with superior minds 
 and high culture. 
 
 Yet there are those, at home, who hold up Xavier, as the 
 model missionary, and would cut God s ambassadors loose 
 from all family ties, and send them forth " untrammeled " 
 by such " encumbrances !" 
 
 "Too many children!" said a noble little fellow of six 
 
EDEN. 431 
 
 years, fresh from Africa, whom I once congratulated upon 
 the number of his brothers and sisters : And he shook his 
 young head sagely, as he put his hands in his pockets, and 
 paced back and forth across the room. "What makes you 
 think so ?" I laughingly inquired. " O, people shake their 
 heads at us, here in America, and say, l it costs too much 
 money / " " I suppose they wish that my father had never mar 
 ried ; but / don t !" exclaimed one of the numerous Scudder 
 family, from India when alluding to the feeling expressed 
 by some good people that all missionaries should go forth 
 alone, because of the somewhat abnormal relation sustained 
 by their children to the churches at home, and the great 
 trial and deprivation of being (in most cases) early separa 
 ted from their parents. 
 
 " Great is the mystery of godliness, (or Qodness)." " He that 
 spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all," 
 alone can understand the heights and depths of the whys and 
 wherefores in thus using man in the salvation of man. Suf 
 fering and self-denial are inevitably linked with fellowship 
 in Christ s work ; and perhaps none can better fathom the 
 deep meaning of the Apostle s words than the missionary 
 who, like him, is called to " fill up that which is behind of 
 the afflictions of Christ in (the) flesh for his body s sake, 
 which is the Church." 
 
 We miss, unspeakably, the pattering of the little feet ; the 
 soft, winsome prattle; the dimpled smiles, and the music of 
 gushing, rippling laughter, so contagious and refreshing after 
 the toils and trials of the day. And the tears start afresh 
 to our eyes when one of these smitten parents exclaims, as 
 she listlessly wanders about the solitary rooms, " My arms 
 are so empty!" while her heart yearns over every mother 
 she sees with her babe. 
 
432 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Not the faintest likeness remains of those so early taken 
 away ; but faithful memory paints each picture in never- 
 fading colors : The flaxen hair, the full round forehead, and 
 fair face of Dwightie Wheeler, with eyes of heaven s own 
 blue, looking so demurely and mischievously at times, and 
 the sweet, yet firm mouth, curving with an arch smile, espe 
 cially when in some little conflict, his father says, <c Papa 
 is not going to have a controversy with you, my son !" The 
 brilliant complexion, and large violet eyes of Katie Allen, 
 with the wealth of brown curls falling upon the neck and 
 shoulders of the plump little figure that moved so gently 
 amongst us : And the soft hazel eyes of baby Hattie, light 
 ing the sweet expressive face, shaded by short silken 
 hair of dark-brown ; the dewy, rose-bud mouth, and tiny 
 dimpled hands that called, and beckoned, and patted with 
 love s own language ! The oval face, so spirituelle, and 
 downcast eyes of deepest blue, stealing timid glances from 
 underneath the fringed lids, of the shy Fanny Barnum, our 
 little " sensitive plant," whose finely-curved lips betrayed 
 every changing emotion. And Willie Goodell Barnum, with 
 soulful eyes, as deeply blue as his sister s, intense and spark 
 ling with an overflowing affection ; the round head covered, 
 like hers, with the soft, shining hair that is "gold in the 
 sunshine, and brown in the shade" whose mobile face mir 
 rored every feeling of his inquiring, active mind. The three 
 children who remain, greatly feel the loss of their little com 
 panions; and the shadow which has fallen upon their young 
 lives, is manifest in subdued tones and spiritless play. 
 Surely, if anything but the " love of Christ constraining " had 
 brought these missionaries to this land, nothing less than that 
 could keep them here ! And yet, thank God, there is light 
 
EDEN. 433 
 
 in these dwellings as among the Israelites, when thick 
 darkness reigned in Egypt- We can each and all say with 
 David, " It is good for me that I have been afflicted ;" for 
 unity in sorrow and suffering has drawn and knit our hearts 
 together in a dearer and closer bond of Christian love ; and 
 we turn to work again, " with hearts new-braced and set, 
 to run untired Love s blessed race:" And the mothers? 
 they of the aching hearts and empty arms ? Ah ! 
 
 " How can a Mother s heart feel cold and weary, 
 Knowing her dearer self safe, happy, warm? 
 How can she feel her road too dark or dreary, 
 
 Who knows her treasure sheltered from the storm ? 
 
 She knows that when the mighty Angels raise 
 
 Chorus in Heaven, one little silver tone 
 Is hers forever; that one little praise, 
 
 One little happy voice, is all her own. 
 
 We may not see her sacred crown of honor, 
 
 But all the Angels flitting to and fro, 
 Pause, smiling as they pass, they look upon her 
 
 As mother of an angel whom they know." 
 
 Tidings have reached us of the death of two other precious 
 missionary children, Welles Williams, and Emily Smith, 
 the light and joy of loving hearts in Mardin, and Marsovan ; 
 and Mrs. Dodd, of the latter place, has been brought very 
 low, in that old Turkish konak, where the seeds of disease 
 and death have been reeking, in the darkness, for many 
 years ! 
 
 But the severest trials that fall to the lot of the missionary, 
 are not from within ; they come from without, from some 
 of those upon whom much labor has been bestowed, and for 
 whom costly sacrifices have been made ; who show little ap 
 preciation or gratitude, and even use the influence which they 
 19 
 
434 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 have acquired, against their best friends and benefactors, and 
 the Cause which is infinitely more precious to them than 
 their own personal interests : It is here that the iron enters 
 the soul of the faithful missionary, laboring among a people 
 so foreign to himself, in thought, and life, and language, that 
 it is no marvel if his motives, his aims, and his actions are 
 often misunderstood and maligned. It requires faith 
 like that of Moses, who " endured as seeing Him who is invis 
 ible / to continue calmly and heartily in the discharge of 
 duty, " as to the Lord, and not unto men ;" leaving results 
 to the Master " Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive 
 the reward of the inheritance : FOR YE SERVE THE LORD 
 CHRIST." 
 
 " Reward of grace, how wondrous ! 
 
 Short toil, eternal rest; 
 Oh ! miracle of mercy, 
 
 A mansion with the bless d : 
 For now we fight the battle, 
 
 And then we wear the crown 
 Of full and everlasting 
 
 And passionless renown! 
 O land that hast no sorrow, 
 
 O state that knows no strife, 
 O princely bowers, O land of flowers, 
 
 O realm and home of life !" 
 
 Heaven grows nearer and dearer every day ; the presence 
 of the Master more manifest, and things unseen and eter 
 nal, unceasingly take their true place, lifting us above the 
 short-lived storms of this lower region : " There may be a 
 cloud without a rainbow, but there cannot be a rainbow 
 without a cloud." 
 
EDEN. 435 
 
 FRESH ARRIVALS, AND AUTUMN WORK. 
 
 November days have come, and with them the new teacher 
 from America, Miss Pond, the beloved class-mate and sister- 
 teacher of Miss Fritcher, at Mt. Holyoke Seminary. The 
 meeting of the two friends, in this distant corner of the 
 world, is a cup of joy not often granted to the missionary 
 teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Allen, who greatly needed a change, 
 went, with their only child, to Sivas, to meet Miss Pond and 
 bring her safely on her way ; and one of the Marsovan mis 
 sionaries having escorted her from the seaboard, there 
 resigned his charge to their care. While they were journey 
 ing from the north-west, another party were traveling an 
 equal distance from the south-east, crossing the lofty 
 mountains of the Taurus range, and reaching Harpoot 
 the same day : Mr. and Mrs. Williams, from Mardin, 
 with two children of a larger growth than any at Harpoot. 
 They will spend the Winter here, that Mrs. W. may have the 
 benefit of medical attendance which is expected in the 
 course of a few months. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson and 
 their children also came at the same time for a visit, on 
 their way to Malatia. 
 
 The school examinations, which took place only a day or 
 two before our friends arrived, gave great satisfaction to those 
 who were present. Our dear girls especially acquitted them 
 selves with credit. Their principal Bible lesson was the 
 book of Acts, which has been a delightful study during the 
 Summer, fitting them, we trust, for the same work in this 
 land. They were able to point out on the map, every place 
 visited by the Apostles ; and gave a clear and intelligent ac 
 count of the chief events of their missionary travels, and the 
 
436 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 important lessons derived from the book. But two or three 
 of those under instruction in this school, gave any special 
 evidence, or made any profession of piety, at the commence 
 ment of the Summer ; but much tenderness and solemnity 
 was manifested when the truths of God s Word were brought 
 home to their hearts and consciences, and personal appeals 
 were made ; our hearts were rejoiced ere many weeks by 
 tokens of the Spirit s presence, in a prevailing seriousness 
 and prayerfulness : And when a number came to inquire more 
 perfectly the way of salvation from sin, Miss Fritcher ex 
 claimed, " Who knows but we have been brought here to 
 reap a harvest of souls!" Before the Summer ended, we 
 hoped that eight or ten, if not more, had indeed been truly 
 adopted into the family of Christ. Two of the boarders 
 were married to preachers, at the close of school ; two 
 others had become wives of ministers, at an earlier date, and 
 two are recently engaged to preachers already settled in 
 their fields, making six help-mates for pastors, supplied 
 from our preparatory school during the season ! 
 
 The pupils of both schools are now scattered to their Winter 
 work of sowing Gospel-seed in all the region round about. 
 The Harpoot plain, with its teeming population, is to these 
 Schools, what MISSIONS are to the churches of Christian 
 lands a MORAL GVMNASIUM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND 
 EXERCISE OF THEIR GIFTS AND GRACES : Here, is settled a 
 student, with his wife and children, and there, another, at 
 various central points, to preach and teach the Glad Tidings 
 of the Kingdom of God, according to their ability. 
 
 However little the wives may know, the mass of the peo 
 ple are still more ignorant, and the presence of a Christian 
 family is a light shining in a dark place. A number of girls 
 
EDEN. 437 
 
 are employed as teachers of day-schools in the villages, 
 under the care and protection of responsible families. 
 
 The last few weeks have been crowded with work ; a busy 
 time for the missionaries at this Station : the selection and 
 appointment of the students, for various parts of the field, 
 looking to the needs of each place, and the fitness of each 
 man, required no small amount of consultation, and careful 
 consideration, before they were all sent forth, as the Master 
 sent the seventy, " into every city and place whither He 
 himself would come." 
 
 The organization of a church, and ordination of the 
 preacher, a graduate of the Harpoot Seminary, in Ichmeh 
 a village five hours distant, followed close upon the conclusion 
 of this work, and occupied the missionaries for two days. 
 Miss F. and I were present, and greatly enjoyed the inter 
 esting exercises, assisting in the examination of five or six 
 women, who were among the candidates ; we were much 
 pleased with the simplicity of their faith. The church was 
 organized with a membership of twenty-three, thirteen of 
 whom were received by letter from the Harpoot church, and 
 the remainder on profession of faith. The people had 
 pledged themselves to minister to their pastor in temporal 
 things, receiving but a small proportion of his support from 
 the missionaries ; and all seemed very happy over the union 
 which was so like a marriage, truly a crowning ceremony ! 
 A day or two after this, we enjoyed a happy " Thanksgiv 
 ing;" dinner was served in the hall of the konak, with an 
 unusual number of friends gathered around the table ; and 
 the wine of wit, and that " sanctified fun," in which alone 
 missionaries are supposed to indulge, went freely round the 
 lively circle : The viands prepared for the occasion were 
 
438 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 not very different from our common fare, though in greater 
 variety. Mutton, fowls, potatoes, squash, pilaff; with fruit, 
 and pies, or puddings, for dessert. We thought and spoke 
 much of our friends in the home-land, on this last Thursday 
 of November, the day appointed for " national thanksgiving 
 to God ; " and finished our social feast by joining in a 
 grand chorus of good old songs and hymns, accompanied 
 by the organ. But on the next day, our joy was turned 
 to mourning, over the distressing illness of Willie Wheeler, 
 who struggled with death for weeks, from disease of the 
 brain, and was then given back to his parents. 
 
 PLOUGHING AND SOWING FOR SELF-SUPPORT. 
 
 Mr. Barnum and Mr. Allen are often absent at this season 
 on apostolic tours. And Mr. Wheeler, who has done much of 
 this essential work, in former years, is devoting his time and 
 untiring energy, mainly to the thankless task of bringing the 
 people of the city church up to the point of self-support. 
 And as the days and weeks go by, I watch, with intense in 
 terest, the solving of this difficult problem. His indomitable 
 will, and unflinching persistence and courage, will carry the 
 day, if human means alone can do it; but he looks to a 
 Higher power for success in an enterprise which he is persuad 
 ed is vital to the ultimate triumph of Christ s cause in this 
 land : /. e., the planting of independent, self-sustaining and 
 self-propagating churches. 
 
 This can only be accomplished, at the outset, by patient 
 and continuous labor with individuals " the one man with 
 one man? There must be a vast amount of pulling down 
 before the building up; rooted selfishness, old-time preju 
 dices, customs, and habits, must be met and battled to the 
 
EDEN. 439 
 
 death ! But our warrior uses any weapon that may come to 
 hand ; and when one fails, he tries another, of keener blade 
 and sharper point. He knows how to touch the springs of 
 human nature, and adapts his style of warfare to the man 
 with whom he has to deal. " How much will you give for 
 the support of the Gospel among your people, this year?" 
 he inquires of a well-to-do merchant, a member of the Har- 
 poot church. " Five piastres," the man replies, after 
 various side issues ; about twenty cents. This is the result 
 of an hour s earnest and serious conversation respecting 
 Christian duty, personal responsibility, etc. " Very well," 
 says the missionary, changing his tactics : " I see that you 
 are a five piastre man : You love Jesus Christ five piastres 
 worth /" and leaves him to solitary reflection. At first, he 
 is roused, and angry ; but his conscience once awakened, 
 cannot be quieted : And when, a Sunday or two after, the 
 missionary preaches in a very simple, earnest way, the 
 plain truth on this subject of Christian stewardship, bringing 
 it home to his hearers by a practical application, this mer 
 chant, sitting near the front, hangs his head as guiltily as if 
 the preacher had said, " Thou art the man ;" and ere long, 
 he is led to acknowledge his " meanness," and fulfill the 
 Scripture injunction " Upon the first day of the week, let 
 every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered 
 him." But oh ! the perseverance, the patience, the hope, and 
 the love that is required in this weary fight of faith ! this 
 hand-to-hand conflict with the Spirit of evil, intrenched be 
 hind the avarice, the greed, and the niggardliness of self- 
 love ! As day after day draws to a close, I see the faithful 
 laborer returning from the market, his strength exhausted, 
 his head throbbing with pain, and his heart ofttimes heavy 
 
44O THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 with the hardness of the herculean task he has undertaken. 
 Yet when the morning dawns, he goes forth again, " faint, 
 yet pursuing," trusting in the strength of the Lord, and the 
 " power of His might :" It seems scarcely credible that the 
 experiment will prove a success ; for the people of Harpoot 
 stand pre-eminent for stinginess, among their brethren of the 
 plain ; and the excellent pastor of the church does not sym 
 pathize with the plan : Like most, if not all the Protestant 
 Armenian preachers in Turkey, he much prefers to receive 
 his salary directly from the American Board ; and is inclined 
 to look somewhat suspiciously upon this new movement of the 
 missionaries. It appears to him like going back to the sys 
 tem pursued in the Old Church, and he says, " I can never 
 consent to beg my living from the people, like the priests !" 
 Harpoot some time since passed safely through a crisis 
 identical with that experienced at Marsovan,in the endeavor of 
 the people to obtain possession of the chapel-building, to 
 ward which they had contributed a small proportion : A 
 form of disease almost as natural and peculiar to these in 
 fant churches, one might say, as the measles and whooping- 
 cough to children ! And no common wisdom, prudence, 
 discretion, and sound judgment, is required to bring them 
 through this critical stage without permanent injury. As some 
 one has wisely written, " Classes that are always ruled, with 
 out a share in the ruling, are but half educated. The surest 
 way to develop a human being up to the full measure of his 
 capacity, is to give him scope for action. Restrict and 
 narrow his sphere, and you impair his growth and lessen the 
 forces that make up his existence." It would be an unspeak 
 able pity to check a spontaneous growth, crippling, and 
 rl \varfing, instead of healthily developing each individual 
 
EDEN. 441 
 
 member, " unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the 
 stature of the fulness of Christ ; that they henceforth be no 
 more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with 
 every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning 
 craftiness : But speaking the truth in love, may grow up 
 into Him in all things, who is the Head, even Christ." 
 
 Here the best gifts and noblest talents find full play ; and 
 especially that " common sense " which is very uncommon ! 
 I see more plainly, every day, that a missionary, to be emi 
 nently successful, must be " all things to all men;" a man of 
 great versatility, of organizing and executive ability, with 
 quick perceptions, far-reaching aims, and that keen fore 
 sight which, looking beyond present ease and expediency, 
 into the distant future, sees how principles now adopted and 
 carried into practice, will affect the welfare of children yet 
 unborn ! He must have the " mind of Christ " who, in 
 His infinite wisdom, knowing the vast need of its reflex 
 influence upon the Church, laid foundations, and com 
 mitted the " ministry of reconcilation " to weak and foolish 
 men, and not to angels ; saying, " And greater works than 
 these, shall ye do." In this simple, yet wonderful fact, seems 
 hidden, as in a kernel, the entire economy of Missions in the 
 Christian Church. 
 
 ESSENTIALS OF SUCCESS. 
 
 If this missionary trio, so utterly unlike in character, tem 
 perament, and constitution of mind, and with such a diver 
 sity of gifts, were not one in spirit and harmonious in work 
 ing, it would be folly to hope for the results which they con 
 fidently expect. Mr. Williams, who is hard at work pre 
 paring lectures in Arabic for his training-class in theology, 
 
442 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 feels the full force of this fact, and wittily remarks, " We can 
 not afford to have a crooked stick sent out to work with 
 us ; for just as we get used to his sinuosities he will turn 
 over /" 
 
 " UNION is strength;" and these three missionaries (each 
 perfectly independent and untrammeled in thought and 
 action,) are a unit. What one says, all say ; the people have 
 learned that there is no appeal from one to the other ; and 
 this is a wonderful source of power among those who, like 
 a family of children, need a firm, even, steady, yet gentle 
 hand, to guide and discipline them while learning to walk 
 alone, and use aright the strength which God has given. 
 
 CONCENTRATION is another secret of success. These mis 
 sionaries, centred at one point, can " call a council " at any 
 moment, when a new question or an unlooked-for emergency 
 arises. Mr. Wheeler s study adjoins that of Mr. Allen s, though 
 the two families occupy entirely distinct portions of the konak. 
 A company of the brethren have come to him from one of 
 the villages with a story of some recent trouble in their little 
 Protestant community. Mr. W. listens to them for a mo 
 ment, and then opens a tiny door in the wall over his table, 
 and taps on a similar one over Mr. A. s table. A word or 
 two in English passes between them, and then Mr. Allen 
 writes a line, and drops the slip of paper into a little water 
 proof bag which is strung upon a wire outside his window ; 
 and giving a few turns to the wheel of the simple " tele 
 graph," which he has ingeniously constructed, sends word 
 to Mr. Barnum, who soon joins his associates ; or, a cord, 
 drawn at the cottage, tinkles a little bell announcing a mes 
 sage of, perhaps, a company gathered there ; and the move 
 ment of the wheel is reversed to bring back the little 
 
EDEN. 443 
 
 mail-carrier. If, after sufficient consultation, freely con 
 sidering all the pros and cons, there is still a diversity of 
 opinion regarding the best measure to be adopted, the 
 minority must yield. " Three is just right," Mr. Wheeler 
 says, " because it always secures a majority." 
 
 The proximity of the missionary families is also a great 
 source of comfort and protection, especially when, as often 
 happens, the husbands are absent on their frequent tours in 
 distant portions of the field. 
 
 I am greatly struck with the superior advantages which 
 this station has over Constantinople with its many hills to 
 climb and waters to traverse, before missionary families, sta 
 tioned at widely-separated quarters of that great city, can 
 meet. A missionary settled at Scutari or Yeni Kapoo, is 
 far more widely separated from his brethren at Bebek, than 
 ministers living in New York from those in Brooklyn. In 
 fact, for all practical purposes, it is more nearly like the dis 
 tance between New York and New Haven. Pera is middle 
 ground, but to go from one point to another consumes the 
 best part of the day ; and unless a previous correspondence 
 has ensured their meeting, it may be time spent in vain. 
 
 FRESH LESSONS OF GOD S PRESENCE AND 
 PRO VIDENCE. 
 
 It is wonderful that a handful of Americans, scattered 
 over a land like this, with no means of defence, should 
 dwell in safety, with none to molest or make afraid ! Last 
 evening, as three or four of us were returning from Mezereh 
 the post and telegraph station at the entrance of the plain, 
 we met the Pasha in a fine European carriage, with out 
 riders, etc., in great style, and he twice saluted our party, 
 
444 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 bowing low. In years gone by, there was a secret conspiracy 
 among a few of the Turks in this city, to rise, as in Syria, 
 and put all the Christians to death. But it was quelled be 
 fore securing public attention. English influence is felt even 
 in the most remote districts of the interior. Lord Stratford 
 made the very name a power in Turkey. But more than all, 
 do v/e realize that God reigns and rules over the kingdoms 
 of the earth. We have just received a fresh lesson of His all- 
 pervading presence and power. Sitting quietly with our read 
 ing and needle work the other evening, we felt earth s old pil 
 lars shake beneath our feet, and this great house trembled and 
 rocked upon its foundations. It was a solemn moment, but 
 our hearts were stayed on the Rock of Ages, and we thought 
 of the words of the Psalmist, " God is our refuge and 
 strength ; therefore will not we fear, though the earth be 
 removed, and though the mountains be carried into the 
 midst of the sea." (My first experience of earthquakes was 
 received in Constantinople, the year after my arrival : I was 
 with Mrs. Hinsdale, in the guest-room of the only mission 
 ary family living in the Old City; and, instead of watching 
 by the bedside of Meta Benjamin after the day s work in 
 school, and a long walk through Stamboul to Yeni Kapoo, 
 as often during the weeks of suffering which had worn heavily 
 upon the friends who had cared for her honored and be 
 loved father during his last illness ; was preparing her last 
 earthly robe, when suddenly, the walls began to shake, and 
 the door flew open, as if swung back by invisible hands ! 
 We grasped each other convulsively, and rising, without 
 a word, stepped into the hall, expecting every moment that 
 the timbers of the low ceiling would fall upon us, or, the 
 foundations give way beneath our tottering feet; and think- 
 
EDEN. 445 
 
 ing with instinctive terror, of the lifeless form in a room 
 which we dared not enter at such a time ; when Dr. Dwiglit 
 came out of his room with his watch in his hand. He pass 
 ed into the parlor, and saw that all was right, and when he 
 returned, the shaking had ceased. " It must have been at 
 least five or six minutes," I said, as I drew a breath of relief, 
 for in the interval, my life had passed in quick review before 
 my startled mind. "It was just twenty-two seconds" he re 
 plied ; and I realized as never before, the DURATION OF A 
 MOMENT, and the slumbering forces at God s command.) 
 
 But God has been drawing nearer than by storm or earth 
 quake, speaking again with the still small voice of the Spirit, 
 and the pale messenger, Death, warning us to " be also 
 ready, for in such an hour as we think not," He may call 
 us hence from our " busy work forevermore." Not, as here 
 tofore, a lamb of the flock, but our bright, joyous missionary 
 sister, Mrs. Williams, suddenly taken, in the midst of joy 
 and health, from our happy circle, (on the I5th of January., 
 1865.) " We looked for Life, and lo, Death !" At evening of 
 one day, reading aloud, with much enjoyment, the " Schon- 
 berg-Cotta Chronicles;" before the morning dawned, asleep 
 in Jesus ; and on the morning of the second day, laid to rest 
 in the " sacred corner " by the little sleepers who preceded 
 her the last summer. Dr. Nutting had arrived from Oorfa 
 (Ur of the Chaldees) two days after the gift of a little daugh 
 ter to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler; but he was powerless to save 
 or aid in a case which baffled medical skill, and could only 
 look on in dismay while the Angel of Death performed his 
 rapid work. With the words, " I come, I come !" she went 
 to be forever with the Lord. Mr. Barnum was absent that 
 night at a village, little dreaming of what was transpiring in 
 
446 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 his home. Mr. Allen was also on a missionary tour, and did 
 not return till some days after the funeral. We are all stunn 
 ed by the suddenness of the blow. Mr. Williams seems like 
 one petrified. For the third time has his house been left 
 unto him desolate, with but brief intervals of domestic hap 
 piness, during a missionary life of seventeen years. So lately 
 was it rebuilt, after three years of loneliness and desolation, 
 and now it is again laid low ! It is a swift and terrible destruc 
 tion of hopes and joys; but, like one of old, he says, " I was 
 dumb; I opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it." 
 
 And now comes the question of duty respecting the 
 
 two children, the sole remnant of household comfort, and of 
 dear domestic joys, to whom his heart the more closely clings 
 for the recent bereavement which has deprived them of a 
 home. After much prayer and deliberation, it is decided to 
 send them to America to complete their education, hitherto 
 conducted solely by their parents. But how, and with whom 
 shall the long over-land journey be made ? This is soon 
 made clear in the decision of Mr. and Mrs. Barnum to pay 
 a farewell visit to Mrs. B. s aged parents, Dr. and Mrs- 
 Goodell, at Constantinople, who, after their long term of 
 missionary service, are going home to end their days with 
 their children in the United States. 
 
 The five missionary children have spent a happy and 
 profitable Winter together in Harpoot. They have greatly 
 enjoyed the Sunday-school, the meetings for prayer, and the 
 singing lessons conducted by one of the " Aunties." A little 
 paper, edited in turn I y the three older ones, and receiving 
 original contributions from their seniors, has afforded profit 
 able employment for le ; sure hours ; and a " literary entertain 
 ment " given by them one evening of each month, has been 
 a source of pleasure to all the circle. 
 
EDEN. 447 
 
 But now the notes of preparation are sounding for the 
 prospective journey to Marsovan, Stamboul, and America. 
 A final exercise in the recitation of poetry, declamation, 
 singing, and reading the " Bouquet," passes off very pleas 
 antly ; and on the Sunday evening before our friends depart, 
 we have the great joy of seeing the two children who are to 
 leave us, take upon them the vows of the Lord and unite 
 with us in commemorating His death. It is to them a 
 precious privilege to receive the elements from the hand of 
 the father whom they almost idolize ; to be admitted by 
 him to the fellowship of God s children. And to the father 
 it is an unspeakable comfort, as he sends them forth to face, 
 alone, the trials and conflicts of the wide, wide world. But 
 there is a slight tremulousness in his tones which touches 
 every heart, when he takes in his arms the sweet babes so 
 lately given to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, and Mr. and Mrs. 
 Wheeler, saying, in the name of the Master, " Suffer the 
 little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of 
 such is the kingdom of heaven ; " baptizing them " in the 
 name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 A BROKEN HOUSEHOLD. 
 
 On Wednesday, the last of March, our friends began their 
 journey. Miss Fritcher, who remained with Miss Pond dur 
 ing the Winter, taking this opportunity to return to Marsovan, 
 and open her school. Two or three of us accompanied them 
 out for a day s travel- The final parting came the following 
 morning, in the dismal khan by the way-side, where Mr. 
 Williams conducted family worship, reading the twelfth of 
 Hebrews; we united in singing, "How blest the tie that 
 binds;" and then father and children knelt together for the 
 
44$ THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 last time, while, with wonderful self-control, he most earn 
 estly and impressively committed them and their traveling 
 companions to the care of a covenant-keeping God. 
 
 Little Harry Barnum and his mamma were safely stowed 
 away on one side of a "moffah," with Miss F. to balance on 
 the other side ; the others mounted their horses ; the last 
 farewells were silently given, and the little procession 
 slowly passed on, watched by loving eyes till out of 
 sight; and then commenced the lonely return from the old 
 khan, which is henceforth known by the missionary circle 
 as " Mizpah." On the Sunday evening following, the re 
 maining members of the little band, so knit together by sor 
 row and suffering, gather to enjoy one more sermon in Eng 
 lish from the brother who is so soon to leave them, it may be 
 never to return, for he looks worn and feeble : He preaches 
 eloquently from the words, "Be careful for nothing;" Phi- 
 lippians iv. 6, dwelling especially upon the final clause 
 " And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 
 shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 
 He has but recently returned from a long and lonely tour 
 through his Arabic-speaking field, having visited Mosul, on 
 the Tigris, opposite Nineveh, which was for years the centre 
 of missionary operations among the Assyrians, till he alone 
 survived his associates, and removed to a more healthful 
 point. 
 
 On Tuesday morning, accompanied by his faithful, sturdy 
 Yakob, he turns his face towards his desolated, solitary home 
 in Mardin. Loving disciples will greet his coming with tears 
 and smik-s; but God alone can know the depths of the 
 heart that will so miss the loving voices, the clinging 
 hands, the quick steps of those who will come no more ! 
 
EDEN. 449 
 
 The silence will be fearful. Not one in all that city to speak 
 a word in his mother-tongue ; not one to sustain his courage 
 when faith faints by the way-side, and hope is ready to die. 
 He is left alone with God, as truly as the beloved John in the 
 " isle called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testi 
 mony of Jesus Christ." But the sight is sublime ! A single 
 sentinel, faithful unto death, standing upon the mountains 
 of Jebel Toor, and holding aloft the Gospel standard, over 
 all that vast region lying in darkness, and the shadow of 
 death, uncheered, unsolaced by present, personal, earthly 
 companionship or sympathy ! Ah ! surely the angels come 
 down to hover around the solitary path-way of one who, like 
 his Master, is a "man of sorrows, acquainted with grief." 
 Yea, the Master Himself comes, according to the promise, 
 "/ will not leave you comfortless: 7 will come to you: 
 And, " blest with this fellowship divine," sorrow and loneli 
 ness are robbed of their bitterest sting. In the dreary, prison- 
 like dwelling where the months seem like so many years, and 
 the years like a life-time, so solemnly and slowly do they 
 come and go, unbroken by voice of wife, or child, or mission 
 ary brother, and unrelieved by the little ripples in the current 
 of every-day domestic life, one might hear the soft tones of 
 the flute with which the solitary pilgrim beguiles his leisure 
 moments in tuning his heart to heavenly melodies. And 
 when " unseen hands roll back " the Golden Gates through 
 which, one by one, his household treasures vanished from 
 sight, and faith s keen vision sees the glory grow, till earth s 
 dim shadows are lighted with the reflection from within, and 
 the spirit desires to " depart and be with Christ, which is far 
 better," the " Angel of His Presence " whispers, 
 
450 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 " Not now, my child ; a little more rough tossing, 
 
 A little longer on the billow s foam, 
 A few more journeyings in the desert-darkness 
 And then the sunshine of thy Father s Home. 
 
 " Not now ; for I have wanderers in the distance, 
 And thou must call them in with patient love ; 
 Not now; for I have sheep upon the mountains, 
 And thou must follow them where er they rove. 
 
 The Winter is over and gone. April showers, long con 
 tinued, dripping and drizzling, or coming down steadily and 
 abundantly day after day, have thickly sprinkled with tiny 
 flowers of every hue, the hills where we take our walks and 
 rides; and green grass is springing, where a few weeks ago 
 numbers of gay tulips were bursting from the bare brown 
 bosom of mother earth. 
 
 The schools have commenced their regular sessions, and 
 we resume our daily round of duties in preparing work 
 ers for this extensive field- Miss Pond is diligently study 
 ing the language, and when she is ready to assume her 
 position at the head of this most important Training-School, 
 I shall resign my temporary occupancy, in order to carry 
 out a long-cherished plan of visiting all the former pupils of 
 the Constantinople school, in their widely-scattered homes, 
 and inciting them to greater diligence in their Christian call 
 ing, and personal responsibility in evangelizing their people. 
 For the present, the path of duty seems plain. " Both hands 
 of Providence point to your stay for the Summer," say these 
 friends ; and they have signified their desire for at least two 
 or three years more of my service in this field. Our school 
 numbers thirty-four pupils, girls and women. The damp, 
 chilly air of the school-rooms, at this season, affects us unfa 
 vorably ; the assistant teacher is suffering from influenza, 
 
EDEN. 451 
 
 and is unable to render any aid in the hard work of the first 
 few weeks, and four of the boarders are ill with what ap 
 pears to be typhus fever, greatly increasing our cares, and 
 interrupting our progress. 
 
 But the voice of health is once more heard among the 
 missionary families, and we anticipate a pleasant Summer 
 campaign. 
 
 ANNIVERSARIES. 
 
 Our national birthday of freedom finds us on these distant 
 heights in the land which was the cradle of the human 
 race the land of Ararat, the country, if not the Garden of 
 Eden, where we may suppose our first parents wandered af 
 ter their expulsion from Paradise, and obtained their bread 
 by the sweat of their brow. And we, their self-exiled chil 
 dren, are striving to undo the mischief which their disobe 
 dience brought on these fair plains, and among these smiling 
 valleys and rugged mountains. Alas ! how thickly the thorns 
 and thistles grow in this aged soil of Satan s tillage; oft times 
 choking the " good seed " which needs such constant watch 
 and care ! 
 
 It is a grand point from which to look out upon 
 the world, and survey the rush and conflict of nations, the 
 march of progress, the ground-swell of thought and feeling, 
 the shock of battle, and the tide of Avar all pointing with 
 unerring finger to the glorious consummation which is surely 
 hastening on, when " the kingdoms of this world shall be 
 come the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He 
 shall reign forever and ever !" 
 
 The Fourth of July dawns so brightly that, notwithstand 
 ing our previous resolve to pass it by without any special 
 celebration, because of so many interruptions to our work, 
 
452 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 our enthusiasm awakens, and it is the unanimous vote of 
 both houses, that the anniversary is too glorious not to call 
 forth some expressions of patriotism. The schools go on as 
 usual, but between the recitations there are hurryings to and 
 fro, and eager consultations, groupings here and there, and 
 earnest whisperings from one end of the konak to the other. 
 Occasionally, when I appear upon the scene of action, a star 
 tled cry of surprise and alarm from the children causes me 
 to beat a hasty retreat, lest I should, unwittingly, discover 
 their " secret," reminding us of similar scenes at Christmas 
 time. 
 
 Some of us are intent upon getting up suitable mottoes, 
 cutting letters from green cambric, and pasting them upon 
 .white cloth, for which purpose we use one of our curtains. 
 Surely, no one can say, after this, that we haven t made a sacri 
 fice for our country ! The arbor on the upper terrace is rejuve 
 nated for the occasion by fresh branches brought from the 
 gardens, a mile or so away. The long seat is covered with 
 cushions, carpets are spread upon the ground for our feet, 
 and the supper-table placed in the centre. This is gotten up in 
 tasteful style by the busy housewives, and presents an appe 
 tizing aspect. Cold fowl, tongue, bread, biscuits, sweet 
 meats, cakes, and cherries, surround a cake pyramid which 
 forms the centre-piece, crowned by a beautiful little flag ; 
 and the white cloth upon which they are spread, is graceful 
 ly looped up with clusters of flowers. The mottoes are 
 hung around the sides of our bower, and a picture of Wash 
 ington is suspended near one of President Lincoln, which is 
 wreathed with soft, fleecy folds of white crape, tied with 
 black ribbons, and entwined with delicate Avhite roses, and 
 tiny, drooping buds. When the glowing sun is nearing the 
 
EDEN. 453 
 
 horizon, we gather for our evening celebration, and the 
 shouts of the children as they catch sight of these prepara 
 tions, are very enlivening. The ladies are dressed, in white, 
 with decorations of red, white, and blue, and even the two 
 babies display their patriotism in the national colors. The 
 boys icpeatedly fire a toy cannon, but are happily without 
 the pestilential fire-crackers, which too often make the day 
 a nuisance at home. The mimic march in military array is 
 enlivened by the fife and drum a feeble imitation of martial 
 music performed by the papas whom they have impressed 
 into the service, while the rest of the company must needs 
 join in the procession, and swell the chorus of their songs. 
 
 As the king of day disappears behind the mountains, leav 
 ing the sky all aglow with a flood of rosy light, which bathes 
 the great plain stretching away at our feet in its changing 
 hues, till its waving harvest-fields, its brown pasture-grounds, 
 and verdant vineyards seem like a magnificent mosaic, glit 
 tering with precious gems, and purple shadows p ] ay upon 
 the hills around us we sit beneath our " booth," and par 
 take of the dainlies and delectables which loving hearts and 
 skillful hands have specially provided for our entertainment 
 on this occasion, undaunted by the fear that some Madame 
 Pfeiffer who has come to spy out the land, will carry back 
 a false report of luxurious living among foreign missionaries ! 
 (This Swedish traveller, many years ago, visited Constanti 
 nople, and Oroomiah in Persia : and, after receiving every 
 attention from the missionaries, who brought out their 
 choicest delicacies to honor their guest, she gave the world 
 a naming story of their " extravagance ! " The fact is, 
 that the contrast of home- comforts, however simple, 
 after weeks of travel in such a country, makes the change 
 
454 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 from tents, and khans, and poor fare, seem like the great 
 est luxury.) 
 
 Tea and coffee are served from a side table, and snow 
 brought from an ice cave a few miles distant (which, strange 
 to say, is warm in Winter, probably owing to its being closed 
 from currents of air), furnishes us with the unwonted luxury 
 of ice cream. Oranges and lemons, like other tropical 
 fruits, are unknown in this region, but sherbet, made by 
 mixing the juices of cooling acid fruits with water, forms a 
 refreshing beverage. 
 
 After the repast, of which we partake with keen zest, is 
 concluded, and the happy, weary little ones have been put 
 to rest, we sit in the " door of our tent," and commune of 
 things past, present, and prospective. 
 
 The heavens bend protectingly down over our hill-top, an 
 immense canopy of the purest sapphire ; and from our lofty 
 lookout, mountain ranges, with their snowy peaks, form 
 a grand background to our sweep of vision. Soon the moon 
 and stars, " walking in brightness," look down upon us, 
 and heaven seems very near. The " feast of reason and the 
 flow of soul " is prolonged to a late hour, in the soothing 
 calm and hush of the night air; and before we descend to 
 our respective rooms, with grateful hearts, looking backward, 
 and forward, and upward, we join our voices in an ascription 
 of praise to " Him from whom all blessings flow," and once 
 more commit our beloved country, with all its interests, to 
 the keeping of our fathers God. 
 
 SUMMER WORK AND WARFARE. 
 The post from Constantinople brings fresh accounts of the 
 ravages made by cholera and the desolation that is sweeping 
 
EDEN. 455 
 
 over the Capital from that scourge of Eastern cities. The 
 mortality has reached the number of eight hundred per day, 
 and a perfect panic prevails among the great mass of the 
 people, so that almost all places of business are closed. The 
 head of the Protestant nation was one of the victims 
 of the plague, and after his death, his son set fire to 
 the house and hung himself! The old man had become 
 perfectly unmanageable, and the state of things under his 
 control was growing too bad to be longer endured ; there 
 fore, the dispensation seems rather merciful than otherwise 
 in his case. But at such times, Orientals generally show a 
 fearful lack of self-control, and even the simplest amount of 
 common sense in taking the most ordinary precautions re 
 specting diet, clothing, etc. Many a man regales himself 
 with unripe fruit, melons, unpeeled cucumbers, etc., etc., at 
 the close of the day, and sleeps his last sleep before the 
 morning dawns! And while his friends give way to the 
 most frantic demonstrations of grief, they speedily go and 
 do likewise, in their utter improvidence and childish folly, 
 till entire households are swept away. 
 
 A Greek family were once living opposite us at Constan 
 tinople, during a summer vacation, and we assisted in caring 
 for its members when they were smitten by cholera and 
 their neighbors had fled : soon one after another were taken 
 away, till only the aged grandmother remained to bewail her 
 desolation, and the sad fate which doomed her to poverty, 
 since in the absence ofan heir her property must revert to 
 the government, even in her life-time, according to Turkish 
 law. Possibly, one room in her own house might be granted 
 her, as a favor, but that was all ! 
 
 But Mr. and Mrs. Barnum are now on their return from a 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 visit to the old home at Hasskeuy, and their letters are 
 filled with painful details of the dangers through which they 
 have passed since leaving Stamboul, and the frightful scenes 
 they have witnessed in the crowded steamer on the Black 
 Sea, and during a week of quarantine in Samsoon, at this 
 most sickly season of that fever-stricken port. We are 
 very anxious for their safety; they have been so exposed to 
 malaria, and the most deadly form of disease, that it would 
 not be strange if it should develop while they are in Marso- 
 van, or on the journey beyond. 
 
 And our hearts almost tremble when we think what may 
 be the fate of our friends at Constantinople, in the midst of 
 the fearful plague. 
 
 We know not what sad tidings another mail may bring us, 
 and the suspense is very trying and exciting to our nerves. 
 But God is over all, and in all; and again we turn to Him, 
 as " our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble ; 
 therefore, will not we fear." 
 
 Fortunately, we have not to undergo the tedious delay of 
 the post which frequently occurs during the Winter months, 
 when heavy snows and storms hinder travel, and we wait 
 two, three, and even four weeks to hear from the world 
 without. 
 
 But our suspense, however unendurable it may seem 
 when our hearts are heavy with unspoken fears for loved 
 ones far away, is nothing in comparison with that of mis 
 sionaries in Micronesia, who receive their mail but once in 
 twelve or even fourteen months ! 
 
 With what conflicting emotions must they look upon the 
 packages of letters, the bundles of (weekly) newspapers, 
 brought them by the " Morning Star " in her yearly visit to the 
 
EDEN. 457 
 
 Islands where, for the love of Christ, they spend their lives 
 in voluntary exile ! Opening those of the latest date, they 
 read backward through the months, till they take up the 
 thread of events where it was dropped a year ago. And af 
 ter a day or two of such intense excitement, it is no marvel 
 if some of the " weaker vessels " should succumb beneath 
 the heavy weight of such an avalanche of news ; such an accu 
 mulation of thought and feeling in connection with public 
 events, and the more private burden of joys and sorrows, 
 hopes and fears, linked with kindred so widely separated, 
 which thrills every fibre of their being ! 
 
 The epidemic seems to be spreading through the country, 
 though now that the heat is beginning to subside, toward 
 the latter part of August, it may spend most of its fury at the 
 seaboard. 
 
 The Pasha of this district lately sent for Dr. Harooteun, 
 one of Dr. West s pupils, who is settled in Harpoot, and re 
 quested him to telegraph to Aleppo, and inquire whether 
 the cholera had commenced there. He did so, and the an 
 swer was, "Eight or ten are dying daily." The old Pasha 
 wrung his hands in dismay, saying, What shall I do? 
 What**;/ I do?" 
 
 " Have the city well cleansed ; " said the doctor. He 
 caught at the idea, and at once appointed Harooteun su 
 perintendent, with full powers to carry out his own 
 plans. 
 
 So we are having what old Dinah would call a regular 
 " clarin up," in this Turkish town ; and only wish the dis 
 pensation might forever remain in force ! 
 
 There is something peculiar in the atmosphere this season. 
 The mercury has never risen above ninety degrees in the 
 20 
 
453 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 shade, but it has been oppressively warm, a suffocating air, 
 yet withal inducing a general tendency to take cold. 
 
 During the most oppressive weather, Mr. and Mrs. Allen 
 pitched their tent in a garden about a mile from the city, for 
 the sake of their little one, who pined in the pent-up, stifling 
 heat of the town ; and occasionally some of our number have 
 gone out to breakfast with them, in primitive style. But re 
 cently, the upper terrace has received their patriarchal tab 
 ernacle, and an awning extending from one end, affords ac 
 commodation for Miss P. and myself. There we place our 
 traveling bedsteads, and find much better air than in the 
 house, though occasionally annoyed by the unexpected ad 
 vent of cats and dogs, who come unceremoniously climbing 
 over the earth walls, and rattle the stones and dust about our 
 heads ! The heavens present a magnificent spectacle these 
 Summer nights, and fill the soul with calm delight as one 
 gazes upon the vast expanse of gleaming, burning stars, and 
 constellations, in this electric atmosphere. I never saw 
 them on so grand a scale as here ! But though stars shine 
 and burn, and winds blow, we are not long awake to see or 
 hear. Our flock of girls are all camped down in their play 
 ground below, with their beds spread on mats, and the roofs 
 of dwellings beyond the enclosure are covered with fami 
 lies of various households; so we draw our expansive old 
 sun-bonnet over our head, and sleep securely and sweetly 
 beneath the watchful eye of the great Father and Shepherd 
 of Israel. 
 
 Our brief vacation of two weeks was mostly occupied in 
 writing letters which were due to friends at home, and 
 throughout the Turkish Empire, and in plying the needle, to 
 bring up arrears in our necessary wardrobe. And now 
 
EDEN. 459 
 
 school duties claim most of our available time and strength. 
 Thirteen of our pupils will graduate in the Autumn, and much 
 must be done for them before they are scattered, from Dan 
 to Beersheba, throughout this land. O, how much wisdom, 
 grace, and patience is needed to teach and train them aright ! 
 
 They look up to me with a sort of reverential awe, mingled 
 with love, and I can do what I will with them ; but it is the 
 hardest of all work to inculcate the principle of obedience ! 
 
 This acting conscientiously in little things, is all new to 
 them. And too often they seem to regard a rule, or an in 
 junction, of but small account after a few days have passed 
 away. I am sometimes reminded by their excuses, of a 
 negro who told his master that his conscience wouldn t let him 
 do what he was bid. " Your conscience, you rascal ! What 
 do you call conscience ? " " Why, massa, it s something in 
 here (striking his breast) that says I WON T ! 
 
 The thought which most helps one in dealing with them, 
 is that of God s long-suffering and patience with us in His 
 Training-School ! A number of our married pupils are oc 
 casionally kept away from school by their own illness, or 
 that of their children, and the sight of their narrow quarters 
 each family occupying but one room the lack of much 
 that we deem essential to comfort, touches one s heart with 
 a sense of ingratitude to the Great Giver. 
 
 We are going to teach the women how to make the most 
 of their little ; to keep their rooms more tidy, and add a few 
 embellishments ; and the girls are to aid them in making gar 
 ments for the children : But we must be careful lest we help 
 them too much, and thus do harm. The inspiration to 
 self-help and self-respect is that which they most need. 
 Their husbands are preparing for and looking to the Pastorate, 
 
460 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 as the grand ultimatum of their hopes and aims, when they 
 will be supported by their own people, and gradually rise 
 to solid comfort, and more than ordinary respectability in 
 social and domestic life. Our efforts have been already bless 
 ed in a marked transformation of personal appearance, mind 
 and manners of many in both schools, and we look with 
 confidence for yet greater things. 
 
 THE PARSONAGE. 
 
 Riding across the hills one day, after school, I met a com 
 pany of men and boys, belonging to the Protestant commu 
 nity, headed by Mr. Wheeler, who were dragging to the city 
 the trunks of trees which they had just felled in a neighbor 
 ing garden or field, for the new parsonage. 
 
 They were in high glee over the novel undertaking, and 
 it did one s heart good to see their enthusiasm. 
 
 A couple of the younger lads called my attention to a sap 
 ling which they had cut down and were bearing in triumph 
 to the town ; and I noticed that the " badveli " had hold of 
 one of the heaviest timbers, and inspired all the rest by his 
 zeal and energy, while he was as full of fun and frolic as the 
 youngest and merriest of the party. It was a genuine 
 " minister s bee," or, as some might think, a sort of religious 
 " spree," for these trees were probably <l foreordained," and 
 grown expressly for the pastor s house ! 
 
 The people were stirred up to contribute for this purpose 
 months ago, but it became evident that the thing would 
 never be really accomplished unless some Nehemiah should 
 arise to lead the enterprise and push matters to a final con 
 clusion. So Mr. Wheeler threw himself into the work, heart 
 and soul, with all the intense earnestness and force of his 
 
EDEN. 461 
 
 nature. The foundations were soon laid, and the walls began 
 to go up under his vigorous administration. 
 
 Morning, noon, and night found him on the ground put 
 ting his own hands to the work, and thus securing much 
 voluntary labor on the part of the people, who were inspired 
 to do likewise by an example which made manual labor no 
 disgrace. Never did sun-dried bricks fly more swiftly into 
 their proper place than when tossed up to his quick hands 
 by those below, as he toiled beneath the burning sun, while 
 the perspiration gathered in large drops upon his heated 
 face, and matted the hair which fell around his brow. Day 
 after day, week after week the work went on, till the good 
 wife, whose dinner often cooled, and whose tea waited long 
 for his coming, was tempted to complain of the engrossing 
 labor which so consumed his time and strength, and made 
 him oblivious to his own personal needs. But his reply 
 " It is not alone for the City, that this parsonage is being 
 built, but as an example for all the churches on the plain," 
 showed the impelling motive and keen sagacity of the 
 worker. 
 
 And now it is a finished fact a neat, convenient, commo 
 dious dwelling, with kitchen, dining, and store-room below, 
 and parlor, study, and two sleeping-rooms above, with hall 
 and staircase in the centre. It is near Mr. Barnum s, and 
 is fully as good as the house built for his occupation. We 
 have just been present at the " house-warming," and added 
 our gifts to those which the people were incited to bestow 
 upon their beloved and honored pastor, on the occasion so 
 new and so interesting to him and to them. A fur-lined 
 coat, a few loads of coal, wood, and provisions of various 
 kinds, were among their offerings, and a goodly company 
 
462 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 gathered in the new dwelling to testify, by looks and words, 
 the joy of their hearts over the auspicious event. The pastor s 
 wife had fitted up her parlor in neat and tasteful style a 
 carpet of native manufacture on the floor, a divan arrayed in 
 a pretty chintz, with white covers, a sweet-toned melodeon 
 purchased with her savings and earnings at which she pre 
 sides with skillful touch and ready reading of music ; a 
 sheet-iron stove in the corner, for Winter use, a few simple 
 pictures and pressed leaves and flowers on the white-washed 
 walls, with a vase or two of roses, and a few books, gave the 
 room a very home-like appearance. I felt quite proud of 
 my old pupil, as I surveyed the skill and neatness of her 
 handiwork throughout the new abode.* 
 
 Several congratulatory speeches were made on the occa 
 sion by the missionaries and the brethren, and the pastor 
 responded most appropriately for himself and his wife, to 
 whom he bore a happy testimony of growing esteem and 
 affection as the partner of his joys and sorrows. 
 
 The remainder of the evening was devoted to music, social 
 conversation, and a few simple games, calculated to awaken 
 thought and promote general sociability. This was new 
 to some of the company, and they held back till they should 
 learn the method of procedure. But the pastor, though 
 naturally quiet and sedate, entered into the spirit of the play, 
 and several times carried off the palm. 
 
 We had introduced the question, " What is my thought 
 like !" And after going the rounds, he asked, " Why is that 
 stove-pipe like a hair of my head ?" When many puzzling 
 
 * The contrast to her appearance when under school training, as 
 described in a former chapter, caused a fresh song of gratitude to 
 God. 
 
EDEN. 463 
 
 attempts had been made to trace the exact analogy, he stated 
 the fact, which was quite new and strange to some of the 
 brethren, and caused them to open their eyes : " Because it 
 is a tube, and contains a dark liquid, or coloring matter." 
 A truth which we learn to our sorrow in this country, where 
 the dark, dripping acid from stove-pipes so often disfigures 
 walls and carpets. 
 
 DIVERSIONS AND RECREATION. 
 
 The " rhyming game " does not go well in Armenian, 
 owing to the fact that the language is so poor in monosyl 
 lables ; but in our little missionary circle it often proves a 
 pleasant diversion, especially when we wish to turn the cur 
 rent of thought from the customary channel the all-absorb 
 ing theme of missionary work. 
 
 " I have a word which rhymes with pole," says one. " Is 
 it that which we all possess ?" u No, it is not soul." " Is 
 it that to which our steps are tending?" "No, it is not 
 goal." And so on, till at last a brother, who has bestowed 
 some thought on the definition, puts the question, " Is it a 
 local interruption of continuity of surface ?" 
 
 " It is hole. " And that leads to another more witty, 
 though not original, definition, which well describes some of 
 the ragged specimens we see in this region. " A hole is a 
 portion of space surrounded by circumstances, according to 
 the nature of the case." Alas, for the " circumstances " in 
 some parts of Turkey ! Mr. Williams says that in the region 
 he has recently visited, there is scarcely enough of the orig 
 inal fabric left to form a border for the " portions of space," 
 in the would-be coverings of the people. 
 
 It is often absolutely necessary to start a diversion of this 
 
464 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 kind as a relief to the constant strain and wearing excite 
 ment of cares and questions which weigh heavily upon our 
 minds, and ofttimes intrude their presence upon the hours 
 which should be devoted to sleep. We come together, at 
 konak or cottage, for our weekly reunion, and after a little 
 general conversation, the gentlemen very naturally get their 
 heads together over some unsettled case, some knotty ques 
 tion, or difficult problem. It is a Christian kindness, if not 
 duty, to draw them, perforce, if need be, into a game of 
 " Blindman s-Buff " or " Puss in the Corner," with the chil 
 dren, who are never so happy as when the grown people join 
 in their plays and promote their sport. It is no small thing 
 to scatter flowers in the pathway of the young lives that 
 have so few sources of amusement open to them. And the 
 "Auntie," who in some degree supplies the place of the 
 paternal or maternal sister whom they have never seen, is 
 often called away from graver sittings to teach them some 
 new game, or start an old one, " Because," they plead, " we 
 can t do anything without her !" And their common saying? 
 " Auntie, and the rest of us children," has become a house 
 hold word. Dear children ! Constant intercourse with their 
 fresh young life and thought, is a perpetual blessing, and 
 serves to keep one who has no home-ties from becoming 
 dwarfed and cramped in nature, and stiff and angular in 
 ways of thinking and doing. 
 
 What should we do without the enticing attractions and 
 merry frolics, which afford so much of healthful exercise and 
 recreation, when there is scarcely any other wry to unbend 
 the overtaxed brain and nerves ? The out-gushing love of 
 their young hearts is an unspeakable solace and source of 
 enjoyment in the absence of one s own kindred. 
 
EDEN. 465 
 
 On one occasion a tea-table was prepared especially for 
 the children, with a little book or picture placed beneath 
 each plate as a surprise. When we were all gathered, and 
 the blessing had been asked, the treasures were discovered, 
 and a shout of joy arose. "O !" said wee Willie, "I love 
 Auntie the lotscst of anybody!" " No, you don t," asserted 
 another little one ; " I love her the bcstest" u But I love 
 Jesus more," chimed in a thoughtful child. And that was 
 the sweetest of all. 
 
 "Auntie," said a quiet little fellow, who had sought my 
 room for a brief visit, his heart overflowing with a love 
 which he knew not how to express, " Auntie, would you cry 
 if I had never been born ?" When I explained that if he had 
 never existed he could never be missed, the little five-year- 
 old put the question in a more tangible and worldly form : 
 "Auntie, if I was a man, would you marry me?" 
 
 These missionary children have few playmates or compan 
 ions of their own years, for they cannot mingle indiscrim 
 inately with those of the country without serious danger of 
 moral injury. 
 
 They learn the various languages spoken by the people 
 with far more facility and idiomatic accuracy than their parents, 
 and coin words in English to suit their needs of expression, 
 often affording their seniors much amusement by their quaint 
 sayings and interminglings of the dialects which they so 
 readily pick up. Standing upon a lofty summit, and sur 
 veying the far-reaching landscape before them, one of these 
 children says to the other, "Look, look! how spready !" 
 And another enthusiastic youngster who is too eager and 
 impatient to wait for the tardy opening of doors on Christ 
 mas morning, that he may run over to the next house where 
 20* 
 
466 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the presents are to be distributed, climbs out of the window 
 and over a wall, to satisfy his curiosity. When he is found, 
 and his parents remonstrate, he innocently says, " I couldn t 
 wait, I was so bursty /" 
 
 Their confidence in, and admiration for, their parents, i? 
 delightful to witness, though somewhat peculiar in its mani 
 festation at times, owing to ideas gathered from the people 
 among whom they dwell. Noticing that one of the smaller 
 boys, who had a remarkably clear, sweet voice, kept up a 
 singular, grumbling sort of accompaniment in the singing at 
 family worship one morning, I afterwards inquired the cause 
 of the remarkable change in his tones. He was rather 
 reluctant to confess the reason, but said, as the color mounted 
 to his face, " I was singing like my papa !" " Yes, but your 
 papa sings bass, and you can t sing like that till you are a 
 man." "Well," said the manly little fellow, summoning all 
 his courage to stand his ground, " I don t want to sing like 
 a woman, any how !" 
 
 " Mamma, what makes the hens hop around so after their 
 heads are cut off?" inquires one of these inquisitive shoots 
 of the missionary colony. 
 
 " Why will you ask so many foolish questions, my child ? 
 said the mother; " I can t tell you why." 
 
 " Well, if my papa was here, he could tell, for he knows 
 everything!" 
 
 " Why do you wish to know, my boy?" 
 
 " Why, because, when I m a man, and my children ask me, 
 I want to know what to tell them !" 
 
 "My papa is a * D.D. ; cause he vaccinates and he bap 
 tizes!" argues a bonnie little lassie when the subject of de 
 grees is under earnest discussion in one of their confidential 
 side-talks. 
 
EDEN. 467 
 
 " Won t you be a * Dr., papa ?" asks another child. 
 
 "No, my son ; your father will never be a Doctor of Divinity." 
 
 " Well, then," responds the hopeful young scion, with hon 
 est emphasis, " / wont either /" 
 
 We miss the many avenues to intellectual refreshment, and 
 that recreation which is really re-creation, always open 
 to friends at home : The evening lecture, or concert, or 
 social gathering, where one meets new faces, and feels the 
 inspiration of new thought and the kindling of fresh feeling; 
 the little trip by railway or steamer, which gives one a change 
 of scene and air, the crimson current coursing through the 
 veins with quickened life and healthful glow, sending the 
 renovated worker back to the once tiresome monotony and 
 wearing routine of daily toil, with new zest and enthusiasm. 
 
 How we sometimes long, with unutterable yearnings, to 
 take the wings of the morning, and spend one day, or one 
 hour even, with friends by the old fireside ! To sit down at 
 the home table with those so far away! To gather with 
 them around the family altar once more, or go up to the house 
 of God in company. How good it would be to hear again a 
 sermon from the lips of our dear old pastor ! to drop in at 
 one of the weekly church prayer-meetings, and unite in the 
 song of praise, and the fervent supplications in our sweet 
 mother-tongue ! What a rest of soul it would be to spend an 
 evening with aged, experienced Christians who are praying 
 " Thy kingdom come," and sit at their feet and seek counsel, 
 and learn wisdom at their lips ! 
 
 Perhaps those of us who have no home, no real abiding- 
 place in this land, who, however much we may love and be 
 beloved by missionary brothers and sisters, must always in 
 reality be " boarders," feel more intensely the isolation 
 
468 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 than others who did not leave all, in devoting themselves to 
 this work of Gospel ministry in a strange land and a strange 
 tongue.* 
 
 The arrangement made at Harpoot is, for the lady-teach 
 ers to rotate ; taking their meals for three months at a time 
 with each family ; thus relieving the housewives from the 
 continuous presence and care of those who, however dear, 
 are not their " very own." And yet it would be hard to find 
 a kinder, more affectionate circle of missionary brothers and 
 sisters. 
 
 Teaching is considered by the medical profession to be 
 especially wearing and exhaustive work to the nervous sys 
 tem ; and when continued, year after year, as a life-work, 
 calls for special breaks and changes, perhaps not so impera 
 tively demanded in the case of those who have the varied 
 employments of domestic life. But a healthful change is 
 almost an impossibility in this land, especially in the far in 
 terior portions of the country. A visit to another missionary 
 station is too often like the tossings of the invalid, who may 
 " change the place, but keeps the pain:" For, wherever a 
 missionary may go, the work pursues and overtakes him, 
 
 * No single ladies are sent out by the American Board, directly or 
 in behalf of the Woman s Board of Missions, till every arrangement 
 has been made with the missionaries on the ground, to secure them 
 proper protection, a home, and opportunities for labor. The happi 
 ness and comfort of all parties must be carefully considered. Any 
 other course would be hardly less unkind, to say the least, to the 
 missionary family than to the lady sent out. In some instances the 
 presence and care of a single lady would seriously embarrass the 
 family of a missionary, or take up time that cannot be spared ; in 
 others the way may not be open for labor. If some fa:nilies suffer 
 from a different course, pursued by other societies, it is not the fault 
 of the American Board. Missionary Herald. 
 
EDEN. 469 
 
 ever calling for fresh effort, and renewed care and responsi 
 bility : The current of thought and feeling is not only 
 unchanged, but is often intensified. 
 
 It is rarely that we see the face of an English-speaking 
 traveler in this region. 
 
 One rainy Saturday, the two families in the konak were 
 in the midst of house-cleaning ; the halls crowded with fur 
 niture, and things generally in that topsy-turvy state which 
 is understood by housekeepers to be a necessary evil at 
 certain periods of the year. 
 
 The women belonging to the school were coming to the 
 teachers room with their children, and bundles of clothing, 
 that we might know their most pressing necessities, and pre 
 pare the sewing for the girls ; and altogether, the house was 
 in a somewhat confused condition. 
 
 " If we were in America, some one would be sure to come 
 for a call or visit at this most inauspicious time," I said to 
 my associate. 
 
 "Yes; but nothing of the kind can happen here!" she 
 replied, with a half sigh. 
 
 A little later, the assistant teacher told us that a German 
 doctor had come. We looked out into the court-yard, rnd 
 seeing no signs of an arrival, and knowing how many flying 
 reports were circulated among the people without any foun 
 dation, dismissed the subject from our thoughts. But having 
 occasion ere long to visit the other end of the mansion, I 
 passed unsuspectingly through the narrow corridor between 
 the two divisions, into a hall beyond, and suddenly found 
 myself in the presence of a smiling stranger, who bowed low 
 and addressed me in Latin ! This was the veritable German 
 doctor, sent out by a wealthy scientist of Geneva, to explore 
 
4/0 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the flora of the East. After some months spent in the 
 southern portions of the country, he had come to this region 
 with his servants, Arab steeds, and boxes filled with speci 
 mens, to be arranged and forwarded to Switzerland; and 
 was for a month the guest of one of the missionary families, 
 leaving his thanks as compensation for the hospitality he re 
 ceived during his stay : But his gratitude was expressed in 
 the rather quaint English which, after various essays in French 
 and German, he finally adopted as his medium of communi 
 cation. 
 
 Two other travelers made their appearance in the space of 
 four years; they were from India, and came to survey the 
 telegraph line, making their headquarters at Mezereh. 
 
 Our little circle is again completed by the safe return of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Barnum ; the welcome which greeted their 
 coming, in the cottage, freshly cleansed, and garnished with 
 flowers, mottoes of " Welcome Home," " Love," " Rest," 
 and " Home, Sweet Home," adorning the walls, was a faint, 
 type of the final gathering in the everlasting Home of 
 " many mansions," where we shall go no more out forever. 
 
 The health of the city is in advance of last year at this 
 time ; probably owing to the new sanitary precautions 
 adopted and put in force by Hakim Harooteun, with the 
 aid of the missionaries, who have heartily entered into 
 the programme, in this vicinity. The air seems purer, and 
 freer from offensive smells, but we are greatly annoyed by 
 those tiny tormentors, the fleas, in consequence, we suppose, 
 of long and late rains, and possibly the stirring up of their 
 old quarters ! And we have had sad news from Marsovan, in 
 the death, by cholera, of our missionary brother, Mr. Dodd. 
 
 Fruit is abundant, though the grapes have been somewhat 
 
EDEN. 471 
 
 injured by heavy showers, yet the rich clusters that adorn 
 our table look very tempting, besides luscious melons, rich 
 pears, and the fair-looking, but not very fine-flavored apples, 
 that have lately made their appearance in the market. We 
 have really good white yeast bread this year, in place of soda 
 biscuit, or rolls; and tolerably good butter such as it is 
 white and unsalted, made of sheep s milk, in goat skins, with 
 the hairy side turned in. It is often rancid, and permeates the 
 food which is cooked with it, in a most unsavory way, par 
 ticularly disagreeable to a fastidious new-comer, who may 
 require at least a year to become in any degree accustomed 
 to the peculiar taste which it imparts. This butter often 
 needs special cleansing before it is fit for the table ; it is 
 sometimes melted and refined by heat; but a missionary 
 living on the plains of Mesopotamia, where Abraham once 
 fed his flocks (and Sarah possibly superintended her maidens 
 in this method of making butter), has advocated the use of a 
 serrated knife, in removing the superabundant hair which 
 finds its way into the lacteal compound during the churning 
 process ! The latter is sometimes varied by strapping the 
 goat skins of milk across the back of a donkey who is 
 about to take a short journey, thus " killing two birds with 
 one stone !" 
 
 THE ORDINATION AT PERCHENJ. 
 
 It is a warm Summer day. At eight o clock in the morn 
 ing, a company may be seen starting out from the mission 
 premises at Harpoot, all mounted on horses or donkeys, and 
 wending their way through the narrow, rough streets of the 
 city, to the brow of the rocky hill on which it is built, whence 
 they slowly descend into the great plain. A ride of 
 
472 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 two hours brings us to the village of Perchenj. As we 
 approach, we see many persons on foot, or mounted, and 
 women and children in rude wagons drawn by buffaloes, all 
 bound on the same errand. 
 
 We pass through broad .streets, shaded by lofty trees on 
 either side, with little streams of water running by the mud 
 walls which surround the gardens. It is very refreshing to 
 see so much verdure and shade, and be able to ride in com 
 pany, three or four side by side, instead of the usual pack- 
 horse procession, one jogging behind the other. 
 
 Such spacious streets are rare in these villages, where one 
 naturally expects to find more room than in large towns. 
 The Armenian idea of a village is totally different from that 
 entertained in America. Here, the term villager is synony 
 mous with " boor, ignoramus," etc. (When I first told 
 my pupils that I was born in a village, or country town, 
 they were amazed, and almost shocked. 
 
 During the same lesson, it came out that our blessed 
 Savior dwelt in a place which might have been termed a village, 
 and a very mean one at that. Some doubted, others insist 
 ed that it was a city, since it is sometimes so called in Scrip 
 ture, though all travelers judge that it could never have been 
 anything more than a small town, from its situation. It was 
 amusing to see the eyes of our village girls while this contro 
 versy was going on ! Perhaps there is no people under the 
 sun more tenacious of their " honor " than these same Arme 
 nians, even the poorest and meanest among them ! It 
 sometimes assumes an aspect that is really ridiculous.) 
 
 After fifteen or twenty minutes ride through the village, we 
 draw up in front of a garden wall where a large company of 
 men are assembled. These are mostly Protestant brethren, 
 
EDEN. 473 
 
 and they greet us with beaming faces and hearty salutations. 
 They help us to dismount, and at once relieve us of the care 
 of our horses, and luggage, if we have any. Passing into 
 the garden, we find the desk placed beneath large spreading 
 trees, with a long seat for the " .Honorables," as ministers are 
 called in Armenian. A space in front is left open, and on 
 either side, carpets and cushions are spread under the trees 
 for the women. We missionary sisters soon find ourselves 
 comfortably seated on the left of the desk, at the foot of a 
 mulberry tree. 
 
 When the meeting is called to order, people come throng 
 ing in, clad in all colors and costumes ; we see among them 
 some comical combinations in the way of rags, and patches, 
 worn by curious lookers-on, some of whom have the imple 
 ments of labor in their hands, fresh from the fields where 
 they were at work. 
 
 But a goodly company of " Gospellers " are present in 
 their best array, not only from the city, but from surround 
 ing villages. This is evidently a great gala day to them : 
 And soon all eyes and ears are intent upon the business in 
 progress. The missionary badvelis are three in number, and 
 noble looking men they are ; their expressive countenances 
 beaming with love and joy ! The Protestant Armenian 
 brother who sits with them, rejoices in the same office and 
 title ; and Pastor Marderos is truly worthy of the respect and 
 confidence accorded to him by every one. He is chosen 
 secretary, the chairman having been duly elected by the dele 
 gates from the churches, who occupy seats directly in front 
 of the desk. 
 
 The devotional exercises being concluded, they proceed 
 to the organization of the church, and the examination of 
 
4/4 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the candidate for the pastoral office. He is a young preach 
 er who was trained for his work at the Harpoot Seminary, 
 and has labored in a small town on the Euphrates for the 
 last two years. His wife was also a pupil of the Training- 
 School. 
 
 He stands up among the crowd of witnesses, and bears a 
 good testimony for the truth as it is in Christ. The people 
 give most earnest and undivided attention to the exercises, 
 so new and interesting to many of them. Here and there can 
 be seen the stalwart form of a rough tiller of the soil, lean 
 ing upon his spade ; a number of boys and young men peer 
 down upon us from the branches of trees just beyond the 
 scene of action, and beyond the multitude, near the out 
 skirts of the garden, are a number of fires, with huge caldrons 
 placed over them, and flitting figures around the encamp 
 ment seem to be engaged in stirring savory messes for the 
 refreshment of the hungry crowd. 
 
 Soon after midday, a recess is taken, and little groups are 
 gathered on every side, partaking of that same mess of pot 
 tage provided by their village entertainers. We too receive 
 our share, seated on carpets spread in a shady corner, and 
 eating the broth, with dark, coarse, unleavened bread, 
 which was baked in large flat cakes, upon the heated stones 
 of a rude oven made in the earth, and piled upon the 
 ground near by! A common tin or copper dish contains 
 a supply for three or four persons, placed at equal distances 
 before our circle, and we merrily dip our wooden spoons 
 into the same turrecn, enjoying the fun more than the food, 
 it must be confessed. 
 
 The afternoon session is even more interesting than that 
 of the morning, and we can but think what a means of edu- 
 
EDEN. 475 
 
 cation such occasions must prove to a people who are neAvly 
 coming into the light and liberty of the Gospel. 
 
 Mr. Williams has come from Mardin, and greatly adds to 
 the services by a stirring and most admirable charge to the 
 church, in English, which is interpreted by a brother mis 
 sionary, and so interests the people that they petition to 
 have it printed in Armenian for future use. They can never 
 forget his illustrations of Divine truth ; begging them not to 
 fill God s vineyard with dead trees, pointing to a sapless, 
 withered trunk near by, which should not only bear no 
 fruit, but also cumber the ground by their presence, shutting 
 out the dew and the sunshine from the soil, and thus hinder 
 ing the growth of others. 
 
 The day closes with songs of praise, and assurances on 
 every side that it will long be remembered as a tf blessed 
 time." 
 
 It is followed during the year by similar soul-cheering 
 scenes in other villages, all giving promise of a Christianity 
 whose growth shall be from within, self-perpetuating, and, 
 consequently, self-propagating. 
 
 The missionaries at Harpoot have adopted a few funda 
 mental principles in laying foundations and planting churches 
 in this region, (i.) " To form no churches to which they 
 do not at the same time give pastors : (2.) To ordain pas 
 tors only when their churches assume the entire responsi 
 bility of calling and supporting them, the aid given to the 
 churches by the missionaries in no case to exceed one-half 
 of the salary, and to decrease annually at least one-fifth, 
 and thus cease entirely at the end of five years, at the long 
 est, and as much sooner as, in their opinion, the churches are 
 able to dispense with it. (3.) The pastors and churches to 
 
4/6 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 be regarded and treated from the first, as entirely independ 
 ent of missionary control, and responsible only to the great 
 Head of the Church." 
 
 EXAMINATION- OF THE TRAINING-SCHOOL FOR 
 GIRLS AND WOMEN. 
 
 This institution was opened at Harpoot in the Spring of 
 1863, and was intended to comprise not only boarders, but 
 day pupils, and women (wives of theological students only) 
 as well as girls. The whole number of pupils from the first 
 has been ninety ; and of sixty connected with the school for 
 a longer or shorter period during these three years, only three 
 or four made any profession of piety when admitted, and 
 thirty have, we hope, been converted during the period. 
 
 The boarders were limited to fifteen in number, coming 
 from other cities and villages in the " Eastern Turkey Mis 
 sion," Diarbekir, Mardin, Bitlis, Erzeroom, Arabkir, Malatia, 
 etc. The day-scholars were also fourteen in number, mostly 
 from the city of Harpoot. These all paid a tuition fee for 
 admission, and the boarders were required to pay a certain 
 proportion of their expenses. A few were, however, received 
 as " charity scholars," to be educated at the expense 
 of the American Board, with the expectation that they 
 should become teachers or wives of preachers. None were 
 admitted under twelve years of age, and the boarders were 
 required to know something of the primary branches of in 
 struction, acquired at the station day-schools. 
 
 Most of the women under instruction are very humble and 
 ignorant, either unable to read, or but imperfectly, when they 
 entered the school. They learn slowly, but their minds 
 expand in this new atmosphere, and the constant presenta 
 tion of divine truth elevates their characters and enlightens 
 
EDEN. 477 
 
 their consciences. They generally manifest great sim 
 plicity of character, and a humility and genuine frankness 
 which is very refreshing and encouraging to their teachers. 
 We consider this class of pupils a most important element in 
 the school. Those who are mothers leave their younger 
 children to be cared for during school-hours, by a woman 
 employed for that purpose ; and at the customary recess, 
 morning and afternoon, they go to their rooms (in the vicinity) 
 to nurse their babes. The larger children are placed in the 
 day school. 
 
 Thus whole families are at once instructed and elevated. 
 The school is in session from March to November. During 
 the Winter months, the pupils of both schools are scattered 
 throughout this region of the Euphrates and Tigris, in all 
 the cities and villages where the people call them, or mission 
 aries send them, to teach and preach the Word. 
 
 Our women soon find their appropriate sphere as teachers 
 and leaders of their sex. They may know but little, but 
 they can teach those who know still less. One of the moth 
 ers whom we considered very backward, and rather weak- 
 minded, in fact, has been very useful in the village where 
 her husband labors. From accounts just received, she is 
 now teaching sixteen girls and three women to read, besides 
 performing the work of her family of nine persons. Thus 
 far the experiment has proved a success, and with every 
 year public sentiment has increasingly sanctioned the educa 
 tion of women. Parents are becoming not only willing but 
 anxious to place their daughters in the school, even if it in 
 volves a pecuniary sacrifice to themselves. 
 
 Previous to the establishment of this school, three girls, 
 two Armenian and one Syrian, were sent from Diarbekir, 
 
478 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 to be educated in the Armenian Boarding-School at Con 
 stantinople. These have been usefully employed since their 
 return, one acting as assistant teacher in this school ; an 
 other, the wife of the pastor at Harpoot, also aiding, from 
 time to time, in various classes, translating useful books and 
 articles for the press, besides taking her turn with the mis 
 sionary ladies in holding weekly meetings for the women. 
 The influence of their Syrian school-mate, in her labors 
 among the women and girls of Diarbekir, can hardly be over 
 estimated. Her light has shown steadily and brightly, amid 
 the dawning rays of the new day opening upon her people. 
 
 We come now to the close of the third school-year of the Har 
 poot institution. On the 24th of October, an informal examina 
 tion of the primary classes was held in the school-room, to 
 which only relatives of the pupils were admitted, besides the 
 missionary families and the pastor. Most of the women be 
 longed to these classes, mainly under the instruction of the 
 assistant teacher, and Miss Pond, while perfecting her use of 
 the language. Their store of book knowledge \vas not very 
 extensive, but their appearance indicated a growth of mind, 
 and a moral tone, worth infinitely more. The next day the 
 public examination took place in the chapel. During the 
 previous weeks there had been the customary " reviews " and 
 " drills," reading and re-reading of essays, with criticisms, the 
 singing of new pieces for the occasion, etc., etc., all so well 
 known to every teacher as an exhausting process, but specially 
 so to those who labor in a foreign tongue, fashioning raw 
 material ! 
 
 This was to be the first occasion when more than a very 
 select number should witness the proficiency of Armenian girls 
 in their studies. Yet the door was not widely thrown open 
 
EDEN. 470 
 
 to all who might come to gaze. Tickets were provided, and 
 given to suitable applicants; thus a large and most re 
 spectable audience was secured. Among those present 
 were many pastors, preachers, and helpers, who had come 
 from their places of labor to attend the various exer 
 cises of the week. Our scholars were seated on carpets, in 
 the centre of the chapel. They were neatly dressed in a 
 mixture of the Oriental and European style, their heads cov 
 ered with a native " kerchief," partly concealing the face. 
 
 The exercises commenced with singing and prayer. 
 Classes were then examined in Bible History and Geogra 
 phy, followed, during the day, by Astronomy, Moral Science, 
 the Assembly s Catechism, and Object Lessons. These reci 
 tations were interspersed with singing, accompanied by the 
 melodeon, and the reading of Essays in clear, calm, tones, 
 by the writers. The subjects were as follows : Light ; Liber 
 ality ; Obedience ; Cleanliness ; Faithfulness in Little Things ; 
 and the Greatest Victory ; this last portraying the hidden con 
 flict of the soul, between the powers of good and evil, invis 
 ible to mortal eyes, but noticed by God and angels, who 
 rejoice over the victory of self ! It was written by a " little 
 Syrian maid," a native of Diarbekir. 
 
 The classes appeared well, and their teachers were pleased 
 and encouraged. Mr. Wheeler s class in Astronomy would 
 have done credit to any school. Owing to a lack of suitable 
 text-books in Armenian, the instruction in this, and one or 
 two other branches, has been mostly oral. In the study of 
 God s Word, the graduating class had gone through the first 
 five books the last year, spending three-quarters of an hour 
 each day in drawing directly from the fountain-head of 
 wisdom and truth. During the Summer, the first class was 
 
480 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 favored with lectures on Natural Philosophy and Physiology, 
 by Mr. Allen, Principal of the Seminary. In place of map- 
 drawing, to which considerable attention had been given, 
 our pupils were instructed in the art of making " flower 
 pictures," during the last weeks of the term. The walls of 
 the chapel were quite profusely decorated with specimens 
 of their taste and skill, in arranging the leaves and blossoms 
 collected in their Spring and Summer rambles over the hills 
 with their teachers. This we felt would cultivate their 
 taste, give them an object in their walks, and help to make 
 their homes more attractive. They were taught that these 
 simple pictures would be in keeping with the humblest sur 
 roundings, if only the walls were white-washed and the room 
 clean. 
 
 At the close of the afternoon exercises, suitable diplomas 
 were presented to the graduating class, with a few impressive 
 words by Mr. Wheeler. There were fourteen girls and 
 women whose course of study was completed, and who now 
 received their " commission " to go forth and teach their be 
 nighted sisters, wherever the Master should call them. It 
 was a soul-cheering spectacle, and spoke volumes for the fu 
 ture of woman in this land. The school then united in 
 singing, " Go, work in my vineyard to-day." 
 
 After a few brief remarks by Mr. Barnum and Mr. Allen, 
 several of the native pastors addressed the school. We 
 were particularly interested in one of them, a former grad 
 uate of the Seminary, ordained and settled as a pastor last 
 June. He " rose up " lumberingly, like a great mountain, 
 and in a deep, rumbling voice, gave utterance to a few 
 measured sentences, expressive of his gladness at witnessing 
 the exercises of the day. At first we were somewhat amused 
 
EDEN. 481 
 
 at his uncouth pronunciation, smacking of the village home 
 of his childhood ; but as he warmed with his subject, we 
 listened with delighted interest. He seemed a "jewel in 
 the rough," belonging to the Chalmers type of men. After 
 dwelling upon the scene before him, he looked back : " And 
 who," he said, " among all the women of this land, could 
 wield a pen, or compose an essay, or answer, intelligently, 
 questions upon Scripture, ten years ago?" He blessed God 
 that his eyes had seen that day, and most gratefully express 
 ed his thanks to the missionaries, and to the "American 
 Board," whose agents they are, in this great and noble work. 
 Then turning to the class just graduated, he charged them 
 to " sow beside all waters" the good seed of the Word ; to 
 be faithful as the leaders of their sex, remembering that to 
 whom much is given, of him much will be required. -Prayer 
 was then offered, and the assembly was dismissed. 
 
 The audience lingered to examine the various specimens 
 of handiwork upon the walls :< God s pictures," they called 
 them, alluding to the brilliant tints of the flowers so well 
 preserved. All seemed gratified, and several persons ex 
 pressed their surprise and delight at the proficiency they 
 had witnessed. It was evident that an excellent and abid 
 ing impression had been made. 
 
 The following day a very interesting examination of the 
 Seminary took place. A class of eight young men grad 
 uated, and seven were licensed to preach. On the morning 
 of the same day I held a farewell meeting with our pupils. 
 On my way to the school room, I was requested to step into 
 another apartment for a few moments, and there found the 
 class of graduates assembled. One of their number ap 
 proached me with a large and elegantly bound copy of the. 
 
482 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Scriptures, in Armenian, which she presented in behalf of 
 the class, with words to this effect : " Dear Teacher, it is not 
 in our power to compensate or reward you for all your toil 
 and labors of love in our behalf; but we wish to present 
 you with a token of our affection and gratitude. The Mas 
 ter, who will not forget even a cup of water given in His name, 
 reward you at the last great day." The whole thing was 
 a perfect surprise to me, and as grateful as it was novel in 
 my experience as a missionary teacher. Laboring here 
 temporarily, for the last two school-years, till a teacher 
 should come from America and be prepared to fill the 
 vacant place, this unlooked-for mark of appreciation and 
 gratitude was doubly precious. As I held the sacred vol 
 ume, and looked upon that tearful and interesting group of 
 faces, I felt that I was reaping a part of the " hundred-fold." 
 After speaking of the great " reward " it would be to see 
 them all co-workers with Christ, and of that day when the 
 " sheaves " of the great " harvest-field " shall be gathered 
 into the " garner," and teacher and scholars, reunited, might 
 rejoice together over many precious souls eternally saved, 
 we joined the rest of the school. A rapid review of the past 
 was then taken; a last solemn charge given to those who would 
 no more occupy those seats, and a special admonition to 
 those who professed to be followers of Christ. As one 
 after another of those who had given evidence of a change 
 of heart, voluntarily and deliberately arose and took her 
 place on the floor at the feet of her teachers, perfect silence 
 reigned, and deep solemnity seemed to pervade every soul. 
 
 But ten of the thirty-seven remained in their seats. Again 
 were these lambs of the fold warned of the deceitfulness of 
 the heart, the wiles of the great adversary, and the snares of 
 
EDEN. 483 
 
 the world. Again were they counseled to test themselves by 
 their fruits, and enjoined to cleave unto the Shepherd and 
 Bishop of their souls. Once more we gathered around the 
 mercy-seat, and commended this dear flock to the watch and 
 care of the heart-searching God and Father; after which 
 farewells were spoken, and the " scattering " commenced. 
 O, that Christian friends would pray much for this untried 
 band of workers, that none may be found wanting when the 
 " elect " shall be gathered in from every nation ! 
 
 THE INFANT SUNDAY-SCHOOL, 
 
 It is noon of the Lord s Day. The floor of the neat, airy 
 chapel at Harpoot, is thickly covered with men and women, 
 large boys and girls, all busily engaged in the study of 
 God s Word. It is a beautiful sight to those who love the 
 Book of books. These are the fathers and mothers, broth 
 ers and sisters, of the little folks whom we have lately gathered 
 to be taught by themselves in one of the Seminary rooms. 
 We pass up a flight of outer stairs, and leave our street-shoes 
 near the door, as the children have done, and from the great 
 heap that we stumble over, judge that a goodly number have 
 come to-day. And we are not disappointed ; for on entering 
 the spacious room we find as many as eighty little boys and 
 girls sitting in rows on the floor with their feet doubled up 
 under them like so many Turks. Many of these chil 
 dren are bright and pretty-looking ; some of them are quite 
 fair, and occasionally we notice one with blue eyes and auburn 
 hair. 
 
 One of the boys acts as monitor for the day, and he is 
 very proud of his office. He stands near the door, and 
 seats all the new-comers, and though only eight years old, 
 
484 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 is a manly little captain or general, as his name (Garabed) 
 signifies. It does children good to be trusted and employed, 
 and this little fellow is very dignified, and looks sharply 
 after those who get out of the ranks, quietly sending them 
 back to their own places. He is the son of one of the older 
 students, and, with some of his companions, has gathered a 
 number of new boys into the school. While they are singing 
 our sweet Sunday-school songs, one might almost fancy 
 himself in a similar school at home. But the dress and the 
 language, the posture, and even the names of the children, 
 soon dispels the illusion. 
 
 Bible names are quite as common as in America and Eng 
 land, but are somewhat disguised in their Armenian dress. 
 And then we have Resurrection, Ascension, Martyr, Cross- 
 giver, etc., quite a gospel fraternity, besides some others not 
 so spiritual in signification. For instance, there is one ^oor 
 boy who bears the infliction of a compound appellation as 
 protracted as those of Cromwell s time: "The son of the- 
 man-who-never-ate-cheese." A fact so uncommon, that it 
 must be commemorated. And there is a whole family of 
 Satans ! Many of the little girls rejoice in names which signify 
 some quality, such as Good, Bright, Beautiful, Cleanly ; one 
 is called Answer, another Oil-bringer, another Queen ; and 
 others bear the name of various flowers. It seems odd to 
 call a little girl Jupiter or Mercury, but that is commonly 
 done, and Venus (Aroosiag) is a favorite name in Armenian. 
 Some of the old Hebrew names are unchanged and in com 
 mon use ; as, for instance, Shooshan (lily), and Zait, or Sait, 
 for the olive, or oil-tree, and Kinnamon for cinnamon ; all 
 pointing to the antecedents of the race. " The Armenian lan 
 guage belongs to the Indo-Germanic family, enriched with 
 
EDEX. 485 
 
 many Sanscrit words, but having no affinity to the Semitic, or 
 any of the more modern tongues." The people claim that it was 
 the language of paradise, and will be the language of the heav 
 enly world. The Armenians have no fam ily names, but des 
 ignate persons by the father s name or employment, as in 
 Bible times : " David, son of Jesse ; Simon, son of Jonas ; 
 the " carpenter s son," etc., sometimes using th,e geni 
 tive suffix ian, as Hohannes, Hohannesian. The same custom 
 is perpetuated in France by the de, in Holland by Von, and 
 in Ireland by O , prefixed to the name ; while in England 
 and America we have Smithson, Johnson, etc. 
 
 But after this digression concerning names, we turn again to 
 our little people, who by this time have finished singing, 
 " Jesus bids us shine," " We won t give up the Bible," 
 and " Come to Jesus." 
 
 They now repeat, in turn, a verse of Scripture, or of a 
 hymn which they have learned during the week, and after 
 reciting a new one in concert till it is fixed in their minds, 
 Noonia tells them a Bible-story, and I ask them questions, 
 after it is finished, to see how much they understand. Then 
 the bell rings down-stairs, and we dismiss them to join their 
 parents and friends in the chapel. 
 
 One Sunday, when all the children were repeating, in 
 concert, " Lord, teach a little child to pray," I noticed that 
 little Mehran, who sat at hi" mother s feet, did not join in 
 the exercise. I had often spoken to him in a kind way, 
 about doing so, for I wished him to set a good example be 
 fore the children who had not Christian parents. I now spoke 
 more decidedly, and his mother saw that it was time to make 
 him obey. She repeated the injunction, but her little boy did 
 not open his lips. After a few moments had passed, and he 
 
486 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 . still refused to obey, she took him into another room, and 
 punished him. But when she brought him back, he said not 
 a word, though his little cousin, who was younger, recited 
 it correctly. Again his mother took him away, and again he 
 did not obey, though he made no outward demonstration, 
 and only sobbed from the pain inflicted. While this contest 
 was going on, the signal came for the close of the hour, and 
 the children were dismissed. Still Mehran had not yielded. 
 I lingered, and begged his mother not to leave the matter 
 there. " Why," said she, " what can I do ? I have whipped 
 him several times, and still he won t mind !" 
 
 " O, Noonia, you have not subdued his will ! This may 
 be the turning point in the life of your child. He may lose his 
 soul if you are not faithful now ! Think how you would feel 
 if he should die in this stubborn state ! If he learns to obey 
 his parents, it will be much easier for him to obey his Heavenly 
 Father." 
 
 This seemed to make an impression on her mind, and she 
 did not go to the chapel as usual, to attend the afternoon 
 service. During the week I saw her, and anxiously inquired 
 after the result. 
 
 She said that on reaching the parsonage, she talked gently 
 to her little boy, and then placed him in a room alone to 
 think of his conduct, telling him that he could not come out 
 till he would obey. He remained quietly by himself for a 
 couple of hours, and then yielded the contest, and submitted 
 entirely. When his mother asked him what he did when 
 alone so long, he replied, " I prayed to Jesus." 
 
 That was the last time that Mehran ever joined his 
 little companions. The next Sunday he had a severe 
 cold, and stayed at home on that account. And two weeks 
 
EDEN. 487 
 
 from that day, I was telling the children of his death, while 
 he was sleeping in a silent grave near by. It was a solemn 
 lesson to us all. When I entered the house where he lay, 
 soon after the news of his sudden illness and death had reached 
 us, and met his fond mother, whose heart was so bound up 
 in her noble, beautiful boy of five years, she came and laid 
 her head in my lap, and wept as if -her heart would break. 
 But it was an unspeakable comfort in that hour to know 
 that the dear child had yielded his stubborn will ; that in 
 those few hours of distressing pain the previous night, he 
 was patient and submissive, frequently praying audibly to 
 the "dear Lord Jesus!" 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 DIARBEKIR. 
 
 |HE ancient " Amida," or more modern " Black City," 
 on the shores of the Tigris, how like a vision of 
 past ages it loomed up in the distance across the 
 broad plain, its battlements and towers rising in bold relief 
 against the clear blue sky ! 
 
 After ten years of faithful missionary service in Mesopota 
 mia the " land between the rivers " Mr. and Mrs. Walker 
 revisited their childhood s home in the United States. 
 
 Returning to their people and their work with renewed 
 interest and affection after a prolonged absence, they tar 
 ried a few days at Harpoot before commencing the last stage 
 of their long overland journey via Samsoon. Their arrival 
 was hailed with delight by the eager circle of missionary 
 brothers and sisters, who enjoyed a rare treat in listening 
 to details, fresh in their experience, of scenes and interests, 
 changes and progress in the fatherland. According to a 
 previous programme, I joined the little party for a Winter 
 in their home and work when they again resumed their 
 journey. 
 
 We left Harpoot the middle of November; our route lay 
 south-east a distance of sixty miles, on the line of the tele 
 graph down to old Bagdad, and thence to India. The air 
 (488) 
 
DIARBEKIR. 489 
 
 was mild, the sun shining, and the roads in good condition, 
 though a cold rain had been falling for several days, and a 
 snow-storm seemed impending on the Taurus range of moun 
 tains over which we were to pass. There was little to vary 
 the monotony of the journey ; the general features of travel 
 and mountain scenery were familiar in our experience. But 
 on the second day we passed the shores of Lake Geuljik, 
 encircled by rugged mountain peaks. No boat skimmed 
 over its deep blue waves, and the only visible sign of life 
 was the lazy flapping of some stray bird as it winged its 
 way across the smooth expanse, or the flight of wild ducks, 
 startled by our approach. The silence was oppressive, and 
 the story of an old monastery sunk beneath the sleeping 
 waters, did not lessen the feeling. 
 
 The principal town through which we passed was Argana, 
 perched like an eagle s nest among the rocks. The highest 
 peak was crowned by an Armenian monastery, said to be a 
 favorite resort of wealthy families during the intense heat of 
 the Summer months. The monks furnish food as well as 
 rooms, and the best wine of the country, being as famous 
 for high living as any of their confreres in other lands. 
 
 As \ve passed from Armenia into Mesopotamia, the face 
 of the country became flat and uninteresting. The last 
 night of the journey which occupied four days was spent 
 at the half-underground Koordish village of Geog Tapa, in 
 a room without doors or windows, whence the family and 
 the horses had just been ejected. At two o clock in the 
 morning we were roused, and soon after three were mounted, 
 and on our way, our horses feet keeping time on the crisp, 
 frosty road. The air was piercingly chilling in the thick dark 
 ness before the dawn, and warm wraps were needed to make 
 21* 
 
490 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 one comfortable. Not long after daylight we encountered 
 a caravan of two hundred camels, and it required no little 
 skill in manoeuvring to pass the slow, ungainly, and often 
 ill-tempered creatures. The camel -fights of Smyrna are 
 said to exceed the bull-fights of Spain in the fierce onset of 
 the combatants, and the mad fury with which they continue 
 the contest, filling the air with unearthly cries and screams, 
 till one or both are destroyed. The people have a plausible 
 tradition concerning the origin of this most uncouth crea 
 tion. They say that when God had finished making all the 
 other animals, He put together the bits that were left, and 
 lo ! a camel ! And the deep, choking gutterals of the Arabic 
 language, so difficult for foreigners to acquire, they call 
 " camel sounds." 
 
 THE MISSIONARY S RETURN, AND RECEPTION BY 
 THE PEOPLE. 
 
 As we approached Diarbekir, the people came out by 
 scores and hundreds to meet their beloved teachers. The 
 children of the Sunday-schools sang hymns of rejoicing, and 
 glad welcomes resounded on every side. In the midst of 
 this joyous throng the missionary and his family were borne 
 along with more than royal triumph. The City was now in 
 full view ; soldiers paced back and forth upon its black walls 
 between the huge towers, of which there were twenty on the 
 side next the plain, with many narrow slits for windows, 
 whence the arrows and javelins of ancient warfare were 
 hurled upon besieging armies. Suddenly there issued from 
 one of the gates a company of sixty Protestant women, look 
 ing, in their white sheets, like so many apparitions of by 
 gone centuries. 
 
DIARBEKIR. 49! 
 
 Gathering around their missionary u Hanum," they show 
 ered their welcomes upon her and the three children, with 
 many smiles and tears. We passed beneath the shadow 
 of those dark walls, and entered " through the gates 
 into the city." Turkish guards looked with amazement upon 
 the great procession which the people nocked to see ; and 
 the Pasha inquired the meaning of the royal escort, as 
 the faithful servant of Christ returned to lift again the stand 
 ard of the cross in that old Moslem city. 
 
 A few busy days are spent in refurbishing the missionary 
 dwelling, and receiving the callers who are constantly com 
 ing notwithstanding the pouring rain. And when we are 
 somewhat settled, our plans are laid for the Winter s work. 
 It appears that during the absence of the missionaries, the 
 people, and the women especially, have gone back to the 
 more exclusive use of Armenian as their family and religious 
 language. And since Mrs. Walker s missionary tongue is 
 Turkish, and her children will require more of her time than 
 formerly, it is her earnest desire that I should conduct most 
 of the meetings for mothers during my stay. She, mean 
 while, finding plenty of work in visiting and caring for the 
 sick, and in incidental opportunities of doing good, of which 
 there is no lack. 
 
 I am much pleased with the appearance of the people ; 
 many of them have a fine physique, of superior stature and 
 carriage. They seem higher in the scale of civilization, are 
 generally more refined and better dressed than in most East 
 ern towns which I have visited ; and their houses are well- 
 built and furnished, being mostly of stone, with glass win 
 dows ; some of these konaks are really very imposing. 
 
492 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 THE ORNAMENTS, OR DOWERY, OF THE WOMEN OF 
 ME SOP TAMIA. 
 
 The display of jewels in the ornamentation of the femi 
 nine apparel, exceeds anything that I have yet seen, especially 
 the singular, helmet-like head-dress which nearly covers the 
 forehead and reaches down to the ears, thickly studded with 
 pearls and edged with rows of gold coins. The silk veil 
 worn in the house, which floats gracefully over the should 
 ers, is frequently edged with coins ; and a profusion of 
 precious stones, uncut and rudely set, are worn in rings and 
 necklaces, and distributed upon various portions of the dress. 
 As elsewhere in the East, the long braids of hair are heavily 
 hung with coins. These ornaments are the " dowery " of the 
 women, their own exclusive property, which the law cannot 
 touch ; and many a wife throughout the Empire who wears 
 upon her person more than enough to redeem her husband 
 from the clamcrs of his creditors, or release him from prison, 
 would not part with one of the precious coins for that pur 
 pose ! As soon as a daughter is born, the mother, however 
 poor, commences providing her dowery ; adding piece by 
 piece the coins of copper, silver, or gold which she may have 
 earned, or which have been handed down in the family as 
 an heir loom for many generations. Such pieces represent 
 far more than the current value of the coin to the wearer, 
 and the loss of a silver or gold piece from her head-dress 
 would occasion great anxiety and an unwearied search as 
 our Savior knew and probably had seen when He uttered the 
 parable of the lost coin. Unmarried maidens are known by 
 the veil of crimson silk, and the wealth and n-ink of her 
 family are revealed by the jewels which she wears. Syrian 
 
DIARBEKIR. 493 
 
 women wear immense clasps of silver to their girdles, and 
 the little tinkling silver bells upon the ankles of the younger 
 children which frequently disturb the Sunday service 
 were once worn by these Eastern ladies. These, with their 
 stomachers, spangled ornaments, bracelets, head-bands, and 
 broad thumb rings of gold, remind one of the elaborate 
 description in the third chapter of Isaiah. 
 
 THE TEACHERS MEETING. 
 
 It is two hours before sunset, at the close of the week. 
 From one of the lofty minarets of the mosque near by, may 
 be heard the sonorous voice of the muezzin calling the faith 
 ful to afternoon prayers. A few moments later, and the 
 outer door of the court opens to admit the little groups of 
 men who enter and pass up the long flight of stairs leading 
 to the parlor of the missionary. Now all have assembled ; 
 a company of twenty men, mostly in the prime of life, and 
 two or three middle-aged women, who take their seats be 
 hind the brethren. Prayer is offered a brief petition for 
 the presence and teaching of the Holy Spirit and a few 
 verses of the Sunday-school lesson are slowly read. And 
 now commences an exercise which, carried on from week to 
 week, year after year, is almost equal, if not superior, to a 
 course in theology for these Protestant Syrians and Arme 
 nians. 
 
 Mr. Walker has carefully prepared a digest of the subject or 
 subjects contained in the lesson, and a list of questions and 
 Scriptural answers written out in Turkish. Each man is pro 
 vided with ink-horn, paper, and pen, which he draws from his 
 girdle, to transcribe this list from the teacher s lips for his own 
 use on the morrow. The other Sunday-schools in the Diarbe- 
 
494 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 kir out-stations will also receive copies of the same, those 
 nearest the city obtaining the papers in time for the following 
 Sunday, and those at a distance, in two or even three weeks 
 hence. 
 
 Two of the younger teachers will carefully copy their own 
 papers for the damsels to whom they are betrothed, and the 
 larger boys in the day-school assist in making the other copies. 
 
 As each question is stated, a free and animated discussion 
 takes place, for these men have learned to think ; the Word 
 of God is their daily meat, and they have been nourished and 
 strengthened by its most vital truths. Kindly, as a father 
 his children, the missionary guides their willing feet in the 
 pleasant paths of true wisdom, teaching them to avoid " fool 
 ish questions and genealogies, and contentions and strivings 
 about the law." A " thus saith the Lord," is the end of all 
 controversy. 
 
 It is a scene long to be remembered, that company of solid, 
 intelligent men. Most of them are really noble and com 
 manding in bodily presence, and the full flow and sweep of 
 their national costume imparts a certain dignity which implies 
 that they belong to the higher walks of life. Yet with child 
 like meekness they sit on the floor at their teacher s feet. 
 
 The lesson is that of the Prodigal Son ; only two verses, 
 containing the account of the son s return and his reception. 
 The questions are very simple, evidently intended to touch 
 upon the old belief of the Eastern churches in the intercession 
 of saints.* 
 
 * I ll is was years before the introduction of the International Les 
 sons, (which mark a new and blessed era in the study of the Word 
 of God,) and was greatly blessed in diffusing a knowledge of the 
 gospel, and in training the people to be intelligent Christians. 
 
DIARBEKIR. 495 
 
 1. What did the prodigal son do after coming to himself? 
 
 2. If in this plight he had gone to some one else, would his 
 repentance have been as evident ? 
 
 3. If he had sent some one else to his father, would it have 
 been becoming a penitent ? 
 
 4. Have we Christ s testimony that a repenting sinner can 
 thus go to our Heavenly Father? Luke xviii. 13, 14. 
 
 5. For one coming to God what is necessary? Heb. xi. 6. 
 
 6. If this prodigal son had not believed, would he have gone 
 to him ? 
 
 7. What was the nature of his faith ? 
 
 8. What may we learn from it respecting the faith which the 
 penitent must exercise in God ? Ans. His faith was a confi 
 dence in his father that he would do right not that he be 
 made a son, and treated to fatted calf. 
 
 9. How did the father receive him ? 
 
 10. What puts the sinner far from God ? Isa. lix. 2. 
 
 11. What does the father s seeing him afar off and running 
 to him, show ? (Mercy). 
 
 12. What his falling on his neck and kissing him ? (Love.) 
 
 13. Has God such love and mercy toward the sinner ? 
 Ans. Acts ii. 39. Eph. ii. 13, 17. Isa. Ixv. 24. 
 
 14. AVill not one who does not return to so merciful a God 
 be without excuse ? Prov. i. 29-31. 
 
 15. What is the meaning of " I have sinned against heaven ?" 
 Ans. The place is put for Him who dwelleth in it. 
 
 16. Is not every sin against man also against God ? Ans. 
 Matt. xxv. 40, 45. 
 
 17. Is there any sin against God which is not against man 
 also ? 
 
 18. Is every sin in God s sight ? Ans. Ps. xi. 4. Heb. iv. 13. 
 
496 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 19. What did the son profess in regard to his unworthiness, 
 and what spirit did this show ? 
 
 20. How does such a spirit appear to God ? 
 
 21. Is not such a spirit proper for every one who has sinned ? 
 
 22. Does God take notice of one who possesses such a 
 spirit ? Ans. Isa. Ixvi. 2. 
 
 23. What other blessing is promised to such persons ? Ps. 
 xxxiv. 1 8. 
 
 The time passes away too swiftly. The pupil-teachers have 
 gathered near the windows (which open into the court) to 
 catch the last gleams of departing day. But the curtain of 
 night falls upon the earth, and the stars come out in the patch 
 of blue sky that is visible above the wilderness of roofs ; and 
 after imploring the Divine blessing, and aid in imparting what 
 they have received, on the coming Sunday, they disperse to 
 their homes. 
 
 THE SUXDA Y-SCHOOL. 
 
 The noon cry of the muezzin is also the signal for this gath 
 ering to study the Bible. For, in this ancient city on the 
 shores of the Tigris, are Armenians, Syrians, Chaldeans, and 
 even Greek Jacobites, with the descendants of the Parsees, or 
 fire-worshipers, not a few of whom profess to receive Christ as 
 their Prophet, and the Cross as their symbol, dwelling in the 
 shadow of the Crescent, and worshiping God according to the 
 dictates of their conscience. 
 
 A large company of men. women, and children are quietly 
 collected in the assembly-room of the chapel-building (which 
 was once the English consulate), and others are continually 
 coming in and taking their seats upon the lloor. It is pleasant 
 to look down from the slight elevation of a camp-stool upon 
 
DIARBEKIR. 4Q/ 
 
 the sea of heads. The opening exercises are conducted with 
 peculiar interest by Mr. Walker, after his absence of a year and 
 a half. The classes are then formed in their accustomed places, 
 and soon the busy hum of voices sounds in every direction. 
 Here and there flits the loving and beloved missionary, watch 
 ing with deep interest and beaming face the progress of his 
 flock, and noting any change that has taken place no doubt 
 thanking God for the evidence that the labor of past years has 
 not been in vain in the Lord ; for he and his devoted wife were 
 permitted to lay the foundations of this blessed work, when 
 they came fresh and vigorous from America thirteen years ago. 
 Sitting near a large class of women in the little gallery, I 
 listen with interest to an elderly man who is instructing then), 
 and notice that he often refers to the paper prepared the night 
 before at the teachers meeting. There are additional classes 
 in adjoining rooms, and every available spot in the building 
 seems alive with teachers and pupils. In one of these side- 
 rooms I am delighted to find Elbice, one of my old pupils, 
 teaching seventy of the smaller boys and girls. She is hearing 
 their recitations of Bible stories, or verses and hymns which 
 they have learned during the week. One little boy repeats the 
 story of the Prodigal Son : A pretty little girl with flaxen hair 
 and bright blue eyes (of which uncommon features there are 
 two or three specimens) tells that of Samuel, going through 
 with the calling of his name by the Lord, again and again, in 
 a very impressive manner. A boy of eight or ten years repeats 
 page after page of " Pilgrim s Progress," ringing the changes 
 on the names of the speakers Christian and Talkative as 
 fast as his tongue can move, till stopped, that others may have 
 their turn. After the singing I make a short address, to which 
 they give good attention. And finding that Elbice can scarcely 
 
498 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 do justice to so many, promise to accept hereafter the care of 
 the forty little boys, in another room, while she retains the 
 girls. The tinkling of a little bell in the larger room brings the 
 scattered classes together, and the roll is called. " Three hun 
 dred and forty present to-day," says Mr. Walker. 
 
 He then briefly reviews the lessons, asks a few practical 
 questions sometimes varied with recitations by the boys, of 
 selections made by themselves or teachers, to which the 
 people listen with great interest, and the school closes 
 with singing and prayer. There are no Sunday-school 
 books, no diagrams drawn on the black-board, no prizes, or 
 clap-trap of any kind to attract and retain pupils ; and yet I 
 never saw more evident and intelligent interest among both 
 old and young, and was never more deeply impressed with the 
 magnitude of the Sunday-school work, especially in a country 
 where not only the children, but the parents, must be taught 
 the first principles of Christianity. 
 
 A PLAYER-MEETING AT THE HOUSE OF A 
 FORMER PUPIL. 
 
 On Monday afternoon several of the sisters in the church 
 called on their way to the weekly prayer-meeting, and I accom 
 panied them. It was held at the house of Sadie, a Syrian by 
 birth, who was trained in the school at Constantinople. The 
 meeting had begun, and Sadie was praying when we arrived. 
 As I stood in the door-way, and listened to her fervent peti 
 tions for the coming of Christ s kingdom in that and every land, 
 and the breathings of her soul for a closer walk with God, I 
 was much moved. My mind went back to that never-to-be- 
 forgotten Sunday evening in the school-home at Hasskeuy, 
 
DIARBEKIR. 499 
 
 when she was the first of the " six " to rise, and signify her 
 decision to follow Christ. 
 
 When we entered the room, Sadie, who evidently did not 
 expect me that day, quietly pointed to a cushioned arm-chair, 
 and commenced reading the chapter which she had selected. 
 I looked around with pleased surprise at the evidence of neat 
 ness, order, and a cultivated taste everywhere visible white 
 washed walls, adorned with a few neatly-framed pictures (mostly 
 of missionary friends), a pretty clock ticking in a niche at one 
 side, a tidy carpet on the floor, and an inviting divan at either 
 end. Upon the round table was a vase of flowers, a handsome 
 kerosene lamp, a few specimens of handiwork in mats, bas 
 kets, etc., besides two nicely-bound family Bibles, in Armenian 
 and Syriac, with a few other books, and the diploma of a 
 younger sister just graduated at Harpoot ! The windows were 
 curtained with white muslin, and a tight-air stove diffused an 
 agreeable warmth through the room, a portion of which had 
 evidently been partitioned off for a sleeping-apartment by a 
 movable cloth-covered frame. Sadie s two little children were, 
 like herself, neatly dressed ; she was ladylike, modest, and 
 unassuming in manner, yet perfectly self-possessed, speaking 
 with warmth and earnestness to her more ignorant sisters of 
 the " Good Shepherd, and the sheep who know His voice and 
 follow Him." There were thirty-five women and large girls 
 present, besides fifteen children. During the absence of the 
 missionaries and the Protestant pastor (whose wife had been a 
 school-mate of Sadie s, and died some years before) the leader 
 ship of the Protestant sisters had almost wholly devolved upon 
 this young wife and mother ; and she had been faithful to her 
 trust, notwithstanding poor health and family cares, besides a 
 self-supporting day-school of twenty children in her own home, 
 
50O THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 for which the pecuniary compensation amounted to scarcely 
 one dollar per month. 
 
 When several prayers had been offered, Sadie asked me to 
 address the little company. After alluding to the surprise it 
 was to find myself among them, how little I had dreamed that 
 God would ever lead me into the country of His faithful ser 
 vant Abraham, and what joy it was to meet there five of those 
 whom I had helped to train for Christ s service, I spoke of 
 their duties and responsibilities as Christian women; and read 
 an extract referring to that subject from my mother s last letter, 
 viz. : that " the MOTHERS must be converted before there could 
 be a Christian nation ; " enforcing the truth by facts and illustra 
 tions. This was very pleasantly received, and we looked 
 forward to many similar occasions of profitable teaching and 
 Christian fellowship during the Winter. 
 
 THE CHILDREN S MEETING. 
 
 Finding the hour on Sunday too brief a time for all the re- 
 Ifrnous instruction that the children needed, I cast about for 
 some additional way in which to make my mark upon 
 those young and impressible minds. Finally, nothing seemed 
 more practicable than a special meeting at the chapel on Satur 
 day of each week, at which attendance should be purely vol 
 untary. At first thirty or forty came, but in a few weeks we 
 counted sixty-nine boys, fifty girls, and half a dozen women. 
 And they came in the stormiest weather ; nothing could keep 
 them from the "Children s Meeting." ]?y-and-by, more of the 
 parents came, and sat behind the little folk, listening as eagerly 
 and intently as they to the simple presentation of Bible truth. 
 It was touching to see nged grandfathers tottering in, holding 
 the wee ones Ly the hand, and sitting down among them in 
 
DIARBEKIR. 50! 
 
 their second childhood. There were half a dozen or more 
 boys of fourteen and sixteen years of age who attended regu 
 larly, and took turns as ushers ; so that on my arrival at the 
 appointed hour, my little people were seated in orderly array, 
 and ready for the song with which the exercise commenced. 
 It was no small matter to be thoroughly prepared for these 
 weekly lectures. Selecting for each occasion a special topic, 
 most of the morning was devoted to the careful preparation of 
 thoughts and illustrations which should make it clear to their 
 untutored minds. My first aim was to awaken their minds to 
 think about themselves, and their relations to God and man. 
 Then particular sins were discussed, one by one, drawing from 
 the children their Scripture knowledge concerning each sub 
 ject. After which we discoursed respecting the " Spirit which 
 worketh in the children of disobedience ;" and the children 
 gave all the names by which Satan is mentioned in the Bible 
 as a living person, an enemy to all goodness, and an active and 
 watchful foe in every heart. This was followed by a discussion 
 about the fear cf the Lord which " is to hate evil ;" and an 
 other about the Holy Spirit, whose indwelling presence may as 
 surely be known as that of the Evil One, by the thoughts, and 
 words, and acts of the life. Not more than twenty minutes at a 
 time was given to these familiar talks, and after singing some 
 of the old songs, a new one was taught them. 
 
 One day I had finished telling an affecting story of a little 
 boy who was left alone in the world, among wicked people, 
 and tempted to steal to satisfy his hunger, but was restrained 
 by the fear of the Lord ; when a sturdy little fellow with a 
 magnificent head, and bushy brown hair falling over his shoul 
 ders, started up, his eyes shining, and his face glowing with the 
 intensity of his feeling as he eagerly said, "Varzhoohi, / know 
 
502 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 a beautiful story/ "Well, what is it, Hagop ? " "O, it is 
 all about the man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, who 
 was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before 
 her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth: " Giving 
 partly in his own words, and partly in the language of Scripture, 
 that inimitable fifty-third chapter of Isaiah. When the little lad 
 repeated the words, " Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him ; 
 he hath put him to grief" it touched a tender chord, and afforded 
 an opportunity to tell the children that sufferings and trials in 
 this world, are no proof of God s forgetful ness, or want of 
 affection for His children ; but rather of the Everlasting Love, 
 which is going to give them the BEST THINGS by-and-by, for 
 the only evil to the Christian is that which touches his soul. 
 
 It appeared that the children repeated at home what they 
 had learned, in the evenings when each family were together, 
 and the neighbors had dropped in for a chat. And some 
 times when I was leaving the chapel, at the close of the Sun 
 day service, the mothers would grasp my hand, and say, " We 
 are very much thankful that you teach our children so much ! 
 They come home and tell it all over, and we see how much 
 they learn." 
 
 " Of course there will be no Children s Meeting to-day," said 
 Mr. Walker, one Saturday after the Spring had opened. "This 
 is the first day of Bairam, or feast, (after the forty days fast of 
 Ramazan,) when the more fanatical of the Moslems vent their 
 spite upon the Christians, and Protestant parents will surely 
 keep their children at home ! " 
 
 But notwithstanding the risk of being pelted with rotten eggs, 
 sticks and stones, and drenched with water, sixty of our brave 
 boys and girls made their appearance at the appointed time, 
 some of the fathers bringing the younger ones, and staying 
 
DIARBEKIR. 503 
 
 through the hour to protect them in going home. The six manly 
 "ushers" (most of whom were apprenticed to various trades) 
 constituted themselves my body-guard, escorting me through 
 the streets with all the dignity and courtesy of high-bred gentle 
 men. A quiet afternoon visit with them on another occasion, 
 revealed the fact that all but one of these boys were hoping in 
 Christ ; and that they wished to be prepared to preach the 
 gospel. 
 
 THE V/ORK AMONG THE MOTHERS. 
 
 After a preliminary " talk " with the sisters in the church, 
 our Mothers Meetings were held from house to house, in vari 
 ous quarters of the city, to draw in those who would go to a 
 neighbor s dwelling, but would not enter the chapel or mission 
 ary house. 
 
 That first meeting seemed to be the key-note to the Winter s 
 work ; and one of the most intelligent and interesting of the 
 women afterward dated her conversion from the impressions re 
 ceived on that occasion, when the subject of discourse was, "A 
 mere profession," from the words " Leaves only," in the par 
 able of the barren fig-tree. 
 
 As the weeks came and went, the attendance at these meet 
 ings increased from forty or fifty, to eighty and one hundred. 
 It was our aim to enlighten conscience upon the foundation- 
 truths of the gospel, and lead them to Christ. When special 
 instruction was given to mothers on the training of their chil 
 dren, much interest was manifested by women who had hitherto 
 held themselves aloof from the Protestants ; and Syrian and 
 Armenian konaks never before opened to them, were offered 
 for our meetings. As we passed over the threshold of one of 
 these great stone mansions, and met the younger women of the 
 
504 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 family, clad in costly array, and richly adorned with gold, and 
 pearls, and precious stones, one of the Christian sisters whisper 
 ed in my ear, " This is the first time that a Protestant has ever 
 entered these doors ! " There were seventy-nine assembled on 
 that occasion, to hear about the "Duties of Mothers." 
 
 The talk about "Family Discipline" was given by special 
 request at the konak of Pilgrim Ibrahim, a wealthy Syrian to 
 bacco merchant. Eighty well-dressed women were present in the 
 large and according to Oriental ideas imposingly-furnished 
 room. 
 
 At the close, one of the good Protestant mothers said with 
 evident emotion, "You make us feel our duties ! I am weak, 
 I could not do all I would before, and now my responsibility 
 has increased." 
 
 The simple exposition of the " New Birth," in our Savior s 
 words to Nicodemus, was repeated, by request, in the Syrian 
 quarter of the city. The long and spacious room was literally 
 packed till it could contain no more. The window-seats were 
 filled, and little girls were placed in the niches of the wall, while 
 others climbed upon the great pile of bedding at one end. I 
 never felt more deeply my own ignorance and inability to ex 
 plain the deep things of God, and bring them down to the com 
 prehension of such undisciplined minds, than when attempting 
 the preparation, in a foreign language, of this most wonderful 
 theme. Surely He whose aid we sought, granted the petition, 
 for the Holy Spirit seemed to be visibly present, and the most 
 fixed and solemn attention was given during the hour that we 
 were together. 
 
 Here and there among the crowd of upturned faces, was one 
 and another which witnessed to a personal experience of the new 
 life, while others looked solemnized and anxious. Sadie closed 
 
DIARBEKIR. 505 
 
 the meeting with a prayer which seemed to come from the depths 
 of her heart; and as the company quietly dispersed in little 
 groups, many paused to exchange greetings with Mrs. Walker 
 and myself, expressing their gratitude for the truths to which 
 they had listened. 
 
 After these meetings, numbers of the women came to us for 
 personal conversation and inquiry, on Wednesday afternoon 
 of each week, (and Mrs. Walker commenced a monthly meet 
 ing with the church members.) We found them in all the vari 
 ous stages of enlightenment, conviction of sin, or trust in 
 Christ. Several hoped that they had lately been "born again," 
 but as we could not tell how genuine these conversions might 
 be, we made no estimate of numbers, leaving them to be tested 
 by time. Some were shallow, self-righteous and complacent, 
 totally ignorant of themselves; and we realized afresh the neces 
 sity of laying the foundations broad and deep, in the evangeli 
 zation of this people. Mere surface-work will not answer here : 
 There must be a deep consciousness of guilt, and of the exceeding 
 bitterness of sin, before there will be any radical change in the 
 heart or life. We might have converts by the score, if we 
 would but give this people a milk-and-water Gospel, all Love, 
 and no Justice half-truths leaving out the Law, which is 
 " the School-master to bring us to Christ." If this sort of 
 preaching and teaching will do for " Advanced thinkers" who 
 have shaken off the shackles of old beliefs, and so-called super 
 stitions, WHICH MADE THEIR FATHERS STRONG PILLARS OF 
 FAITH IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, AND VIGOROUS, FRUIT- 
 BEARING TREES IN THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD, it will 
 
 never suffice for a people who have felt its paralyzing influence 
 for centuries : In a church where the various classes of society, 
 however sunk in degradation and out-breaking sin, are, by vir- 
 
506 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 tuc of birth and baptism, admitted to all its rights and privi 
 leges : For this is the ultimate tendency of such Iwsc thinking 
 and teaching. 
 
 It is a recapitulation of Satan s subtile preaching to mother 
 Eve in the garden : "Yea, hath God said" so and so? " Ye 
 shall not surely die!" Interpreting God s word to suit his 
 own thought. 
 
 God save our churches from drifting into unbelief of His 
 Word, by the recoil of the natural heart from truths and doc 
 trines which are distasteful, and even hateful, till seen in the 
 light of a new love, and a spiritual nature ! THE P>IBLE is ONE 
 GRAND WHOLE ; and, "what God hath joined together, let not 
 man put asunder ! " 
 
 BUILDIXG THE MISSION CHAPEL. 
 
 About this time the increase of attendance at the Protestant 
 place of worship, rendered it necessary to open a new chapel 
 in the Syrian quarter. In planning for this enterprise, Ave all 
 felt that it was really necessary for the Christian growth and 
 development of the Protestants, that they should furnish most 
 of the funds for this new House of the Lord. And Mrs. Wal 
 ker and I promised to "stir up" the women at our next meet 
 ing. The subject selected for the occasion was, " ROUBING 
 GOD," from the third chapter of Malachi. There were just one 
 hundred present. After the usual exercises, and the exposition 
 of the Scripture read, the proposal to aid in bringing "all the 
 tithes into the store-house," that the chapel might be built, and 
 none who wished to hear the truth might go away unfed, was 
 laid before them by Mrs. Walker. The response was almost 
 instantaneous, and the scene around us became very lively. 
 Though no allusion had been made by either Mrs. Walker or 
 
DIARBEKIR. 507 
 
 myself, to the giving up of ornaments, numbers of the women 
 were cutting the precious coins from their head-dresses, or as 
 sisting their friends in doing so, arsd passing them up to us. 
 Others gave their ear-rings ; two or three young women each 
 slipped from her finger a valuable gold ring, set with a turquoise 
 and rubies. One poor woman took from her woven girdle, a 
 silver clasp which looked very ancient ; it was her only orna 
 ment ; this she presented with tears of joy as her free-will 
 offering THE " LOVE OF CHRIST CONSTRAINING," and then 
 tied her tunic with a common tow string ! A woman with 
 considerable property, subscribed two or three hundred pias 
 tres ; others, forty or fifty each. And one woman whose hus 
 band was blind, and the family dependent upon her exertions 
 for support, with occasional aid from the "poor fund" of the 
 church, could not be denied the privilege, and gave one pias 
 tre for herself, putting twenty paras into the hand of each of 
 her little girls, that they also might share in. the blessed luxury 
 of giving to Him, who " though He was rich, yet for our sakes 
 became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich." 
 Her earnest grasp of my hand, and the warmth with which she 
 spoke of her desire to do more, was better than gold : " That 
 one piastre given from her deep poverty, is worth more than 
 fifty or a hundred from some of these women ! " said Mrs. 
 Walker. And we both noticed how much easier it seemed for 
 the poor to give than the rich. But we could not accept the 
 sentiment, or indorse the orthodoxy of a hymn which appeared 
 in a popular book of Sunday-school songs, recently received 
 from the United States. 
 
 "The mites have the blessing. 
 The dollars have none," 
 
 closing each verse with the absurd refrain, 
 
 " So doii i kse tlu blessing >y giving too much." 
 
503 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 How such false doctrine ever found a place in the "Songs 
 of Zion," was a mystery to us. The comment of a colored 
 preacher on the text, "It is more blessed to give than to re 
 ceive," might be studied with profit by those who perpetrate 
 such folly. "I se knowed many a church to die cause it 
 didn t give enough, but I never knowed a church to die cause 
 it give too much. Dey don / die dat way ! Brederen, has any 
 of you knowed a church that died cause it give too much ? If 
 you do, just let me know, and I ll make a pilgrimage to dat 
 church, and I ll climb by de soft light of de moon to its inoss- 
 covered roof, and I ll stand dar, and lift my hands to heaben 
 and sa\*, Blessed am de dead dat die in de Lord ! 
 
 For weeks following this meeting, the women continued to 
 bring in their contributions for the new "Meeting-place," as 
 houses of worship are called by the Armenians ; some of 
 those who had given before thinking that they had not done 
 enough. This was very gratifying; but an occasional 
 spasmodic effort was not enough to satisfy our desires 
 for their growth and establishment as stewards of the 
 grace of God. We taught them that every Christian family 
 should be a Missionary Society by itself; and that, in order to 
 cultivate a systematic benevolence. oivixr. FROM PRINCIPLE 
 they should obey the Gospel injunction, " Upon the first day 
 of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God 
 hath prospered him." And that for this purpose it would be well 
 to have a little box, which should be passed around at family 
 worship every Sunday morning, to receive the offerings or sav 
 ings of every member of the household, however small. 
 
 It appears that the experiment of a " fair," or " ba/aar," 
 to raise funds, was once tried at Diarbekir, and the result 
 proved so unsatisfactory, in every way, that it will never be re- 
 
DIARBEKIR. 509 
 
 peated. We have not heard of its being tested by Missionaries, 
 in other portions of the ONE GREAT FIELD, and hope the day 
 will never come when we must resort to such expedients to 
 carry on our Christian work. 
 
 The children had been apprised by their mothers, of our desire 
 that they should help in building the House of the Lord, and at 
 their next meeting, they were prepared with their little offerings, 
 most of which they had earned during the week. There were a 
 hundred and twenty gathered on that occasion, and they all stood 
 while each in turn came to drop his " love-token FOR JESUS," into 
 the open bag which I held. A more beautiful sight never glad 
 dened my eyes, or warmed my heart : One little girl gave a small 
 gold piece from her head-dress, (her mother looking on with 
 smiling assent.) Another a piece of silver, and still another, 
 a very little girl led by the aged grandfather who lifted her up 
 to drop in five piastres, while her sweet face fairly shone 
 with delight. Two or three large girls led up their younger 
 brothers or sisters, who gave their coppers. One very small 
 boy brought twenty paras, saying triumphantly as he dropped 
 it into the bag, " / earned that all myself The large boys 
 had earned five, ten, or even twenty piastres each. The 
 women looked on with beaming faces, and all the little givers 
 appeared as happy and joyous as if each had received a hand 
 some present : They were learning the Savior s lesson " It is 
 more blessed to give than to receive. " 
 
 The bag was nearly full, and very heavy ; when the money 
 was counted, we found that the children had contributed one 
 hundred and twenty piastres ; more than five dollars ! Priz 
 ing the principle more than the piastres, we looked upon that 
 sum as an earnest of intelligent, loving, Christian stewardship, 
 when those boys and girls should take their places in the 
 
510 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Church of Christ. Many of them were from miserably poor 
 families, and had gone barefooted through all the snow and mud 
 of the Winter. One poor boy was almost heart-broken because 
 he had been prevented by his father s illness from earning the 
 money which he had planned to bring. ]Jut his face brightened 
 when told that God would accept the will, as truly, in that 
 case, as if he had brought his gift. And the meeting closed 
 with a story to illustrate the meaning of our giving to God.* 
 
 The new chapel was finished and opened early in March. 
 A very neat and airy place of worship, with a good gallery at 
 one end. The place was so full that I could scarcely find a 
 seat, even in the Sunday-school newly commenced. There 
 were two hundred and fifty present on that occasion, and three 
 hundred and forty-three at the afternoon service ; and yet the 
 old chapel was nearly as full, with three hundred in attendance 
 at the Sunday-school. The people are rejoicing over the 
 work of their hearts and hands, and our joy is much greater 
 for the share they had in it. 
 
 TRIPS ACROSS THE TIGRIS, AND DOIVX TO 
 NINE I Y-://. 
 
 The Winter, which had proved unusually severe for that 
 southern region and climate, passed away too rapidly for all 
 the work we had planned to accomplish. When the snow, 
 shoveled from the flat roofs, was melting in the narrow streets, 
 
 * Once there was a little missionary boy, five or six years of age, 
 whose own mamma had died, and after he and his brother and sister 
 had lived alone with their papa for two years, another mamma came 
 to take care of them ; but she too sickened and died in a very short 
 time. On New Year s morning this little boy went to his father s 
 study and said, " I wish you a Ilappv New Year, papa ! " But Iris 
 father was verv sad, and lie only said, " There are no more happy 
 New Years for nv, my child." Then the little boy felt very sad for 
 
DIARBEKIR. 
 
 the paths were sometimes impeded, and the air of those un- 
 warmed stone houses became very humid and chilling. Family 
 visitation, and the initiation of a "Bible woman" to carry on 
 the work among them, formed a part of our routine, varied by 
 occasional trips to the little Syrian village of Kutterbul, on the 
 opposite shore of the Tigris, the home of one of our pupils 
 in the School at Harpoot. There were but fifty women in the 
 place, and forty-eight were in attendance, after the first meeting 
 or two ; and though their language was Arabic, they understood 
 Armenian sufficiently to catch the drift of what I said. At first, 
 Ferida was to act as interpreter, when occasion required ; but 
 after a few interruptions they cried, " O, go on ! we know 
 what you are saying !" 
 
 The violets of Spring were gladdening our eyes, when I 
 again went over, accompanied by Kitoosh the Bible-reader, 
 and Honig, who escorted us down the bluff to the river-side. 
 But the Tigris was so swollen that my horse could not ford its 
 swift current as hitherto. While we waited, a rude raft came along, 
 to which were attached a hundred and fifty inflated goat-skins 
 (as in the time of Xenophon). Upon this we seated ourselves, 
 and were taken to the other shore. They were evidently on the 
 watch for our coming, for at once a hand -bell was rung from a 
 roof in the village, calling the women together. But we were 
 still several yards from dry land, and how to get there, dry shod, 
 
 his dear father, and he wanted to give him something to show his 
 love. So he went to look over his little treasures, to see which would 
 be the best of all that was his very own. There was a bright picture 
 which he had once found pasted on some broadcloth, that seemed to 
 him the most beautiful and precious of all that he possessed ; and he 
 did not wish to part with it. But he so loved his father and longed 
 to comfort him, that he took it, and laid it in his hand, saying, "7 am 
 so sorry for yon, papa ! " and burst into tears. 
 
512 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 was a difficult question. At this moment, the good preacher, 
 Abdul-Noor (one of Mr. Williams best pupil?, but slender and 
 sickly-looking), came down, and after greeting me, said, " I 
 have come to carry you on my back." This I could not al 
 low, though very grateful for his kindness, and was pondering 
 in some perplexity what course to pursue, when the brawny, 
 muscular Arab, who had borne off the other passengers, plant 
 ed himself directly before me, and reaching up over his 
 shoulders, said imperatively, " Give me your hands /" T was 
 lifted as if but a feather, and soon found myself safely landed ; 
 but went up the gentle ascent rubbing the poor aching wrists 
 which bore the marks of rough handling for hours thereafter ! 
 
 Those were blessed gatherings in that little Syrian village ; 
 God s Spirit seemed to be there. The prayers were generally 
 offered in Arabic, by Ferida, or a pious woman who was the 
 wife of another of Mr. Williams pupils; the women frequently 
 responded, and their attention and solemnity was very impressive. 
 On one or two occasions we went early, and visited with Ferida s 
 father, a noble Christian man, who paid the largest sum given by 
 any parent for the tuition of his daughter, in the school at Harpoot 
 (four hundred piastres per year). She was lovely in character, and 
 of unquestioned piety ; but Shemmas Suleba was distressed 
 because she showed so little practical, housewifely talent ; and 
 begged me to give her plenty of " kitchen work," to keep her in 
 
 Now that little paper picture was (in itself) of no value to the father. 
 But he put it away very carefully in his desk, and years after, when 
 ever he looked at it, he said that it always brought to mind the lore 
 of his dear son. Now, children, that is just the way in which Jesus 
 looks upon our little offerings. God is rich ; He does not need our 
 gifts in the sense of one who is poor. lie says, "The cattle upon a 
 thousand hills are mine; if I were hungry, I would not tell thoc ; for 
 the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." Hut as the expression of 
 our love, they are very precious in His sight. 
 
DTARBEKIR. 513 
 
 practice while in the school. Ferida s own mother, who was as 
 remarkable a Christian as she was a thrifty housewife, answer 
 ing to the description of the virtuous woman in Proverbs, died 
 a year or two before ; and her place was now occupied by a 
 pretty, but helpless, inefficient young creature ; a living testi 
 mony to the truth of the father s words about the training of 
 woman for her future duties. 
 
 After the meetings were over, we hastened away, lest ihe 
 city gates should be closed, when none might go out or come in 
 till the break of day : The firing of a gun announced the fact, 
 and our ride up the steep bluff, next the city, was quickened by 
 the fear that the moment was at hand for the warning sound. 
 A missionary and his wife once arrived at Diarbekir just at sun 
 set, when the gates were closed, and were compelled to stay 
 without the walls till the day dawned. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Walker planned a visit to Mardin, in March, 
 and we were all ready for the journey of two or three days 
 (south-east), but after repeated failures on the part of faithless 
 muleteers, were obliged to give up the attempt A week later, 
 Mr. Williams came to Diarbekir on his way to Mosul. That 
 city was for many years the headquarters of what was then the 
 " Assyrian Mission," till abandoned for a more healthful locality, 
 when it became an " out-station " of Mardin. 
 
 We accompanied him to the river, and saw him settled on 
 the raft in which he was to float for five days ; one end was 
 covered with an awning, under which he would sleep, when 
 they "tied up" at night near some village. The current was 
 so rapid that nothing more was required in the way of naviga 
 tion than the occasional use of a long pole to avoid any im 
 pediment. Yakob had made suitable provision for the little 
 voyage, taking good care of his master s material wants ; and a 
 22* 
 
5H THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 few books, with writing materials, furnished mental food and 
 occupation. The return journey must be overland, through a 
 country infested with banditti. Koordistan, with its lawless 
 hordes of wandering Circassians, lies on the eastern shore of 
 the Tigris, and travel in all this region through which 
 Xenophon led the "retreat of the Ten Thousand," is 
 more or less dangerous unless one is protected by an 
 armed escort. The Rev. Dr. Bacon, of New Haven, Ct., 
 once had a sorry experience in this part of the country, on 
 his way to Persia. Missionaries generally go unarmed, and 
 seldom with more than one attendant. Dr. Azariah Smith, of 
 Aintab, always carried bread in the holsters of his saddle. His 
 people were often greatly alarmed for his safety, and sometimes 
 attributed his preservation in traveling to a miracle. On one 
 occasion he stopped in his journey without any apparent rea 
 son, at a point which was very dangerous. His servant was 
 terrified, and begged him to go on, but without success. A 
 few moments elapsed, and a horseman, belonging to a fierce 
 band of robbers, appeared, summoning the Doctor, by the 
 command of his chief. The poor attendant was beside 
 himself with terror. But when his master reappeared, and 
 he learned that he was instrumental in saving the life of 
 the chief, who had seemed at the point of death, and sent him 
 away loaded with gratitude, the bewildered servant was almost 
 ready to fall down and worship one who seemed gifted with 
 supernatural wisdom ! 
 
 A young missionary (not now in the field) was once passing 
 through a hostile region of Southern Turkey, when he was sud 
 denly seized by a set of fierce desperadoes. His servant fled, 
 and he was completely in the power of a savage tribe of the Black 
 Mountains. lie could speak their language, and showing no 
 
DIARBEKIR. 515 
 
 signs of fear, began to talk largely (for he was somewhat famous 
 for " Yankee brag") of what his countrymen could do. After ex 
 patiating upon the wonderful machinery which they had in 
 vented, he told them of a new kind of pistol which could shoot 
 haif-a-dozen or more men, one after the other, as quick as a 
 flash, without reloading ! The brigands looked incredulous, 
 and were just going to march on with their prisoner, when he 
 reached the climax by saying, " Why, many a man in America 
 can take the very hair off from his head (a wig), a-nd put it on 
 again ; or take out his teeth ! SEE HERE !" and suiting the 
 action to the word, he brandished his false teeth in their faces, 
 and then as quickly restored them to their accustomed place. 
 They were struck dumb with astonishment ; their eyes dilated, 
 their breasts heaved, and then as if by a sudden impulse, they all 
 took to their heels and fled, as if they thought the deil was in 
 the man ! [Mrs. Ingalls, of the Baptist Mission in Burmah 
 in charge of a lonely Station, near the jungles was one even 
 ing sitting in her bungalow with some of her helpers and pupils 
 (a class of young men whom she was training for the ministry), 
 when one of the Karens rushed in trembling with fright, to apprise 
 her that the chief of a hostile tribe with a company of his men 
 were coming down upon them ! The noble woman had no 
 time to make any defense : She lifted her heart in prayer for 
 some way of deliverance; and the next moment heard the 
 tramp of approaching feet The door was rudely opened, and 
 a swarm of wild men, with flashing eyes, poured into the 
 room. She alone was calm and self-possessed, receiving them as 
 kindly as if they were friends. They seemed for a moment 
 subdued by her manner, and, as if by inspiration, she seized it 
 to divert their attention by stories of America ; telling them, 
 among other things, of -Colt s revolver," laying her hand, 
 
516 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 as she spoke, upon the pistol which had been presented to her 
 (dead) husband. The savage chief listened with scorn and in 
 credulity pictured upon his face. Then suddenly picking up a 
 piece of paper, he stuck it upon the wall, and cried, " SHOOT ! 
 For a second her heart trembled ; she did not know if it were 
 loaded, nor how to use it, for she had never fired a pistol 
 in her life : But again sending to heaven one swift petition for 
 help, she took aim ; her finger, guided by an unseen hand, 
 pressed the trigger, and the ball pierced the centre of the tar 
 get ! Instantly, as if shot (or expecting that ball would follow 
 ball), the astonished savages rushed from the place, and the 
 missionary widow with her frightened flock fell on their knees 
 to render thanks to their Divine Protector.] 
 
 As Diarbekir stands alone in this wild, insulated region, (ar from 
 the seat of government, and surrounded by hostile foes, one 
 can understand the necessity of guarding ft well. ]>ut, not 
 withstanding the massive walls that encompass us, I never felt 
 more timid in any part of the empire ; especially when Mr. 
 Walker is absent (as often of late) for days and weeks, on mis 
 sionary tours among his out-stations, and we are left without a 
 man in the house. Quite a body of soldiers are stationed 
 here, but they are our terror ; the common Turkish soldiers are 
 so sunk in vice and degradation that one can scarcely look at 
 them without loathing. " The shew of their countenances dotJi 
 witness against them ; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they 
 hide it not" The enemy within the gates is quite as much feared 
 as any that may be without : And these immense, black walls 
 that shut us in, cause, at times, a suffocating feeling of impris 
 onment, in contrast with the freedom of the Harpoot hills. It 
 must be intolerable here in the intense heat of the Summer ! 
 
 Occasionally we pass beyond the close confines of the city 
 
DIARBEKIR. 5 1/ 
 
 walls, and, with the protection of an escort, saunter along the 
 banks of the Tigris, for a change of air and exercise, watching 
 its swiftly-flowing current as it hastens on its way down to the 
 region of ancient Babylon, or the rank vegetation springing up 
 where the overflow of Spring floods left a rich deposit of soil, 
 as on the banks of the Nile, and from the seeds sown when 
 the waters subsided, are grown luscious melons of immense 
 size. We cross the noble Roman bridge, with its lofty arches, 
 forming a prominent feature in the landscape, and note the fish 
 ermen casting their nets, and peasants passing by, as we talk of 
 scenes once enacted on these shores when Mesopotamia was 
 the battle-ground of nations ; and deeply cut in the rock at the 
 source of the river, may now be found this inscription, in the cu 
 neiform character: " This is the third time that I,Belshazzar,King 
 of Assyria, have conquered this region." Here are gardens rich 
 in verdure, and wooded hill-sides, whence may be obtained a 
 fine view of the City crowning the bluff beyond, with domes 
 and minarets rising above gloomy battlements and defiant 
 towers : And this, we imagine, might be found a delightful 
 Summer retreat. But an experiment made under the protec 
 tion of the English Consul once stationed at Diarbekir (who built 
 a country house near by), proved a failure, and after various 
 frights from marauders, the attempt was abandoned. 
 
 Passing out from the gate on the side of the city next the 
 plain, we visit the rude mud village of Alipoonga, a mile or two 
 distant, where, should the Summer heat prove too excessive, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Walker propose to take their children in July or 
 August. It is a wretched, dirty place, without a tree to cast a 
 refreshing shadow over the glare of the yellow clay walls. And 
 a swampy piece of land, with sickly-looking vegetation, lying 
 in the vicinity, awakens in my mind, fear of malaria, which 
 
518 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 they do not seem to share. They point out the house 
 (with a stable underneath, and the court-yard used in 
 common by neighbors of various nationalities) which they 
 are to occupy, that I may picture their surroundings when 
 we are separated. 
 
 A presentiment of coming evil in that dismal place, forces 
 itself unbidden into my thoughts ; but every allusion to 
 danger is lightly laughed away by these fearless spirits. 
 After our return, they take me upon the high roof of their 
 city house, where, in a month or two, they will spread their 
 beds at night and sleep with their little ones. There is no 
 railing, or balustrade of any kind to protect one from falling 
 (should he walk about in his sleep, or in the bewilderment 
 of half unconsciousness) ; and my head grows dizzy as I 
 look down from that fearful height and think of such a 
 catastrophe ! 
 
 Such occurrences are not infrequent among the native 
 families, and bring to mind God s command to the children 
 of Israel, " When thou buildcst a new house, then thou shalt 
 make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood 
 upon thine house, if any man fall from thence." 
 
 We are busily engaged in our usual routine of work, as 
 Spring advances; free from the taxations of society, with all 
 its conventionalities, for there is not another English- 
 speaking family in this city of perhaps fifty or sixty thou 
 sand inhabitants, and every day is filled to the brim with 
 its quantum of accomplished labor: Mr. Walker finding 
 his hands more than full in the continued absence of the 
 Protestant pastor, and the pressure of outside work in his 
 great field. F>ut on some sunny afternoon, the wheels are 
 brought to a sudden stand-still; a card is sent in (with let- 
 
DIARBEKIR. 519 
 
 ters of introduction from Bagdad) bearing the name of Lord 
 or Viscount P., the eldest son of an English Earl, on his re 
 turn from travels in Persia, who, with his retinue, is without, 
 waiting to know if he can be entertained by the American 
 missionary. We are prepared to see an imposing person 
 age, and wish to honor our country as its representatives, but 
 are relieved to find an ordinary specimen of humanity (who 
 blushes, and seems embarrassed, "because," he says, he 
 " has been so long away from the society of ladies "). He 
 makes no pretensions, assumes no airs ; but we cannot feel 
 that he is made of any better clay than ourselves ! And, 
 during the three or four days of his lordship s stay, call to 
 mind a passage in a letter received from a member of Par 
 liament, concerning the United States of America, " where," 
 he says, "you have no lords, but NOBLE MEN." 
 
 EASTERN WEDDINGS, AND FAMILY LIFE BELOW 
 THE SURFACE. 
 
 One Monday morning, Soosan and Sadie called, at nine 
 o clock, to take Mrs. Walker and myself to the Armenian 
 Church to see a couple of weddings. The Spring and early 
 Autumn are favorite seasons for matrimonial alliances and 
 marriage festivities ; and thirty couple were led to the altar, 
 and " tied " for life, on the previous Monday. The people 
 of this country believe in u marrying and giving in mar 
 riage." As in the Romish Church, it is a religious duty to 
 provide husbands or wives for those who have no interested 
 or influential friends to cater for them ! 
 
 We were quite early, and examined the numerous paint 
 ings, noticing that here, as elsewhere in Eastern churches, 
 "St. George and the dragon" occupied a conspicuous 
 
520 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 place. A number of Armenian women, who were waiting, 
 like ourselves, for the bridal parties, asked if I could 
 read, and whether I preached to women ; and said, " Come 
 now, preach to us ! You have brought your Gospel 
 (Testament) with you, haven t you?" I was very sorry that 
 I had not done so, and resolved never again to be without 
 it. However, they seemed intent upon hearing one of my 
 " preachments," and brought me a copy in the ancient 
 language, and listened very respectfully while I read the 
 Sermon on the Mount, translating verse by verse into mod 
 ern Armenian, and expounding as I proceeded. When it 
 was finished, one of them nodded her head approvingly, 
 and said that she had " learned several things," and we gave 
 them all a cordial invitation to attend our weekly meetings. 
 The approach of the wedding procession was announced 
 by the shrill voices of the boys who were chanting, accom 
 panied by the timbrel or tambourine, cymbals, and drums. 
 They entered, with torches still burning, and a priest ad 
 vanced to meet them, reading a portion of the Church ser 
 vice, for which they paused every moment or two ; and a 
 "wedding garment" was thrown over the bridegroom, and 
 his " friend," or groomsman. The bride was gaily dressed 
 in rainbow lines, supported on either side by a woman veiled 
 in white. When they reached the altar, the reading ceased, 
 and the bridegroom and bride were placed facing each 
 other, with their heads so bent as to touch. As the bride 
 was only twelve years of age, while the bridegroom was a 
 tall man of perhaps twenty-five or thirty, her stature did 
 not reach the requisite height, and a light wooden horn had 
 been previously bound to her head beneath gay kerchiefs, 
 and the spangled, rose-colored veil that concealed her face 
 
DIARBEKIR. 521 
 
 and enveloped her person : (These horns were once com 
 monly worn by the women of Diarbekir; they told me 
 that when first discarded, they " felt lost ;" for they had been 
 " accustomed to wear them day and night :" And I remem 
 ber that many of the Jewesses of Constantinople were actu 
 ally made ill by the imperial edict forbidding them to wear 
 the high head - dresses to which they had always been 
 accustomed.) A large silver cross was laid, by the grooms 
 man, upon the bent heads, the priest reading away at rail 
 road speed : A little more of rapid reading and knocking of 
 heads together, and the " knot " was literally tied, with a ker 
 chief wound round each head ; a garland of flowers completed 
 the " crowning." After the ceremony was ended, the party left 
 as slowly as they had entered, stopping, as before, while the 
 priest read. The other procession, meanwhile, was entering 
 by another door. Two women in costly attire, and adorned 
 with many jewels, re-arranged the gay trappings of the 
 bride in the porch, while the bridegroom and groomsman 
 were invested with the richly-embroidered robes belonging 
 to the church. These wedding garments varied in splendor, 
 with the rank and ability of the wearer to pay for their 
 use ; and this party evidently belonged to the wealthy aris 
 tocracy of the town. The bridegroom was a handsome, 
 haughty, young Armenian, quite Frank-like in appearance ; 
 he slyly jested with his " friend," and with manifest reluc 
 tance, bent the knee to have the mantle thrown over his 
 shoulders. The bride was said to be a pretty girl of thir 
 teen years, but her face was not visible, and her husband 
 would probably see it for the first time at the conclusion of 
 the marriage festivities. Sadie whispered to me while we 
 were watching their movements, that her mother was mar- 
 
522 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 ried at nine years of age, and for two years her husband 
 did not see her unveiled ! 
 
 There are some sad disappointments on both sides attend 
 ant upon many of these Eastern weddings, very like Jacob s 
 experience in Padan-aram, when weak-eyed Leah was sub 
 stituted for the beloved Rachael. One of the Harpoot 
 preachers who, we suppose, had no interested friends to 
 look out for him, was married, in early life, to a woman who 
 was totally blind ! . . . . Years ago there was a wedding on 
 these shores of the Tigris, of a child-bride, and a man of 
 mature years: After all the customary ceremonies, the 
 torch-light procession, proceeding from street to street, 
 with discordant music that made both day and night " hid 
 eous," and feastings and dancings lasting for a week, the 
 men and women in separate apartments, the bride was 
 conveyed to the house of her husband. When they were 
 left alone, the veil was lifted, and very probably he did not 
 like her looks; for he proceeded to mutter a form of prayer, 
 crossing himself according to the faith of his fathers, when, 
 looking over to the corner where his young wife sat, he 
 fancied that he saw a derisive smile upon her face, and strid 
 ing to her side, with one heavy blow, laid her senseless upon 
 the floor.* 
 
 That was the key-note of their married life ; a life of un- 
 
 * I was telling this story in Colorado, when one of those progress 
 ive Western women forgot herself, and half rising from her seat (in 
 the crowded church), with uplifted arm, exclaimed, " I\l a levelled 
 hi in!" It was a striking proof of the difference between the Oriental 
 and Occidental (or rather accidental) woman : The one hopelessly 
 bending her neck to the yoke of bondage ; the other rising up in all 
 the indignation of outraged womanhood, and cither boldly retaliating, 
 or seeking redress from the laws of her Ijnd. 
 
DIAUBEKIR. 523 
 
 utterable misery, without one drop of sweetness to soften the 
 bitterness of a slavery from which there was no escape. For 
 twenty long years that wife drank to the dregs her cup of 
 gall and misery! And then, the "grace of God which 
 bringeth salvation," touched the savage soul of her husband, 
 and the lion became a lamb- She was amazed, and could 
 not believe it real ; but testing him little by little, and find 
 ing that he did not retaliate, she at last completely " turned 
 the tables," and became his unrelenting tormentor ; he bore 
 it meekly, proving the change to be genuine ; but finally 
 went to the missionary, and said, " Intercede for me with 
 my wife ; and if she will not come with me in this good way, 
 beg her to let me alone, for my life is unendurable." Mr. 
 Walker talked with her, and to his kind remonstrance she 
 replied, " Yes, I know ; it is all good, and I mean to be a 
 Christian myself, by-and-by ; but first let him have a good taste 
 of all that I have suffered these twenty years /" 
 
 Ah ! it is in lands of pagan darkness, unrelieved by 
 one ray of light emanating from Him who, when " born of 
 a woman," forever lifted the curse pronounced upon the 
 daughters of Eve, where woman s lot is one of untold deg 
 radation from the cradle to the grave, alike despised and 
 crushed by husband and sons, that she may well cry out, 
 with an exceeding great and bitter cry, for her God-given 
 " RIGHTS !" It is considered a shame for an Eastern woman 
 to say "my husband;" she speaks of him as "companion," 
 " brother," " friend," or the " father of her child." And the 
 husband avoids with equal care all mention of his "wife;" 
 speaking of or writing to her when absent as his " sister," or 
 the " mother of his son " (even if he has none) ! The word 
 love requires a Christian baptism to be understood by this 
 
524 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 people in its highest sense ! Ah ! we never comprehended, 
 as now, the necessity for that amazing God-manifestation 
 " in the flesh," LOVE INCARNATE, to teach by a Living 
 Lesson this truth ! And the more we see and hear (from 
 former pupils and others long resident in the East) of the 
 real family life of Orientals, the less are we surprised at the 
 aspect of things in general throughout the country. In de 
 grading woman, the axe was applied to the very root of the 
 tree ! The mothers of every land stand at the fountain- 
 head of influence ; and if they are degraded, woe to the 
 sons ! When the lost individuality of woman is recognized, 
 and she is freed from the "pure despotism of sex," and not 
 till then, will the East be regenerated ! 
 
 Society, sunk for ages into a moral sleep, has become 
 paralyzed, embalmed, a mummy ! The mothers, dwarfed in 
 their mental capacities, with no power of self-assertion, and 
 no stimulus to hope, are mostly "beasts of burden," or mere 
 playthings, to be tossed aside at pleasure for some new toy. 
 " There is no class of beings on the face of the earth that 
 can be subjected to such a process for a series of centuries, 
 and not suffer enormous damage." " Don t talk to me about 
 a soul," said a Turkish woman in Constantinople ; " I have 
 no more soul than that wall !" giving emphasis to her 
 words by a heavy stroke: And Jewish women often say 
 the same, for they are not much higher in the scale of civili 
 zation ; like Moslem women, they are taught that there is 
 no future for them ; except in some rare cases, where a wife, 
 by implicit obedience to her " lord and master," and cling 
 ing to his skirts, may hope to enter Paradise ! 
 
DIARBEKIR. 525 
 
 LIFE IN THE HAREM OF THE TURK. 
 
 The inmates of some of the Turkish harems in the palaces 
 at the Capital, who, between the bars of their gilded cages, 
 catch glimpses of the gay, roving life of the outside world, 
 pine for the freedom, if not the culture and honor, enjoyed 
 by their sister-women of Christian lands. 
 
 Even in the royal palace of Beauty on the Bosphorus, 
 there is a prison with gloomy, iron gratings, and stern 
 bolts and bars for the confinement, no doubt, of the rebel 
 lious fair ones ; (this I saw when inspecting the Serai just 
 before its occupation) and the latticed windows, and closely- 
 guarded, high-walled gardens more truly confine the hapless 
 /wuris, than the Abyssinian slaves, or the sable eunuchs who 
 so cruelly and vindictively lord it over them !* The harem 
 of the Padishah is limited (by the government) to three hun 
 dred secondary wives, with a new Georgian beauty presented 
 by the Pashas every year: So that the Grand Seignior 
 has the luxury of a fresh wedding, with general re- 
 
 * By a fortunate accident, I once had a view of two or three ladies 
 of the royal harem, with their children. It was in the "Valley of 
 Sweet Waters," on a day when that charming retreat was closed to the 
 public ; and, ignorant of the fact, we had scarcely passed through the 
 open gateway, and seated ourselves beneath the shadow of the Sul 
 tan s Kiosk, when a dusky officer entered, and brandishing his sword, 
 fiercely bade us depart : (There were three ladies only, and no gentle 
 men in the party,) but through the skillful maneuvering of an elderly 
 lady long connected with the American embassy, who perfectly under 
 stood the art of diplomacy in dealing with Turkish authorities, we 
 were still within the enclosure when the "golden carriages " rolled in, 
 like so many " chariots of the sun :" And since, when a. thing is done, 
 the fact is accepted as fate by the Turks, our presence was wholly ig 
 nored, and we had a remarkably good opportunity for seeing what 
 few infidel eyes ever lock upcn ! The ladies alighted, and passed 
 
526 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 joicings and festivities, whenever the month of May 
 comes round ! But like the monarch of old, whose 
 regal state he has feebly imitated in the number of 
 his wives, he very likely says, " One man among a thou 
 sand have I found, but counting one by one a ivomau (true 
 and virtuous) among all those have I not found!" Poor 
 Solomon ! There must have been stormy times in his harem 
 when he built that beautiful " house in the forest " for the 
 daughter of Pharaoh, and set all the rest to clamoring (with 
 hearts full of envy and jealousy) for like favors ! Any one 
 who has ever heard the tongues of Turkish women in fierce, 
 childish, unreasoning, bitter, boisterous, and long-continued 
 dispute, the screams, and yells, and curses, accompanied by 
 beatings of the breast, tearing the hair, and sudden flying 
 and flinging at the enemy, clawing, and scratching, and spit 
 ting like so many furies, can fully appreciate his sharp, sar 
 castic allusions to "angry," "contentious," "brawling" 
 women ! 
 
 Each of the four wives of the Sultan has her own separ- 
 
 into the royal pavilion at the edge of the stream, where its clear wa 
 ters musically plashed over a white marble dnm, beneath overhanging 
 willows. Trays of precious metals, loaded with tempting fruits, and 
 viands, were borne by numerous attendants, disappearing behind the 
 heavy curtains which hid them from our view; while others made" kef" 
 without, and officers on guard paced back and forth : But we had 
 caught sight of those far-famed Caucasian beauties ; round, full fig 
 ures of medium height, robed in gossamer like tissues, interwoven with 
 threads of gold or silver, shimmering in the sunlight, as the delicate 
 mantles of rose, dove-color, or salmon were blown aside by a gentle 
 brcc/c. And through the gauzy yashmac, the waxen, doll-like, almost 
 colorless faces, with the large, melting eyes of the gazelle, and hair 
 of the same dark hue. The children presented much the same 
 appearance; fine features a remarkably fair complexion, but without 
 animation, expression, or soul ! 
 
DIARBEKIR. 
 
 ate establishment, either in the same palace, or in others of 
 the many belonging to his Serene Highness : Of these four, 
 the favorite is the Sultana, her children being in the royal 
 line, though the succession is not direct, but reverts to the 
 brothers of the reigning sovereign, or his brothers (or sis 
 ters ) children, if there are no brothers living. This singular 
 and immutable law of succession was the occasion, in former 
 years, of a Herod-like slaughter of the " Innocents," by the 
 Sultans who preferred to have their own sons ascend the 
 throne after their decease. It is well known in Constanti 
 nople, that, when the daughter of Sultan Mahmoud had given 
 birth to a beautiful boy, it was soon taken from her, and she 
 never saw it again. When convinced of its fate, reason 
 gave way, and she became a hopeless maniac ! The present 
 Sultan Abdul Assiz on ascending the throne, had a son 
 four years of age, whose existence had been carefully con 
 cealed. But the son of his brother Abdul Mjid, the former 
 Sultan is the presumptive heir to the throne. 
 
 In a country like this, everything is not dragged to the 
 surface, as in more civilized lands ; and there are deadly se 
 crets hidden in many a heart, and concealed in many a 
 household ! Where a speedy burial follows a sudden death, 
 and no post-mortem examination is made, or coroner s in 
 quest held, a cup of poison, secretly administered, accom 
 plishes its fatal work ; and the husband, or wife, loudly 
 bewails (in public) the deed which his or her own hand has 
 coolly wrought, unseen by any human eye ! This is more or 
 less true of all classes and nationalities throughout the 
 empire ; but the standard of morality is vastly higher among 
 the Armenians, and other nominal Christians of the East who 
 accept the Bible (even though its light is hidden), than among 
 
528 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 those whose antecedents are purely Mohammedan or Pagan. 
 Among the Turks especially, the first chapter of Romans 
 is just as applicable as when penned by the inspired Apostle. 
 Of the blessings hidden under the so-called " curse " of en 
 forced labor, they as a people are a living testimony : Long 
 centuries of sloth and sensual indulgence have eaten out, 
 like a canker, the national life of a race which was once, 
 in its aggressive power, a terror to the world ! And the 
 stereotyping process which has been going on for many 
 generations, has robbed them of all that constitutes the glory 
 of manhood ! As a nation they are slowly becoming extinct, 
 from their vices ; the number of births decreasing with every 
 year, while among the so-called Christian population, there 
 
 is a steady increase " Unto the pure all things are 
 
 pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving, is 
 nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is 
 defiled," wrote Paul to Titus. Some of the evil surmisings 
 of Moslems respecting Frank residents, and even of the 
 most pure-minded and godly of Christ s servants, who dwell 
 among them, are too loathsome to have a place in one s 
 thoughts. 
 
 And who can describe the wretchedness and wrong, the 
 untold degradation and corruption hidden in the. harems of 
 the Osmanlis of Turkey! Denied all intellectual culture, 
 all improving intercourse with the outer world, shut in com 
 pletely to themselves, the prey of jealousy, envy, and every 
 evil passion, given over to pleasures which merely minister 
 to the senses perhaps the petted plaything of a brief period, 
 to be soon displaced by some new favorite, and cruelly 
 crushed in all her higher instincts and intuitions, what 
 wonder that the Moslem mother mourns when a daughter is 
 
DIARBEKIR. 529 
 
 born to her, as she traces its future in the light of her own 
 past and present ignominy! For these are the inevitable 
 evils of a system so inwrought in the very woof and warp 
 of Moslem social life : And in the deep of Heathen and 
 Mohammedan abominations, there is a " lower deep " where 
 the women of that race are found ! Some years ago, an Eng 
 lish lady was sent out by a missionary society in London, to 
 insinuate herself for Christian work among the harems 
 zenanas of Stamboul. But when she had acquired the 
 language sufficiently to understand their conversation, and 
 sound the depths of their degradation, her soul recoiled 
 with instinctive horror from the contamination of daily 
 intercourse ; and after a brief period of unavailing effort, the 
 enterprise was abandoned. The baneful example and abom 
 inable practices of the dominant race, have extended their 
 corrupting influence to nationalities among whom polygamy 
 is unknown polluting the very fountain of family and 
 social life. There doubtless are some exceptions among all 
 classes, but this is the general aspect of woman s condition 
 in the land of the Turk. 
 
 A horrible tragedy occurred not far from Harpoot the 
 last Summer. In one of the country " lodges," standing by 
 itself among the gardens, a young wife, who chanced to be 
 alone, was caring for her babe, and preparing her evening 
 meal, when one of those roving, filthy dervishes, esteemed as 
 " holy," and " sacred " by the Turks, entered the open door, 
 and bade her cook his dinner : Though her husband was 
 away, on business, and might not return for some hours, she 
 dared not disobey one whose word was law among the Mos 
 lems. But as s"he passed in and out of the store-room, his 
 looks inspired her with terror, and at last, overcome by the 
 
330 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 feeling which she could not resist, while pretending to be 
 engaged in chopping meat, she was in reality dragging sev 
 eral heavy earthen vessels filled with provisions, against the 
 door. Fear gave her unwonted strength and celerity ; and 
 when the wicked dervish finally divined her movements, and 
 tried to enter, the door was so securely barricaded that he 
 could not force it open. After uttering many unheeded 
 commands and curses, he threatened to kill her child. 
 
 The only window to that inner room was a hole in 
 the heavy mud wall ; and at last the fiend cut off the 
 infant s head, and cast it in at the mother s feet ! He then 
 tried to push himself through ; but became so firmly wedged 
 that he cculd not move. The woman, in her desperation, 
 took the sharp meat-knife, and severed his head from his 
 body ! She then sank insensible upon the ground. An 
 hour or two after, the husband came home, and found a ter 
 rible scene of blood and horror. Calling in the aid of his 
 nearest neighbors, he succeeded in effecting an entrance to 
 the store-room, but his wife was still unconscious. A few 
 days later, the case came before the Turkish court at Har- 
 poot ; and although the testimony of a woman has little 
 weight in a country where the law esteems her only equiva 
 lent to " half a man," as there were no other witnesses, the 
 wife was allowed to testify, and a sum of money was awarded 
 
 the couple for all that they had suffered (O women 
 
 of Christian countries ! What do you not owe to the GOSPEL 
 for the high honor accorded you, and the place which you 
 occupy ! You who reign so royally in the hearts of hus 
 bands and fathers, sons and brothers, around whom cluster 
 the thousand nameless joys, the dear delights, sweet chari 
 ties, courtesies, and sacred association.; of home, where the 
 
DIARBEKIR. 531 
 
 crowning gift of motherhood has glorified woman since its 
 bestowal upon Mary, the mother of the holy child Jesus ! 
 
 Alas, for those who have fallen from their high estate, and 
 clamor for the prerogatives of man, when as yet their ac 
 knowledged " rights " and glorious privileges, are all unful 
 filled, or but half appreciated ! 
 
 The MOTHERS FASHION the MEN ! and woe to the world 
 when they are incompetent to the task, and their work fails 
 in the day of trial !) 
 
 CHRISTIANITY AS A LEVER. 
 
 It is delightful to turn from such revolting scenes, to 
 homes where He who is " THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD " has 
 dispelled the night of gloom, banished the reign of terror, 
 and brought in a flood-tide of joy and peace, which en 
 hances every pleasure, and sweetens every sorrow with 
 hopes and consolations hitherto unknown. 
 
 We spend many an evening in social converse with these 
 Protestant friends, join in their innocent hilarity, enter into 
 the pleasant and profitable games taught them by their es 
 teemed pastor, and partake of the simple refreshments pro 
 vided on such occasions. Sometimes a little harp, or cu 
 rious stringed instrument of native manufacture, accompanies 
 the singing of the old battle-songs with which their Armenian 
 forefathers went forth to war with the Assyrians (who were 
 the natural enemies of the Armenian race). These national 
 airs, which I hear for the first time, are invested with a 
 peculiar interest and charm ; in the swell of the chorus, 
 and the stirring staccato of the refrain, one can almost 
 hear the firm, quick tramp, tramp, of the ranks of soldiers 
 marching on to conflict with a dreaded foe. The religious 
 
532 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 element of the Armenian character appears in these old war- 
 songs, handed down " by the mouth of the fathers " from 
 generation to generation. These evening visits are always 
 closed with singing several of the songs of Zion, a Scripture 
 reading, and prayer, according to the injunction of the 
 Psalmist " Let the children of Zion be joyful in their 
 King." Before the introduction of the Gospel in its purity, 
 card-playing, wine-drinking, low and foolish jesting, and 
 miserable gossip occupied the evenings of the people. Now 
 that they have something better, more refined, and elevating, 
 in which all can share, not a trace of the former can be seen 
 in their dwellings. And with the " high praises of God in 
 their mouth, and a two-edged sword (the Bible) in their 
 hand," their pure and simple life of godliness is already a 
 power in this land, which even their enemies cannot gainsay. 
 " Who are these," they say of the Protestants, " who do not 
 lie, or steal, or cheat?" 
 
 There was a town in the Elarpoot field which the mission 
 aries had long tried in vain to enter. It was rightly named, 
 Korpeh, or stony place. The people were very bigoted, and 
 fanatical, and drove the helper away. But the one Protes 
 tant in the place, after sowing his fields as usual, returned to 
 the Turk who was the owner of the soil, the seed-corn that 
 remained. " How is this?" said the Agha. " You have had 
 the same amount every year, you rascal, and you never re 
 turned any before!" "Because," replied the man, " I am 
 now a Protestant a * Book-man and my conscience won t 
 let me keep it as heretofore." " Well," said the Turk, some 
 what mollified, "would that all the Armenians were Protes 
 tant!" And finding that a house could not be obtained for 
 a teacher, he f;-j:U w.v;J f.i.u tiu missionaries were to have 
 
DIARBEKIR. 533 
 
 all the houses they wanted ; and the way was thus opened for 
 the commencement of a good work. 
 
 The ruinous system of oppression employed by the Turk 
 ish authorities has repressed every incentive to exertion, and 
 stifled in its birth all laudable ambition among a people who 
 are struggling to throw off the fetters which have bound 
 them hand and foot for centuries. " Why do you not culti 
 vate a better quality of fruit?" said one of the missionaries 
 to a villager whose location was peculiarly favorable : "It 
 would be worse for me if I did," answered the man. " Now, 
 I can scrape together good, bad, indifferent, whatever there is, 
 and get the market-price ; but suppose I carried choicer fruit 
 than my neighbors ; the servants of some great Turk would 
 either pay me half price, or it would be seized for the 
 Pasha, and I should get nothing for my pains !" This sys 
 tem of universal fraud and force cuts the sinews of hope, 
 and represses all noble emulation and enterprise throughout 
 the country. 
 
 Some Frenchmen started, a few years ago, a manufactory 
 for liquorice, from the root which grows abundantly in 
 Northern Syria; the revenue which it brought the Turkish 
 government, and the honest, remunerative employment fur 
 nished to hundreds of poor peasants, besides the redemption 
 of a large tract of otherwise unproductive soil, made the 
 enterprise a very profitable one to the authorities. But Turkish 
 jealousy took the alarm, and caused the establishment to be 
 broken up, in the height of its prosperity ! 
 
 The public roads, the mines, and every department of 
 trade, agriculture, and legislation, throughout the land, bear 
 unmistakable testimony to the tyrannical spirit which makes 
 the weaker the tool and slave of the stronger. /l3ut a new 
 
534 TIIE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 day is dawning upon the rayahs of the Turkish Empire ! 
 Christian governments have stepped in and dictated terms to 
 the decaying Moslem power, and the yoke of bondage is grow 
 ing lighter year by year; and the "gospel of hoes, and 
 ploughs, of axes, and adzes, and planes, of grist-mills and saw 
 mills, and sewing-machines, and pianos, or reed organs," is 
 fast following in the train of the Bible. With every year, 
 Protestant families are showing more and more refinement, 
 culture, and progress. " The elevation of woman is one of 
 the fixed signs of a rising civilization," says some writer ; and 
 we are convinced that nothing less than the Gospel of Christ 
 rtm endow her with that true dignity and worth which shall 
 inspire and retain that respect and honor which is her due, 
 and thus restore the family to its legitimate place in society. 
 Education and Civilization alone are powerless to effect a 
 radical renovation where it is most needed at the very roots 
 of society! The GOSPEL is the only Lever which can lift a 
 nation from the depths of social degradation, religious su 
 perstition, and political corruption, to a higher plane and a 
 nobler standard of life. As in the legend of the three crosses, it 
 is only when the " dead body touches the TRUE CROSS " that it 
 springs to life ! .... Where the husband is the " pater 
 familias," and the wife the " materfamilias," one in heart and 
 aim, the children are being trained under new impulses and in 
 fluences, and the next generation will show another type of 
 manhood and womanhood which shall tell powerfully upon the 
 interests of the country which gave them birth. But it would 
 be folly to expect from the Protestants of Turkey that perfec 
 tion which even Christian communities and churches in the 
 home-land fail to exhibit. For the present generation, at 
 least, a most careful Christian nurture is essential ; for they 
 
DIARBEKIR. 535 
 
 will naturally be subject to many reactions and revulsions, 
 till firmly rooted and grounded in the faith as it is in Christ. 
 " You would think it was clean, if you had seen all that came 
 out of it r said one to another, who complained of the but 
 ter of the country : And that is really the true way of 
 judging those who are just emerging from the bondage of 
 old ideas, customs, prejudices, and superstitions. 
 
 The Armenians of whom there are three millions in 
 Turkey have been styled by some the " Anglo-Saxons of 
 the East:" Many of the principal merchants, and nearly 
 all the great bankers of the government, are Armenians ; with 
 more activity than the Turk, and more conscience than the 
 Greek, and a general reputation for enterprise, they certainly 
 have some claim to the title. But as a people, they lack the 
 stamina, the sturdy self-reliance, independence, and that 
 honest self-respect which would rather suffer than seek for 
 aid, which is a marked characteristic of the true Anglo-Saxon. 
 And yet their national weaknesses appear to be pride, am 
 bition, and conceit 
 
 Those who have, to some extent, shaken off the old 
 shackles, are impatient of the least restraint, or impediment 
 in the way of progress ; and very sensitive to any implied 
 inferiority of race : They dislike to be termed " natives," 
 and resent with indignation being classed with the " heathen." 
 And all this is really implied by our Christian work among 
 them. " Are all the people in your country Christians ?" asked 
 a tall, stern-looking Armenian woman who appeared in the 
 door-way, as I was once reading the Testament in a house 
 to which I had been invited for the first time : " No, I am 
 sorry to say that they are not," I replied. " Well then, go 
 back and teach your own people!" she rejoined. "We are 
 
536 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 not heathen j we believe in Christ!" and with that she 
 quickly disappeared, leaving the family to apologize, with 
 Oriental politeness, for the rudeness of their neighbor. 
 
 Yet it is remarkable that a people who have been sub 
 jected for a series of generations to a fossilizing, stultifying 
 process, should have retained so much of native vigor. The 
 entire drift of their training hitherto, has been in the direc 
 tion of servility to superiors, and contempt for inferiors. 
 But there are latent elements in the Armenian character to 
 be developed, and brought into vigorous action ; and they 
 bid fair to become the Evangelistic Medium among the 
 Moslems of the empire. 
 
 Missionaries are prohibited from working directly among 
 the Mohammedans for the government will not allow any 
 thing like proselytizing : And although the " death penalty " 
 has been revoked, it is well known at the Capital, that any 
 Turk who changes his religion will be quietly put out of the 
 way ; thrown into the " mad-house," or prison, on some false 
 pretext, to meet his fate, or into the army, to end his days in 
 some distant province. But the Gospel leaven is infused 
 more widely among the Moslems than most people suppose ; 
 and every now and then some sudden and secret revelation 
 shows that it is working in the darkness of night. A Prot 
 estant Armenian one day visited a Turkish officer of some 
 rank in an interior town. As he entered the room, he 
 caught a glimpse of something hastily concealed beneath 
 the cushion upon which he was sitting. Seeing who the 
 visitor was, the Effendi at once drew out the book, and con 
 fessed his fear of being seen by one of his own people, reading 
 the New Testament. As early as 1856, one hundred copies 
 of the Bible (or parts of it) were sold every month to Mo- 
 
DIARBEKIR. 537 
 
 hammedans, by a colporteur stationed upon the Great 
 Bridge at Constantinople. And the sale of Scriptures in 
 Turkish has increased among them year by year.* 
 
 The simplicity and purity of Christian worship among the 
 Protestants, is particularly pleasing to Mohammedans, who 
 are Unitarians of the strictest sect, and to whom the picture 
 and saint worship of the Eastern churches is utterly abhorrent. 
 
 The doctrine of transubstantiation (held by all the nominal 
 Christian sects) especially rouses their indignation and disgust. 
 When one refers to the absurdities of the Koran, they scorn 
 fully reply, " Who are they that take flour and water and make 
 wafers of them ? who dip these wafers in wine and put them 
 to the mouths of the people, bidding them bow down and wor 
 ship them as the body and blood of their God ?" But diver 
 sities of denominations or " sects " among those who bear the 
 Christian name, is far less a stumbling-block to the Turks than 
 the lack of purity in the representative type. The commonly 
 received idea of unity among the followers of the false prophet 
 is a fiction. There are seventy-two distinct sects among those 
 who call themselves Moslems, or " the people of Islam " (which 
 means " full submission to God," and is accepted as their 
 creed), and there is a bitter religious animosity among many 
 of them. The Persians and the Osmanlis regard each other 
 as infidels, because the former hold to the pure Koran, and the 
 latter accept also the traditions connected with it much as do 
 the Jews, the Talmud. And it is worthy of note, in this con- 
 
 * Within the last year or two, the sale amounted to one thousand 
 copies per month, till Moslem fanaticism was roused, and the Gov 
 ernment interposed. But speedy interference by Christian powers 
 removed the restriction, and the Word of God has now "free course" 
 "under the seal of the Government "to accomolish its work, 
 23" 
 
538 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 nectlon, that the youthful stepmother of Mahomet was a 
 Jewess, and indoctrinated him in the belief of her people 
 when he was but a lad of fifteen years. This accounts for all 
 that is good in the Koran, and for the observance of so many 
 old Jewish rites circumcision, the yearly sacrifice of a lamb, 
 etc., still observed by his followers. 
 
 " We like this," the Moslems say, after attending a Sunday- 
 service of the Protestants ; " and if we ever change our religion 
 we will take yours." 
 
 MISSIONARY LIFE BELOW THE SURFACE. 
 
 We had planned a little tour through the ten or twelve out- 
 stations of the Diarbekir field before my departure. But a 
 severe persecution arising in one of those places, retires the 
 presence of the "Badveli" in the City, to represent the case 
 and obtain redress from the Pasha. If he does not succeed, 
 he will appeal to the " Sublime Porte " through the agency of 
 the missionaries and British and American ambassadors at 
 Constantinople. 
 
 Mr. Walker has suffered from successive attacks of fever 
 and ague since his last missionary tour ; when he and Deacon 
 Suliba were nearly drowned in fording a swollen river, and 
 were refused shelter at a Koordish village which they reached, 
 chilled and dripping, after nightfall, finally spending a wretched 
 night in a poor hole of a stable to which they forced an en 
 trance. But his brother-in-law (Mr. Williams) has noticed, with 
 pain, that he whom he styled " the strongest and most mus 
 cular man among us," had lost much of his physical vigor and 
 power of endurance since his visit to America. " They worked 
 him almost to death," he says, with an ominous shake of the 
 Jiead ; " traveling incessantly, often sleeping in freezingly cold 
 
DIARBEKIR. 539 
 
 rooms at night, eating at irregular hours, and living under a 
 constant high-pressure in meeting old friends, making mission 
 ary addresses, etc., without once having the tension relaxed, 
 and then coming back to a double load of labor, it is no won 
 der that even his iron constitution has given way." And he 
 adds : " I never saw Brother Walker lying on the sofa in the 
 daytime till now ; and I doubt if he ever recovers from the 
 strain." 
 
 But the good brother has no fears for himself; he greatly 
 enjoyed his visit (although he would have liked a few weeks of 
 quiet tarrying with his own brothers and sisters), and only 
 mourns that he reached the home of his childhood too late to 
 receive his mother s dying blessing, or even to look once more 
 upon tli loved face ere it was shut away in the silent tomb. 
 
 During his absence and that of Pastor Tomas, the work of 
 the Station had accumulated ; and on his return, Mr. Walker 
 found enough to fill the hearts and hands of half a dozen men. 
 He must be not only missionary, teacher, and preacher, but 
 pastor, peace-maker, legislator, diplomat, doctor, banker, book 
 keeper, general Bible and Tract-agent, Sunday-school superin 
 tendent, itinerating Evangelist, and Field-agent, besides acting 
 in the capacity of an architect (in chapel-building), and mechanic 
 in repairing broken furniture, opening boxes, setting up stoves, 
 putting the clock or sewing-machine in working order, and 
 many other little things requiring skill and ingenuity in the use 
 of tools for the wants of his own household, to whom, in times 
 of sickness, he must also be nurse as well as physician ! Not 
 only embodying in one man a variety of professions and trades, 
 but bearing the heavier weight of cares and responsibilities of 
 which they are but the outward signs. His warm heart, ear 
 nest, Christ-like spirit, and generous soul (which meets every- 
 
540 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 body with outstretched hand, beaming face, and pleasant words, 
 however hurried or worried he may be) have caused him to be 
 greatly beloved by all the people ; and a missionary who has 
 thus won a permanent place and power in the hearts and 
 homes of a community, is worth a dozen raw recruits, how 
 ever gifted ! Such COSTLY, PREPARED INSTRUMENTS should, if 
 possible, be saved, at all hazards, to the cause of Christ ! It 
 is very evident that the burden is too heavy for one pair of 
 shoulders ; co-laborers are greatly needed, and, if congenial, 
 and of one heart and mind, would be gladly welcomed by this 
 faithful brother and sister. 
 
 But they shrink from the responsibility of selecting associates 
 that have not been tried and tested in the field. Foreign mis 
 sionary life throws the two, or, perchance, three, families at 
 one Station into relations of the closest intimacy. They are 
 shut up to each other, and every trait and peculiarity of char 
 acter is revealed in the strongest light. Not a weakness can 
 be hidden, not an infirmity disguised. If there be true Chris 
 tian sympathy, and that " charity which is the bond of perfect- 
 ness " oneness of aim, and harmony of views in the methods 
 of working the relation is one of the most delightful on earth, 
 and the tie grows stronger and dearer with every year. But 
 if personal ambition creeps in, selfishness, in its myriad forms, 
 little jealousies, suspicions (engendered from lack of faith), 
 distrust of motives, and obstinate self-will in matters of vital 
 interest to the work where personal feeling and interests 
 must ever give way the very closeness of the bond, and the 
 position which they unitedly sustain to the people, renders 
 the association the more trying, and chafes and frets the 
 spirit till it well-nigh ruins the health and usefulness of 
 those who can le:.st be spared, and who are too noble and 
 
DIARUEKIR. 541 
 
 self-sacrificing to complain of that which is really breaking 
 them down. 
 
 It is wonderful that such cases are so rare on missionary 
 ground. It would be strange, indeed, if there were none, 
 when every Christian is " compassed about " with imperfec 
 tions ; and those who are most like the Master, feel the most 
 deeply that they, and all their works, need the continual 
 " sprinkling of cleansing" by the High Priest, who is " touched 
 with the feeling of our infirmities." The foreign missionary 
 has peculiar temptations and trials, little understood or appre 
 ciated by those whose prayers they so greatly need. 
 
 " Satan will find a back door in Constantinople," said a 
 good pastor at home to the young disciple who had expressed 
 her belief that, associated with such pure and consecrated 
 spirits in a high and holy calling, she should certainly grow in 
 grace. Ah, yes ! And how often does he come in at the 
 front door, disguised as an " angel of light !" 
 
 A missionary, if he be a man of any gifts and graces, is a 
 king among his people. And the natural tendency of living 
 among a rude and ignorant race, without the attrition afforded 
 by contact with general society, forcing a constant (though, 
 perhaps, unconscious) comparison with gifted and cultured 
 minds, is inevitably in the direction of undue self-assertion, 
 and an assumption of superiority, if not of authority. This 
 reacts unfavorably upon the people, who are quick to discern 
 it, and who feel strongly the impalpable barrier which is thus 
 raised between them. (This reaction is also seen among " na 
 tive helpers " when lifted above the average of their people ; 
 and it causes much of the trouble which they often occasion 
 the missionaries.) And if this evil is not realized, one who is 
 long left alone amid such surroundings, is very likely to become 
 
542 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 opinionated, and fixed in set grooves and ruts of thinking and 
 working. Hence the absolute necessity for visiting a Christian 
 land at intervals, even if health does not require the change 
 (though, many good people may think it a great waste of time 
 and money). Some large sweet natures suffer less from this 
 isolation and exclusion than others ; for, as a rule, the narrowest 
 souls, and those least worthy of honor, assume the most ! ]>ut 
 the children of missionaries are the greatest sufferers from an 
 evil perhaps little feared or thought of, in relations so peculiar 
 and abnormal. Accustomed from their birth to compare them 
 selves with those around them, and prohibited from freedom of 
 intercourse with the children of the country, they are naturally 
 aristocratic in their feelings; and being, from their peculiar 
 position and surroundings, precluded the practical training 
 which should fit them for the life upon which they enter when 
 sent home to be educated, the change to comparative depend 
 ence and inferiority of position is often extremely galling, 
 especially to those of a proud and sensitive nature. And just 
 here comes in the sharpest personal trial known to the foreign 
 missionary in which lie most needs the prayers and sympathies 
 of God s people. His children are scarcely citizens of any " 
 land. They must, perforce, share in the inevitable conse 
 quences of the life and calling chosen by the parents ; the 
 loss of a permanent home, and of support from the parental 
 purse during some of the most important and trying years of 
 life. There may, or may not, be relatives who have the means 
 and the heart to make up, in part, the loss which nothing but 
 the grace of God can repair. The general supervision, and 
 the small grant given by the Missionary Society for a limited 
 period, in no sense proves a substitute for what they have lost. 
 And if such childicn are wanting in that Christian spirit which 
 
DIARBEKIR. 543 
 
 first prompted the sacrifice and still sustains the hearts of 
 the parents, their case is indeed very sad, and calls for the 
 special consideration, and the continual watch and care of the 
 Church of Christ. 
 
 THE NECESSITY OF CHANGE AND RECREATION FOR 
 THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY. 
 
 " After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the 
 spirit when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, 
 to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must 
 also see Rome." April, with her smiles and tears, is rapidly 
 passing, and our happy months of communion in this mis 
 sionary home and work, are drawing to a close, when a 
 special messenger makes his appearance, sent by Mr. and 
 Mrs. Knapp, of Bitlis (a distant station to the north-east, 
 near Lake Van), with an urgent request that I "come over 
 and help " them in a new and interesting work just opened 
 among the women of that city. And a similar, and oft- 
 repeated invitation comes from Mr. and Mrs. Parmelee, of 
 Erzroom, who are alone in that very important station of 
 the northern portion of the Eastern Turkey Mission ; while 
 the friends at Harpoot are becoming impatient for my 
 return, and this beloved brother and sister, who have so 
 generously rejoiced over every indication of success in my 
 work for their people, are planning for a reunion, and a 
 longer tarrying, another year. The needs of the work, and 
 the wide field for usefulness opening on every side to one 
 who is free from family cares, makes me wish that I could 
 multiply myself a hundred fold ! At this juncture, a letter 
 is received from the Southern Turkey Mission, with a press 
 ing invitation to visit their field. And Dr. Pratt kindly 
 
544 TIIE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 offers to meet and escort me half-way, if I will come and see 
 the home in which he and his good wife have been trying to 
 work for Christ, since we first sailed together. The propo 
 sition is very tempting, and I may never again have the 
 opportunity. It would be delightful to survey that " field 
 which the Lord hath blessed," and compare notes with 
 those dear friends, in their own home. A life-long joy to 
 visit Ur of the Chaldees, the birth-place of Abraham ; and 
 Tarsus, the early home of the Apostle Paul; and Antioch, 
 where the " disciples were first called Christians " all with 
 in the borders of that Mission ; and then, perhaps, go on to 
 Egypt, and the Holy Land ! A dream of my life yet unreal 
 ized. A letter from an honored English friend,* whom I 
 have never yet seen, but whose interest has been awakened 
 by what she has heard of our work for Christ, through Mr. 
 and Mrs. Walker, who, when in London, made her acquaint 
 ance, says : " I bear that you are needing rest. Let me beg 
 you not to delay it too long. It is really wasting the Master s 
 goods, when His tools are all attempered, and ready for use, 
 to dull and injure them by using them too long, when a little 
 rest and refreshment, at the right time, would not only cause 
 
 them to work longer, but bcllcr. Is it not so? And 
 
 again, remember that whenever you come to Old England, 
 there is a home, with warm hearts, waiting to welcome you." 
 What could be more delightful than such a prospect ? The 
 very thought causes one s heart to bound with pleasure ! And 
 since my expenses are not met by the funds of the Socie.ty, 
 I am in a certain sense independent, and free to allow myself 
 the recreation : While still no less a missionary of the Amcri- 
 
 Thc author of the " SchOnberg-Cotta Chronicles." 
 
DIARBEKIR. 545 
 
 can Board, acting under its wise direction, yet cherishing much 
 the feeling of a daughter whose wants are supplied by the 
 bounty of loving parents in the distant home. The kind 
 friend who statedly and privately sends my supplies (through 
 her banker in London), also advises a season of rest and re 
 freshment ; and her daughter sends an invitation (with the 
 necessary funds) for a visit to her temporary home in Heidel 
 berg on the Rhine. But " Missionaries must not travel for 
 pleasure /" was the maxim that always fell from the lips of our 
 good " Father Goodell," when, during those busy years in 
 Constantinople, a wish escaped for a season of travel in ad 
 joining countries, to change the current of thought and 
 associations.* 
 
 The school at Harpoot has opened, and duty calls me to 
 my post. It is the voice of the Master : " ALL FOR JESUS," 
 is our motto and watch-word ; so the pleasant prospect is 
 cheerfully put away, and the armor girded on afresh. . . . 
 A " picnic " with the Protestant mothers and children, in a 
 garden by the river-side, is greatly enjoyed by all ; and, at 
 
 * But Dr. Pratt, whose medical opinion was subsequently sought, 
 gave his testimony to this effect (and here, as elsewhere in these 
 pages, I may be pardoned for personal allusions which elucidate 
 principles) : " JVo one that breathes has a better right than you to trarcl 
 f^r pleasure ! If you had taken a trip to Northern Syria or elsewhere, 
 as I strongly advised, when we first met at Stamboul, you would 
 undoubtedly have saved that break-down which sent you home for a 
 year or so, and which has caused a loss of vitality during all the fol 
 lowing years. Such a course is simply suicidal. If God had not 
 given you a grand constitution to begin with, you would have been 
 in your grave long before this ! " 
 
 And yet that most admirable, and in some respects almost un- 
 equaled missionary,was himself in the same position, and might with 
 great propriety have heeded the injunction, " Physician, heal thyself ! " 
 For, a few years later, he fell a victim to over-work and the too con- 
 
546 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 our last Communion season, in the old chapel, which is 
 crowded to its utmost capacity, so that strangers who come 
 late can find no place, we hear an excellent sermon from 
 Giragos a Harpoot student; who has lately assisted Mr. 
 Walker. He is a Greek Jacobite by birth ; and his native lan 
 guage is Arabic ; but he preaches in Armenian, on the 
 " Unity of Christians," from the words, " THAT THEY ALL 
 
 MAY BE ONE." 
 
 And we have the great joy of welcoming several new sis 
 ters in Christ, to the table of our Lord ; women who have 
 given evidence of a true work of grace in their hearts during 
 the last Winter And now the good-byes are 
 
 stant nervous tension which was imposed from the commencement 
 of his career by his situation at Aintab, the central station of that 
 great field. It was the testimony of the Secretaries of the Board, that 
 they had never sent forth a man who was more thoroughly prepared, 
 both as a medical missionary and as an ordaineJ minister of the gospel. 
 lie was a preacher of more than ordinary power, speaking the Turk 
 ish as was once said of Dr. Schneider, "like an angel." And 
 the cares and labors of the two professions combined, in such a country, 
 with such a people, and in such a tongue, came upon his great 
 heart, and conscientious soul, with overwhelming force from the 
 outset. 
 
 "One day," said he (after four or five years had passed), "there 
 were seventy patients standing in rows around my study. 1 examined 
 each care in turn, made out the prescription and gave it to Toros to 
 fill ; and then, utterly exhausted, threw myself on the bed, and said : 
 Wife, I have finished practicing medicine! I shall never attend 
 another case! What do you mean? she exclaimed, in alarm. 
 * fust this : I am going to give it all up to Toros, and when lie has a 
 difficult case he may come to consult about it, but henceforth I am 
 done with medicine ! " 
 
 This Toros was a common barber, who had a natural taste in that 
 direction, and was in the habit of frequenting the doctor s study dur 
 ing the hours when he saw his patients. One day, when there was 
 much to be done, lie begged as a favor to help in compounding the 
 medicines. lie proved to be very efficient and faithful, and finally 
 
DIARBEKIR. 547 
 
 said to the "little house-mother" and the dear children of 
 the missionary family henceforth bound to us by new ties of 
 love and sympathy; and, accompanied by Mr. Walker, and 
 Yakob, the journey Harpoot-ward is commenced. 
 
 Passing out of the city with many a lingering look, at 
 tended by my six boys (the " ushers " who have modestly 
 presented their farewell offering cakes of sugar, prepared 
 with syrup of fruit, for sherbet), we find beyond the walls, 
 a hundred of the women and giils, besides a number of men 
 and boys, gathered for a parting word and look. 
 
 That was a memorable journey. Exceedingly wearied 
 with the excitement and fatigue of getting off, the night of 
 
 became invaluable as a voluntary assistant, coming for several hours 
 everyday. " Toros had an iron memory," said the doctor. "Two 
 years afterward he could recall every case, with its special symptoms, 
 and the remedies that I had prescribed ! He was unwearied in his 
 keen attention, and by degrees I allowed him to practice more and 
 more, till on one occasion, when we went together to Ma rash, he 
 opened the eyes of thirty blind people! " (by performing the operation for 
 cataract). lie was very successful as a practicing physician of high 
 repute, after Dr. Pratt threw up the business, and became very 
 prosperous, frequently receiving large fees from wealthy Turks and 
 others, for services that the missionary physician had gratuitously 
 performed. But, to his honor be it said, he never forgot what he 
 owed his kind teacher and benefactor ; and when Dr. Pratt removed, 
 with his family, to Constantinople, for the work of preparing a trans 
 lation of the Bible in pure Turkish, which should be a standard 
 version for all classes, Toros was greatly overcome by his loss, and, 
 as Dr. P. laughingly said, " the poor fellow stole behind the door, to 
 weep where he might not be seen." 
 
 On my way to America, I was one day in Dr. Pratt s study at Bebek 
 where he was hard at work over the translation of the Word of God. A 
 very difficult point presented itself, to which no other version or 
 translation gave any clue. (" Where a verse or a clause of Scripture 
 is obscure, or involved, in the Hebrew or Greek, it is possible to leave 
 it with the same ambiguity in the Armenian language," said Dr. 
 Riggs ; " But not so in Turkish : That language is so constructed 
 
548 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 repose which we had anticipated at Geog Tapa " Hill of 
 the Elk " was simply a state of intolerable torture from 
 devouring fleas, that sent us on our way, unrefreshed, at 
 three o clock in the morning. And the second night, at 
 Bakur Maden, was a new experience in our Eastern travels: 
 When, through the coming darkness and falling rain, we 
 were separated from Yakob, and the muleteers, and repeat 
 edly missed the right road amid the many devious pathways 
 leading to that city set among the rocks ; and finally, made 
 our dismal entry on the wrong side ; night had set in, and 
 the rain was falling faster and faster ; the fires of " Tophet," 
 in the valley, cast some lurid gleams upon our bewilder- 
 that some shade of meaning, or interpretation, must of necessity be 
 given ; which renders the task of the translator a very difficult and 
 responsible one." 
 
 Dr. Pratt and his Armenian assistant were greatly perplexed and at 
 loss about this passage ; at last I heard him sav, in subdued tones, 
 "Avedis, ii<c will ask (jod about it!" And they knelt in fervent 
 prayer for a Divine illumination, while I, unnoticed in a secluded 
 corner, was thrilled with a sense of the sublimity of the scene, and 
 learned a frcsli lesson of the " anointing" which " teacheth all things." 
 
 At that very time, the doctor, whose health was much broken, 
 needed a horse, for exercise ; his wife felt that it would prolong, if 
 not save, his life. lie was sometimes compelled to attend t cases 
 of emergency, occurring at night, when no physician could be pro 
 cured from the city; and, though he charged no fees, English families 
 insisted upon sending what they deemed the rightful pecuniary com 
 pensation for his services. Hut this he could not be induced to use 
 for himself or family. "Mv time belongs to the Societv by whom I 
 am employed!" was his invariable reply to all the arguments brought 
 to bear upon the case. And a few years later, he who was always 
 unconsciously so self-sacrificing (whose talents would hare com 
 manded the highest position and compensation in his own country), 
 but whose crowning grace was a genuine humility which never sought 
 the applause or honor of his fellow-man, was called, ere yet his great 
 work was finished, to enter into the " Rest that Rcmaincth for the 
 people of God." 
 
PIAR15EKIR. 549 
 
 mcnt, and a sudden flash of lightning revea ed our danger 
 ous footing upon a narrow cliff, at the very moment when a 
 stream of fire (from furnaces where the smelting of copper 
 ore was going on) ran beneath my horse s feet, and, had not 
 some good angel interposed, he would have plunged into 
 the madly-roaring cataract below. At last, finding our way 
 across the river and up a steep hill-side, we sought shelter 
 in a common coffee-shop, where, a little later, the men joined 
 us ; and when the smoking, drinking, gossiping loungers had 
 dispersed, my couch was speedily made in a corner of the 
 high platform ; too wearied to partake of any refreshment, 
 I sought for rest, but was soon awakened by a terrific storm. 
 The thunder rolled and crashed among those rocky heights 
 like an incessant roar of artillery ; the lightning blazed in 
 vivid flames from peak to peak, and a mighty wind added 
 its howling to the furious tempest. Sleep was impossible ; 
 but the security and peace inspired by the consciousness of 
 an Invisible and Almighty Presence and protection, made 
 the scene sublime : 
 
 " Howl, winds of night, 
 Your force combine; 
 
 Without His high behest, 
 Ye shall not in the mountain pine 
 
 Disturb the sparrow s nest !" 
 
 Suddenly, as the wind lulled and the rain poured in tor 
 rents, a great volume of water rushed from the roof into the 
 room where we lay, speedily routing Mr. Walker and the 
 men from their beds on the floor, and sending one outside 
 to stop the old chimney-hole, from which the earth had been 
 washed away. Our Savior s words were literally verified 
 " The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew 
 
550 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 and beat upon that house, and it fell not ; for \vas founded 
 upon a rock." When the morning dawned the storm still 
 raged, though less, furiously ; and at nine o clock, when it 
 had somewhat abated, we started on our journey, against 
 the earnest remonstrances of the few Protestants and others, 
 who urged that the storm had rendered the river impassable, 
 and that travel over the mountains would be very dangerous. 
 But Mr. Walker was anxious to push on, and concluded to 
 venture in spite of their warnings. Half a dozen showers 
 fell during the morning, and the narrow mountain paths 
 were very slippery, in some places almost washed away. 
 At one narrow pass, where, but a few months before, a 
 Turkish Mudir and his suite had been swept down into a 
 deep ravine by an avalanche of snow, my horse (which had 
 been reared on the plains of Nineveh, and wholly unaccus 
 tomed to mountain travel) stopped short, and Mr. Walker, 
 fearing for my safety, called to me to dismount. As I 
 stepped across the deep rut worn by the water pouring from 
 the heights above, my heart stood still, for a slip upon that 
 miry soil would have caused a quick descent into the yawn 
 ing chasm far below. Our progress was very slow, and occa 
 sional travelers whom we met gave conflicting accounts of 
 the river which we were to ford. Finally we heard of one 
 place which was passable, and after great tribulation suc 
 ceeded in finding it and in getting across, at the risk of our 
 lives. Mr. Walker forded it first for a trial, intending to 
 return for me ; but that the men would not allow ; and while 
 I clung to the neck of the high, steady steed, they, divested 
 of most of their clothing, threw themselves into the water 
 and guided him across. 
 
 The sun looked out from the West for a parting gleam, as 
 
DIARBEKIR. 55 1 
 
 we reached the summit of " Camel s Neck ;" the men were far 
 behind, and we reined our horses upon one of the highest 
 points till they should come up. The thunder ominously mut 
 tered its deep-toned bass among the frowning grey peaks, and 
 flashes of lightning played around our heads. Suddenly the 
 curtain of night settled down upon the earth, the clouds dis 
 charged a deluge of their watery contents, and we were en 
 veloped in gloom. After calling and shouting to the loiter 
 ers and hearing no reply, Mr. Walker left me to search for 
 them ; and when they came up, the rain had obliterated 
 every trace of the mountain paths, and they scattered in 
 various directions to seek the road. And again I was left 
 in utter silence and mortal terror lest my horse should step 
 backward, and be precipitated into some fearful abyss. Now 
 the Badveli would come and lead him for a little, and then 
 in the thick darkness I would again be left alone, till Yakob 
 lent a helping hand. At last it was deemed too dangerous 
 for me to remain mounted, and crawling slowly down among 
 jagged rocks, feeling in every direction, lest in the impene 
 trable night a misstep might dash me down some unseen 
 precipice, I tried to lead the horse, who came plunging down 
 behind me ; but finally gave up the attempt, and left him to 
 his fate. Every now and then the good Badveli w r ould 
 come to take my hand, bemoaning our helpless situation, 
 and saying, " O my sister ! I fear this night of exposure and 
 fatigue will cause your death !" and I endeavored to hearten 
 him with words of hope and cheer. At midnight we reached 
 the foot of the mountain, by following a sure-footed mule 
 accustomed to the road ; but again lost our way, for the rush 
 ing stream which usually flowed at its base, was now multi 
 plied to half a dozen. After wandering among the fields 
 
552 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 for awhile, we came out upon the right road, and were hop 
 ing that the worst was over, when two of the Persian pack- 
 horses began to fight, and a flash of lightning showed them 
 standing upcn their hind feet, pawing at each other, while 
 uttering the most unearthly screams, and our own steeds 
 started back in terror. This was frightful, and gave an addi 
 tional shock to already overstrained nerves, though not a 
 word was uttered, and the two belligerents were soon separ 
 ated. 
 
 As we neared the village of Komk, not a glimmer of light 
 cheered our eyes, and fears were expressed that we might 
 not easily find a place to spend the remainder of the night. 
 But the sound of approaching feet brought out a villager 
 with his lantern, who welcomed us to his great stable, where, 
 with eight buffaloes, six oxen, a number of donkeys, cows, 
 calves, and horses as companions, we speedily made our- 
 selyes at home. The warmth imparted by these animals 
 was our salvation after the fatigue and exposure of the last 
 fourteen hours, and we were very thankful for so comfort 
 able a shelter. A fire soon bla/.ed at one end of the rude 
 platform where we had bestowed ourselves for the night ; 
 a cup of tea was made, and eggs were boiled, of which the 
 others partook with zest after their long fast. IHit again my 
 appetite had entirely failed, and rest was all that I craved 
 if, indeed, the strained nerves and muscles, and stiffened 
 bones would succumb to sleep, instead of revenging them 
 selves by refusing to relax the cruel tension We 
 
 reached Harpoot in good season the next day, and after a 
 Sabbath of refreshment, our good brother Walker hastened 
 
 back to his home and work Another week found 
 
 me again at ny duties in the school-room, little conscious 
 
DIARBEKIR. 553 
 
 that what was deemed but a natural reaction and depression 
 of the system, would surely swell the aggregate of an account 
 for which much-wronged and inexorable nature would de 
 mand " compound interest " in future years of weakness 
 and suffering. 
 24 
 
C^^^si^p^^gjiw^ 
 
 v . 
 
 g 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 
 
 |ERY well ; but if, as you say, * a little learning is 
 a dangerous thing, why then give us a nine years 
 course, with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. That s 
 just what we want." This was said by Ghazeros, one of a 
 class of twenty-three men in the Theological Seminary at 
 Harpoot, whom I was teaching in Mr. Wheeler s place, at 
 his most urgent request, while he and his family were ab 
 sent for a month at Malatia. 
 
 His argument that the influence upon them would be 
 most salutary and elevating, while at the same time it re 
 leased a fully-equipped missionary for general and most 
 important work in the field finally overcame my scruples ; 
 and when the other missionaries added the weight of their 
 conviction to his plea, the novel task was accepted, though 
 not without much shrinking. When I first entered the 
 Seminary room and took my seat in the " professor s chair," 
 I could see the smile on many a face; but nerved myself for 
 the undertaking, and assumed a courage by no means felt in 
 the presence of men whose ideas of woman were of neces 
 sity very low as compared with our own countrymen. For 
 the first few days the constant tension proved very exhaust 
 ing ; I was studying my class, and they were equally engaged 
 (554) 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 555 
 
 my ability as a teacher. Though not taught in 
 schools, they had long studied God s Word, and some of 
 them were thinkers of no mean order. Several were old 
 helpers, brought in for a season of more thorough Biblical 
 instruction and training in other studies, and one was a con 
 verted priest. 
 
 The colloquial of some of the villagers required an inces 
 sant strain of attention to catch their meaning ; and there 
 was an evident effort on the part of two or three forward 
 ones to puzzle and entrap the " Varzhoohi." But at the 
 close of our first week s review, I took occasion to speak of 
 our relations as teacher and pupils that I did not come 
 there to show them how much I knew, or to find out how 
 wise they were ; but simply to assist them, so far as in my 
 power, in that which they desired to learn ; ending with a 
 word of kind acknowledgment to those who had been gen 
 tlemanly and attentive. This had the desired effect, and 
 with the exception of an occasional hint to one who was 
 remiss in study (which quickly brought the color to his 
 face), no further reminder of their duty was needed, and 
 they were uniformly as polite and respectful as could be 
 desired. 
 
 We were spending an hour and a quarter each day in the 
 careful study of the Book of Acts, and very lively and profit 
 able discussions arose upon various points connected v/ith 
 the Apostolic method of preaching the gospel. I quoted 
 our Savior s example in His training-class for missionary 
 service, as an illustration of the estimation in which the 
 Master held the heavenly wisdom, in comparison with earthly 
 knowledge and human sciences, which He " in whom are hid 
 all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," did not impart 
 
556 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 to them; and ended with the statement that, as a rule, those 
 who knew the least were the most puffed up with the idea of 
 their own wisdom; and that the deeper a man dived into the 
 mines of learning, the more he understood, as did one of 
 the greatest philosophers, that he had " but gathered a few 
 pebbles on the shores of an infinite ocean." 
 
 This statement was met by Ghazeros (as quoted), who 
 cast a triumphant glance around the class, as if to say, 
 " Now I have caught the Varzhoohi !" It was a blessed 
 thing for me that I had my Bible so much at command, and 
 Paul s words were a better answer than any other : " If any 
 man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing 
 yet as he ought to know ;" and, " Though I speak with the 
 tongues of men and of angels, and have not Love, I am be 
 come as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though 
 I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries 
 and all knowledge, and have not Love, I am nothing." And 
 I continued : 
 
 " We will suppose that the Evangelical Armenian churches 
 have arrived at such prosperity, that the time has come for 
 them to send the gospel to darker lands ; and a few men are 
 appointed to Africa. Now what course would you instruct 
 them to pursue in laying foundations ? Would you say, 
 Preach the gospel ; and as soon as a few Africans are 
 converted, train them, by a short course of study (mostly 
 Biblical), to go forth as Christian workers among their own 
 poor, ignorant, degraded people, till the general standard of 
 education shall be raised among them, and they themselves 
 be willing to make sacrifices for the establishment of higher 
 schools? Or, would you enjoin it upon your missionaries 
 to spend your money in giving those men a classical nine 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 557 
 
 years course (which would lift them infinitely above 
 their people) while at the same time thousands were 
 starving for the Bread of Life ?" There was scarcely a dis 
 senting voice. All were in favor of the Divine method, but 
 one, who ventured to argue the point, when his companions 
 cut him short by saying, with the force of conviction, " Yes, 
 we should ! you know that we would give the short course /" It 
 required no little tact and watchfulness to avoid irrelevant 
 and unprofitable questions and vain speculations., in which 
 the Armenian mind delights.* 
 
 Rumors of what appeared to be the beginning of heresy in 
 another field had attracted the attention and excited the in 
 terest of the students : A philosophy and fine-spun theory 
 which virtually denied the vicarious atonement of Christ, 
 and (as the disciple invariably goes beyond his master in 
 such teachings) would ultimately land this people in a belief 
 of universal salvation, if not something worse. Therefore 
 my constant aim during these few weeks of Bible- teach 
 ing, was to lead these future preachers of the gospel to imi- 
 
 * But we did not treat their queries about the " origin of sin," etc., 
 as summarily as did the colored preacher who was closing his de 
 scription of the creation, with the words, " Den de Lor He done 
 make Adam out ob de dust ob de earth, and sot him by de fence to 
 dry;" when one of his rude audience broke out with, " Dat am all 
 bery well, but who made dat ar fence?" and the irate preacher 
 thundered forth, " Put dat darkey out ob de meet in ! Such questions de 
 like ob dat destroy all de f oology ob de -world /" When Mr. Williams 
 came with his training-class to Harpoot a year later, we found thlt 
 he allowed more of these side-issues to be discussed during the ordi 
 nary recitations, because, he said, they had lacked all early training 
 and the thousand sources of information open to those of Christian 
 lands ; and perhaps, the opportunity to enlighten and guide their 
 minds on various points, might never again occur in the multitude 
 of his pressing cares and duties. He made everything in his own 
 
558 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 tate closely the example of the Divine Teacher in the clear 
 ness and simplicity of their utterances, and abundant illus 
 trations drawn from the daily life and thought of the people. 
 Not " teaching for doctrines the commandments of men;" 
 or searching into hidden mysteries, remembering that the 
 "secret things belong unto the Lord, but the things which 
 are revealed belong to us and to our children, that we may 
 do all the words of this law." The Church is replete with 
 systems, and many a valley filled with the dry bones of 
 theology, when its great want is the WORD and the SPIRIT ! 
 
 What these men most seemed to need for a successful 
 ministry among their own people was, hearts surcharged 
 with the magnetism of sympathy and souls on fire with the 
 love of Christ. 
 
 " Say Baksheesh / " suggested Maranos, our good assist 
 ant teacher, when we were sitting by the bedside of a woman 
 who had been such a bitter opposer that the neighbors were 
 afraid to have us venture near her house. We found her 
 heart softened by sickness ; and fjr the first time she lis 
 tened to the words of Christ, as I tried to explain to her the 
 
 stock of knowledge subservient to their use, drawing illustrations 
 from all sources, high and low " Mother Goose s Melodies," " Alad 
 din s Entertainment" mechanics, arts, sciences,- each in turn 
 were laid under contribution to increase their general fund and range 
 of thought. And the merry peals of laughter that often came from 
 the room where they were gathered for their daily lessons, testified to 
 their hearty appreciation of his genial method. And yet he ever 
 maintained his dignity as a Christian teacher, and the love and ad 
 miration with which his pupils regarded their " Ilowadji " was almost 
 akin to worship. If Dr. Goodell, of Constantinople, sometimes re 
 minded us of the celebrated Sidney Smith, Mr. Williams, who, by the 
 way, is a brother of that eminent scholar and statesman, Welles S. 
 "Williams, L.L.I)., of China resembled Charles Lamb, in his line 
 wit and play of farcy. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 559 
 
 only way of salvation. "Ah, yes!" she answered; "of 
 course you, who have done so many good works, will be 
 saved ; God will accept you, but He cannot look upon me !" 
 " Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but 
 according to His mercy, He saves us by the washing of 
 regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, " I replied ; 
 adding, " It is all Free Grace ;" when Maranos, whose heart 
 was warm with interest and sympathy, whispered, " If you say 
 baksheesh, she will understand you better." " Baksheesh !" 
 that fearfully common and tiresome word, in the mouth of 
 every beggar who solicits alms with outstretched hand and 
 whining accents ; and which often falls from the lips of 
 brawny men who, when a bargain is concluded, beg for a 
 " present " something over and above, for which no equiva 
 lent would be given, or compensation expected. And this 
 much-abused term at once conveyed to that untaught mind 
 the meaning of the " grace of God which bringeth salvation " 
 in the " unspeakable Gift " of His Son! 
 
 Our daily Bible-lesson became more and more interesting 
 as teacher and pupils became familiarized to one another. 
 Sometimes one verse would prove so rich in meaning and 
 comprehensive in its scope, that it occupied the entire hour; 
 as, for instance, the nineteenth verse of the third chapter of 
 Acts " Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your 
 sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall 
 come from the presence of the Lord." Each student was 
 called upon, as usual, to state, in clear and simple language, 
 as if to one who had never heard the gospel, his idea of true 
 and false Repentance ; illustrating every point by his own 
 familiar experience, or by what he had seen in others. The 
 same in regard to Conversion, which, in Armenian, means to 
 
560 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 " turn " to change entirely one s course. And the expression, 
 " times of refreshing," brought up the subject of Revivals in 
 the Church of Christ ; the spiritual being illustrated by the 
 natural. When their illustrations failed, I gave them the benefit 
 of my own store, many of which were lodged in the mind 
 from childhood by the faithful teachings of a Christian 
 mother, pastor, Bible-teacher, or by general reading and 
 experience ; besides the accumulations of later years, drawn 
 from every source. To these they listened with great delight, 
 and months afterward it was a source of much pleasure to 
 hear repeated in many a village lecture, not a few of those 
 comparisons and similes (as, for instance, the full heads of 
 wheat bending toward the earth, a type of genuine humility, 
 while the empty ones were lifted loftily toward heaven as 
 if in pride and arrogance ; or, the wagon noisily rattling 
 over the street, proclaiming its own emptiness, while the silent 
 stream carrying untold blessings on its bosom, was known by 
 the verdure on its banks, etc.) 
 
 The meaning of the words " that your sins may be blotted 
 out," was sought, and the students gave various illustrations 
 of "debt and credit." Though all acknowledged that 
 while the charge against one might be " crossed out " and 
 effaced, it could not be said to be " blotted out " so long as 
 traces of the original score remained. They had never 
 heard of the waxed tablets used in ancient times, upon 
 which the writing was traced with a metal " style," and 
 which could be easily erased by smoothing the surface with 
 the handle. And we turned to the words of Jeremiah : 
 l The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with 
 the point of a diamond ; it is graven upon the table of their 
 heart." But the illustration which most effectively showed 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 561 
 
 the blotting out, was that of Charlotte Elizabeth s " Happy 
 Mute," who dreamed that he died, and stood before the 
 Judgment-Seat, and the " Books were opened." And when 
 he saw beneath his name a long, dark catalogue of sins, he 
 was overwhelmed with shame, and ready to sink with terror. 
 But the Savior cast upon him a gracious look, and saying, 
 with unspeakable love and tenderness, "John!" lifted the 
 pierced hand, from which the drops were oozing, and passed 
 it over the black record. John s sins were all " blotted out," 
 and when the Father looked He saw only the blood of His 
 dear Son. 
 
 Not a word was uttered when the simple story was fin 
 ished, but the tenderness and solemnity visible upon every 
 face, showed that their hearts had been deeply moved, and 
 that the lesson would never be forgotten. 
 
 When Mr. Wheeler returned from Malatia, he generously 
 begged me to keep the class, thinking that I had " found 
 my vocation." But the women and girls of our own school 
 (with a new, and more stupid set, in place of those who left 
 last year,) afforded an ample field for all, and more than I had 
 strength to accomplish in the heat of Summer, and the honor 
 was declined. 
 
 The season sped away " like a tale that is told." The 
 Annual Meeting of the Mission convened at Harpoot, in June, 
 brought most of its members together ; the removal of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Richardson to Broosa, in the Western Turkey Mis 
 sion, threw the Arabkir field into the hands of the missionaries 
 at Harpoot, and an annexation took place. An " Evangelical 
 Union " of all the Protestant Churches, and pastors of the 
 Mission, was fully established, and Pastor Marrleros, of Har-^ 
 poot, was unanimously elected as President, 
 
 24* 
 
562 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 When this convocation was over, and we had returned to 
 the quiet tenor of our usual work, the sudden and severe 
 illness of Mrs. Wheeler, brought again the shadow of Death 
 over our hearts ; for months she lay in the " Border Land," 
 and many hours of anxious watching were spent by that bed 
 side. Again the heat was very oppressive, and ophthalmia 
 prevailed to an alarming extent among the people, affecting 
 more or less the missionary families. The swarms of flies 
 settling upon the faces, and swarming around the sore eyes 
 of native children, who were so accustomed to them that 
 they did not even brush them off, was too disgusting a sight 
 to be endured. But it was scarcely as bad as the " Aleppo 
 button," or " year sore," a chronic scourge in all this region, 
 and even worse in the southern portions of the country. 
 The cause of this infliction the keenest medical skill and 
 scrutiny has as yet failed to discover, and many a missionary 
 wears upon his face or hands the unsightly and life-long scars. 
 
 A son of Dr. and Mrs. Schneider, of Aintab, had sixty or 
 seventy of these often painful and sometimes offensive sores 
 (which last for a year,) upon his person at one time ; and his 
 devoted mother* (who, in the beauty and brilliancy of an 
 early womanhood of more than ordinary attractions, cheer 
 fully left the society of which she was a shining ornament, 
 and consecrated her life to labors and self-denials among 
 those who were little capable of appreciating either), did not 
 utter one repining word. But, as she afterward looked upon 
 the disfiguring scars which marred the face of her first-born 
 she simply said, "They will not be seen in Heaven !" 
 
 *Mrs. S. had one herself, an excrescence, upon so prominent a 
 feature, that for months she was obliged to wear a veil, to screen it 
 from vie\y. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 563 
 
 SMALL-POX is also a chronic scourge throughout the length 
 and breadth of this land. In fact, it is so generally considered 
 a necessary evil, that it is a common thing for mothers to in 
 oculate their little ones, by mingling the virus with their 
 food ! This of course gives the disease in its most malig 
 nant form ; and many die, while others are rendered totally 
 blind from its effects. We meet with it everywhere. " What 
 is the matter with your child ?" I asked a mother who came 
 late, to one of my meetings in the chapel (soon after my 
 arrival at Harpoot), and sat so near me, that the infant s 
 head almost touched my arm, during the hour. " O, it is 
 small-pox /" she replied, with the most perfect coolness. 
 But these are among the " little trials" of which true, earnest 
 missionaries make but small account, in comparison with the 
 JOY of the WORK ! j 
 
 We have had a new experience at Harpoot, in a fire, which 
 broke out one sultry night, owing to the carelessness of a 
 smoker of tobacco or opium, and four or five hundred shops, 
 besides other buildings, were consumed. Several Protest 
 ants lost their all of earthly goods, and two Turks, whose 
 possessions were swept away, committed suicide. The peo 
 ple were in the greatest terror without fire-engines, or wa 
 ter, or men who were capable of doing anything to extin 
 guish the spreading flames. The three missionaries, Bar- 
 num, Allen, and Wheeler, were roused from their sleep after 
 midnight, and, with the students, were soon in the thickest 
 of the conflict, working with all their might, using earth 
 instead of water, to stay the devouring element. By their 
 direction, several houses were torn down, and when the 
 heavy roofs (covered with tons of earth) fell in, clouds 
 of dust almost choked the workers. In one instance, they 
 
564 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 were but a moment before standing upon such a roof to 
 oversee the work, and barely escaped with their lives. By 
 their unwearied efforts and sagacity the fire was checked; 
 but when they returned to their homes in the morning, with 
 hair singed, eyes inflamed, and faces blackened, we scarcely 
 recognized them. The city was full of their praises ; men 
 of all classes and nationalities talked of the disinterested 
 efforts of the missionaries, and the Pasha sent them special 
 and hearty thanks. 
 
 FALLING B Y THE WA Y-SIDE. 
 
 Reports of cholera were frequent in communications from 
 Diarbekir. One of our last year s graduates, who was ac 
 tively engaged in teaching, was taken by it to be with Jesus 
 also one of the larger boys, who attended the " Children s 
 Meeting " of last Winter. Our fears were awakened for Mr. 
 and Mrs. Walker, and they were frequently urged to come 
 to Harpoot ; but they could not be persuaded to leave their 
 people at such a time, to flee from what they deemed the 
 post of duty ; and their letters were full of hope and cour 
 age. But one September morning, when we thought that 
 the danger was past, there came a telegram like a thunder 
 clap from a serene Summer sky telling, in fearfully stunning 
 words, of "Brother Walker s death by cholera-" Mr. Wheeler 
 and Mr. Barnum were absent, " touring " through the out- 
 stations of Arabkir, newly added to the Harpoot field (which 
 numbered forty or fifty), and this sudden stroke would fall 
 with crushing weight upon already overburdened hearts. 
 At a glance, we saw that Diarbekir, with all its interests, 
 cares, and responsibilities, must now be added to the terri 
 tory under their supervision, comprising in all about 2,600 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 565 
 
 square miles, as large in its extent as the States of Massa 
 chusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, or two-fifths of all 
 New England, to be worked from Harpoot, as a centre, by 
 three men ! But our hearts turned to her who now knew, as 
 never before, the meaning of " widow;" and our pens were 
 busy (as, oh, so often during our missionary life !) in assur 
 ing the stricken one of our tenderest sympathy and united 
 prayers for her and her fatherless children. 
 
 Letters from Mr. Williams, and from my six Diarbekir 
 boys (who continued to write, and frequently sent me little 
 tokens of remembrance, during the Summer), gave the sad 
 particulars of that heavy bereavement. In that wretched khan 
 at Alipoonga, upon whose unshaded clay walls the hot sun 
 poured down his fierce, burning rays, till the air seemed to 
 come from a heated oven, and swarms of flies infested the 
 inner apartments, the missionary family sought refuge from 
 the more stifling heat of the city. The poor children were 
 especially tormented with insects of various kinds, which, 
 like so many vampires, preyed upon them ; and their eyes, 
 unaccustomed to the glare reflected from the yellowish clay 
 which everywhere surrounded them, were almost blind with 
 ophthalmia. The roof received their couches at night, but 
 then another danger threatened, from the chilling wind that 
 set in. As the days and weeks passed slowly by, the pesti 
 lence "that wasteth at noon-day," carried hundreds from the 
 city to their " last home." The faithful missionary was con 
 stantly going back and forth in the burning sun to care for 
 his flock ; watching by the dying, burying the dead, and ad 
 ministering consolation to the mourners. The months of 
 July and August had worn away, and the khan at Alipoonga 
 contained in its lower rooms (mostly stables) a colony of 
 
566 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 thirty Protestants, who had there sought refuge from the 
 plague : Several were soon seized, but none died. With 
 brave hearts the husband and wife endured the discomforts 
 of their situation, and sustained each other with cheering 
 words and faith in God. But there came a day when the 
 strong man was prostrated ; the wife, alone, without phy 
 sician or friends to counsel, sought to stay the disease, aided 
 by faithful and anxious Protestant brethren, who would fain 
 have laid down their lives to save their beloved teacher. 
 One of them, foreseeing the end, secretly sent a telegram to 
 Mardin. Mr. Williams received it that evening ; and while 
 Yakob was hastily making ready for the journey, the " How- 
 adji " performed a marriage ceremony which could not 
 be delayed, and offered a prayer, and a few words of conso 
 lation, by the coffin of a child belonging to his flock ; and 
 then mounted his horse, and, with his heart full of forebod 
 ings, set forth upon that lonely journey. The morning saw 
 a single horseman dashing along the river-road, by the grim 
 city, on, on to the rude village ! He looked haggard and 
 anxious, and his steed was foaming and jaded with the ride 
 of that long night. 
 
 As he approached the khan an indescribable fear seized 
 his heart, and his hand involuntarily slackened the rein. 
 Alas ! there was no need of haste. The gateway was 
 reached ; the men who sat in its shadow respectfully arose, 
 but uttered no word of greeting. Blank despair was writ 
 ten on every face. He rode into the court, and flung him 
 self from his horse. A door opened, and a child appeared, 
 who anticipated the question which his lips could not frame, 
 by saying, " Father is dead." With strange calmness and 
 serenity of spirit, still upheld by an invisible Hand, the 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 567 
 
 stricken wife, who all that night had bent over the uncon 
 scious sufferer, using every remedy, and hoping against hope 
 till the spirit returned to God, was giving directions for the 
 
 last offices to be performed for her beloved one 
 
 The sun was nearing the horizon, when a solemn procession 
 slowly passed along the rough and stony road leading to the 
 burial-place where, years before, the lamented Righter* was 
 laid to rest. Very tenderly the bier was borne by the hands 
 of loving disciples over the two weary miles which the feet 
 of their beloved teacher had so often trod. And when they 
 laid their precious burden down upon the hill-side beneath 
 the shadow of an almond-tree, and the service was ended, 
 and the earth fell with a dull, heavy thud upon the coffin, 
 the cry of the little daughter, " Father, father ! I want my 
 father /" pierced every heart afresh, and strong men bowed 
 themselves in bitter lamentation over that new-made grave. 
 But as they turned away, the setting sun lighted river, rock, 
 hill, and plain, and even the gloomy walls of the " Black 
 city," with its dying glow a faint emblem of the never- 
 fading Sun of Righteousness, whose beams are shed upon 
 the Christian s tomb. And when the sad night again closed 
 upon those smitten ones, and the city gates were shut, that 
 none might go out or come in, the Angel of the Covenant 
 whispered, "Fear not j I will never leave thee nor forsake 
 
 thee." 
 
 Calling with Mrs. Barnum at the house of Haji Hagop 
 one day, we found the good old man just recovering from a 
 
 * Rev. C. R. Righter, when acting as an Agent of the American Bible 
 Society, visited Diarbekir, where, in the vigor of early manhood, a 
 fever ended his earthly life, and sent a wave of desolation through the 
 home-circle of friends who were fondly looking for his return. 
 
568 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 severe attack of asthma. His face was much flushed, and, 
 for a few moments, he could not speak ; but, as the paroxysm 
 passed away, gave us a most cordial welcome. 
 
 He referred to his infirmity, and said he was conscious that 
 the end was fast approaching ; but, as he spoke, an expres 
 sion of heavenly peace spread over his countenance : it 
 was evident that he longed to depart and be with Christ. 
 
 Taking a book from beneath his cushion, he remarked, 
 " Next to my Bible, this is precious to my soul. I am now 
 reading it through for the third time ; and it seems to me 
 that the man who wrote it must have been inspired." It 
 was a worn copy of Baxter s " Saints Rest," in Armenian. 
 When told that the " saint " who had been in the actual 
 enjoyment of that " rest " for nearly two hundred years 
 wrote the book when on his sick-bed, with heaven full in 
 view, he was greatly interested, and exclaimed, " I shall meet 
 him there, and will tell him how it has comforted and helped 
 me in my pilgrimage to the Celestial City !" After a few 
 moments conversation in Turkish with Mrs. Barnum, he 
 turned to me, and said, " Egoosh was here the other even 
 ing, and told us many things that he saw in America while 
 there with Mrs. Walker and her children the broad, clean 
 streets, the beautiful houses and furniture, the roads and 
 carriages and railways, the churches, and khans (hotels), like 
 palaces, the farms and gardens and shops and school-houses. 
 Such comfort, purity, and wealth ! It was wonderful ; and, 
 as I listened, I thought after this manner : * What must 
 heaven be ? If he should tell all this to a poor, miserable 
 Koord, who had never seen or heard of anything better 
 than his hole in the ground, what idea would he get ? Just 
 none at all : you might as well describe the light to a blind 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 569 
 
 man. And then I said to myself, So little can / under 
 stand of Heaven ; but, thanks to God, through the blood of 
 His dear Son I shall one day see and know it all for myself! " 
 
 And he too has gone ; the grave, for which he prepared 
 so serenely, as for a journey, has hid him from our sight ; 
 but we miss that patriarchal form, the benign and striking 
 face, with its flowing white beard, which never failed to com 
 mand respect and veneration. He has seen the Savior by 
 whose sacrifice he was redeemed, and the servant of God, 
 who little dreamed when doing his last earthly work (as he 
 thought), that souls would come up from every nation 
 through all time, to enjoy that " Rest," and bless him for 
 inspiring them to seek it yet more earnestly. 
 
 Haji Hagop was an early convert, and a pioneer in the 
 work of evangelizing his countrymen. His dignified bear 
 ing and unquestioned piety, combined with a sound judg 
 ment and evenly-balanced mind, rendered him invaluable 
 as a helper ; he was known as a " peace-maker," and his 
 counsel was widely sought by the Protestants and others. 
 But when the infirmities of age prevented active service, 
 and funds were low, the missionaries were obliged to cut off 
 his small monthly allowance. " Haji Baba," or Father, as he 
 was called, took this very meekly, and gave himself the more 
 earnestly " unto prayer." A few months later, a letter was 
 received from an unknown friend in Holland, who had acci- 
 dently seen a brief account of the circumstance in an Eng 
 lish periodical, and was moved to send to the missionaries 
 the sum necessary for the support of the good man.* This 
 
 *This remarkable provision of Providence, recalls the experience 
 of a missionary widow of the American Board, who, with her children, 
 had returned to her native land : Eight or ten years had passed, and 
 
5/0 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 he continued to remit every quarter, till the very time when 
 it was no longer needed ; and then it suddenly ceased, and 
 letters of inquiry failed to meet a response, as formerly, 
 (in the quaint and charming utterances of a child-like, Chris 
 tian heart and mind), forcing upon us the conviction that 
 the benefactor also had ended his earthly mission, and " en 
 tered into rest." 
 
 A MONTHLY COX CERT OF PRAYER FOR J\IISSIOA T S. 
 
 Last evening I attended an exceedingly interesting mis 
 sionary concert. Would that all who pray for Zion could 
 have the privilege of witnessing such a scene a live mission 
 ary meeting on missionary ground ! It was held at the close 
 of a day of special prayer for the outpouring of the Holy 
 Spirit, and as both congregations of the city united on the 
 occasion, there was a goodly assembly of Christian men and 
 women, who have learned to pray, " Thy kingdom come." 
 
 After the opening exercises, Mr. Wheeler gave a most 
 graphic and interesting sketch of the thirty-seven days 
 tour from which he and his associates had lately returned (in 
 connection with the Meeting of the " Evangelical Union " 
 
 one day, ( a t the very time when she was praying for means to carry 
 one of her sons through a medical course, and another through col 
 lege,) the "old king" of Siam was walking and talking with a mis 
 sionary interpreter, when without any previous allusion to the sub 
 ject, he suddenly stopped and said, " liy the way, where is Mrs. Cas- 
 vvell? I wish to send her some money !" Mr. Caswcll was the king s 
 first teacher in English, and he had seemed fond of him, but for years 
 had not mentioned his name. The missionary (who had come at a 
 later day) informed the king how lie might safely transmit the money ; 
 and he sent Mrs. C. a draft for $1,500, which was promptly paid, 
 causing the " widow s heart to sing for joy." This was subsequently 
 followed by $500, in addition, with the photographs of the royal fam 
 ily. Truly, " the king s heart is in the hand of the Lord." 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 571 
 
 at Diarbekir, which was largely attended by the pastors, 
 helpers, and other delegates from the churches throughout 
 the field, besides a number of the Harpoot theological stu 
 dents, to whom the journey and its attendant opportunities 
 proved a peripatetic school of no ordinary instruction and 
 influence upon their future course). At Choonkoosh, two 
 days journey from Harpoot, many of the people came an 
 hour s distance to meet and welcome them, and crowds 
 escorted them triumphantly into the city. " Nine years 
 ago," said Mr. Wheeler, " I made my first visit to Choon 
 koosh, in company with Brother Dunmore ; and we were 
 hooted at, stoned, and at last driven from our room in the 
 pouring rain and splashing mud of a dark night !" Now, 
 every house seemed open to receive them, and had there 
 been a hundred, instead of forty-five or fifty men, they 
 would have been amply accommodated. Here they found 
 a large and expensive house of worship, built by the peo 
 ple. The men had brought all the timber by hand, a dis 
 tance of from three to five miles. It sometimes required 
 thirty men to bring one stick. Women and children brought 
 water and earth and stones, and what is still more wonder 
 ful, Armenians of the Old Church, and even Turks, lent a 
 willing hand in bringing materials for this temple of the 
 Lord. A Turk, who was at the same time erecting a mosque, 
 expressed great surprise at this ; for, said he, " I can scarcely 
 get my work done for money, and yet the people help build 
 the Protestant meeting-house for nothing." Women were 
 still busy plastering the walls, but they hastened to finish 
 their work that a meeting might be held there for the first 
 time. It would not be strange if some of these women were 
 among the most bitter and fierce of the noisy mob of nine 
 
572 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 years ago. What a contrast ! Is not this one triumph of 
 truth sufficient to rejoice the heart of every Christian who 
 has prayed and labored for the establishment of Christ s 
 kingdom in Turkey ? But while \ve exult in the abundant 
 blossoming of trees which give promise of a rich harvest, 
 we will not forget the patient toil of the husbandman, the 
 " sowing with tears," digging deep, and enriching the soil 
 with new elements, that they " might have life, and that they 
 might have it more abundantly," according to the word of the 
 Master. The chapel at Choonkoosh is infinitely more pre 
 cious to the people because it has cost them much toil and 
 self-denial; and to us it is beyond price, as a monument of 
 God s grace. 
 
 When the band of Sowers and Reapers went on their way, 
 they came to a town where were twenty-five Protestants who 
 much desired a house of worship, but professed great pov 
 erty. Like too many communities, they looked upon the 
 American Board as a nursing mother, who would always 
 supply their wants ; whereas the missionaries are fully con 
 vinced that if ever this people are to attain to a true, vigor 
 ous, Christian manhood, they must " bear the yoke in their 
 youth." They made no promises of aid, but quietly obtained 
 some facts respecting those men, and when the subject was 
 renewed at a meeting held there, said to them : " You 
 say you are poor, and unable to pay anything for the support 
 of the Gospel ; but how is it that you expend two thousand 
 piastres a year for tobacco ?" That argument could not be 
 disputed, and brought them up to their duty. 
 
 At another place the same doleful cry of poverty was 
 uttered; but when other means had failed, the Apostolic 
 " rod " was applied, by saying: "You must pay a certain 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 573 
 
 proportion of the preacher s expenses, or we shall take him 
 away ! " This opened their purses at once, and it seemed 
 that hearts were really enlarged by the process. The test is 
 one which helps clear the ground of dead trees, and lets in 
 more of light and heat from the Sun of Righteousness. 
 
 The most interesting feature of the Union Meeting at 
 Diarbekir was the opening up of a new missionary enter 
 prise, undertaken by the people. One of the missionaries was 
 just penning a subject for the docket to this effect : " How 
 shall we care for the evangelization of the Koordish-speak- 
 ing Armenians ?" when blind Hohannes, a graduate of the 
 Harpoot Seminary, arose and said : " My heart is pained at 
 the condition of that large class of our people who dwell 
 among the Koords." After some discussion, it was resolved 
 to seek out and educate five men, who should afterwards 
 return to labor among their people. Forty-three dollars 
 were raised on the spot, and the holy fire soon caught every 
 heart. Diarbekir, Mardin, and vicinity, pledged the sup 
 port of two men ; Harpoot, Arabkir, and the villages of the 
 plain, that of the remaining three.* And now God s serv 
 ants saw, with unspeakable joy, a natural, spontaneous out 
 growth, which betokened just the development of Christian 
 graces that they most longed to see in these infant churches. 
 
 Leaving Diarbekir, the delegation visited several out- 
 stations, after which three missionaries and two of the native 
 helpers made a rapid survey of a part of Koordistan. There 
 
 * It was a source of great joy to learn that the " Diarbekir boys/ 
 too impatient to wait for these men to be educated, themselves 
 selected a man, put their piastres together to support him, and sent 
 him to Redwan to preach the gospel to the Armenian, Assyrian, 
 Turkish, and Yezidee population of that town. See "Ten Years on 
 the Euphrates," p. 247. 
 
574 TIIE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 was no time in this missionary concert to speak of the an 
 cient ruins scattered along their pathway on this tour the 
 foot -prints of ancient kings, found in inscriptions upon 
 tablets of rock among the everlasting hills but there were 
 present two of the men whom the people were to educate, 
 living specimens of God s handiwork, far more interesting 
 to us all than any memento of past ages. These were intro 
 duced to the meeting, and addressed us in their own tongue, 
 Pastor Marderos acting as interpreter. It was delightful 
 to see the eager interest with which our people looked at 
 and listened to these men, as they told us, in few words, of 
 the darkness that reigned among them. As they stood there, 
 dressed in their shaggy sheepskin coats, with high, rough black 
 hats of the same material, and spoke in an unknown tongue, it 
 was difficult to realize that the people whom they addressed 
 were themselves the subjects of missionary effort. It was 
 indeed a " wheel within a wheel." " Now," said Mr. Whee 
 ler, " that you have entered upon a missionary work of your 
 own, you can more fully sympathize with us in some of our 
 trials." When asked if they would renew their pledge to 
 support these men and their families, every hand was raised 
 indeed, some put up both hands. 
 
 The pastor then gave us deeply interesting information 
 respecting another race, also dwelling among the Koords 
 and speaking their language ; a nation of heathen sunk in 
 the lowest and most degrading forms of idolatry; for the 
 Yezidees, as they are called, worship the Devil. They are 
 the descendants of an ancient Persian race, and it is said 
 number one hundred thousand. Their symbol is the Pea 
 cock, an image of which they worship at their " sacred 
 shrine," and they also have a sacred fire. The doctrines of 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 5/5 
 
 this devil-worship are just what we might expect. " Our 
 priests," they say, " teach us that it is essential to manhood 
 to lie, steal, murder, and, in fact, be dogs.* One can 
 not be considered a man until he has killed some one ! 
 This class of pagans can also be reached by the new instru 
 mentality soon to be prepared in the Harpoot schools, if 
 God do but grant His blessing. 
 
 Five or six brief, earnest prayers followed this account, 
 and never did the Missionary Hymn sound sweeter than 
 when it welled up from hearts newly quickened to give the 
 "lamp of life to souls benighted." 
 
 THE REVIVAL; A. PENTECOSTAL SEASON. 
 
 Months have come and gone, bringing fresh changes to 
 our little band of missionary brothers and sisters. Scon 
 after Mrs. Walker s bereavement, she came to Harpoot 
 with her orphaned children, and tarried r.mong us a few 
 short weeks : And when she returned to her solitary and 
 desolated home, she was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. 
 Williams, for Miss Pond has turned aside from the school, 
 to enter upon another mission, " ordained of God," and 
 the door of my release for a season of rest, is still more 
 closely shut ! 
 
 But we are enjoying a precious visitation from on high, 
 and God is powerfully working in our midst ; such a work 
 as my eyes never before witnessed in this land ! How we 
 have longed to see such an awakening ; a genuine work of 
 
 * The word dog is, in Armenian, synonymous with adulterer; in 
 fact, the noun is formed from that word ; therefore the Scripture 
 injunction, " Beware of dogs," literally refers to men of vile and dis 
 solute lives. 
 
576 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the Spirit, which should sweep away all the refuges of lies, 
 and cobwebs of superstition which hide the truth from so 
 many hearts among this people ! And now it has come ; 
 first in the hearts of God s people, then reaching those out 
 side, rebuking our want of faith, and bringing us down into 
 the dust at the Master s feet, that all the glory may redound 
 to His holy name, who has " visited this people with His 
 salvation!" The windows of heaven are opened wide, and 
 blessings descending upon the Church of Christ in this city, 
 are overflowing into the villages of the plain. This blessed 
 " time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord " com 
 menced during the " week of prayer," in January. 
 
 The snow lay thickly upon the ground as we left our 
 dwelling for the place of prayer, just after sunrise, yesterday 
 Monday morning. As we entered the room, we saw that 
 every head was bowed, as if in secret devotion. Pastor 
 Mardcros was at the desk, and about twenty men were 
 seated on the floor, the solemn and impressive stillness only 
 broken by the coming in of others, till the large room was 
 well filled ; and all seemed to feel that God was in the midst. 
 More than an hour was spent in prayer, and praise, thanks 
 giving, and confession of sin, the subjects for the day. We 
 felt that it was good to be there, good to unite in the fervent 
 petitions of those Christian brethren, good to share in the 
 heavenly atmosphere which seemed to pervade the place. 
 
 Soon after noon there was a special gathering of the sis 
 ters of the Harpoot church (which numbers about one hun 
 dred members). The sno\v fell fast, and the pathways were 
 much blocked up ; but there were twenty of us gathered in 
 an " upper room " for prayer and conference. After refer 
 ence had been made to the special subjects of prayer for the 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 577 
 
 clay, one of the mothers in this Israel led us to the Master s 
 feet, in a prayer which came warm and glowing from the 
 heart. The passage in Malachi was then read, where those 
 that " feared the Lord " are represented as speaking often 
 one to another, and the sisters were urged to do likewise, 
 to confess their faults and open their hearts to each other. 
 After a moment s silence, the wife of the head-man of the 
 Protestant community told us of the visits which she had lately 
 made to three or four villages, expressly to benefit the wom 
 en there. This was from the promptings of her own heart, 
 her desire to serve Christ and save souls, as she has no 
 children to keep her at home. With much simplicity and 
 modesty she spoke of the meetings she had held in those 
 villages, how the room would sometimes be so crowded that 
 the women would have to stand and hold their babes in their 
 arms. She had counted seventy women at some of these 
 meetings ; poor, hard-working women, mostly dependent 
 on their daily labor for daily bread, yet willingly leaving their 
 carding, spinning, weaving, or other work, to come and hear 
 the words of life. 
 
 On one occasion, she said, she had just mounted 
 her horse to leave a village, when a number of these poor 
 souls followed her some distance, and her heart was melted 
 at the cry of an aged woman, who, with tears rolling down 
 her wrinkled face, and hands outstretched as if for help, 
 continually exclaimed : " What shall I do? O/i, what shall 
 I do to be saved?" And in every village they entreated that 
 she would soon come again to teach them. 
 
 As this good sister finished her story, I said to her " And 
 you, did _> <?# not receive a blessing also, Eughaper? Did not 
 your own soul get warmed in thus working for others?" 
 25 
 
5/8 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 "Oh, yes!" she answered, with beaming face, " I never be 
 fore experienced such joy, such happiness ! When I first 
 proposed going, some of my friends opposed me on account 
 of my poor health, but although the weather was cold, it has 
 been with me just the same as at home. God has taken 
 care of my health, and given me this joy beside. (I after 
 wards learned, that when this good woman spoke to her ex 
 cellent Christian husband about her plan, he demurred 
 because of her feebleness, saying, " I am afraid to have you 
 thus exposed in cold weather; you may die !" "Ah, yes ! t? 
 she answered, " I m.iy soon die^ and that is one reason why I 
 wish to go !) 
 
 One can imagine the overflowing joy with which we mis 
 sionary sisters listened to this simple recital ; feeling that the 
 influence of such a woman, in labors among her own people, 
 self-moved, or, rather, moved by the Holy Spirit, is above 
 all price ; worth far more than our own efforts, for she is one 
 of themselves, has a perfect understanding of their circum 
 stances, mode of thought, customs, and habits, and can 
 make the most ignorant understand the language she speaks, 
 since it is her own tongue ! 
 
 This joy was greatly enhanced in my own mind when 
 Mrs. Wheeler remarked, with emotion : " While our sister 
 was telling us of her work among the village women, my 
 mind went back to the first years of our own work in this 
 city, when Mrs. Allen and I labored to persuade her to 
 Icirn to read, and sought to bring her under the influence 
 of the Gospel !" The tears started to Eughaper s eyes as 
 she nodded assent. Mrs. Wheeler then proceeded to urge 
 upon that band of Christian women the necessity of 
 personal consecration, in labor for individual souls, at 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 579 
 
 home, in their families and neighborhoods, as well as 
 without. 
 
 The ice was now broken, and one sister after another spoke 
 of her trials or hindrances, her lack of faith and love. One, 
 a woman of influence, two of whose grown-up children are 
 graduates of our two schools, and both in the Lord s work, 
 spoke with an almost broken heart of her unconverted hus 
 band, of his becoming more and more wedded to the 
 world, and of his influence upon their younger children. 
 She begged most earnestly the prayers of all, and now that 
 her mouth was opened, could hardly stop speaking. With 
 tearful eyes the little company promised to make special 
 supplication for that house. After several ineffectual at 
 tempts, a poor blind girl addressed us. She said : " My 
 sisters, you know that I am but one alone in our house. I 
 have none to sympathize with me. Sometimes I am not al 
 lowed to go to God s house. Pray for me, that I may 
 patiently suffer the Lord s will, and glorify my Father in 
 heaven." 
 
 One whom we have always esteemed more spiritually- 
 minded than most of our women, told us of the conflict 
 which had disturbed her peace of mind for months past. In 
 consequence of a difficulty between herself and a neighbor, 
 also a member of the church, a " root of bitterness " had 
 sprung up in her heart. Her sad face showed something of 
 the struggle she had undergone before pride would yield the 
 contest. This was followed by another and yet another 
 confession on the part of the sisters, mingled with petitions 
 to the throne of grace. 
 
 Another interesting feature of our meeting was the pres 
 ence of the preacher s wife, from the other part of the city. 
 
580 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Horopsima has no children at home, and goes from house to 
 house reading and teaching God s Word as she has opportu 
 nity. She asked our prayers, that the good seed might be 
 watered by the Holy Spirit, that her labors might not be a 
 curse instead of a blessing. 
 
 Prayer was also requested for Maranos, our good assistant 
 in the Training-school, who is spending the Winter vacation 
 in visiting many of the villages in this vicinity. She spends 
 a couple of weeks at each place, making her home with the 
 helper s wife, and working with her, visiting among the fami 
 lies, and holding meetings for the women and girls. Her 
 letters are full of joy in the Lord s work, and encouragement 
 for our faith in prayer. 
 
 When the meeting closed, we found that we had been to 
 gether more than two hours ; but even then it was with reluc 
 tance that we separated. Our hearts were warmed toward 
 each other. We felt more truly that we all belonged to the 
 One Great Family of Christ. It was pleasant to note the 
 lingering of these Christian sisters, to speak with one ant- 
 other, and to get a little closer to their teachers, or " mother sj* 
 as they often style the missionary ladies. As one after an 
 other came to me, and I clasped her hand (for these Arme 
 nian women seldom do this, unless we make the advance, 
 confining themselves to their own graceful salaam), my heart 
 was full : for earth can yield no purer joy than the con 
 sciousness that Christ is using us in His highest, holiest ser 
 vice. And the more we serve Him, the more deeply do we 
 feel that without His ABIDING PRESENCE AND POWER IN us, 
 we can do nothing ! As often in years gone by (when God 
 was working in our school at Hasskeuy), I have almost 
 feared to write an account of that which so rejoiced our 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 581 
 
 hearts, lest, from the magnifying of means employed by the 
 Master, or a glorying in human instrumentalities, the Spirit 
 should be grieved, and withdraw His gracious presence : 
 Sometimes my pen has been stayed as if by an unseen hand ! 
 
 B A SI LOS A Gil A. 
 
 It was Saturday ; the last day of the " week of prayer " in 
 January, when we four missionary sisters, and one brother, 
 were gathered for our daily noon season of united supplica 
 tion in our mother-tongue, for the outpouring of God s 
 Spirit upon the people of Harpoot. Mr. Barnum and Mr. 
 Wheeler were laboring among the villages on the plain, and 
 Mr. Allen urged that, as he alone was left to conduct the 
 meeting, the " sisters " should also take an active part. This 
 we had never yet done, for the Presbyterian and Congre 
 gational Churches in which we had been trained at home, 
 did not advocate the speaking and praying of Christian 
 women, in "mixed" assemblies.* But our brother s kindly 
 plea, and incontestable argument, was conclusive ; and Mrs. 
 Wheeler broke the ice, followed by the rest of us, with 
 
 * Perhaps one overlooked source of the prosperity and strength of 
 the Baptist and Methodist branches of the one Church of Christ, is 
 owing to the education and ^ltilization of womanly talent, by means of 
 " class " and " covenant meetings," where, as in ^.family, the members 
 are, from the beginning of their Christian life, expected to speak to 
 each other, and to God, of that which is to them of supreme interest. 
 The things pertaining to religion, personal experience, and the power 
 of the Word, are not tabooed and shut away from sight and hearing, 
 to smoulder in secret for want of contact with the warmth and glow 
 of other hearts: And though there may be abuses of this method, it 
 seems the great desideratum of the Christian Church at the present 
 day. The words of our Savior to Mary at the sepulchre, stand as 
 an eternal testimony to His approval and use of this power in the 
 Church (in all womanly ways), of proclaiming Him, who is the " Res- 
 
582 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 hearts humbled and willing to do any and everything which 
 should remove impediments out of the way, for the com 
 ing of our King ! As yet we had seen no tokens of the 
 Spirit s working outside of the Church. 
 
 On that very day, Basilos Agha, an Armenian broker of 
 wealth and influence, was sitting alone in his office, when 
 suddenly, as by a mighty rushing wind, he was overwhelmed 
 with a conviction of his sinfulness before God ! He was 
 about thirty years of age ; a man of more than ordinary 
 intelligence, had traveled extensively, and was imbued with 
 French infidelity. But being anxious for the elevation of 
 his people, retained his connection with the " Liberal party " 
 of the Armenian Church, advocating the sweeping away 
 of old superstitions and forms, and giving, instead of the 
 Bible, the teaching of Aristotle, and other ancient philoso 
 phers. He made the acquaintance of Pastor Marderos and 
 his intelligent wife ; and, partly from curiosity, and partly 
 from a desire for increasing his information, sometimes 
 sought their home, occasionally attending a preaching ser 
 vice in the chapel. But his proud spirit scorned the hum- 
 
 urrection and the Life." And it is interesting to know that women 
 thus trained in early years, occupy in the American Baptist Mission, 
 posts of great usefulness. Mrs. Wade (from whose lips, when but a 
 child, I received indelible impressions) was at one time the teacher of 
 " Pastoral Theology" to a class of young Karens, besides translating 
 various books, etc., etc., while " making it her first duty and pleasure 
 to care for her husband, anticipating his every wish in the cheerful, 
 comfortable home where she so efficiently and economically guided 
 her well-ordered household." And other ladies (unmarried, or wid 
 ows) of acknowledged wisdom, and tried experience, belonging to 
 that Mission, stand at the head of important Stations, are consulted 
 by the brethren on all questions of moment, and have a voice, and 
 sometimes a casting vote, in business matters of the greatest impor 
 tance. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 583 
 
 bling doctrines of the Cross, and he seemed very far from 
 the kingdom of Christ. Now, however, the Spirit of God 
 was powerfully striving with his soul, and closing his office, 
 he went home. His young wife was alarmed at his appear 
 ance, and at once supposed that he had heard bad news 
 from their distant relatives. But to her eager inquiries, he 
 only answered, "No, no; it is my sins, my sins!" "Your 
 sins! Nonsense I" she scornfully replied. But the strong 
 man was bowed in anguish, and when, for the first time, 
 she saw him weep, she was amazed. Lifting his head, he 
 said, " I wish you would go and call the pastor." As she 
 wrapped herself in her veil, she murmured, " He has lied 
 to me, and now I ll deceive him !" And when, on her return, 
 he inquired, "Is he coming?" she said, "No; he says he 
 won t come !" Then, thinking himself forsaken by God and 
 man, he turned to the Bible so long despised ; the first pass 
 age upon which his eye fell, was the parable of the barren 
 fig-tree; and as he read the sentence pronounced by the 
 Savior, " Let no fruit grow on henceforward for ever !" 
 he groaned aloud in despair : "/ am that accursed tree ! 
 I have never borne any fruit to the glory of God, and now 
 my condemnation is sealed." His agony increased, and 
 while he sat there, the pastor came in, and seeing his dis 
 tress, anxiously inquired the cause. The Agha could not 
 speak, but pointed with his finger to the fearful word of 
 condemnation, and the pastor also wept. 
 
 For a week his sins were set before him in black array, 
 and he found no peace by night or day, till he finally re 
 solved that he would serve the Lord, whether He saved him 
 or not ! And one day, when he was pleading with an Ar 
 menian who had rejected the divinity of Christ (the first 
 
584 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 case the missionaries had ever known among that people), 
 light broke in upon his own soul, and a flood-tide of joy 
 such as he had never before experienced. What a trans 
 formation ! He had bowed the pinions of his soul low at 
 the foot of the Cross, and one touch of Infinite Love con 
 ferred nobler honors and privileges than earthly potentates 
 can bestow; the once proud and haughty worldling arose 
 a " Son of the King," a prince of the Royal Family ! He 
 was a man of noble and commanding presence ; but now 
 his face glowed with a light and beauty that made one think 
 of Moses coming down from the Mount where he had com 
 muned with God ! 
 
 The news of this wonderful, this incomprehensible change 
 that had come over Basilos Agha, created a wide-spread sen 
 sation through the town. 
 
 It was rumored that he was going to tell about this new 
 experience, so strange and unaccountable to his old com 
 panions, and on that evening they flocked to the chapel 
 to hear what he would have to say for himself: Men of 
 rank and power who had never before entered that place 
 of worship. From our seats in the corner next the desk, we 
 saw those Turkish and Armenian grandees sweeping in 
 with an air of lofty pride and arrogance. The brethren gave 
 them the seats of honor, near the front; and soon the chapel, 
 which was capable of accommodating from five to seven 
 hundred people, was closely packed (the dispensing with 
 pews and seating the people upon the floor, being a great 
 economy of space in church erection). After the opening 
 exercises, Basilos Agha stood below the desk, and in low, 
 clear tones and simple language, told the story of what 
 God had done ior " this miserable sinner." And then with 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 585 
 
 touching pathcs, and an eloquence which I had never 
 heard surpassed (and of which I did not suppose the Ar 
 menian language capable), he pleaded with his country 
 men to come to that Savior whom he had so lately found. 
 As in tones trembling with suppressed emotion, he dwelt 
 upon the Love which he had found so unspeakably precious 
 " Sweeter tJian love of father, or love of mother, or love of 
 brother, or love of sister this love of Jesus to my soul," an 
 electric thrill ran through that spell-bound audience. One 
 might have heard the beating of his own heart in the im 
 pressive stillness; and when, with uncovered heads, the peo 
 ple had received the benediction, those haughty Aghas stole 
 out as softly as if they had been in the Presence-Chamber 
 
 of the most high God ! The next week I called at the 
 
 house of Basilos Agha, and with a face shining with the love 
 and peace born of forgiveness and reconciliation with his 
 heavenly Father, he gave me the early history of his life. 
 When but a lad, his father (who was a chief man in an interior 
 town of. some importance) placed him with an Armenian 
 banker in Aleppo, to learn the business. He was about fif 
 teen years of age, when for the first time he saw a copy of 
 the Testament in modern Armenian, and read the story of 
 our Savior s life and sufferings. It had a powerful effect 
 upon his heart, and he wept convulsively as he read of the 
 agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and upon the cruel 
 cross. After a while, desiring to see whether it would 
 again produce the same effect, he borrowed the Testa 
 ment of a Protestant, and it moved him much as before. He 
 then procured from the same source, a copy of " Luder," *. 
 (Daubigne s History of the Reformation), and commence^ 
 reading it aloud to the banker s wife; but her husbancj 
 
 25* 
 
586 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 coming in and finding the book, fiercely took it away, and 
 effectually stopped all intercourse with the Protestants 
 filling the mind of the youth with atheistic principles : 
 "And yesterday," said the Agha, his eyes kindling with 
 the thought of his new-found treasure, " I received a letter 
 from that banker in which he sneeringly writes, * We hear 
 that you have accepted the doctrines of the miserable 
 fishermen / " How those words carried one back to the 
 times of our Savior! The "offence of the cross;" still the 
 same, and will ever be, while human hearts remain the 
 same ! 
 
 We heard that the father of Basilos Agha was coming in 
 wrath to take away the wife and the child from the repro 
 bate son who had forsaken the faith of his people ! And 
 our hearts were deeply touched when he who had so newly 
 begun the Christian life, brought his first-born to the altar 
 for baptism,* and, in the presence of God s people, cove 
 nanted, so far as in his power, to train the child for God and 
 Heaven. The next week the grandfather came, his heart full 
 of bitterness and rage, to break up the little family. There 
 were those among the Protestants who said, " Stand up for 
 
 * The rite of baptism was about the same time administered in 
 the Armenian Church to a Jew who professed to have accepted that 
 faith. The form was that practiced by the Greek, and other Eastern 
 churches which we once witnessed at the private baptism of a Greek 
 child, in Smyrna vix. : triple immersion, all but the head ; also triple 
 pouring, or sprinkling, besides the anointing with holy oil, and the 
 ceremony of exorcism, when the god-mother, with the infant in her 
 arms, turned her back upon the little company, and blew and spat 
 upon the invisible demon, whom the priest adjured to come out of the 
 child ! The whole ceremony ending by clothing the babe in pure 
 white garments, betokening the righteousness of Christ ; in which, 
 now cleansed from original sin, its soul was said to be arrayed ! 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 587 
 
 your rights, Basilos Agha ! You are a man ! Why should 
 your father trample you under his feet?" And he made 
 answer thus : " Yes, I am a man ; but I am also a son, and a 
 Christian ! I will honor my father as becomes a Christian 
 son, and by-and-by he too may be persuaded of the truth;" 
 for his religion had taken deep hold of his nature ; it had 
 penetrated to the very roots of his being ! 
 
 His business had been chiefly that of lending money at 
 the exorbitant rates which are common in Turkey : Where 
 the law allows twelve per cent, from twenty to one hundred 
 per cent, is demanded by men who have no fear of God 
 before their eyes.* Basilos Agha felt that he could no longer 
 pursue a business which was so contrary to the teaching of 
 God s Word, and decided to abandon it ; but this was not 
 enough to satisfy his awakened conscience. Like Zaccheus, 
 he wished to restore that which he had taken unjustly, and 
 was poring over his account-books for that purpose, when his 
 partner and others tried in vain to dissuade him from what they 
 deemed a most outrageous piece of folly, saying, " Do as you 
 like hereafter, but let by-gones be by-gones, and don t make a 
 fool of yourself." This partner, who, when first associated with 
 Basilos Agha, was shocked at his infidel sentiments, and, al 
 though no friend of the Protestants, advised him to go to them 
 and procure a Bible, which should prove an effectual cure, was 
 himself a subject of the strivings of God s Spirit. He had 
 
 * There were " bankers, but no banking system in Turkey, so that 
 if one wished to transmit money, he must carry it in person at the 
 risk of robbery, or send it at a greater risk of embezzlement." The 
 missionaries at Harpoot first introduced "drafts" upon Constanti 
 nople, and we often saw men coming to Mr. Allen, the Station treas 
 urer, with great bags of copper coin on their backs to be exchanged 
 for such "checks." 
 
588 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 been greatly enraged at the turn things had taken, and one 
 day when intensely excited, used the vilest language of abuse 
 and blasphemy towards the young convert. But that night 
 he was in such mental agony that his friends thought him 
 dying. He sent for Mr. Wheeler, who plainly set before him 
 the way of life and peace. For two or three days he seemed 
 to have accepted Christ, and people said that Mesrob Agha 
 had also become a Protestant. But the cross was too heavy, 
 and he went back to his old life and ways, saying to his com 
 panions, " If you wish to enjoy perfect peace of conscience, do 
 as I have done ; go to the Protestant meetings and get con 
 victed of your sins, and then come back to the Old Church: " 
 A most striking case of a seared conscience and a hardened 
 heart which is given over, past feeling; the end whereof is 
 death eternal. " For if after they have escaped the pollu 
 tions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and 
 Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and 
 overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the begin 
 ning." 
 
 HAR VEST- TIME. 
 
 Every week was a week of prayer ; and morning, noon, 
 and night of every day saw a company of God s people 
 gathered to seek for yet greater blessings in accordance with 
 the word of the Lord : " I will yet for this be inquired of 
 by the house of Israel to do it for them." And many souls 
 were flocking into the kingdom of Christ, not only in Har- 
 poot, but the surrounding villages-! Answers to special 
 
 * This incident is also given in " Ten Years on the Euphrates," by 
 Rev. C. II. Wheeler. 
 
 f No positive numbering of converts took place, but the lowest 
 estimate was about two hundred. The work was very thorough ; 
 
SOWING AND REAPIN i T?; ARMENIA. 589 
 
 prayer greatly helped our faith. At a " thanksgiving meeting " 
 with the Christian sisters in the church, the wife who had 
 with tears begged us to pray for her husband, was rejoicing 
 over his conversion. He was a self-righteous Pharisee, and 
 his heart had long been steeled against every good influence ; 
 but soon after that season of prayer in his behalf, he took to 
 his bed as if ill, but declined all medical aid. Finally, he 
 called his pious son, and said, " Tell me what I must do to 
 be saved." This speedy answer to prayer astonished the 
 young man, and he asked if he should not call the pastor. 
 " No ; tell me yourself," said his father, and with humble 
 diffidence but heartfelt joy, the young man led his father to 
 Christ. The youngest child of the family, a boy of ten 
 years, had given his heart to Jesus but a few days before, 
 and the father said that the thought which led him to be 
 concerned about himself was, that all his family were going 
 to heaven without him ! 
 
 aged women, all their lives accustomed to drinking wine, and who 
 would have felt insulted not to have the usual tass, or bowl, offered 
 when calling at a neighbor s, now, led by the Spirit of God alone, 
 threw away their cups, convinced that it was " evil, only evil, and that 
 continually." In some of the villages, the wine belonging to the 
 Protestants was freely poured upon the ground, in large quantities, 
 since with their new convictions of duty they could not sell it. It 
 was truly a " drink-offering to the Lord." [In the Syriac Church, the 
 oldest in the world, it seems that fermented wine is not used for the 
 Communion : When the fresh juice of the grape cannot be obtained, 
 raisins are soaked, and the juice expressed for that purpose.] 
 
 Late accounts from the Harpoot field speak of a reaction among 
 some of the Protestants in regard to the use of wine. " We have i 
 been too strict," they say, " there is no harm in a cup now and then. \ 
 Of course we will not drink too much ; let those who cannot restrain 
 themselves refrain altogether," etc. But the moral effects are as 
 baneful (though more slowly experienced from the purity of the 
 liquor) in Turkey as elsewhere. 
 
590 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Many of the children belonging to the Protestant com 
 munity were also coming to Christ ; there were seventy boys 
 and girls present at the first meeting which I held with them, 
 to talk of their eternal interests, and one hundred and eighty 
 came the second time. The meetings of the women, held 
 from house to house every afternoon, w r ere largely attended 
 and exceedingly interesting. Opportunity was always given 
 for requests for prayer, and some of those requests were 
 most touching, and formed the burden of the petitions that 
 followed from those who knew how to pray for themselves 
 and others. At the close of each meeting a number lingered 
 for personal conversation in regard to the salvation of their 
 souls. The season was unusually severe, and though I was 
 clad in a fur-lined cloak, and with boots similarly lined, 
 constant speaking in the chilling atmosphere of those un- 
 warmed houses, finally produced a serious affection of the 
 vocal organs, which caused much suffering and anxiety lest 
 it should be permanent, and hinder future usefulness. It 
 was even worse in my occasional meetings in the village 
 chapels, where, in addition to the cold, the air was often 
 filled with clouds of dust from the earth-floors as people 
 moved their seats to accommodate the late comers. 
 
 Sometimes, when I returned at dusk, to the "Barnum 
 cottage," where I was spending the Winter, too exhausted to 
 utter another word, it would be to find some poor woman 
 who had been waiting for hours to converse with me about 
 her " spiritual state," and I could not send her away unfed. 
 But such prolonged efforts were often followed, at night, by 
 sudden suffocations (intensified by a lack of pure air), which 
 sometimes threatened to stop the wheels of life. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 59! 
 
 KEY TJ OPEN THE BIBLE. 
 
 Two or three hours of every morning were spent at this 
 time in preparing a much needed Progressive Reading Book 
 in the Armenian language. This was entitled, KEY TO OPEN 
 THE BIBLE ; for it made the steps so easy, that one who had 
 mastered its contents was indeed able to enter upon that 
 which is the store-house and fountain-head of all wisdom. 
 
 The only reading and spelling-book hitherto used in our 
 Mission -schools, was a literal translation of the "Tract 
 Society Primer;" and, as words of one syllable in English 
 were often two and three in Armenian, it presented many 
 difficulties to beginners, especially to adults who were learn 
 ing to read the Word of God. This was so marked among 
 the older women of our Training-School, that in my super 
 vision of the primary classes, I frequently dispensed with the 
 book, and printed letters upon the black-board, in simple 
 combinations, representing familiar things, which should ren 
 der the lessons easier and more attractive, besides the ad 
 vantage of thus instructing a larger number at the same 
 time. 
 
 Still, a " Lesson Book " was greatly needed, and at last, 
 finding that no one else was ready to undertake the task, I 
 set about it myself, not taking any similar book for a model, 
 but embodying in the simplest form the results of obser 
 vation and experience in view of the needs of the people ; 
 and they, hearing of the attempt, begged that it might be of 
 a size which could be easily " carried in the bosom " (the 
 loose folds of the outer garment) or the girdle. After giv 
 ing the alphabet in large type (for the many who have weak 
 eyes), and presenting them mixed, and in groups of three or 
 
THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 four, they were combined in very brief lessons. The read 
 ing lessons were prepared from words previously used in the 
 spelling-lessons, and selected with special reference to the 
 plainest expressions of truth. These lessons were also very 
 short, with special directions for the " little teachers " 
 children of the day-schools, who found a delightful Christian 
 work in teaching grown people from house to house, free 
 of charge, or in some cases receiving a few paras for each 
 lesson. The division of syllables (which is difficult in Ar 
 menian) was always a great stumbling-block to such teachers 
 and pupils, and the introduction of the hyphen was a great 
 help. Capital letters, marks of punctuation, figures, and 
 abbreviations, were not introduced till the close of the first 
 few chapters, and after all the preliminary part was com 
 pleted ; the last third of the work was devoted to attractive 
 stories illustrative of Scripture topics. Under " Prayer," 
 were various specimens from the Bible, a translation of one 
 or two of Watts hymns for children, and (for the first time 
 in the Armenian language) the time-honored " Now I LAY 
 ME DOWN TO SLEEP " of Christian homes, accompanied with 
 the direction that every mother should teach this to her 
 children as soon as their " tongues begin to turn." Besides 
 one or two original hymns, there were such sections as, 
 Scripture Counsel to Aged and Young Women ; About 
 Cursing and Blasphemy; A Constitution and Pledge for a 
 Children s Temperance Society, with a few words of ad 
 vice in regard to commencing right when young ; A few 
 Considerations concerning the use of Tobacco, with appro 
 priate passages of Scripture such as " Whether, therefore, 
 ye eat or drink, or wJiatsocrcr ye do, do all to the glory of 
 God;" The Good Resolutions of a Child \ What it is to be 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 593 
 
 a True Christian, and be prepared for Heaven ; Resolutions 
 of One commencing (with the help of God) the Christian 
 Life ; A few words of counsel and encouragement to the 
 Reader, now brought to the threshold of the Word of God, 
 "which is able to make wise unto salvation." Ending with 
 the hymn, " We won t give up the Bible."* 
 
 Mrs. Allen is also engaged in similar work, seizing all her 
 leisure moments to prepare a Geography in Armenian, which 
 shall supersede the one now in use. 
 
 FRESH CHANGES AND CLOSING SCENES. 
 Thus another Winter passed away ; and when the Spring 
 
 * This manuscript Mr. Wheeler conveyed to the United States, where 
 it was beautifully printed and illustrated by the New York Tract So 
 ciety, and the edition of 20,000 copies was all sold within the limits of 
 the Eastern Turkey Mission in two years ; hundreds of adults, as well 
 as children, learning from it to read the Bible. The cost of the edition 
 was $2,392.40, towards which the Tract Society made an appropria 
 tion of $1,500, the remainder being contributed by benevolent Chris 
 tian friends. A second large edition of this compact little book of 
 107 pp., was published a few years later. The avails of such books 
 of course go to the general fund of the mission. But more precious 
 than any pecuniary compensation, is the rich return that comes in the 
 knowledge that the " dwellers in Mesopotamia" and Armenia are 
 learning from it the " wonderful works of God." .... The night after 
 leaving Harpoot (on my return) we tented ; and as the day dawned, 
 heard the bells of a caravan going by. Some one looked out, and 
 saw twenty or thirty mules, each laden with two heavy boxes. " There 
 go the Books !" he cried (as they passed on to the end of their long 
 tramp from the Black Sea.) It was all we saw of them for months, 
 besides two small and long-expected boxes filled with tokens of re 
 membrance (the first ever received from the friends at home) and 
 missionary boxes are an "institution/" A new book, an engraving, a 
 little gift " born of affection ;" ah ! how they cheer the weary worker ! 
 
 And the shouts of joy from the children, as toys, pictures, or needed 
 articles of dress make their appearance (the latter saving the mother s 
 time for direct missionary labor) would amply repay those who send 
 such love-tokens, could they but catch the echo ! 
 
594 TIIE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 came, the busy hum of preparation sounded for the contem 
 plated departure of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler and three chil 
 dren to America (after an absence of ten years), accompanied 
 by Mrs. Walker with her four, the youngest an infant in her 
 arms : A long, lonely, and weary retracing of the journey so 
 hopefully taken with her beloved husband, who with watchful 
 tenderness had smoothed every step of the way when they joy 
 fully returned to their life-work, only a year and a half before. 
 
 Mr. Williams has brought his Arabic-speaking " Station 
 class " to Harpoot, to try the experiment of training his 
 helpers and preachers at this point, and thus obviate the 
 necessity of establishing a Seminary, and a School for Women 
 and Girls at Mardin. This brings an influx of pupils to our 
 Training-School, in the wives of the students, besides seve 
 ral girls, and the wives of the new Koordish-speaking Arme 
 nians whom the people are educating to go back as " home- 
 missionaries " in Koordistan. Our school-room is so crowded 
 that really there is scarcely room to move about. And as 
 these last comers know neither Turkish nor Armenian, com 
 munication with them is very difficult. The first day we 
 could only speak by signs ; but we have since found an inter 
 preter in one of the Armenian girls, who knows a little 
 Koordish. Armenian is, of course, the prominent language ; 
 but as those who are here for a few months cannot in that 
 time acquire it sufficiently to profit much in general study, 
 Sadie has come from Diarbekir to take charge of the instruc 
 tion of our new department. 
 
 We are much pleased with this new element in our little 
 community. There is much that is very interesting about 
 these sturdy, stalwart Syrians ; they seem to have more 
 solidity and breadth of character than some of the races in 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 595 
 
 this region, but need the Gospel as fully as their neighbors.* 
 Two years ago Mr. Williams sent us Shumon, a Syrian girl 
 from Mardin, to be educated. She was about twelve years 
 of age, her face marred by small-pox ; and since her pros 
 pects of marriage were thereby diminished, her friends 
 consented to allow her to come to school as a last resort ! 
 Shumon acquired the Armenian tongue in a surprisingly 
 short time ; and when her mind and soul awakened, her 
 face began to light up with an expression and animation that 
 made her seem another being. Our " bodily exercise " gave 
 clearness and color to her complexion, and one day on my 
 return from visits among the families, when Shumon ran to 
 open the gate, her face flushed with exercise and beaming 
 with affection, I suddenly saw in her the change which had 
 been so gradual that it had not been especially noted. When 
 the Howadji came from Mardin, he exclaimed, in astonish 
 ment, " What a marvelous change there is in Shumon ! Why, 
 she is really handsome !" And so it seemed, thought others ; 
 for she finally captured the heart of the student who, of all 
 the class, was considered the prize by the Mardin mothers ! 
 Showing conclusively that " godliness is profitable unto all 
 things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that 
 which is to come." 
 
 THE BLACKSMITH, AND YEG HSA, HIS WIFE. 
 I had often noticed in the Harpoot chapel a large, tall 
 man, " head and shoulders above his brethren," with broad, 
 open, sunny face, that seemed shining with good nature and 
 
 * Mr. Williams told us of a place in his field, where there were 
 several cases of one woman having two acknowledged husbands with 
 whom she lived at the same time ! 
 
596 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Christian feeling. At last I inquired who he was, and the 
 reply was, "Why, don t you know the blacksmith? That s 
 Menzar, our good blacksmith." It appeared that this good 
 man had been for several years a Christian, and was very 
 useful in teaching others the way of life. When a villager 
 came to his shop, Menzar would draw from his bosom his 
 constant companion, the New Testament ; and reading a 
 verse (w r ith his hearty manner and ringing tones), while 
 hammering aw r ay upon the horse-shoe, he would every 
 now and then direct a blow at the man s conscience. 
 And when the work was done, would " catch him with 
 guile," by saying, " If you would like to take that book, 
 I ll lend it to you." Another Testament would quickly sup 
 ply its place ; and, in fact, he generally kept one " lying 
 around loose," as he said, to catch the eye of those who 
 dropped in ; and when a copy was returned, would say, 
 " Well, now 7 , as this book is a little worn, if you want to buy 
 it I ll let you have it for less than the cost." In this way the 
 gospel leaven was introduced to many a village. Menzar s 
 wife was a pleasant, winning little woman, whom I had occa 
 sionally seen in my meetings at the other side of the city, but 
 I did not know who she was till one day, when visiting an 
 aged Christian, I found her by the bed-side ; and when she 
 had modestly slipped from the room, the good mother said, 
 " That is Yeghsa, the blacksmith s wife ; she often comes to 
 sit with me, and reads the IJible and prays." 
 
 It appeared that Men/ar had become a Protestant and a 
 Christian two years before his wife accepted the truth. 
 Although he had never treated her as badly as some Eastern 
 husbands (the best of whom considered it a necessity in 
 family government to use the rod upon the wife now and 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 597 
 
 then one of the consequences, no doubt, attendant upon 
 such early marriages and some of the untrained Protestants 
 in Pain actually beat their wives to make them learn to read !) 
 this little woman, now that she no longer feared chastisement, 
 behaved as badly as she knew how. Sometimes she locked 
 her husband out at night ; then she would not prepare his 
 food, and in many ways tormented him, till his patience and 
 gentleness won the day, and she accepted the gospel herself. 
 She acknowledged that she believed long before she let him 
 know it, often disputing with the women at the fountain, and 
 saying, " It is the truth, and I know it." But when at last 
 she confessed to him, she said, with a spice of the " old 
 Adam," " Now I believe ; but not for anything that you 
 have said. I found it out all myself." 
 
 She was thirty years of age, but her husband at once gave 
 her a lesson in reading. Fully imbued with his spirit of im 
 parting what she had received to others, she ran over to a 
 neighbor, and, holding up her book, exclaimed, " See here ! 
 I have learned Aip, Pen, Kim, and now you must learn !" 
 When that was accomplished, away she went to another, 
 and still another neighbor, continuing to do so as often as she 
 received her own lessons. By the time she had finished her 
 first reading -book, seven other women had, through her 
 neighborly teaching, done the same, and some of them were 
 better readers than herself. By-and-by the blacksmith war, 
 seized with a desire to " preach the gospel," and came to 
 one of the missionaries to ask admission to the Seminary, 
 that he might have a course of training for the ministry. 
 " Why, Brother," Mr. Barnum said, "you are preaching the 
 gospel now, and we can t spare you from the work. Sup 
 pose that you spend four years in being trained in the Sem- 
 
598 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 inary (with some help from us in the support of your family 
 during that time), and then go forth to preach. The people 
 will say, It is his business; he makes his living by it, and 
 your words will not have half the effect that they do now, 
 when they see you moved by love for their souls without 
 seeking any return." 
 
 " Well," said Menzar, at last giving up the project for 
 himself with a sigh, " what will my Yeghsa do ? Ac 
 cording to your rules, if I am not received into the Semi 
 nary she cannot be admitted to the other school, and she has 
 set her heart upon it." 
 
 After some pleading on his part for the wife, Mr. Barnum 
 told him to go and see the Varzhoohi ; and after a little con 
 versation, I asked him to send Yeghsa over to talk about it. 
 She came to my room, and when she had stated her desire, 
 I said, " You know how to read, Yeghsa, and you are now 
 thirty-three or four years of age ; why do you wish to come 
 to school?" "Because, she answered,"! want to learn 
 more. Our house is just at the edge of the rocks, and I 
 look down and see the little Turkish villages where the 
 women are sitting in such darkness (and you know you mis 
 sionaries never go to them), and I think that if I only knew 
 more of the Bible, I would go down there and teach them. 
 But I am very w r eak. I know too little." I had decided in 
 my own mind to receive her, but cruelly perhaps, tested her 
 a little more ; when she, thinking that the prospect was very 
 doubtful, looked up with tears starting to her eyes, and said, 
 in a touching tone of entreaty, " Oh, Varzhoohi ! I only want 
 to come and hear you explain the Word of God ; that is all t 
 And if you can t take me into the school, why, just leave the 
 door ajar, am? r 11 come and sit on the steps!" My own 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 599 
 
 eyes filled as I said, " I think you can come, Yeghsa ; I will 
 see the other missionaries, and unless you hear some word 
 to the contrary, you may enter the school on Monday 
 morning." She could not speak, her heart was too full ; but 
 the look of gratitude that she cast upon me as she passed out 
 of the door, was more eloquent than words. 
 
 Monday morning bright and early Yeghsa presented her 
 self at the school-room door. She had cooked the family 
 breakfast, had finished her preparations for the evening 
 meal, sent her two children, ten and twelve years of age, to 
 the day-school, and, taking a bit of bread and cheese for her 
 own luncheon, had trudged across the city nearly two miles, 
 (though far from being strong or well,) carrying with her the 
 big family Bible, because its large type suited her weak eyes. 
 After the usual devotional exercises, the classes filed off to 
 the recitation-rooms, and my Bible-class was seated on the 
 floor at my feet, each with her reference-Bible for the Prot 
 estants of Turkey would not look at a Bible without refer 
 ences ! Yeghsa looked wistfully from the corner where 
 she sat, and when I said, "Yes, you may come," she 
 bounded from her seat and took her place among the 
 rest, with her great Bible on her lap. And how she drank 
 in the instruction given during those hours ! As the days 
 and weeks came and went I could almost see her soul grow ! 
 And her face was a continual inspiration. Our usual course of 
 Biblical study comprised, first, the three Gospels, then Acts, 
 followed by the Pentateuch, and Hebrews as its Key, ending 
 with the precious gospel of John, which seemed to embody 
 the Spirit of the One Great Whole. The daily Scripture read 
 ing took us through the entire Word, taking the Old Testa 
 ment for the morning exercise, and the New Testament for 
 
600 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the evening. Besides this, we had a very profitable Topical 
 Exercise, each pupil repeating a passage selected and com 
 mitted to memory with reference to the subject given out the 
 day before. The evidence thus heaped up concerning certain 
 duties, or sins such as prayer, or praise, pride, slander, de 
 ceit, etc., was often very powerful ; our pupils were enjoined 
 to search their Bibles for new passages on these points, and 
 not to content themselves with reciting the old ones. As 
 one verse seemed to fit into and cap another, (when each in 
 turn brought the treasure she had gathered from the wonder 
 ful store-house,) we all gained a new conception of its extent 
 and richness. Sometimes a suppressed murmur of surprise 
 and admiration, in addition to the general smile of apprecia 
 tion, would witness to the effect produced. Another method 
 of instruction which grew out of our Object Lessons, was very 
 useful and interesting to all of our pupils a diagram upon 
 the black-board to represent the human heart, in a Tree, with 
 its roots striking downward. SELFISHNESS was written upon 
 the main root, and our pupils were allowed to name the 
 branches springing from the stock : As Pride, Anger, False 
 hood, Ambition, Vanity, Lust, Avarice, Covetousness, etc., 
 were named, and each in turn written upon the branches, or 
 new twigs added to show what was the natural fruit of each, 
 the interest of the women was even greater than that of 
 the girls. 
 
 And when the tree of Satan s husbandry, with its fearful 
 fruitage was completed, and another was drawn, with LOVE 
 for its root, and Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, 
 Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, etc., springing 
 thence under the culture of the Spirit, and our pupils 
 had loaded its branches with everything that is lovely and 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 6oi 
 
 desirable, they stood in silent wonder before the two, and 
 learned a lesson not easily forgotten. 
 
 During my Winter visits to the villages where our pupils 
 were laboring, it became very evident that the women par 
 ticularly needed special instruction in the fundamental doc 
 trines of the Gospel. Since, however little they might know, 
 they were considered " educated," in consequence of their 
 admission to the Harpoot school, it was not uncommon for 
 priests and others belonging to the Old Church, to draw 
 them into argument, and seek in various ways to entangle 
 and puzzle them by questions and subtle distinctions for 
 which they had received no previous preparation. 
 
 To meet this want, we commenced a systematic course 
 of training, aside from our daily Bible lessons, 
 
 The Trinity, the Atonement, etc., etc., were great themes 
 for these poor, untutored women to study ; and know 
 ing how careful I must be in conveying ideas to their minds, 
 lest like children, they should get vague, or distorted con 
 ceptions of truth, I surrounded myself with all the help con 
 tained in the three missionary libraries. But finding that 
 almost without exception, the very points upon which light 
 was most needed, were either omitted, or lightly passed 
 over by the various commentators, they were all discarded 
 (with the exception of one or two to give the meaning in the 
 original), and Scripture was left to interpret Scripture, by 
 the aid of the Spirit. And the teacher learned even more 
 than her pupils who ever after called them " Those 
 Blessed Lessons."* 
 
 * The savor of those last chapters of John in the Bible lessons remain 
 with us still. On one occasion we spent nearly two hours over the 
 last six verses of the eleventh, and the first verses of the twelfth 
 25 
 
602 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 The delight with which Yeghsa listened to these instruc 
 tions can be better imagined than described. She re 
 mained through each day, and when not listening to other 
 recitations which embodied Scripture truth, was always 
 poring over her big Bible. One evening the good 
 blacksmith came to see me, and said, with a deep sigh, 
 " Varzhoohi, it is too bad that they didn t take me into the 
 other school! My wife is getting ahead of me!" "That 
 will never do, Menzar !" I replied. " Suppose you go over 
 the lessons with her every evening, and now and then, on 
 Sunday, put your little wife on a donkey, and take her down 
 to some of the Turkish villages, and while she talks to the 
 women, you can talk to the men !" He did so, and after a 
 few weeks had passed, came again with shining face, and 
 said, " Varzhoohi, if my wife does a great work for Christ 
 you know we are one, and I gave her up for Him if she 
 
 chapter of Hebrews ; not so much in exegesis, as in earnest talk about 
 God s Plan of employing man in labor for the salvation of man : How 
 lie shrinks not from suffering His most faithful and beloved servants 
 to be " afflicted and tormented," in want, " destitute," to wander about 
 the earth homeless, to endure tribulation even to the end. And then 
 we recalled how He " spared not His own Son ;" and how Jesus said 
 to His disciples, when about to leave them " Remember the word that 
 I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord." The sub 
 ject was more fully brought out, because the husbands of two of thtf 
 women in the class had told Mr. Barnum that they could not live 
 upon their monthly allowance ; and he had said to them, " Go back, 
 then, to your trades!" 
 
 When this tender point was touched (though without personal allu 
 sion), they, and one or two others winced, and began to excuse such 
 complaints. This gave more force to the application ; and all the class 
 seemed much impressed when we came, at last, to speak of the Great 
 Day of Accounts, and the reward which the Master will give to His 
 own faithful, self denying servants. One of the good women summed 
 it all up when she said, " If the heart is full of Ln<e to Jesus, all that 
 we do an J suffer for Him will ccmc easy" 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 603 
 
 does a good work foi the Master, don t you think that / can 
 
 have half the credit?" Yeghsa left the school to 
 
 gather from the streets, for instruction, thirty or forty dirty lit 
 tle ragamuffins, covered with vermin, into her one tidy room, 
 where the family ate and slept, with the unleavened bread for 
 several months consumption, stowed away in the smoky rafters 
 overhead. She did this voluntary (unpaid) work for the 
 love of Christ. And the number so increased within a few 
 months, that, with the twenty- six women whom she was 
 teaching to read, and a weekly meeting which she com 
 menced (with sixty women), among the neglected Syrians 
 of that quarter, her hands were too full, and the missionaries 
 provided her with an assistant.* 
 
 BEDRGS, AND THE BOOK. 
 
 One Sunday morning, I sent over to the stable for Bedros, 
 who took care of the horses, and when he came, told him 
 that I wished him to accompany me to the village of Yeghi- 
 keuy, where I was to hold a meeting with the women. He 
 looked very blank, and then said in a disappointed tone, " I 
 was going myself with one of the brethren to a village two 
 hours distant, for the Lord s work." "I am very sorry to 
 disappoint you, Bedros, but when I went over to Yeghikeuy 
 last week (where the work has newly opened), the women 
 were mostly in the fields, and I promised if it were pleasant 
 on Sunday morning, to come again, and I must keep my 
 word." Just then our new missionary brother, Mr. H. S. 
 
 * She greatly mourned the next year because she could not again 
 be received into the school. But the missionaries could not spare 
 her from her work, saying, " She is, of all the women, the most useful 
 helper that we have." 
 
604 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Barnum, passed through the hall, and inquiring the cause of 
 Bedros s sadness, offered, greatly to his joy, to escort me in 
 his place, and the two new teachers joined us. When the 
 people of Yeghikeuy saw a man with a hat coming through the 
 place, they at once supposed that a Badveli was going to 
 preach : And soon after our arrival at the house of the teacher, 
 he told us that fifty men were gathered in the school-room, 
 besides the women who were collecting. " Tell them that this 
 is a new Badveli who cannot speak the language," we said. 
 He returned in a few moments to say that they would not go 
 away ; they were bent on hearing a discourse. So Mr. 
 Barnum put together a few phrases in Armenian, with my 
 help, and went in to tell them that he did not know their 
 language, and could not preach; but that Mr. Allen would 
 come down another Sunday. Still they did not move ; and 
 at last the teacher came to me and said, " They want you to 
 interpret for him." " O, that is impossible," I exclaimed. 
 " Don t you remember what Paul said?" And Mr. Barnum 
 also shook his head over the proposition. Still the men lin 
 gered, and just as they were sending a delegation to confer 
 with me, I concluded to go and see of what sort they were. 
 I found an honest, simple-minded set of villagers, and 
 returning, said to Mr. B., " If you will select your text, I 
 think I can manage it so as not to appear too conspicuous." 
 In a few minutes it was all arranged. I took my seat upon 
 a pile of cushions placed against the side wall, between the 
 men and women. The room was full, there being about 
 eighty or a hundred present. The teacher (who was not a 
 man of much ability, his wife being considered by the peo 
 ple as much his superior), conducted the opening exercise ; 
 after which the young missionary arose, and repeated, in 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 605 
 
 English, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only 
 begotten Son, that whosoever believcth on Him should not 
 perish, but have everlasting life." 
 
 I echoed the words in Armenian, and instantly every 
 head was turned, and every eye looked around to where I 
 was sitting ! But when Mr. Barnum again commenced to 
 speak, all but two or three aged men, who were evidently deaf, 
 kept their eyes upon him, while for an hour he continued his 
 discourse in brief sentences, which I gave to the people in 
 the simplest village colloquial that I could frame. It was 
 hard work, and the perspiration gathered upon my face ; but 
 I was delighted to see the fixed attention and unflagging 
 interest manifested by the people. 
 
 The story of the serf who threw himself from the horses 
 which he was driving through the Black Forest, to save his 
 master and family from a pack of hungry wolves, saying, 
 " One must die, or all f at once arrested every mind, in the 
 commencement of his discourse. And this method of illus 
 trating and enforcing truth, was what I had above all things 
 desired to see generally adopted in the preaching of the 
 Gospel. It was a happy commencement of work for the 
 new missionary ; and the people fully appreciated his effort. 
 After the service closed, they expressed their gratitude to 
 him, and not a few lingered to thank me also. . . . We af 
 terward had pleasant remembrances of the " sermon that we 
 preached!" But when two or three weeks had passed, and 
 Bedros was taking me to another village, he suddenly said, 
 " Varzhoohi, two men came over from Yeghikeuy the other day 
 to see if you wouldn t come down and preach on your own 
 account." " Well, what did you say?" " O, I said, // will 
 never do T "Why not?" I asked, somewhat curious to see 
 
606 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 how his mind would work on such a question. " Because," 
 he replied, " the Book says, Let the women keep silence ! " 
 "Very well," I answered, " but you know it says, I will 
 pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your daughters shall 
 prophesy (/. <?., teach), and upon the hand-maidens I will 
 pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. " But again 
 Bedros replied, " The Book says, l Let the women keep si 
 lence! " "Yes," I continued, "but even Paul, who wrote 
 those words, said, But every woman that prayeth, or 
 prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoreth her 
 head; and that shows that some women did prophesy, or 
 teach!" This argument staggered Bedros a little, but after 
 a moment s silence, he reiterated with additional emphasis, 
 "THE BOOK SAYS, LET THE WOMEN KEEP SILENCE ! : 
 And I laughingly replied, " Well, Bedros, you have learned 
 your lesson thoroughly!" 
 
 During the Spring, I had been in the habit of taking an 
 early morning ride (having for the first time a horse of my 
 own, through the kindness of a few friends at home, who 
 must have been moved by the Spirit to furnish the funds, for 
 they did not know of the necessity), and Bedros often accom 
 panied me. He never failed to come at half-past five o clock, 
 whatever the weather might be; and an hour s ride upon the 
 hills before breakfast, gave the much needed strength for the 
 work of the day. On such occasions we sometimes talked 
 about the evangelization of his people, and he told me with 
 great simplicity of what he called a " Stable Society," of 
 six brethren like himself, who met there every Friday 
 evening to pray for the coming of Christ s kingdom. That 
 they had a bag for their weekly offerings, with which they 
 were sending Bibles and Testaments to the dark and distant 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 6o/ 
 
 region of Moosh. They had already sent a number of copies, 
 and were planning to send more in the Autumn, by the hand of 
 a brother Protestant. " But we tell him," said Bedros, " to take 
 in exchange from the people, anything that they will give ; 
 dried fruit, cotton, bulgoor, no matter how little, because if 
 we should give the books to them, they would think that we 
 didn t care for them ourselves, or we would not part with 
 them for nothing!" This, from such a source, was delight 
 ful; and I asked if the missionaries knew of the " Society." 
 " No," said Bedros ; " as we meet in the stable without any 
 light, as yet they have known nothing about it." It seemed 
 that these seven brethren had pledged themselves to take 
 turns in going to some of the nearer villages on the Sundays, 
 to teach the people the Word of God. And Bedros had some 
 very interesting stories to tell of the generally kind way in 
 which they were received. He said that sometimes as many 
 as thirty persons would gather around them as they sat in 
 some door-way to read and explain the Bible. [The results 
 of these efforts were very gratifying, and when in the church 
 prayer and conference meeting, Bedros very simply and ear 
 nestly told of a delegation sent from one of these villages 
 (which had not even a priest) asking for a teacher, and say 
 ing, " We are hungry and starving for the Bread of Life," 
 several of the most intelligent brethren offered to work 
 among the near villages, and Bedros and his companions then 
 extended their labors among those which were two and three 
 hours distant ; and when I did not need my horse on Sun 
 days for similar work, he was loaned to him for mission 
 ary service.] Bedros was half blind, and when it was his 
 turn to go, one of the Protestant boys accompanied him to 
 read the Word, while he did the talking : Knowing him to 
 
608 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 be a simple minded, weak brother, and that it would be very 
 easy for one who was inclined to dispute, to entangle and 
 upset him in argument, I earnestly exhorted him to stand 
 firmly by the Word and the Testimony, and not by any 
 means be drawn into controversy. All which he faithfully 
 promised, and performed, as I had now learned in a very 
 practical and amusing way ! 
 
 THE SCHOOL "MISSIONARY SOCIETY: 
 As the MISSIONARY SPIRIT is emphatically the SPIRIT OF 
 CHRIST, I looked about for some new method of awakening 
 and increasing the interest of our pupils in the conversion 
 of the world. It was necessary to enlighten their minds 
 respecting the origin and aim of the American Board 
 of Foreign Missions, and similar societies in other branches 
 of the Christian Church, and make them realize that they, 
 the Armenians, were not the people of all others for whom 
 the American churches were contributing and expending 
 their funds. And, in order to enlist their sympathies and 
 prayers for heathen nations, they needed some pictures, or 
 " inside views," which would bring home to their hearts the 
 true condition of those who were far below themselves in ig 
 norance and degradation. For this purpose, I commenced 
 a series of Missionary Lectures. These were given on the 
 Wednesday afternoons devoted to general exercises. Taking 
 first the Hawaiian Islands, I gave them the story of Oboo- 
 kiah, who, on reaching our American shores in a sailing 
 vessel, was found sitting on the steps of the Yale College 
 Hall in New Haven, by a son of President Dwight, was ed 
 ucated, converted, and earnestly praying for the salvation of 
 his people hoping to go back and preach to them the ever- 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 609 
 
 lasting Gospel ; of his early death, and the sending forth of 
 the first company of missionaries to that benighted region : 
 Picturing the parting (for life, as they supposed) with fathers 
 and mothers, brothers and sisters, of those young husbands 
 and wives ; the six months voyage, with all its trials ; the 
 arrival, and the deep degradation and profound ignorance 
 and vice in which they found the people sunk, from the 
 highest to the lowest, with some of their early trials and labors 
 among them. After these preliminaries, to which the women 
 and girls listened with intense interest, I said, " We will 
 now leap over ten years, and see what has been accomplished 
 by that band of Christian workers : The number of the people 
 who have learned to read, schools, conversions, churches," 
 giving statistics as gathered from the " encyclopaedia 
 of Missions." Then we stepped over twenty years, and finally 
 thirty years, ending the wonderful array of facts and fig 
 ures, with an account of the great Sunday-school celebration at 
 Hilo, when thousands of children in holiday attire, and crown 
 ed with garlands of flowers (like a moving garden), came with 
 their teachers in joyous bands, with songs, and banners flying, 
 and after music and speeches in the great church addresses 
 by Christian chiefs and high officials of the now Christian 
 government, they marched in companies to an immense 
 tent and were ranged around tables bountifully spread with 
 provisions provided by their own people. 
 
 After they had sung, " Praise God, from whom all blessings 
 flow," and were enjoying the feast, one of the missionaries 
 spied an aged woman who was continually going around, and 
 as she surveyed the scene, seemed greatly distressed, now- 
 beating her breast, and now throwing up her hands as she 
 wept and wailed. 
 26* 
 
6lO THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 When she drew near, he said, " Why, mother, what is the 
 matter that you should weep over such a beautiful sight ? 
 You surely should rejoice to-day, for you can remember 
 when things were very different among your people !" And 
 the poor soul cried out in bitter anguish, " Why didn t the mis 
 sionaries come before ? These hands are stained with the blood 
 of my twelve children, and not one remains of my flesh to re 
 joice here to-day !" And again she cried, " Owhy didnt the 
 missionaries come before ?" * 
 
 When this story was ended, many of my auditors were 
 weeping. Some of them with difficulty controlled them 
 selves from sobbing aloud; and the prayers that followed 
 for the "nations still sitting in heathen darkness," were full 
 of fervor and unction. 
 
 India, with its millions of various races, languages, dia 
 lects, and religions, was the theme of our next lecture. 
 And with the map to help in giving fixed and tangible ideas, 
 the expansion of thought and sympathy among our pupils 
 became very visible. The next thing to be done was to 
 
 * Infanticide was fearfully common among those Islanders before 
 the introduction of Christianity; many a Hawaiian mother when her 
 infant cried, dug a hole in the ground close by the place where she 
 slept, and, throwing it in, heaped the earth upon it, and stamped it 
 down with her feet to stop its dying moans ! The early writings of 
 the missionaries contain many such fearful facts, verifying the Apos 
 tle Paul s words "Without natural affection." 
 
 In fact, there was a " Secret Society " among the people, to which 
 those highest in rank, men and women, belonged every member be 
 ing pledged to destroy his or her children ; not to allow one of them to 
 live! Perhaps the primary cause of this horrible custom was the wide 
 spread licentiousness of all classes ; where the marriage relation was 
 unknown, the family did not exist ! and in this most revolting pic- 
 fure, one can see the social, moral, and spiritual DEATH inevitably 
 pntaHed by a disregard of the laws of God. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 6ll 
 
 utilize this newly-awakened interest. A Missionary Society 
 was formed in the school, with officers of their own selection, 
 Maranos, our good assistant, being wisely chosen as Treas 
 urer, and one of the most intelligent of the women as Presi 
 dent. They immediately set about handiwork of various 
 kinds, which should bring in funds for the spread of the 
 Gospel. And these articles they were to dispose of among 
 their own people, as I said to them, " Don t look to the mis 
 sionaries in any way, but manage it entirely by yourselves." 
 [This little Missionary Society prospered and bore good fruit. 
 The next Spring, one of its members who had been teaching all 
 Winter in a distant village, besides holding a regular weekly 
 meeting for the mothers, and a Sunday-school for the chil 
 dren and who was so successful that the Old Church Ar 
 menians offered their school-house for her use came to see 
 me at Harpoot. She was a young widow of sixteen when 
 she entered the school ; now engaged to be married to a 
 widower with six children, who had done excellent work 
 as a pioneer in former years, and was going to " regions 
 beyond " in the Moosh district. It seemed that Nectar 
 hesitated about " marrying so many children," fearing that 
 she would have little time for Christ s work ; but finally con 
 cluded to accept the position which included both home- 
 missionary and outside work ! I inquired whether she had 
 received her wages (for the labor of five months), and find 
 ing that she had not, procured the fifteen dollars from the 
 Station Treasurer, and placed it in her hands. She seemed 
 very grateful, but said little of herself, and nothing of her 
 needs in view of her approaching marriage, for which a 
 special wardrobe is esteemed as necessary in the East, as 
 in other lands. Our conversation was almost entirely de- 
 
6l2 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 voted to the past raid the future of her service for Christ. 
 The next day I asked Maranos in an incidental way if 
 Nectar had contributed to the Missionary Society before 
 leaving ; and she replied in the affirmative, stating the 
 amount : Greatly to my surprise, it was onc-ffth of the sum 
 received for her Winter s work. This fact I should never 
 have known had I not made the inquiry.] 
 
 But gathering funds for missionary purposes did not fully 
 satisfy our desires, or the activity of our pupils, and I pon 
 dered much over the subject : How to systematize and give 
 permanency to their efforts in real Christian work ? That was 
 the question ; for the Armenians have a good degree of nat 
 ural enthusiasm, which leads them to undertake a new enter 
 prise with zeal, which is apt to cool when the novelty has worn 
 off and difficulties arise. The inspiration came in the night- 
 watches : " Organize a band for direct work for souls, and call it 
 
 THE SOUL-LOVING SOCIETY-." 
 
 u That is the very thing !" exclaimed the eager group that 
 had gathered around my school-room table. " Every member 
 of this Society shall pledge herself to special Christian work 
 for souls around her aside from incidental opportunities 
 going out, at stated times, a certain portion of every week, to 
 1 seek and save the lost : And, moreover, such member shall 
 consider herself pledged to establish a similar Society wher-1 
 ever in the future her lot may be cast." This was the simple 
 pledge to which our pious pupils gladly set their seal. And 
 the next Sunday some of the women went with their husbands 
 to the villages to gather the mothers around them for a Bible- 
 reading, and two of the older girls were allowed to go under the 
 escort of a helper and his wife. They returned with hearts 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 613 
 
 full of gladness, and our Monday morning devotional exer 
 cise \vas turned into a missionary-meeting to hear their reports. 
 At the village of Heulakegh, one hundred women came to the 
 meeting held by Maranos, and ten or twelve to Sooltan s gath 
 ering of church members. They had a most interesting story 
 to tell. At another village they met thirty-five women, besides 
 a few others by the way-side, and at the public fountains, to 
 all of whom they told the story of Redeeming Love. One of 
 the Arabic-speaking women had gone on Saturday to Ichmeh. 
 It is impossible to describe the glow of soul with which she 
 told her story, in broken Armenian. She had tried to teach 
 thirty-five women in a tongue not her own, and though in 
 feeble health, seemed to have come back renewed in both soul 
 and body. The effect upon the school was most blessed. 
 Not long after, three or four of the younger girls came and 
 begged, with touching earnestness, that they might be allowed 
 to go with the older sisters, and teach the children. A new 
 baptism seemed to descend upon us all, and the voice of prayer 
 ascended morning, noon, and night. For weeks I have fre 
 quently passed around through the corridor at evening twi 
 light, and listened, unperceived, to the earnest petitions from 
 various rooms where little groups were gathered. Maranos 
 was generally in her own room, alone, similarly engaged ; and 
 at such hours this house has seemed to me the very gate of 
 heaven. [When the term closed, Maranos went to the city of 
 Palu, four or five days journey distant, and found the work 
 there in a very low state. The church and community was al 
 most rent asunder by a party spirit in regard to the preacher, who 
 had been forced to leave. There were a number of Protestant 
 women who could read,* but they were very cold and indifferent. 
 
 * These were the women whose zealous husbands applied the rod 
 
614 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Maranos started a Soul-Loving Society, and it proved their 
 salvation ! Eight couples pledged themselves to this work, 
 since it seemed better to go " two and two," as our Savior 
 sent forth His disciples. Their heaviest family work was done 
 early in the week, and Wednesday was the time which many 
 of them chose for this sowing of gospel-seed. The two who 
 were to go together met at an early hour, and knelt in 
 prayer that God would go before them and open doors and 
 hearts. They then sallied forth with their Testaments, per 
 haps stopping by a fountain where the Rachels and Rebekahs 
 were coming to draw water, and reading to the little company 
 (standing around with their jars upon their heads or shoul 
 ders) of the well of Samaria, and the gracious words of Life 
 to the poor woman who came, like themselves, to seek that 
 water of which if a man drink he shall thirst again. Then, pass 
 ing by door- ways where women were busily spinning, they sought 
 to interest them in the Savior s words about the " Lilies of 
 the field which toil not, neither do they spin," and of the glorious 
 raiment of Christ s Righteousness. And again a company of 
 passers-by would collect to listen to that which was so new and 
 strange. And thus they spent the day. For, in a country 
 where life is so simple and unartificial, where the family all eat 
 out of one dish and sleep in one room, and the fashions change 
 so slowly that the great-grandmother s dress laid away in the 
 family chest for grand occasions, will serve the granddaughter 
 equally well, the women, if they have the spirit, HAVE TIME TO 
 WORK FOR CHRIST. Maranos remained several weeks, and re 
 turned with her heart full of joy to communicate the glad tid 
 ings. She said that those Christian sisters themselves testified 
 
 to make them learn to read, and succeeded, as related by Mr. 
 Wheeler in his "Ten Years on the Euphrates." 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 615 
 
 that they were never so happy in all their lives as since they 
 commenced to work for others. They " had no time now for 
 gossip, or quarreling, as before, for their hearts and hands were 
 so full that Satan kept away !" " It was delightful," said Ma- 
 ranos, " to go into their houses and see the women whom they 
 were teaching to read, coming in for their lessons. They left 
 their weaving and spinning, and after patiently hearing them 
 spell out their tasks, themselves read a few verses from the 
 Bible, and prayed with them before they let them go. And, 
 the more they did, the more they wanted to do ! One day 
 eight of them took their Testaments and went in force to a 
 neighboring village, because they feared the women would 
 resent their interference, and numbers gave them more cour 
 age. But greatly to their joy, they were kindly welcomed, 
 and came home praising the Lord.* 
 
 * At Marsovan, on my return, one of these Societies was started. 
 And since all these full details are even more for the assistance of 
 those newly commencing such work, than for the encouragement of 
 Christians at home, the method may here be stated : After reading to 
 a company of Christian sisters, of the women who, when our Savior 
 went " throughout every city and village preaching and shewing the 
 glad tidings of the kingdom of God, were with Him and the Twelve 
 and MINISTERED UNTO HIM op THEIR SUBSTANCE," I inquired, " What 
 do you suppose those women did ? We know what Martha did when 
 He went to Bethany. She was intent upon honoring her Guest with the 
 choicest dishes that her hands could prepare ; perhaps she made pilaff, 
 and dolmas (I have often heard you say that it takes two to make 
 dolmas.) Martha loved the Master, and desired to hear His precious 
 words ; but she did as many of you do when we come to see you 
 run into the kitchen to prepare some refreshment, when we care only 
 to impart to you spiritual food (perhaps there was some truth in the 
 German commentator s interpretation of One thing is needful 
 meaning one kind of food ; for the people rarely have more than that 
 when by themselves). Suppose that you had been with those minis 
 tering women, what would you have done for the Master? Would it 
 not have been a delight to have made and mended His clothing, pre- 
 
6l6 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 A MOTHERS ASSOCIATION. 
 
 When Miss Seymour reached Harpoot, she said to me, 
 " I have brought you something from your mother." " That 
 can hardly be," I replied, " for my mother has been in 
 heaven for two or three months." " Ah, yes, but I have ; and it 
 is something which I should esteem very precious." And the 
 next day she handed me a time-stained printed paper with a 
 list of names, among which was that of my mother and some 
 of her children. It was the " Constitution of the First Ma 
 ternal Association " of my native place. What sacred memo- 
 
 pared His food, and the couch upon which lie was to rest? Or to 
 have bathed those way-worn feet, or anointed with precious oil that 
 weary head ?" " O yes !" said the women ; " would that we had been 
 there!" "Well, you can minister to Him now just as truly, and I 
 will tell you how. Christ himself says that He will regard every ser 
 vice done to others for His sake, as if done to Himself. Inasmuch 
 as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my disciples YE HAVE 
 DONE IT UNTO ME. " They listened with great interest to the account 
 of the Palu women, and when asked, many were ready to become 
 members of a " Soul-Loving Society." A few directions were then 
 given in regard to choosing their companions in this work ; that it 
 was wise for an elderly, experienced Christian, to select a younger 
 one, as each would help the other one could read better, and the 
 other give instruction. And that by their sympathy for the sick and 
 suffering, wherever they should find them, caring for their bodily 
 wants, the door would often be opened for spiritual work. Then the 
 work of selection commenced, the older sisters having the first choice. 
 " I will take Takohi ! " said one. " And I Mariam ;" " And I Juhar, " 
 and so on, the scene becoming vcrv lively and interesting. 
 
 Months after, the missionary ladies wrote that the little seed sown 
 in much weakness by the wayside, had "borne rich fruit." [When 
 the news of the great fire at Chicago reached Marsovan, the sympa 
 thies of these Christian women were greatly enlisted. Of their own 
 accord, and from their poverty, thev made up a purse amounting to 
 eight dollars, and brought it to Mrs. Leonard to send to the sufferers, 
 saying, "We must do something for those who have done so much 
 for us. "] 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 6l/ 
 
 ries and hallowed associations it recalled ! On the swift 
 wings of thought I was carried back to the home of my early 
 life. I saw myself a child of six years conning my lesson 
 in the catechism, and the hymn which I was to recite at the 
 " Quarterly Meeting of mothers and children." It is a warm 
 Summer day ; the soft breezes fan my cheeks as I rock back 
 and forth in the foot of the vacant cradle, repeating the favor 
 ite lines : 
 
 " See Israel s gentle Shepherd stands 
 
 With all-engaging charms ; 
 Hark ! how He calls the tender lambs, 
 And folds them in His arms." 
 
 And then with the faithful mother and the younger sister at 
 my side, pass through the broad " Main street " of that lovely 
 village, to the shaded home where we all gathered. Saintly 
 women were there whose presence was a benediction. So 
 gentle, so loving in looks and tones, that I loved to look upon 
 their meek faces, around which I could almost see a halo. 
 They little imagined that the timid, shrinking child, was read 
 ing lessons of life in every countenance. There were women, 
 a few from whom, even then, I instinctively shrank loud- 
 voiced, harsh, and forbidding ; but such were not of the " Ma 
 ternal Association." Ah, what seeds were then sown in the 
 tender soil of young hearts, to spring up and bear fruit long 
 after those mothers should have entered into rest 1 
 
 As I held that paper in my hand, it seemed a wonder 
 ful link in the chain of Providence ; God had lodged it 
 in the hands of a good mother in Israel far from my 
 old home who, finding that Miss Seymour was going to 
 Harpoot, was led by a sudden impulse to send it to me. At 
 that very time my mind was much exercised about those mem- 
 
6l8 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 bers of our school who were mothers. They needed special 
 training for their duties in that most important relation ; and 
 some plan or system must be devised to perpetuate the instruc 
 tions and impressions which they might receive. This was the 
 very thing ! The mothers of the Armenian nation must have 
 Maternal Associations of their own ! 
 
 With some assistance from Maranos, a Constitution was 
 drawn up in Armenian, based upon the old one, but modi 
 fied to suit the circumstances of the people. Our women 
 were much interested in my account of the "precious paper" 
 brought by the new Varzhoohi, and when a " Mothers Asso 
 ciation " was proposed among themselves, received it with 
 gladness. When the Constitution was read for their ac 
 ceptance, several heads were seen together in consultation ; 
 hands were raised, and when an opportunity was given, they 
 said, "There is nothing about money in it." " Very well ; 
 but that does not matter." " O, but who ever heard of a 
 Society without giving money ?" they cried. " But what will you 
 do with your money ?" I asked After a moment s thought they 
 said, " We will give it to care for the orphans of the society, 
 or to help the widows." And a clause to that effect was in 
 serted. We organized, and chose a committee of four to man 
 age the business and conduct the meetings in turn, semi 
 monthly. There were twenty-nine Armenian mothers belong 
 ing to the school, with " fifty children now living," besides the 
 Koordish and Syrian women, making in all forty mothers, 
 according to the record made by the secretary. It was 
 arranged that the children should come with their mothers 
 once a month. 
 
 At their request, I conducted the first meeting, for as all were 
 pledged to establish like Associations elsewhere, they wished to 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 619 
 
 learn how ; and to train them for this, was our aim. And the 
 second meeting, at which the children were present, was con 
 ducted by one of our most intelligent women, the wife of a 
 preacher. She did admirably, reading the first verses of the 
 sixth chapter of Ephesians, and talking to the mothers most 
 earnestly, appropriately illustrating her remarks. Then 
 she turned to the children, and as I listened to her pleasant 
 words my heart was cheered. After two brief, earnest 
 prayers, I catechized the little ones, and heard them recite 
 their hymns and passages of Scripture. Each mother sat 
 with her group of children around her feet ; and every child, 
 however small (the infants were not brought), had something 
 ready the Syrian children in Arabic. Some of the timid, 
 wee ones, needed all the prompting and cheering of their 
 parents and older brothers and sisters, to repeat " God is 
 Love," or "Suffer the little children to come unto me." A 
 manly little fellow of eight years repeated the thirteenth 
 chapter of first Corinthians. When he came to the verse, 
 " When I was a child, I spake as a child, but when I 
 became a man, I put away childish things," every one 
 laughed, and though he could scarcely keep from doing so 
 himself, he went on to the close with a clear, steady voice. 
 How those mothers faces shone ! The school-girls were 
 occupying seats behind the rest, and were so much interested 
 that they stood, most of the time, to see as well as hear. 
 The melodeon had been brought down, and we sang many 
 pieces between the other exercises. At the close, all seemed 
 very happy, and as they passed out, dropped their free-will 
 offerings into the little box held by their treasurer. Many 
 a mother held up her child with the copper in its little hand, 
 that it might have the privilege of casting it in, thus learn 
 ing the luxury of giving to the cause of Christ. 
 
620 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 After these preliminary meetings, the " committee of four " 
 took their turn ; and since they were very timid about it, we 
 allowed two (at a time) to share the responsibility and care 
 of each meeting, sitting side by side at the table, and sup 
 porting each other. One took the first part, and the other 
 the second ; and it was delightful to see and hear them in 
 those first attempts. It evidently led them closer to the 
 Source of all wisdom and strength. By-and-by, time was 
 given for the mothers to relate their experience and peculiar 
 trials in the training of their children, that we might know 
 better how to help them ; and when some freedom of utter 
 ance was obtained, many questions were asked and valuable 
 information gained. One would tell of her inability to gov 
 ern her children as she wished, because of the constant in 
 terference of the grandparents (who, in the East, have more 
 authority than the parents). Another asked what course 
 she should pursue when her child was ill and would not take 
 the medicine, or obey other requisitions. And still another 
 wished to know what she should do when her little ones be 
 haved badly in church, knowing that she would not punish 
 them there. This greatly added to the interest, and gave 
 the desired opportunity of dealing with facts, and imparting 
 practical instruction. Now and then a mother of some expe 
 rience would state her way of meeting such cases, saying, 
 " / do so and so." But one very important question weighed 
 upon the hearts of all : " What shall we do to keep our 
 children at home in the Winter, when they cannot play out- 
 of-doors as usual, and collect in the stables (because of the 
 warmth), where they learn all manner of wickedness ?" To 
 this we replied, " The remedy lies in making HOME the best 
 and HAPPIEST or ALL PLACES to them." " But they will not 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 621 
 
 stay at home, however much we may command and threaten 
 to punish them," said some of the mothers. " Perhaps they 
 will be quiet for a few hours, and then the first thing we 
 know they are gone !" [This had been said to me by some 
 of the women in the villages which I visited during the Re 
 vival, when those who were Protestants, and even one or two 
 church members, confessed, with great shame, that they 
 " could not keep from their old habit of cursing their children 
 when angry !" " Now tell me, what do you say at such 
 times ?" I asked, for my ears had never caught the meaning 
 of such rapid talk in the streets, and the women were very 
 careful of their speech in my presence. After begging hard to 
 be " let off," they told me with downcast faces, that they 
 said " May you be blind /" " May you enter the ground !" 
 i. e., be dead and buried. This was just what I wished 
 to know, and gave point to many a talk to mothers ; 
 when I repeated some of those wicked words (in my village 
 meetings) the wdmen would look at each other in astonishment, 
 and say, " Why, she knows /"] " Children must play," 
 I said to these mothers ; " it is as natural for them to frisk and 
 frolic, as for the little lambs to gambol in the field. And you 
 must furnish proper exercise for those busy, restless little 
 hands and feet, or they will seek it where they can find it." 
 "Well, tell us how!" said the women. "Teach them sim 
 ple games that will entertain them at home, and sometimes 
 play with them yourselves." " We do not know how to teach 
 them," they said (and the idea of their playing with the 
 children seemed preposterous). " Well then, we will teach 
 you." And after the meeting closed, we invited them to the 
 parlor, and commenced the " Lesson of Games " with " Jack- 
 straws." As one after another picked up the tiny straws, 
 
622 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 while all the others looked on, we were pleased and amused 
 with a scene which was so new to us in this land. The 
 " mother of thirteen " was quite jubilant over her success. 
 She had acquired a fairy charm which would keep four or 
 live of her youngsters still for hours in the one room of their 
 Winter home, and thus give her more leisure and quiet. 
 We next tried the simple game of " Hide-and Seek," sending 
 half a dozen girls whom we had called in to take the place 
 of children out of the room, while we hid a ball of cotton. 
 Then "Hide in Sight;" which greatly amused the perform 
 ers : The merriment became unbounded when the ball was 
 placed in full view upon a picture-frame, and the girls (al 
 though told that it would be in plain sight) were diving into 
 pockets, and searching all imaginable places ; at last, suppos 
 ing from the guiding word, that they had found the place, 
 they seized upon one of their mates sitting just beneath it, 
 while some of the mothers were so convulsed with laughter, 
 that the tears rolled down their faces, and others held their 
 sides, or clapped, and we looked on and enjoyed to our 
 heart s content the seeing Old Armenia waked up after a 
 fashion which we had never seen before ! When we started 
 " Blind-man s Buff," their elephantine tread soon caused it to 
 "be dropped ; and the game of " Trades " followed, into 
 which they entered with spirit, manifesting much imita 
 tive ability; going successively through the art of making 
 cloth, from the raw cotton to the completed web from the 
 loom, bread-making (from the seed sown), silk manufac 
 ture, shoe-making, ending the game by a trade, or profes 
 sion, selected and acted out by every one left in the room, 
 which was to be guessed from the pantomime, by those who 
 had been sent out. We closed the entertainment by singing 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 623 
 
 " Love at Home," and " Come, come away from labor now 
 reposing," recently translated. And then with joyous faces, 
 and many a hearty " Thank you," our flock of mothers re 
 paired to their homes and their little ones. 
 
 The next time, we held our mothers meeting in a pleasant 
 garden beyond the city ; and after it was ended, and we had 
 partaken of fruit and bread, we had a few lively games with 
 the children upon the green grass beneath the trees. This 
 proved so delightful that it was often repeated during the 
 Summer term, and at our last gathering, we gave up the en 
 tire day, inviting the husbands and fathers to join us. When 
 I reached the garden previously secured for the purpose by 
 payment of a few piastres to the Turkish owner half a dozen 
 of the men came, with great politeness, to assist me in dismount 
 ing from my horse. The encampment looked very pleasant ; 
 hammocks for the babies were swung beneath the trees, and 
 the older children were scattered in every direction, enjoy 
 ing themselves. A pond afforded a swimming-place for some 
 of the boys, under the care of their fathers, who seemed to 
 enjoy the hilarity of the occasion. 
 
 After a simple luncheon provided by each family, the 
 " meeting " was " called to order." When the children had 
 gone through with their part, they were addressed by the 
 fathers, and we had some excellent speeches and animated 
 singing. Toward evening we returned to the city, and it 
 was pleasant to see those Christian men walking with 
 their wives and children, and carrying the little ones in 
 their arms : Another proof of the elevating, refining power 
 of the Gospel of Christ ; for, till they felt its renewing influ 
 ence, nothing could have induced them to be seen doing such 
 a thing ! 
 
624 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 THE CLOSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. 
 
 The half of what " GOD IIATII WROUGHT " among this 
 people can never be told ! Eternity alone will reveal every 
 thing in its true light. But this has been a blessed year; 
 rich in fruitage. Results were speedy ; the sowing and the 
 reaping going on simultaneously; scattering with one hand, 
 and gathering with the other ! It has been inexpressibly 
 sweet to work and walk with Jesus ! conscious alone of His 
 eye, and His ear, and caring little for the knowledge or ap 
 proval of the world : to feel sure that every stroke was help 
 ing in the erection of a Spiritual House, polishing the 
 corner-stones for the temple of our King. 
 
 The early Summer brought with it a great personal 
 bereavement in the sudden and wholly unlocked - for re 
 moval from earth, of the precious, praying mother, whose 
 face I had once more hoped to see. But her depaiture, to 
 serve in the presence of Him whom her soul loved, may 
 have been the means of choice blessings to this school. 
 And even before the blow fell, the blessing came, from 
 prayers " laid up " before the throne ! [When I wrote to my 
 mother of the precious outpouring of the Spirit during the 
 Winter, she replied, "I am not at all surprised. It is just 
 what I have been praying for every day for months past!" 
 Ah, who can say, "/ / did it f When those who have 
 " turned many to righteousness " shall be gathered in Heav 
 en, there will be not a few of earth s hidden ones who will 
 shine " as the stars, for ever and ever !" For every prayer of 
 faith that wings its way to the throne of God there, falls in 
 showers of blessings here /" And really, there is no FOREIGN 
 WORK, it is all HOME-WORK : As truly as the unseen springs 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 625 
 
 among the hills, send gushing streams to gladden the valleys 
 below, do parents in the sacred seclusion of Christian homes, 
 faithful pastors, and teachers, prepare the agencies that bless 
 the "FIELD" WHICH is "THE WORLD."] Very precious 
 was the tender sympathy manifested by our pupils, " Rejoice 
 that you have a mother in Heaven ; and you and I will be 
 more diligent, that we may one day enter in !" said one good 
 woman. " I too have lost a Christian mother," wrote one of 
 the dear graduates ; " a mother is a sweet thing ! we can have 
 but one mother ; and only God s arm is long enough to reach 
 down into the heart, and touch that tender place." One Sun 
 day, a few weeks after the tidings came, I was conversing with 
 one of our dear girls of her future course. [Baidzar was 
 really a granddaughter of the Constantinople School ; for 
 her mother was one of the early pupils, who, when first mar 
 ried to young preacher Simeon, returned to the School dur 
 ing my first connection with it, while her husband resumed 
 his studies preparatory to his settlement in a distant part of 
 Armenia : When the missionaries asked him what most he 
 wished to learn during those few weeks, he replied, " SIN, 
 AND SALVATION :" But this, their first-born, was very unlike 
 her gentle mother, when at twelve years of age she entered 
 the school at Harpoot : She had a good mind, but was so 
 proud, self-willed, and passionate, that for the first two 
 years, we felt that unless God should change her heart, it 
 would have been better had she never come to us, because 
 the people of Bitlis would look upon her as a representative 
 of educated, Christian womanhood. 
 
 The first indication of a change came in the tenderness 
 manifested when reproved during a recitation, instead of 
 her usual sullenncss. And during the last year, her growth 
 27 
 
626 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 in Christian character had been so marked, as to give great 
 hope for her future.] 
 
 This was her last year in the school, and after speaking 
 of what she might do if faithful, for the women and chil 
 dren of her distant home, I said, " We may never meet again 
 on earth ; but I shall look for you on the right hand of the 
 Judge at the last day, with the souls that you have brought 
 to Christ." Baidzar seemed much affected, and after a mo 
 ment s pause, timidly said, " It is a joy to me, that I hope to 
 meet you in Heaven. Marta and I were talking about it the 
 other day, and she said, If you or I should die, and go to 
 Heaven before the Varzhoohi does, we will go and find her 
 mother, and say, " Your daughter led us to Christ " ! " 
 And her eyes filled with tears as she spoke. This was a 
 sweet bit of comfort, direct from the Lord, and quite melted 
 my heart.* 
 
 Our school prayer-meetings were seasons of great enjoy 
 ment, and that of Monday morning, in place of the usual 
 twenty minutes Bible reading, was a special time of 
 blessing and preparation for the week s work. We generally 
 selected some special topic for prayer, the unconverted 
 fathers or brothers, the preachers of the Gospel, or Con- 
 
 * Not many weeks after Baidzar reached her home, I received from 
 her a letter enclosing a silver nose jewel, set with a turquoise: 
 " This," she wrote, " is the first fruits of my work for Christ. After 
 my first meeting with the women and girls, at which I had talked to 
 them of denying ourselves for His cause, one of the women brought 
 her nose jewel, and gave it to me for the Lord. And I send it to you 
 to take to America." Baid/.ar became the wife of a preacher of the 
 Gospel, who was settled in that region ; and she has (within a few 
 years) gone to Heaven, " before the Yarzhoohi." Hut the correspond 
 ence maintained with her during that period, proved the necessity of 
 SAVING PREPARED MATERIAL by keeping the connecting links bright ! 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 627 
 
 stantinople and its churches. Three or four minutes 
 were occupied in presenting the subject, and a verse or 
 two of Scripture in connection with it, and the meeting was 
 thrown open for all who felt moved to pray. Our pupils had 
 been cautioned about going all around the world, and ending 
 in heaven, in their petitions at such times, and were told 
 not to try to " wind up," but to stop, when they had finished, 
 and say, "Amen." So that we not infrequently had eight 
 or more pointed, fervent prayers within fifteen minutes. 
 Not a moment was lost in waiting, and the gain on former 
 years in point of brevity, and specific petition, was very 
 evident. 
 
 Our little " experience meetings " for the Christians, were 
 really delightful. It was very difficult, at first, to get their 
 mouths opened, but when once the silence was broken, all 
 unnecessary reserve melted away, and hearts were drawn 
 together as never before. ... In the Bible and Doc 
 trinal lessons, we felt the Living Presence of Him whose 
 Life and Teachings we studied. We had carefully examined 
 twenty-three topics pertaining to the foundation doctrines of 
 the Gospel. After going through with them once, we com 
 menced again ; the class copying upon their slates each ques 
 tion and answer, as I gave it, in concise terms, with three or 
 four proof-texts affixed to be afterwards transcribed upon 
 blank-books, for future use : Two of the Syrian women 
 were in this class, and took theirs down first in Armenian, 
 to be afterwards translated into Arabic. As the term drew 
 near its close, the class wished much to go on, and begged 
 permission to drop other studies to gain all they could in 
 this several of them saying, " These manuscripts will be 
 of great use to us this Winter ; we shall read and study them 
 
628 THE ROMANCE OF MISSION S. 
 
 much." I could see them developing, day by day, both mentally 
 and spiritually, and felt, as often before, that there is nothing 
 in all the wisdom of the world which can so elevate and en 
 noble the whole man, as this being constantly brought in 
 contact with THE INFINITE MIND ! 
 
 The public Examination took place in October. In 
 addition to the usual order of exercises, there was one 
 in Dictation, which was quite new to the large company 
 of auditors, and excited much interest. Two or more 
 words were given, and a complete sentence was re 
 quired at the expiration of two minutes. Slates and pencils 
 were busily employed till the touch of the bell, when one 
 and another was called upon to read her sentence. The 
 pastors present were asked to propose words, and it did 
 one s heart good to see the eyes of the husbands glisten as 
 their wives arose, and modestly read what had been so 
 quickly composed and written. When considerable applause 
 was elicited, the husband s face said, as plainly and as 
 proudly as if the words had been spoken " That is my wife /" 
 There was a dignity and self-possession in the deportment 
 of the graduates that attracted the attention, and drew forth 
 the commendation of all who were interested in their 
 progress. 
 
 The Doctrines selected for examination were the Trinity 
 and the Atonement, and the pastors were requested to ask 
 any questions they might choose, which they did, testing the 
 class very thoroughly. The readiness with which they 
 answered, and their apt quotations of Scripture, gave much 
 satisfaction ; and while they spoke, not a few countenances 
 were all aglow, showing, as one afterward remarked, that 
 they loved those truths, and had received them into their 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 629 
 
 hearts. And I looked on, and wondered, and rejoiced in 
 the transformation wrought (during those few years) in so 
 many of those souls, and bodies too ! Their manuscripts 
 were then passed among the Theological students and pas 
 tors, and closely scanned by them, only one mistake being 
 pointed out, and that in phraseology. In Wayland s Moral 
 Science, the section relating to Government and Law excited 
 much interest* Besides the customary essays, there were 
 two dialogues and a "School Paper." These were en 
 tirely new; and the dialogues especially, attracted atten 
 tion, treating of subjects much discussed by the students 
 of the Seminary, viz. : The Study of English, and the 
 Pastors Support. I had given the plan, and a few lead 
 ing thoughts, to the four girls, and they filled them out in 
 a very creditable manner, considering their youth, and in 
 experience in that line. So clearly and emphatically were 
 they read, in conversational tones, that not a word was lost, 
 and more than once there was a visible sensation in the au 
 dience (the students would scarcely credit the production to 
 the readers, believing that it was mostly the work of the 
 Varzhoohi) ! The Paper was read by the two assistant 
 teachers; it contained many items of interest respecting the 
 School and the Lord s Work in this land: A list of 
 chapels built during the year, or in process of erection, by 
 
 * The method pursued in that study during the last year, was par 
 ticularly helpful in the prosecution of other studies. In order to teach 
 the class how to prepare their lessons, we took it as a daily reading 
 exercise. After a sentence orp aragraphhad been read, the class were 
 requested to close their books, and one and another was called upon 
 to give the central thought contained in that passage. Then the lead 
 ing words were scanned till the wots were found ; and after this dis 
 secting process, the paragraph was again read with clearer appre 
 hension and new pleasure. 
 
630 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the people in the Harpoot field. An account of the former 
 graduates of the school ; what they had done and are doing 
 in the Master s service. A report of the various Societies in 
 the school ; the sum of three hundred piastres having been 
 contributed by the pupils, of which one hundred and thirty 
 were given for a debt on a village chapel, and the remainder 
 appropriated to the new school to be sustained by the peo 
 ple. There was also an interesting letter from one of the 
 graduates respecting her school in Bitlis, and the good work 
 in that region, three of her boarding pupils coming from 
 Moosh. There were a few little bits translated from English 
 journals, to give spice and variety, and the " latest news 
 from Missionary Wheeler, no\v in America, going about from 
 city to city, and village to village (as he was wont to do 
 here), stirring up the people to more zeal and self-denial in 
 the Master s service." Lastly, notice was given of the coming 
 meeting of the " Harpoot Evangelical Union," at Diarbekir, 
 the twenty-third of October, and of an expected installation 
 at Mardin, and, it was hoped, at Bitlis also. At the close of 
 these exercises, which had been varied by singing, Pastor 
 Marderos presented the diplomas to a class of fifteen women 
 and girls, as they modestly stood before him. His remarks 
 were very impressive. Among other things, he said he well 
 knew that every one would take with her one or more evil 
 spirits. One would say, " Now you are somebody; you 
 have been educated, and are able to do what others cannot 
 do, " thus puffing her up with pride and self-conceit; an 
 other would whisper, " After all, what has your time in 
 school amounted to ? You know but very little, and are 
 not fit to set yourself up as a leader to others ! " He warned 
 them of the dangers that lay in these two extremes, and 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 631 
 
 exhorted them to keep close to the Master in the simplicity 
 of faith, saying to the first suggestion, " By the grace of God 
 I am what I am; and only through Christ can I do any 
 good;" and to the second, " Get thee behind me, Satan ! I 
 am in the place God designed for me ; and what He has 
 taught me, I will, with His help, teach to others !" As each 
 one stepped forward and gracefully received her diploma, I 
 could scarcely look upon that dear, very dear company, 
 without tears, that I should never more teach them the 
 words of Eternal Life. When they returned to their seats, 
 we sang, " Sow in the morn thy seed." Several of the other 
 pastors present followed in excellent and practical addresses. 
 Their hearts seemed to overflow with joy at what they had 
 seen and heard ; and yet they felt that much danger lay in 
 the future. Said one, u Our joy is not yet full. We shall 
 wait to see your future course what you will actually do 
 when you go out into the world again. It may be that some 
 of you will cause us to hang our heads for shame ; you may 
 so conduct yourselves as to make your teachers say, Would 
 they had never entered this school ! " 
 
 The missionaries then addressed the school, Mr. Williams 
 through Mr. H. N. Barnum in one of his characteristic and 
 telling speeches. Referring to the means used to promote 
 growth in grace, he enjoined upon all, and especially those who 
 were now thrown upon their own responsibility, to practice 
 spiritual rumination, meditation during each and every day, 
 upon the morning reading of God s Word, be it ever so 
 small a portion : Alluding to the ruminating of cows and 
 buffaloes. Our new brother, Mr. H. S. Barnum, also made 
 a brief and pleasant speech by the aid of his namesake s 
 tongue. And Mr. H. N. Barnum gave a most solemn and 
 
632 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 thrilling turn to his closing remarks by pointing to the 
 great Examination Day awaiting us all, when the Master 
 will give His " Diplomas " in the words, " Well done, good 
 and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord 1" 
 The effect was electrical. 
 
 THE FAREWELL. 
 
 The next morning Friday the school assembled for a 
 "farewell meeting," the graduates being seated by them 
 selves. I read portions of Scripture which I wished them to 
 mark in their Bibles, and often read ; and then reviewed the 
 past three years looking forward to their future, and to 
 Eternity. It was a solemn season, and we all wept together, 
 Then Maranos spoke of our pleasant relations, and what a 
 joy and comfort some of those dear women had been to 
 her; and, as I had addressed her as my "faithful fellow- 
 worker, without the aid of whose influence, much of my 
 labor would have been lost," she now turned to me and 
 said that I had been " a mother, and more than a mother to 
 her." Sadie next addressed the company, fifty in number. 
 She told them how great had been her desire to see the 
 Training-School at Harpoot, and when God brought her 
 there to take a part in it, her joy at its prosperity was very 
 great. She gave some excellent words of counsel, and then 
 led us to the mercy-seat in a fervent prayer. Fatima, of 
 Diarbekir, followed in such an outpouring of soul in suppli 
 cation, thanksgiving, and praise, as could only come from the 
 indwelling of the Spirit of all grace ! I was amazed, hum 
 bled, and rejoiced. Misses Seymour and Warfield were 
 both present, and said a few words, through me asking the 
 prayers of the school for their success in the study of the Ian- 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA., 633 
 
 guage during the Winter ; and I followed with a few words 
 about the homes and friends which they had recently left 
 what it is to give up all for Christ. 
 
 After they were dismissed, I saw the good Preacher Simeon- 
 surrounded by a group of the girls, in earnest and apparent 
 ly solemn conversation. He soon after requested an inter 
 view, and asked me if there was one among our pupils who 
 would be willing to go and labor for Christ in Moosh. Wishing 
 to test them all, I went down-stairs and said, " B. Simeon 
 desires to know whether any among you are ready to go and 
 serve the Master in the dark regions beyond!" The word 
 flew from room to room, and five answered to the call, with 
 faces so bright and joyous that one have thought some great 
 happiness had come to them. They almost ran to meet the 
 preacher. It was no idle enthusiasm. They had counted the 
 cost, and received this message as a direct answer to prayer. 
 
 It reminded one of Secretary Anderson, or Secretary 
 Clark going to Mount Holyoke Seminary for missionary 
 teachers. Most kindly and faithfully did B. Simeon place 
 the difficulties of such an undertaking before them, por 
 traying the trials which they would be obliged to endure 
 among a people so low, degraded, and ignorant He told 
 them of his wife s experience in Khanoos, where their first 
 child was born in a stable partly under ground, dark and 
 dirty. How the water leaked from the earth above, and was 
 kept from her bed by a shelving board. And then he spoke 
 of the blessedness of sowing Gospel seed, and gave them en 
 couragement to hope that it would one day spring up and 
 bear fruit. The visit with this godly man made me realize 
 the importance of keeping alive the bond of sympathy between 
 our pupils and the pastors among their own people 
 
 27* 
 
634 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Saturday morning came, and I was invited to meet some 
 " friends " in Mrs. Allen s parlor. I found there assembled 
 the class of graduates, who greeted me most cordially, and 
 conducted me to a seat of honor. After a few moments of 
 pleasant chatting, Fatima advanced, and in behalf of the class, 
 presented me with a handsome silver " back-comb " (suitably 
 inscribed), as a "testimonial of their grateful affection." 
 She added, as the tears started to her eyes, " We owe you 
 more than words or gifts can tell !" The class looked very 
 joyful, and expressed the wish that I would " wear it every 
 day."* It was a perfect surprise. I had no thought of their 
 attempting anything of the kind, and told them so ; and that I 
 did not seek theirs, but them : That, much as I prized this 
 proof of their affection, there were other expressions far more 
 precious, forever engraven upon my heart, in words and deeds, 
 perhaps forgotten by them, little tokens of love and sym 
 pathy which had cheered me more than treasures of gold or 
 silver ! And I could say in all sincerity, that I loved them 
 very tenderly ; and were it not for the hope of meeting them in 
 the Beyond, when our earthly work should be done, the part 
 ing would be very sad. 
 
 The class also presented Maranos with a silver pen-holder, 
 prettily inscribed, and she responded to their kind words. 
 
 Finding that there would be no social gathering of the 
 graduates this year, I resolved to get up a " Reunion " myself. 
 The school-room furniture was removed, and carpets, rugs, 
 chairs, tables, with pictures, flowers, and lamps suspended 
 upon the pillars and walls, quite changed the aspect of the place. 
 
 * This they had gotten up entirely among themselves, no one out 
 side the class knowing of it. Taking a comb of horn to the silver 
 smith, they had him try till he succeeded in suiting their wishes. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 635 
 
 A liberal supply of bread and grapes was procured from the 
 market, and native sweetmeats, with tea, were provided for 
 the entertainment. The guests came, at the ringing of the 
 chapel bell, just after sunset : The students of both schools, 
 Arabs, Koords, and all, married and unmarried, besides the 
 pastors, preachers, and teachers who were in the city, with 
 their wives making, with the missionary families, a company 
 of about one hundred and eighty souls. In fact, we were too 
 crowded to allow of that stiff, formal gathering of the men on 
 one side, and the women on the other, which had been cus 
 tomary. The principal entertainment was singing, with the 
 melodeon (accompanied, now and then, by a flute and violin). 
 All seemed at home, and the conversation was pleasant and 
 unrestrained. It was good to see our new sister-teachers 
 mingling with the crowd (most of whom sat on the floor), and 
 endeavoring to make use of their freshly-acquired Armenian. 
 Glancing in that direction, I saw Marineh lightly touch B. Mar- 
 deros, of Malatia, as she said to Miss Seymour, " This is my pas 
 tor" That word and look was more than a sermon to my mind : 
 It spoke volumes for the endearing relation of pastor and people. 
 Mr. Williams entered heartily into the spirit of the evening, and 
 I saw him trying to converse with B. Simeon, of Bitlis : As his 
 language was Arabic, and his stock of Turkish words was 
 limited, he requested me to ask the brother from Bitlis how he 
 would enjoy being really settled over his flock, drawing his 
 support from them. And when the good man said that he had 
 been thinking much about it since he came to Harpoot ; and, 
 now that he felt it was the will of God, he could no longer 
 withhold his consent, Mr. Williams was overjoyed, and ex 
 claimed, " Glory to God !" Adding, " There is no more blessed 
 work on earth than that of a loving and beloved pastor of a 
 
636 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 loving people. Your beard is still black ; you may yet bring 
 hundreds into the kingdom." 
 
 In the course of the evening " Come to Jesus " was sung by 
 the six Koords (or Koordish-speaking Armenians) now sup 
 ported by the "Union." Soon the Syrian students joined, 
 with their Howadji, in Arabic ; then the Armenians, and oth 
 ers, in Turkish and English, till all were singing in five differ 
 ent tongues ! Pastor Marderos, of Malatia, was requested to 
 conduct the closing exercise ; and he directed our thoughts to 
 the great company of the Redeemed, by reading a chapter of 
 Revelation. He spoke with much pathos ; said that he could 
 think of nothing but Heaven all the evening ; and in a few 
 chosen words, caused us to look forward to an eternal reunion 
 in the presence of our Lord and Savior. We sang, "Joyfully, 
 joyfully, onward we move," and then united with him in prayer. 
 
 It was half-past ten o clock when all had departed. At 
 leaving, each one came to thank me for the pleasure enjoyed. 
 Their faces expressed even more than their words. Sadie said 
 it had been a "sweet evening;" others remarked that it was 
 the pleasantest evening they had ever enjoyed, and that they 
 could never forget it. The missionaries voted it a " success ;" 
 and I was more than satisfied ; so happy that I could not sleep, 
 that night, for very joy ! 
 
 FINISHING TOUCHES. 
 
 Sunday was a blessed day ! The Anniversary sermon in the 
 morning, by Pastor Hagop, of Hculakegh, was excellent, and 
 full of the apostolic spirit ; and in the afternoon we had a pre 
 cious season of Communion around the Master s table. 
 
 It was interesting to see, in that crowded chapel, so many 
 of both schools, to whom it was a special preparation for the 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 637 
 
 service upon which they were soon to enter. B. Simeon offered 
 the closing prayer, and to the petition, " May we all grow gray 
 in the service of Christ, enduring hardness as good soldiers," 
 our hearts responded, "Amen /" 
 
 Monday brought a constant succession of callers to my 
 room to say good-bye ; in the afternoon three of the pastors 
 came, with a couple of laymen, to examine five of our girls 
 for admission to the church. These girls belonged to other 
 towns, but it seemed wise that the examination should take 
 place where they had professed to have commenced a new life ; 
 and B. Simeon particularly wished it in his daughter s case. 
 I was much gratified with the appearance of the girls, and 
 queried whether the " Committee" had ever before received 
 so intelligent and prompt, yet modest replies, from that class 
 of candidates. They seemed quite affected by some of the 
 answers given to their close and searching questions. [Three 
 of the girls were accepted, and the others advised to wait 
 awhile.] Manoosh, especially, appeared wonderfully well. Her 
 mind had undergone a marked transformation by the inwork- 
 ing of the Holy Spirit ; to nothing else could I attribute such 
 a waking up of intellect and heart. She was most anxious to 
 go to Moosh ; and they wished to know the impelling motive 
 of her desire to labor in that dark and distant region ; why she 
 could not as well serve Christ in her native town, where were 
 plenty of souls as precious and as needy. At last she could 
 say no more ; she had said all that she could say with pro 
 priety, when an older companion very discreetly remarked, 
 " Manoosh cannot well state the reason why it is better for her 
 to work elsewhere. She has seen other graduates of the school 
 there turned aside from Christ s work, and she fears that if she 
 remains at home, it will be the same with herself." This sent 
 
638 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 a few quiet drops from Manoosh s eyes ; the pastors were very 
 sympathetic, and said at once, "Ah, we understand it now." 
 Strangely enough, I had failed to see her difficulty, and helped 
 to probe the case even more closely ; not thinking of the dan 
 ger which was now very evident, of worldly friends marrying 
 her to some one in common business life. 
 
 The missionaries had tried to guard against this from the 
 commencement, by making a rule that every pupil educated 
 at the expense of the Board, should teach for two years after 
 finishing her course of study ; and that if she was married to 
 other than a helper or preacher, the sum expended should be 
 refunded. This was actually done in one or two cases; a 
 merchant in town bringing a sum of money and a watch to the 
 missionaries, because he had taken for his own worldly self 
 one of our educated and trained maidens ! The rule, however, 
 served its purpose as a safeguard ; for one such example made 
 others more wary ! But it is delightful to note the change in 
 public opinion. "Educated wives" are esteemed the more 
 highly from the very fact of their scarcity and choiceness. The 
 people have sometimes said, "You missionaries have angels 
 for wives !" " Very well," was the reply. " Christianize and 
 educate the daughters of the land, and you also can have an 
 gels for wives ! " And the mothers, even of the Old Church 
 Armenians, are now anxious to secure Protestant husbands for 
 their daughters, "because," they say, "they are kind to their 
 wives" The close of a school-year is generally signalized by 
 matrimonial engagements, and perhaps a wedding or two 
 among our students. And, as of old, my aid has often been 
 called in requisition. It seemed rather remarkable, however, 
 that the first case which presented itself after my arrival in this 
 region, was that of the disconsolate preacher who lost the prize 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 639 
 
 upon which he had fixed his eyes, when a theologue at Con 
 stantinople. He came on from Sivas, where he was stationed, 
 and finally carried back with him a fair, blue-eyed damsel, who 
 healed the old wound in his heart ! 
 
 THE SEQUEL OF SUMMER WORK. 
 
 That same evening one of the students came with his wife 
 to my room, and remained for four hours in earnest conversa 
 tion. He was evidently disaffected ; for he wanted more Eng 
 lish and less Bible ! A man of talent, but of a worldly spirit. 
 I advised him to go to Robert College,* at Constantinople, 
 where he could get all he desired, by paying for it ; but this 
 
 he did not seemed inclined to do But it is all over at 
 
 last ! We have seen the schools disbanded, and watched a large 
 cavalcade of missionaries, pastors, preachers, teachers, delegates 
 from the various churches (and students to be examined for 
 licensure), leaving the city to attend the meeting of the Evan 
 gelical Union at Diarbekir, whence they will proceed to Mar- 
 
 * That College, for all nationalities, founded by Christopher R. 
 Robert, Esq., of New York (though without the slightest intention of 
 having his name connected with it, which was, in fact, done without 
 his knowledge or consent, as the Constantinople trustees esteemed 
 it the least obnoxious to the Turkish Government), has already 
 acquired a name and a wide -spread fame thoughout the country 
 under the administration of its well-known President, Dr. Hamlin, 
 whose varied and remarkable gifts have made him a power in the 
 land, alike admired and feared by Government officials, who have 
 tried in vain to thwart his plans. " When will that man die ?" cried 
 an indignant Pasha, who had repeatedly sought to crush his efforts, 
 only to see them renewed in some other form, and despaired of doing 
 anything with such uncommon material I As a self-supporting insti 
 tution, it is a complete success. And its two hundred students, 
 comprising Turks, Greeks, Jews, Armenians, Bulgarians, and others, 
 sometimes amounting to seventeen nationalities, are fitting for the high 
 places of power and influence in the East. 
 
640 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 din, and then to Bitlis : An "Army of the Lord," whose pro 
 gress through the country will leave in its train, not devastation 
 and famine, but the richest blessings which the Gospel can 
 bestow. And as we close the window, take a seat in an arm 
 chair, and fold our hands in quiet, we draw a long breath, and 
 ejaculate (as we were wont to hear our mirthful " Father Good- 
 ell," in former days, when he had seen a company fairly started 
 upon their journey), " i And the land had rest forty years P " 
 [How we miss the charming letters from that facile pen, since 
 he joined the company of the Redeemed ! 
 
 In his "farewell" to me on leaving the country, he wrote, 
 " And shall I never see you again this side Heaven ? Well, 
 I hope through grace to you and to us, we shall meet there 
 and meet many other dear friends too and more especially 
 HIM whom we have long known and professed to love, and 
 through whose infinite kindness it is that we have ever learned 
 the blessed truth, that he who dwellcth in love, dwellcth in 
 
 God, and GOD IN HIM. We are now in the midst of 
 
 packing, and selling, preparatory to our removal. You can 
 hardly conceive what an amount of takum-makum of pure 
 trash I have, which is not worth the carrying away, nor worth 
 the burning up if you have to purchase the fuel. Such, I sup 
 pose, is the character of a great deal of our Religion, which we 
 are at great pains to carry with us all through the world, but 
 which we can never cross the Jordan with ; and the sooner we 
 get rid of it, the better ! Let us hold to this, 
 
 " I m a poor sinner, just nothing at all, 
 But Jesus Christ is my all in all." .... 
 
 Everything else we may let go, being better without than with 
 it And now, my dear child, farewell, till we meet again, 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 641 
 
 " On the other side of Jordan, 
 In the sweet fields of Eden, 
 Where the tree of Life doth bloom."] .... 
 
 " Well, if one ever feels that he is a poor sinner, just noth 
 ing at ally it is after such a prolonged strain as this ! There 
 comes such a season of depression, that it makes you doubt 
 whether, after all, you are a Christian ! Who knows ? All 
 this activity may be merely the result of natural energy, and 
 the work accomplished so much wood, hay, stubble, which 
 shall be burned up at last. For, the Day shall declare it ; 
 and the fire shall try every man s work of what sort it is. " 
 
 "Oh, yes; we all know that you are a great sinner !" 
 says the Howadji, laughing. " I have been watching for this, 
 or for an illness, the last few weeks ; and I think that the best 
 course to be pursued now, is to show his Satanic Majesty the 
 back door, as quickly as possible !" 
 
 The question of my departure is again revived by letters 
 from Marsovan. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard are going home in 
 the early Spring, their first vacation after ten years of unwearied 
 service ; they are very solicitious that I should accompany 
 them, and Mr. L. will come to Sivas to meet me, if an escort 
 can be obtained to that city. And a letter from the motherly 
 friend in New York, says, "Pack your trunks at once, and 
 go to England ! As long as you stay there, they will keep 
 you at work." (It is the first approach to a command, or even 
 
 an injunction, received from that source.) The escort 
 
 is found, in a young physician lately added to our staff of mis 
 sionaries, and rny preparations are being made, when one 
 Saturday, two of the women come to my room, and before 
 they can make known the object of their call, burst into tears. 
 "What is the matter?" I inquire. " Oh, we hear that you are 
 
6|2 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 going away !" And for a moment they can say nothing more, 
 but hand me a letter written by one of the preachers, in behalf 
 of all the others, as also of the School. " Stay one year longer," 
 they plead, "till the new teachers are ready for the work, and 
 then if you must go, we will say no more." I promise to 
 to consider the subject prayerfully, and they leave. Sunday is 
 given to the consideration of the matter, and before the night, 
 I conclude to remain. (It afterward appeared that these 
 women and others had observed that day in fasting and prayer.) 
 Duty to myself seems to call me away ; but there are times 
 when self must be sacrificed for the "greatest good of the 
 greatest number." 
 
 November was drawing to a close, and for two or more 
 weeks no tidings had come from the absent Badvelis, who were 
 traveling through a dangerous and desolate region. Our appre 
 hensions for their safety were growing very decided and pain 
 ful, when one morning they made their appearance. They 
 looked, indeed, like battered soldiers, returned from the war ! 
 The Apostle s experience " in joumeyings often," was literally 
 theirs ; for they had passed through perils in fording rivers, 
 perils by " false brethren," or guides, and perils by robbers. 
 And the youngest of the three, fresh from College and Semi 
 nary life, to whom this initiation into the hardships and 
 exposures of missionary life had been very abrupt and severe, 
 seemed utterly exhausted, and staggered against the wall, as 
 if unable to stand. The older missionaries were somewhat 
 hardened to it, but this journey was, even to them, a very try 
 ing experience. It is so much trouble and expense to carry 
 beds, that they burden themselves with as little as possible ; 
 a traveling shawl for a covering, and saddle-bags for pillows, 
 is about all that they use in that line. This may do for a night 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 643 
 
 or two, but when it extends to weeks of hard travel in mission 
 ary tours demanding incessant labor, added to irregular, and 
 often very poor fare, it is hard to " flesh and blood ;" and they 
 grow old fast. It appeared that on this journey they had gone 
 without the usual stimulus and cheer of tea, because of the 
 large company with whom they were traveling. And the milk, 
 which they procured as a substitute, was often poor. In fact, 
 the country through which they passed was so poverty-stricken, 
 that they scarcely found anything in the shape of food or lodg 
 ings which could be called comfortable. Pastor Marderos told 
 us that he never yet had seen any of his countrymen so poor, 
 as a class, that they could not afford beds, or clothing sufficient 
 to cover their nakedness. " We parted with every garment of 
 our own that we could spare for them," he said, referring to 
 himself and his brother pastors. 
 
 A few weeks later, Mr. H. S. Barnum was prostrated with 
 typhoid fever of the most alarming character ; and when his natu 
 rally strong constitution rallied, and he was beginning to appear 
 among us once more, his wife (who had cared for him when only 
 her voice and hand could soothe) was suddenly taken ill, and in 
 one short week, was laid to rest by the side of her infant, pre 
 maturely born : In less than one short year, a bride, a wife, a 
 missionary, a mother, an angel ! 
 
 At the same time Mrs. Williams was lying very low in an 
 other part of the same house : And during that period the doc 
 tor ordered a " quarantine " for all who were not in necessary at 
 tendance upon the dying one, who he feared had some conta 
 gious disease (much resembling confluent small-pox). Words 
 can never picture the trying scenes of those weeks ! But the 
 storm passed over, and again we rejoiced in the mercy and 
 goodness that left us so many blessings. 
 
644 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 HOC F.LI, AND IfAJI ANNA. 
 
 Soon after my arrival at Harpoot, Mr. Wheeler invited me 
 to join him in a ride to the village of Hooeli, two or three 
 hours distant. It appeared that the people of that place were 
 very bigoted, and had long resisted the introduction of the 
 Gospel ; but now the leaven had so spread, that the little band 
 of Protestants there gathered, were ready and anxious for the 
 building of a chapel. We had a rapid and pleasant ride over 
 the plain, and while the Badveli was surveying the ground for 
 the new house of worship, I clambered up a rude ladder to the 
 roof, where the helper had his room. None of the missionary 
 ladies had ever visited Hooeli, and I was an object of much 
 curiosity and interest to the women. They swarmed around 
 me like so many bees, examining and chattering about every 
 article of dress which was to them new and strange. A num 
 ber of them carried their children on their shoulders, and 
 stood, gaping, with open eyes and mouths ; and altogether 
 that company of twenty or thirty women and girls seemed more 
 rude and uncivilized than any whom I had yet seen around 
 Harpoot. With some difficulty, they were persuaded to enter 
 the room, and be seated, while I read a few verses from the 
 Testament ; but new ones were coming in, and others running 
 out and laughing, till I almost despaired of doing any good. 
 Finally, I said, "Wouldn t you like to learn a little prayer?" 
 The idea of their saying a prayer was something entirely new. 
 They had supposed that the priest must do their praying for 
 them, in the church, and therefore asked, " How can we pray, 
 when we are not learned ?" " I will teach you a little prayer," 
 I answered, " if you will only be quiet for a few moments." This 
 pleased them, and I at once repeated a translation of Watts 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 645 
 
 " Lord, teach a little child to pray" changing it to "Lord, 
 teach this poor sinner how to pray ;" the syllables being the 
 same in Armenian. Giving them one line at a time, very 
 slowly and distinctly, they were soon engaged in repeating it in 
 concert, swaying the body back and forth, and nodding their 
 heads at one another, like so many rampant school-children. 
 Now and then I would pause, and explain the meaning of the 
 words, the remainder of which were, in substance, "And send 
 Thy Holy Spirit down, to cleanse my sinful heart." By-and- 
 by one of the women cried out, " I can say it !" "Well, let 
 us hear you." She broke down, however, causing a general 
 laugh ; but in a few moments another repeated it correctly, which 
 inspired all the rest, and they exclaimed, " Let us say it some 
 more !" And then one, and another, and still another recited 
 the verse without a, mistake. Word was now brought that the 
 Badveli was ready to go ; so I bade them not forget what they 
 had learned, but say it over and over a hundred times a day 
 in the cotton or tobacco fields, or the vineyards ; at their 
 spinning or weaving, or scrubbing, whatever they were doing, 
 to lift their hearts in prayer to God, and to remember that if 
 they really wanted what they asked, He would surely give it to 
 them, for He looked right into their hearts, and could tell 
 whether they were in earnest. As I bade them good-bye, they 
 
 inquired my name, that they might remember me 
 
 Two years passed away ; and for the second time I visited 
 the village in company with Mr. Wheeler. It was during the 
 Revival, and Hooeli had shared in the blessing. We were 
 received at the house of two of the leading Protestants, men 
 of influence and property, who had freely spent their time and 
 money to promote the cause of Christ among their people. 
 Their mother, Haji Anna, was about sixty years of age, strong, 
 
646 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 thrifty, and rather rough, if not coarse in her way of speaking ; 
 evidently a woman of acknowledged force and power among 
 her own sex. She had been very bitter against the truth from 
 the first, and raved at her two sons, Peter and Paul, for expend 
 ing their money so freely in building the chapel. 
 
 It was almost time for the evening meeting, and Boghos, 
 who wished to honor his guests, proceeded to make us a cup 
 of tea. His business frequently took him to Erzeroom, and he 
 had brought home a few pounds of the fragrant herb, also the 
 small sheet-iron stove, by which we were sitting. When the tea 
 was prepared, he poured it into a glass (after the Russian fash 
 ion), and dropping in a lump of sugar, stirred it with a pewter 
 spoon, and then tasted it ; this he repeated half a dozen times, 
 and then with a triumphant air (as if fully posted in our cus 
 tom of serving the ladies first), handed it to me ! Greatly to 
 his discomfiture, I was obliged to tell him that I never took 
 sugar in my tea (which w r as very true). And he seemed 
 amazed, for according to his idea, that was the best part of it ! 
 As we passed from roof to roof the length of the street, on our 
 way to the meeting, a woman came out from her inner stairway, 
 and the bride (wife of Boghos), said, "That woman remembers 
 you, and the prayer that you taught us !" So much had oc 
 curred to occupy my mind during the interval, that I had for 
 gotten the particulars of that visit. The neighbor came toward 
 us, and at once remembered me, stopping there under the stars, 
 to repeat the little prayer. We descended a ladder, crossed 
 the muddy street, and entered the chapel. The house was 
 nearly filled, with a quiet and orderly assembly of men and wom 
 en. Cushions had been piled up for me at one side of the 
 pulpit, on the women s side, but I drew one of them away and 
 sat down among them, at which they were pleased. It was the 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 647 
 
 evening of Friday, and Mr. Wheeler gave a very practical dis 
 course on fasting, suited to their need, for a most fast-ridden 
 people are the people of Hooeli ! and when the meeting was 
 ended, the women gathered around, with smiles of recognition. 
 " This is the Maritsa that we have been wanting to see !" they 
 said, adding, "We remember the little prayer that you taught 
 us !" And one and another repeated it, asking," Do you re 
 member me ?" as they pressed closer and closer. The fact was, 
 I remembered but one, who had lost the sight of an eye, and 
 had a very peculiar face, which had impressed itself on my 
 mind ; but I did not wish to hurt them by saying so, and my 
 surprise and pleasure at their progress diverted their attention. 
 The next day I was much surprised when Haji Anna took 
 her seat by my side, and said, " I know nothing ; teach me, 
 pray for me !" When I told her that she must pray for her 
 self, she replied, " I can t ; I don t know how !" I taught 
 her the little prayer in verse, and she repeated again and 
 again, " Lord, teach this poor sinner how to pray, and send 
 thy Holy Spirit down to cleanse my sinful heart," some 
 times shutting her eyes tightly to repress the tears. At noon, 
 we go to the chapel for a " women s meeting." A crowd 
 have already assembled, and more are thronging in a noisy 
 gathering. The frosty air plainly shows the exhalations from 
 their lungs, and we are almost stifled with clouds of dust 
 from the earth floor ! Standing in front of the desk, we lift 
 up our voice, and enjoin order and silence. In a few mo 
 ments the women have all taken their seats, and Maranos 
 looks after the larger children, and those who may come in 
 still later. After singing a familiar hymn, and uniting in 
 prayer for the presence and aid of the Divine Teacher, we 
 read a portion of Scripture. But when we proceed to un- 
 
648 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 fold its meaning and apply its principles, we see a vast differ 
 ence among our hearers. The Spirit has evidently been at 
 work upon some of these hearts ; their anxious countenances 
 show deep concern for their souls. Tears are filling the eyes 
 and wetting the face of many an aged woman ac the query 
 comes, " Which road are you traveling?" for life and death 
 has been set before them, in the " Narrow," and the " Broad 
 way." Before we close, we ask all those who think that they 
 have given their hand to Jesus to lead them in the " straight 
 and narrow path," to rise. Slowly and solemnly one after 
 another rises, till ten women are standing before us. After 
 a few words to these, we ask for those who really desire now 
 to give their hearts to Jesus. They all seem impressed with 
 the responsibility of the act, and none appear to act care 
 lessly, or without thought. Fifteen more, both old and 
 young, are now on their feet, and very still and solemn is 
 the place ; we feel that God is present, and in silence bow 
 our heads while Maranos leads us to the throne of grace in 
 a prayer of consecration to " Him who loved us and gave 
 Himself for us, that we might henceforth live, not to ourselves, 
 but to His honor and glory." And after a few words with 
 those who lingered to entreat our prayers, that company of 
 
 one hundred and fifty women was dispersed An 
 
 occasional visit since that time, served to deepen the interest 
 in those who seemed so promising. The progress of that 
 people has really been astonishing. The first chapel 
 proved too small, and of their own accord, and with 
 little encouragement from the missionaries, who thought 
 them foolish for attempting another so soon, they built a 
 second and larger one, turning the first into parsonage and 
 school-rooms. And this Winter our good Maranos has been 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 649 
 
 spending there in teaching the women and assisting in the 
 superintendence of a day school for girls, taught by one of 
 our younger pupils. Boghos, the son of Haji Anna, was al 
 ways ready to do anything in his power to help, during these 
 visits. The chapel would be swept, and the bell rung, (for, 
 during one of his visits to Erzeroom, he received from a Rus 
 sian merchant with whom he did business, the present of a 
 good-sized bell for the chapel, and as there were few Turks 
 in the village, had succeeded in using it).* He frequently 
 called to see me, when in the city, and after Maranos had 
 commenced her work there, said, rather significantly, " Var- 
 zhoohi, we need a stove for Maranos s room; you know 
 she is not strong, and the weather is very severe." " Very 
 well," I replied, " B. Garabed has plenty of them for sale." 
 He smiled, but said, " You know that is not what I want !" 
 " Yes, I know what you want ; it is that I help you to pur 
 chase one. And I would deny myself to do it, if I did not 
 know that it would injure the cause. Maranos has never 
 been used to a stove, at home : And suppose that we should 
 make an exception in her case, there is Juhar, Takoohi, and 
 several others of our graduates who are teaching in other 
 places ; and if we help one, we must help all. The people 
 will make no exception." He was not convinced, but went 
 away without any aid. I feared that he did not feel kindly, 
 
 * Boghos told me, with much pleasure, of his thinking out a sys 
 tem of signals for this bell -, So many strokes would indicate a 
 meeting of the church mejlis council and so many denote ordinary 
 gatherings. " One day," said he, " I was sitting in the Turkish mejlis, 
 and the bell began to strike. I listened, and then said to the Effendi, 
 I must go, for a Protestant is dead ! He was greatly surprised, and 
 asked me how I knew, since none had come to tell me. And I ex- 
 plained to him that the bell told me : for I counted four, which meant 
 a man ; and he stroked his beard, and said, Mashallah ! " 
 28 
 
650 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 but a few weeks after received a polite note inviting me to 
 come down with the new teachers to the examination of the 
 two schools. It was March, and the day appointed proved 
 very stormy and unpleasant. But here was an opportunity 
 to show the people that we do not seek our own pleasure in 
 riding about. My horse slipped and fell on the ice, before 
 we had gone many yards from the konak ; but though the 
 wind blew the sleet in our faces, we were so well protected 
 that with the escort of Bedros, we reached the village with 
 out much discomfort. Boghos came out to meet us with 
 a hearty welcome, expressing surprise that we had ventured 
 in the storm. "The people had come in from the other 
 villages," he said, " but we were going to send them away, if 
 you did not come, and have the Examination another day!" 
 However, he rubbed his hands in glee that no change was 
 necessary, and we would have encountered much more than 
 that eight or ten miles ride, in spite of mud and sleet, rather 
 than have caused such a disappointment. The examination 
 of the two schools took place in the chapel at the same time ; 
 each in turn going through with an exercise, and both unit 
 ing in the singing. Ytisef, one of Mr. Williams s students, 
 who had learned Armenian, had charge of the boys, and 
 Marta, one of our pupils, was the teacher of the girls : Each 
 had a written programme, and followed it to the letter in re 
 gard to time. Classes were examined in Arithmetic, Geog 
 raphy, Grammar, Reading, " Spelling down ;" and Writing 
 Books were passed around for exhibition. There were also 
 exercises in recitation, declamation, and reading of essays, 
 which were really very creditable ; and when one looked back 
 to the state of utter ignorance in which that people were living 
 but four or five years before, the change seemed marvelous. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 651 
 
 In the midst of it all, I was pleased to hear a villager call out, 
 "I like this! Go on ; I could hear it all day!" The two 
 teachers, standing on either side of the pulpit, were very 
 dignified and self-possessed. They had evidently copied 
 after our City Schools in their plan and conduct of the entire 
 arrangements. At the close, several speeches were made by 
 the brethren, in which most honorable and grateful mention 
 was made of the " * American Board Society, to whom un 
 der God, they as a people owed everything that was good 
 and hopeful for the future." 
 
 Misses Seymour and Warfield were obliged to leave with 
 Bedros, an hour or two before it ended, that they might 
 reach the city ere it was dark ; and I meanwhile had prom 
 ised to remain at Hooeli for a few days. I would not have 
 missed one word of those simple speeches, so full of heart, 
 and showing how it develops a people to do for themselves ! 
 The beaming looks of satisfaction upon the faces of those 
 plain, substantial men, was worth more than stores of gold ! 
 Boghos had provided a stove for the chapel, which was com 
 fortably warm, and he opened the door of Maranos s room to 
 display another, saying, with a smile, "We did get it, you 
 see, after all !" " Yes, and I am glad of it, since it was with 
 your own money!" I replied. And after we had returned 
 to his home, and were talking over the events of the day, he 
 remarked, " The more we do for ourselves, the more we shall 
 realize what the missionaries have done for us !" " That," 
 I said, " is exactly the way with children ; I have heard many 
 a mother say that she never knew how much she owed to 
 her parents, till she had a child of her own !" 
 
 The " week of prayer " still continued in Hooeli, and that 
 evening the spacious chapel contained a goodly assembly of 
 
052 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 earnest men and women for a Prayer and Conference meet 
 ing. 
 
 When we had returned to the house, the people began to 
 come in, and soon the room was quite filled. A white-haired, 
 venerable-looking man in the corner had taken the big Bible, 
 and when an opportunity offered, he began what I knew would 
 be an endless discussion about " foolish questions," and " words 
 to no profit," according to the custom of many Armenians, 
 by saying : " Varzhoohi, when the angels were spilled out of 
 Heaven, was it because they would not fall down and worship 
 the new-born Son of the Virgin Mary ? " Every eye in the 
 room was now turned upon me, and every ear open to catch 
 my answer. 
 
 Wishing to " leave off contention before it be meddled with," 
 according to Scripture, I simply answered, ^ I don! t know ; for 
 I was not there! " The laugh that followed, caused the old man 
 to close the book, nor did he again open his lips, though I 
 afterward understood that he was primed with majiy equally 
 profound questions with which to gratify his own vanity, and 
 amuse the bystanders. Taking my Testament, I turned to 
 Paul s words to Timothy on that subject of " fables and endless 
 genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edify 
 ing which is in faith." After a little pleasant conversation, one 
 of the brethren said : " Won t you please teach us that new 
 song that has just come out in the Avedaper ? Shall we 
 gather at the River? And soon all were singing it, over 
 and over again, never wearying, till my voice grew husky in 
 leading them. At length they left, and I was hoping for a lit 
 tle rest, when Itoghos, after going out with some of the breth 
 ren, came to me with an air of mystery, and said : " Four or 
 five of us brethren wish to talk with you about a very im- 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 653 
 
 portant matter." "Why, it is no\v nearly midnight," I said, 
 looking at my watch. "Well, it won t take more than a few 
 minutes," he replied, and seemed so earnest about it that I 
 could not say him nay. The women were sent out of the 
 room, and to my surprise, the "important matter" was about 
 the selection of a spiritual shepherd. Their preacher had done 
 admirably in laying foundations he was a natural pioneer ; 
 but not so well fitted to " feed the flock." As they expressed 
 it, "his stock of feed had run out /" (and he could not, or 
 would not, study to secure a fresh supply). Long and ear 
 nestly these brethren talked of their great needs, and begged 
 for my assistance in securing one a student upon whom they 
 had set their hearts. 
 
 I told them again and again that in such matters I had no 
 voice ; but finally, as I felt the force of their arguments, con 
 sented to give the weight of my influence in that direction. [It 
 afterward appeared that the man of their choice was elected 
 for Palu a centre of great importance in a large, outlying 
 district. The account of his ordination, as given by one of 
 the missionaries, was very interesting, especially the " charge," 
 by Pastor Marderos, of Harpoot. " Alluding in a touching 
 way to the youth of the candidate the youngest among us 
 on whom hands have yet been laid for this high office he 
 went on to say that two memorials would be constantly before 
 him to aid him in remembering his duty. Pointing towards the 
 Euphrates, which flows at the foot of the hill on which the city 
 is built, he said, This river witnessed the expulsion of Adam 
 from Paradise, because he forgot the high dignity and re 
 sponsibility of the position in which God had placed him, and 
 sought his own selfish indulgence. Again, pointing up to the 
 lofty castle-crowned height which separates the two portions of 
 
654 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the city, and one of whose caves, dug in its rocky summit, 
 Armenian tradition makes the residence of Mesrob, the saintly 
 man who, many centuries ago, gave the nation their alphabet 
 and Bible, and dwelling for a few moments on his history and 
 character, and especially his self-denying, self-forgetful labors 
 to elevate his people, he added, HE ONLY is WORTHY OF RE 
 MEMBRANCE ON EARTH WHO FORGETS HIMSELF ! Words fit 
 
 to be engraven in letters of gold ! "] 
 
 During my former visits the entire family had camped down 
 in that which was known as the "living room"; the floor 
 thickly covered over with beds, Maranos, or another of my 
 pupils, sleeping at my feet, and the Badveli on the divan, Haji 
 Anna in one corner, and so on. 
 
 Now, however, greatly to my satisfaction, the family ad 
 journed to another room below, and I was left to solitary repose. 
 Though very grateful, I was rather surprised at this, for noth 
 ing had so awakened the sympathy and compassion of my 
 pupils as the fact that I had to sleep in a room "all by 
 myself! " An allusion to it brought tears to their eyes at once. 
 The first rays of The cold, gray morning were coming through 
 the window, when I heard the voice of my good host calling, 
 " Come, sister ! " This was for the sunrise prayer-meeting in the 
 chapel, which was well attended. At twelve o clock I went to 
 see the Bible class, which Maranos taught for an hour every day 
 in the same place. There were twenty-five women, forming a 
 semi-circle around her, each with a Reference-Bible in her 
 hands ; and the answers they gave to her questions denoted 
 an intelligent study of the Word. Outside the railing sat a 
 row of mothers-in-law and grandmothers, with their Primers, 
 waiting their turn to take a lesson. " At first," said Mara 
 nos, "they wept, and felt disgraced to have their brides 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 655 
 
 uncover their mouths* and speak, or read aloud, in their pres 
 ence ; but now they are quite proud of their progress." 
 
 The remainder of the week was spent in family visitation, 
 with meetings for the mothers and children.f Sunday dawned ; 
 I was to leave the next morning, and a meeting for the wom 
 en was announced from the desk, to take place after the 
 second service. As we were going to the chapel, several 
 gay-appearing women met us on the roofs, and one of them, 
 catching my hand, cried : " Come, now, and dance with us, 
 and we will have a merry time ! " While speaking to her of 
 
 * These women were accustomed to wear a dark kerchief over the 
 lower part of the face, by day and by night, in Summer and in Winter : 
 And it was pitiful to see the blush of shame that mantled their faces 
 when it was first drawn aside, that their voices might be better heard 
 in reading. When eating or drinking, the head was always turned 
 away, and the mouth screened from observation, especially of the 
 husband s relatives : Sitting among them, and mentally contrasting 
 their condition with that of the .self-styled "lords of creation," I too 
 have felt a sense of degradation, and, for the first time, wished that 
 I had been born a man ! 
 
 f One hundred boys, fifty girls, with twenty-five women, gathered 
 for the first Children s Meeting. Their attention was soon secured 
 by an account of similar meetings at the City : And then I asked, 
 " Children, which do you like best, a good boy, or a bad boy?" In 
 stantly every voice replied, " A good boy!" " Why? what is it that 
 a bad boy or girl does?" They began to enumerate " Lying, steal 
 ing, swearing, quarrelling," and every now and then, as they were 
 set to thinking of more bad things, a bright face was lifted up with 
 a new thought beaming from the eyes. Next came the question, 
 " Which are you ? good, or bad boys and girls ? " With one voice 
 they answered, " WE ARE BAD !" " Oh, how sad ! but what becomes 
 of bad boys and girls?" and the unqualified and startling answer 
 from many lips was, " They go to Hell /" This paved the way for a 
 clear setting forth of the Good Shepherd, and His love and care for the 
 lambs, whom He will keep from the Destroying Wolf, if only they 
 follow Him. We closed by singing, " I was a wandering sheep, I 
 did not love the fold," and the mothers (who sat behind) were much 
 affected. 
 
656 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 God s command to honor His holy day, some men drew near 
 to listen, and said : " She is right ; it is wrong to break the 
 Sabbath;" and it ended in our inviting a number of those wom 
 en to our meeting that afternoon. 
 
 Two hundred Armenian women sat before me, wrapped in 
 their white sheets, at the time appointed. Among these were 
 some whose faces were there seen for the first time. I was 
 speaking of Christ s words, "What shall it profit a man, if he 
 gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ?" and asked the 
 question: "Are you now ready to forsake ALL for Christ?" 
 when, as I paused, a sound came to my ear as of one speak 
 ing, and glancing at Haji Anna, who at every meeting sat as 
 near my side as she could get, I saw her hands tightly clasped, 
 and her eyes closed to prevent the gathering tears from falling, 
 and heard her say, "Yes, Jesus, I will leave ALL to follow 
 Thee ! " 
 
 At the close of the meeting, I told the Christian sisters that 
 this was probably my last visit, for the School would soon com 
 mence, and I must ere long go to my native land to renew my 
 strength, if I was ever to labor more for their people ; add 
 ing, that I would like to unite with some of them in prayer. 
 Without waiting, one arose and poured forth her soul in suppli 
 cation and thanksgiving ; and then another and another, till six 
 prayers had been offered. And such prayers ! So Scriptural, 
 so elevated, and in such language that I could scarcely credit 
 my hearing ; and again I exclaimed, " What hath Cod 
 wrought!" Could any mere HUMAN TKACHIXO have accom 
 plished SUCH RESULTS with SUCH MATERIAL, in the space of 
 three or four short years ? 
 
 The meeting had closed, and the women were lingering a 
 little, as usual, when I said to them : " Sisters, the brethren 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 657 
 
 have requested me to ask whether you cannot do a little more 
 to help pay off the debt on this chapel. They acknowledge 
 that you have already done nobly ; but there is still a debt of 
 eight hundred piastres, and if you and they strain every nerve, 
 they think that every impediment in the way of the Lord s 
 chariot wheels may be removed." 
 
 There was a moment s silence, as they looked at one 
 another as if to inquire, " What can we do more ? " when Haji 
 Anna came to me, and holding up her right arm upon which 
 was a broad, heavy, and elaborately-wrought silver bracelet 
 said : " Varzhoohi, will you push out the little slide by which 
 it is clasped ? " It had probably never left her arm since 
 placed there in her youthful days (it may be fifty years agone), 
 and the slide was so worn and wedged in with earth by con 
 stant wearing at her work in the vineyards, as well as at home, 
 that it was impossible to dislodge it. One of the men (of 
 whom there were always a few lingering around the door, from 
 curiosity, or to pick, up the crumbs which fell from the table) 
 was called forward, and by the aid of a nail he succeeded in 
 knocking it out, and the last of Haji Anna s jewels was 
 dropped into the treasury of the Lord ! And then commenced 
 such a cutting off of ornaments as I had never yet seen. A 
 bride, who, now that her " Maker" was her " husband," had for 
 gotten, or lightly prized other than the u ornament of a meek 
 and quiet spirit," took off a very graceful festoon of silver 
 chains and leaves, which hung from her head-dress, upon her 
 forehead ; and another detached from her necklace, a beauti 
 fully-wrought and expensive " charm," in the form of a trian 
 gle (a symbol of the Trinity), embellished with a turquoise and 
 rubies, and containing, as in a locket, a piece of paper with a 
 few magic words, written and blessed by the priest, to preserve 
 28* 
 
658 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 her from the " Evil eye."* But with the Lord for her Pre 
 server and Protector, the superstitious "charm" was no 
 longer needed, and she gladly cast it into His treasury, as 
 a token of her trust and love. A poor, middle-aged woman 
 wore upon her neck a copper chain, upon which was sus 
 pended a row of silver coins, so worn by time that the in 
 scription upon them was nearly effaced ; and the large 
 ornamental piece in the centre was re-fastened to its time- 
 worn silver lining, by rivets of brass. It looked very an 
 cient, and may have been handed down for many generations 
 in her family ; but, although it was the only relic she had left 
 of former times, it was esteemed as nothing in comparison 
 with the infinite and priceless treasures of which she had now 
 become an heir through the Love of her Savior ; and for His 
 dear sake she joyfully cast in her little all ! I could not utter 
 one word while this wholly unexpected and entirely voluntary 
 contribution was in progress. I had never in my missionary 
 life suggested or even hinted the propriety of taking off one s 
 jewelry in self-denial for Christ s work, for I felt that here, as 
 at home, every conscience must act for itself in such matters. 
 But my heart was full of praise as I looked, and listened, 
 and wondered at the precious fruits put forth by these new 
 plants of righteousness in the Vineyard of the Lord. A large 
 handkerchief filled with these free-will offerings was given me 
 to carry to the city, to be melted as old silver, and exchanged 
 for coin, consecrated to the Cause of Christ As some 
 
 * The wearing of a charm is universal in the East. If a Turkish 
 mother has a beautiful boy, and sees some one gazing intently upon 
 him, she is terrified unless he is protected by a charm ; lest envy or 
 malice should bring down maledictions upon his innocent head, caus 
 ing an earl) death, or all imaginable evil. Favorite horses are also 
 hus protected among all classes. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 659 
 
 last words were being exchanged with the dear disciples, Haji 
 Anna came to me, and touching my arm, said : " Come, Var 
 zhoohi, come home ; you have preached long enough. You 
 will make your head ache. And as she drew me away, 
 she whispered : " I have some refreshment prepared for 
 you!" Greatly to my surprise, it was a roasted fowl, which 
 she would never have provided at mid-day for her own family. 
 How different this from anything I liad ever seen or heard 
 of her in other years, when she rudely, if not scornfully, 
 laughed at the idea of a head-ache, or fatigue from the con 
 tinual talking and excitement kept up till midnight of every 
 day ; and she never dreamed of giving one any food during the 
 day, aside from a bit of cheese and coarse black bread, such 
 as she ate herself, A softening, refining process had surely 
 been going on in her heart, and so gradually that I did not 
 dream that she who was once a bitter opposer had really 
 become a Christian ! But that evening, as we were gathered 
 for dinner around the low tray, and I was conversing with her 
 sons about the employments and enjoyments of Heaven, she 
 looked up very wistfully, and said : " Oh, Varzhoohi, do you 
 think that / will ever get there ? " " Ah, Haji Anna, did I not 
 hear you say to-day that you would l leave all to follow 
 Christ ?" "Yes," she answered, again clasping her hands, 
 " I will forsake all to follow Jesus !" "Well, He is the Way; 
 and if you truly follow Him you will surely get there !" She 
 was silent a moment, as if in thought, and then said, with great 
 earnestness : "Varzhoohi, if I ever do get there, I ll hold on to 
 you just so !" catching hold of my dress as she spoke. "No, 
 indeed, Haji Anna; you will not cling to me; you will 
 cling to Jesus all the way, and He will be the chief among 
 ten thousand, the One altogether lovely ! " 
 
660 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 And just then, as her veil fell aside a little from her brow, 
 I noticed, for the first time, that the bands of heavy gold coins 
 were not there ; and a more scrutinizing glance revealed the 
 absence of ear-rings, necklace, and clasps around her arms ; 
 she was divested of every ornament and jewel with which .she 
 was wont to appear; and in great surprise, I exclaimed, "Why, 
 Haji Anna, where has all the gold gone ? " She made no re 
 ply, but smiled, when one of her two "brides," who were 
 serving, bent over her shoulder, and whispered, "It has all 
 gone where the bracelet went ! " And as I looked again upon 
 the rneek and chastened face, once so haughty in its native 
 strength and self-will, the conviction flashed through my mind 
 that God had set His seal upon that soul ; that she who bore 
 upon her arm the mark (tattooed) of a pilgrim to the earthly 
 Jerusalem, was now indeed a Christian Pilgrim to the better, 
 even the Heavenly City of the Great King ! 
 
 Speaking of my return to America, she pleadingly said, 
 " Oh. don t go, Varzhoohi ! Stay longer and teach us ! " And 
 afterwards added, " Why didn t the Missionaries come before ? 
 If they had only come when I was young, I, too, might have 
 worked for Christ !" .... Four of the brethren escorted 
 me to the city in the piercing wind of a bleak morning ; and as 
 I unlocked the door of my cold room on the roof, and trem 
 bling with fatigue, made a fire, thinking all the while of the 
 mother who, in by-gone years, so welcomed, after a brief absence, 
 the return of her child with all the warmth, and love, and com 
 fort of one s own home, it was very difficult to repress an 
 attack of the old home or heart-sickness, the flood-tide of 
 utter desolation which sweeps through the soul most frequently 
 when the " flesh is weak." At such times one can derive little 
 comfort from the thought of work done, and treasures laid tip in 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 66 1 
 
 heaven, in place of the life and strength so freely expended here ; 
 for it seems very, very little, the part which we have had in it : 
 And the soul finds its only rest in looking away from self and 
 works " unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith ; who 
 for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despis 
 ing the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the 
 throne of God." 
 
 A VISIT TO MALATIA. 
 
 When the heavy cloud of disease and death had been lifted 
 from the missionary dwellings, no longer calling for days and 
 nights of watching and nursing by the bedsides of our friends, 
 though the forms of two more precious children lay under the 
 sod, and two more voices were added to the infant choir 
 above, the three teachers frequently visited the six or eight 
 village out-stations in the vicinity of the city. Mounting our 
 horses after breakfast, and escorted by the faithful Bedros, we 
 sallied forth to examine a school taught by one of our pupils, 
 at the nearest point, and then passed on to another, sometimes 
 arriving just as the day-school was closing for the noon recess. 
 The children were bidden to rim home and tell their mothers 
 and sisters that the Varzhoohi had come, and would hold a 
 meeting. In half an hour (by which time we had finished the 
 simple luncheon brought with us) from thirty to sixty women 
 were gathered in the rude place of worship. On one such 
 occasion we arrived at the village of Heulakegh. [The good 
 pastor flew about with more than usual energy to make prep 
 arations for the meeting ; and as his long blue-cloth outer- 
 garment impeded his movements, he held it back with one 
 hand,* making us realize that, with the new life and enter- 
 
 * Very much as ladies gather up their trailing dresses at the present 
 day, bringing to mind an illustration of David s dancing before the 
 
662 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 prise inspired by Christianity, there must of necessity come 
 the replacing of that old, effeminate, luxurious, and ease- 
 provoking style of apparel, with the garments worn by the 
 men of civilized races. Nearly all the students and preachers 
 trained by the missionaries in Turkey have now adopted the 
 European dress. But at first they feel very awkward and stiff 
 in their new attire, and the majority of them, it must be confess 
 ed, lose much of their former dignity and stateliness, as their 
 stature was apparently increased by the Oriental costume.] 
 
 Fully one hundred mothers and children assembled to hear 
 the words of Our Savior. " Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou 
 me ? " was the word upon which our thoughts dwelt ; and the 
 conviction that Christ really cares for, and wants our love, 
 seemed to come home to those hearts as a wonderful revelation. 
 "How to show that love" was the closing theme of discourse, 
 and the sisters in that little branch of Zion promised with tear 
 ful eyes to begin to work for other souls around them. [Not 
 many weeks after, Mr. Allen was coming from a Sunday ser 
 vice, and he met eight of these women, each with her Testa 
 ment, and upon inquiry, found that they had been carrying the 
 Gospel to their less favored sisters in another village.] .... 
 The snows of Winter were melting, and the narrow pathways 
 of the city were becoming still more narrow and unpleas- 
 
 ark of the Lord, when he laid aside his flowing, kingly robe, and ap 
 peared in his tunic and drawers, and Michal she of the sore heart 
 and bitter tongue sarcastically said, " How glorious was the King 
 of Israel who uncovered himself to-day, as one of the vain fellows 
 shamelessly uncovereth himself !" . . . Hearing the music of a 
 wedding procession entering the city one da)-, I looked from my win 
 dow, and saw the aged mother of the bridegroom dancing before the 
 bridal party, now advancing towards them, and now retreating, with 
 hands uplifted, frequently giving a leap in her joy over the marriage 
 of her Benjamin a very ancient custom not often seen of late years. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 663 
 
 ant, when I called, one day, at a house close by the missionary 
 konak, upon a family that belonged to the neither rich nor 
 poor class of society. In a room perhaps eighteen feet square, 
 I was cordially welcomed by the numerous occupants, and 
 given a seat on the cushions which surrounded the " tan- 
 dour," a low frame-work, covered by a carpet, or thick quilt, 
 placed above a depression in the floor, which held a vessel of 
 hot ashes and coals. Around this the family sat, ate, and 
 slept at night (when their feet were extended beneath it for 
 warmth, while their heads radiated in every direction) ! The 
 walls were dingy ; no plastering or whitewashing concealed the 
 rough clay : The floor was partly covered with pieces of coarse 
 carpet, or matting ; and the windows were filled with oiled pa 
 per instead of glass. At one side, the aged, paralytic grand 
 father reclined upon a thin mattress of cotton spread upon the 
 hard floor, his venerable companion hovering near by. The 
 air of the apartment was chilly and penetrating, from the 
 dampness which no fire dispelled. One of the four brides 
 was lying on her bed, with a new-born infant by her side ; and 
 a babe three weeks old, belonging to another bride, was sleep 
 ing, partly under cover of the " tandour." Seven older chil 
 dren, besides a widowed daughter, and her three little ones, 
 helped to swell the family. After a moment s interchange of. 
 salutations, the aged mother said, " How well that you came ; 
 I was just asking one of the brides to read." The little, with 
 ered form is seated close beside me, and the faded eyes turned 
 with eager interest upon my face, while I read and explain the 
 one hundred and thirty-ninth Psalm. Presently, the tears be 
 gin to roll down the wrinkled face, for God has made that 
 stony heart soft. The little grandchild, with whose dark hair 
 her hand unconsciously plays, looks up in wonder, as the drops 
 
664 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 fall upon his young face : For some years, the strong preju 
 dices of the old people have been gradually dissolving under 
 the powerful rays of Gospel light brought into that house by 
 the four sons all Christian men. But not till a late day were 
 the first relentings seen. The Spirit of God had been convict 
 ing "of sin, of righteousness, and of a judgment to come," and 
 as the old grandmother rocks back and forth, she says, " I have 
 been guilty of every kind of sin ; these hands have stolen -for 
 these children ! " The grandfather, a sinner of a hundred 
 years, who rebelled against God with a hard heart, and a high 
 hand, now smitten, and helpless, listens, and weeps, and 
 prays, " God be merciful to me a sinner /" What a picture ! 
 that once towering form prostrate ; that grand head, hoary 
 with the frosts of many Winters, bowed, for the first time, in 
 penitence, at the foot of the cross ! Three of the brides belong 
 to the family of Christ (they are members of Mr. Barnum s 
 Bible-class), their heads bowed in silent prayer, while the only 
 way of salvation from sin, is plainly set before the parents. 
 Then we kneel around the mercy-seat ; and when I have asked 
 the Father s blessing, two of those young women follow in earn 
 est and humble petitions. When I leave, the grandmother begs 
 me to "come often ;" to my reply that other houses need me 
 more, for she has " readers "at home ; she answers," Yes, I know ; 
 but these also need to be taught and guided ; they cannot 
 teach like you." And then she adds, with a tenderness, so un 
 wonted that it touches a hidden chord, " You are a stranger 
 in a strange land ; when your heart is sad, and full of longings 
 for your friends so far away, come here, and see the brides, and 
 
 get your shut heart open / " When the Spring had 
 
 opened, and the School was fairly under way, I felt impelled in 
 spirit to visit the city of Malatia, about three days journey 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 665 
 
 from Harpoot ; knowing, also, that it would be good for the 
 new teachers to "paddle their own canoe" for a little while 
 without my assistance, since they must soon assume the entire 
 care and responsibility of the establishment. 
 
 At first no escort offered ; the missionaries were all too busy, 
 and it would hardly be safe or proper for me to travel so far 
 without their protection. This, however, was provided by 
 the new brother who had so lately recovered from his 
 long and dangerous illness, and had just returned to the study 
 of the language. Then a second obstacle interposed in the 
 failure to secure a muleteer. As a last resort, an appeal 
 was made to Menzar, the blacksmith, who, solely " for the 
 sake of what he and his wife owed to the Varzhoohi " (as he 
 expressed it), consented to become our guide and guard, 
 though it involved the shutting up of his shop for more than a 
 week and the losing of custom thereby. We left on Tuesday, 
 reaching that " City of Gardens" on Thursday, and returning to 
 Harpoot the following Thursday, being absent nine days. Menzar 
 was unwearied in his kindness, walking by my side at every 
 steep place, with hand upon the saddle ; and when I thanked 
 him, he said, in his honest way, as he turned his broad, beam 
 ing face toward me, "Why, Varzhoohi, I could carry you in 
 my arms all the way for what you have done for rny Yeghsa ! " 
 
 The weather was very propitious, and the change, and travel 
 in the open air, might have proved very beneficial to health, 
 had the night brought with it any repose. We traveled as 
 lightly as possible, taking no encumbrances in the way of 
 bedding, (excepting clean sheets and pillow-cases in our 
 saddle-bags, using the latter for pillows and spreading the 
 former upon carpets, or "yorghans," provided by our landlords 
 wherever we might spend the night.) 
 
656 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 By some oversight we had forgotten to take either salt or 
 matches two indispensable^ in Eastern travel and could 
 procure neither at a Koordish village, where we spent the 
 second night after crossing the Northern branch of the Eu 
 phrates in a rude ferryboat. 
 
 The stable where we were accommodated was also the village 
 place of worship, and twelve or fifteen swarthy Koords came 
 in to perform their Moslem devotions at nine o clock in the 
 evening. When they had departed, and we had settled our 
 selves in separate corners of the rude platform, upon the hard 
 beds, or harder ground, and our feeble light was extinguished 
 (a bit of rag burning in a little earthen cup of oil and water), our 
 horses, who were sharing the other end of the apartment with 
 sundry donkeys and cows, began to quarrel in their too narrow 
 quarters. The fire of thorns in the chimney-place had died 
 out, and Menzar had no tinder to strike a light ; nor could he 
 rouse the villagers from their heavy sleep to secure any. While 
 the furious and frantic outcries, and rushings to and fro, con 
 tinued, I could scarcely restrain my mirth at his frequent and 
 stern calls to the unruly animals, intermingled with such em 
 phatic ejaculations as, "Wicked ! Cruel! Fools! Cheats!" 
 (which sounded very much like "pious swearing!") Every 
 few minutes the chorus commenced anew, and the good man 
 was greatly exercised about the "poor Varzhoohi," whose 
 peace was thus destroyed ; while, though outwardly quiet, I was 
 really apprehensive that our disorderly neighbors might over 
 leap the low railing that separated us, and perform their antics 
 around, if not upon, our heads ! The sleepless night wore away ; 
 and after a pleasant ride over hills and valleys, and by rippling or 
 rushing streams, we reached Malatia toward evening, and 
 received a cordial welcome from the pastor and his family, and 
 the brethren who speedily came to greet us 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 667 
 
 Two of our last year s pupils, both young widows, are living 
 in Malatia; one of them finds a home in this family; and at 
 night when we occupy the divans of the pastor s study, where 
 the brethren have congregated till a late hour, Makroh sleeps 
 at my feet. 
 
 The time of our coming seems not very propitious for 
 Christian work among the families ; for Easter Sunday is near 
 at hand, and the women are all so busy in making the usual 
 preparations, and house-cleaning, that it is unwise to attempt 
 much visitation among them till it is over. So we give our 
 selves to rest, go to the Turkish bath, and visit the gardens, on 
 Friday ; and on Saturday, ride a few miles to see the " Old 
 City," which presents a most desolate and sad spectacle in long 
 streets of deserted and ruined dwellings, khans, shops, churches, 
 and mosques, some of which were fine buildings in their day. 
 As in Arabkir, Turkish soldiers were quartered upon the city 
 during a civil war (waged between the Moslems and the 
 Koords), and the inhabitants fled to their gardens, leaving the 
 work of pillage to go on unhindered, till the town was left a 
 desolation, to which they never returned. But Malatia, at the 
 present day, is said to contain a population of forty thousand ; 
 twice as large as Arabkir, and almost a third larger than Har- 
 poot. It abounds in fruit, and nearly every garden around 
 each dwelling, has a gushing spring of the purest water. 
 
 Sunday morning dawns, and the city is all astir ; every 
 family, of the Christian inhabitants, revels in colored eggs 
 and Easter cakes. But as the Moslems are inimical to all 
 this rejoicing and display, and the more fanatical, delight to 
 annoy and vex the Christians at such times, a number of 
 cavasses, or soldiers, acting as policemen, are sent by the Gov 
 ernment to the various places of worship ; and the Protestant 
 
668 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 chapel (which is the lower part of the house occupied by the 
 pastor s family) is surrounded by these officials, nothwith- 
 standing all protests to the contrary : It is Communion Sun 
 day, and but very few women make their appearance ; in fact, 
 the work in Malat*a hitherto, has been chiefly among the men, 
 the women in general having held themselves aloof from the 
 teaching of the truth. It appears that in many a large house 
 hold, there is but one avowed Protestant. But these Protest 
 ants seem to be at work for the Master. At the close of the 
 afternoon service, there is a report from their Bible and Mis 
 sionary Society. Several of them have been in the habit of 
 selling Bibles and other good books in the market, carrying 
 them thither in baskets for that purpose, and they have met 
 with encouraging success. Our good Menzar is all interest, 
 while the brethren give details of their efforts to sow the 
 Gospel-seed ; and when an opportunity offers, he tells them 
 his own experience, and method cf spreading the Gospel 
 leaven, which seems to be just what they need. At the close 
 of the services, the pastor announces that " the Varzhoohi 
 from Harpoot will visit every house on the morrow, and that 
 word must be given to the women to be at home, and also 
 invite in their neighbors to receive her." On Monday morn 
 ing, at an early hour, accompanied by Makrohi, and a boy 
 to take charge of my horse, we commenced the round of 
 visits. At the first place, cushions and carpets have been 
 spread upon the veranda, and fifteen or twenty women are 
 gathered to receive us (and without seeming to see, we are 
 conscious of the presence of several men, who sit within the 
 room, and listen, screened by the curtains of the windows). 
 The reading of a few verses of Scripture, and singing, " Come 
 to Jesus," (in which they soon unite) with a few earnest words 
 
SOvVING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 669 
 
 in connection with its proof texts, occupies fifteen minutes, 
 and then we go on to another house. There we gather in the 
 garden, beneath the trees, or near a fountain, and the sound 
 of singing invariably brings fresh accessions to our numbers. 
 Some of the women follow us froai place to place, and much 
 interest is manifested by all. No one seems rude or disposed 
 to quarrel with our teachings, and before many hours we 
 feel sure that God has gone before by His Holy Spirit, and 
 prepared the way. At the house of one of the grandees of 
 the place, we meet a fine -looking woman who at first 
 manifests great indifference ; she is a widow, and her hus 
 band, who was a Protestant, and a man of property, had 
 lately fallen dead in the street from disease of the heart. 
 When I tell her that my father died as suddenly from the 
 same cause, her interest is awakened, and she inquires, " How 
 did your mother bear it ?" That opens her heart, and pre 
 pares the way for a presentation of the truths which so com 
 forted that mother in her affliction : and she cannot hear 
 enough ! In other houses are aged women tottering on the 
 brink of the grave, who listen to the Gospel as a starving man 
 clutches the offered bread ! 
 
 Tears roll down their withered cheeks, as one after another 
 say again and again, " Tell me a little more, what I must 
 do to be saved!" Even following us with feeble steps 
 into the court-yard, still uttering that tremulous cry, till our 
 hearts are melted. 
 
 At one such place, the aged mother moans out, " Oh ! 
 why didn t you come before! why did/it you come before! 
 It is so late for me to learn the way ! " When my own 
 strength is nearly exhausted with so much speaking, I 
 ask Makrohi to pray ; the tears gush from her eyes, and 
 
6/0 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 as soon as she can command herself sufficiently to speak, 
 she says, " Varzhoohi, I can t do it ! I never saw or 
 heard anything like this before, and my heart is wholly 
 melted!" At many of the houses they beg us to stay till 
 they can " prepare a table," that is, refreshment. This we 
 decline till we are obliged to have a respite, and are enter 
 tained in one of the neatest Armenian houses that we have 
 ever entered. The mistress is a notable and thrifty house 
 wife ; a pile of superior bedding, with much elaborate em 
 broidery upon the covers, in what is called " applique," (pre 
 cisely the style of that exhibited at " Castle Glamis," Scot 
 land where the tragedy of Macbeth occurred as the handi 
 work of Mary Queen of Scots) attests her industry and that 
 of her two brides. While they are preparing the meal, she 
 takes her seat by my side, and says, to my earnest solicita 
 tions that she should learn to read, " If I believed as you 
 do, how I would work!" "BELIEVE, then; and show us 
 your faith by your works ! You have plenty of time ; there 
 are no children to keep you at home, and your husband and 
 sons, who are Protestants, would be rejoiced ! " " We shall 
 see ;" she replies, and we can only pray that God will water the 
 seed sown, that it may not be choked by worldliness, and 
 soon wither away. At every place, we have urged upon the 
 women, both old and young, the necessity of learning to read 
 the Word of God for themselves ; and many have promised to 
 begin. Makrohi is to follow up this work as a " Bible woman," 
 and we tell her, as we pass from one group to another, the 
 course she is to pursue, in her future labors among them : 
 " Take down the name of every learner, in a blank-book, 
 and provide teachers from the children of the day-school. 
 Apportion to each boy or girl as many ay they can well 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 
 
 teach, and follow up their daily lessons with stated and fre 
 quent visits, to note progress and faithfulness on the part 
 of both teacher and pupils, at which times there will be an 
 
 opportunity to impart more spiritual instruction." 
 
 At nightfall we returned to the pastor s house too weary to 
 tell of that which had made us so glad ; and at eight o clock 
 the next morning, a great company of the brethren, accom 
 panied by many of our new-found friends among the women, 
 escorted us out of the city, mounted on horses, mules, and 
 donkeys, making a gay party; and when we were beyond 
 the town, they joined in singing several Sunday-school songs. 
 After an hour, we parted, with many warm thanks on their 
 part, and went on our way rejoicing. 
 
 Two more sleepless nights were ours on the return. But 
 never did I so realize the blessedness of fellowship with 
 the sufferings of Christ as in one of those wretched khans ! 
 His Presence and Glory seemed to fill the place! The 
 filth, the vermin, and the hard couch were all forgotten ; 
 and nothing that / had ever endured, seemed worthy the 
 name of self-denial, as I thought of the God-man, " born 
 of a woman," in just such a stable ! That to Him who 
 had left the purity and holy companionship of His " Father s 
 House," this. earth, with the hearts of men laid open to His 
 gaze, must have seemed a very hell ! Ah, He must often 
 have sought the mountain-tops, not only to breathe its purer 
 atmosphere, and pray for a lost and ruined world, but also 
 fcr communion with His Father (far from the haunts of men) 
 
 with a heart that was homesick for Heaven ! A few 
 
 weeks passed away, and a letter came from the Malatia pas 
 tor, to one of the missionaries, saying, " There has been a 
 great awakening among the women of this city since the 
 
6/2 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 visit of the Varzhoohi. Forty new women are learning 
 to read, and many children are gathered into the day- 
 schools." A few weeks later he wrote again, " There are 
 now sixty women learning to read the Word of God !" This 
 was confirmed by letters from Makrohi, giving particulars 
 of the work which made her " feet weary, but her heart 
 glad!" Ere long eighty women were reported on her list, 
 taught by the " little teachers " of the day-schools, whose 
 instructions she was faithfully following up ; though the 
 great distances between the Protestant houses involved 
 many long walks, causing her to return at night " so tired, 
 that she thought she could never go again ; but every morn 
 ing found her fresh and vigorous for her new day s work." 
 
 About this time a certain student of some maturity, was 
 expecting to leave the Seminary for a distant part of the field, 
 and he needed a good wife to help him in his future labors. 
 Makrohi seemed the very one, and the only suitable com 
 panion for the candidate. Various endeavors were made by 
 the Badvelis to bring her to Harpoot without making known 
 the real motive. But, when every invitation and call had 
 failed, a letter was written to her, and to the Pastor at Ma- 
 latia, stating the merits and urgency of the case. An answer 
 was received within a week or two. They had both consid 
 ered the subject, and laid it before the Lord, " with fasting 
 and prayer," and Makrohi wrote as her final conclusion, 
 
 " I HAVE A GREAT WORK, AND CANNOT COME DOWN !" 
 
 MEETING OF THE EVANGELICAL UNION AT HARPOOT. 
 
 April 2oth was a great and glorious day in Harpoot ! And 
 I made a few hurried notes while looking and listening in the 
 chapel, to the pastors and delegates of the Evangelical Union, 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 6/3 
 
 of whom there was an imposing array. The Meeting opened 
 with religious exercises. A list of members and delegates in 
 attendance was read by the Secretary, followed by the minutes 
 of the last meeting, held at Diarbekir. Pastor Marderos, who 
 presided with as much dignity and propriety as any Moderator 
 or Chairman of similar assemblies at home, left the Chair, that 
 he might present the subject of a " National School, to be sup 
 ported by the people :" and a most interesting and able letter 
 written by his wife, in regard to the future training of the 
 daughters of Armenia, was read, and received special attention. 
 
 The plan stated by B. Marderos was this : that the pastors 
 give their tenths for the support of the teachers, and the 
 churches send and support the pupils. The meeting was then 
 open for free discussion. The hearty approval of some, and 
 the fears of others, were stated, in which many facts were 
 brought out. One had given to or for the Virgin Mary, in 
 former years ; and another gave a certain proportion of his 
 gains to his Old Church till he became a Protestant ; he now 
 gives a tenth to the Lord. The Arabkir pastor told of his 
 fears the last Autumn ; but now his people had come up, and 
 he thought that he could promise from them the support of 
 two pupils. 
 
 Hagop Agha, one of the converts during the revival, who 
 had given one thousand piastres in the Winter, spoke well. 
 Evening, half-past seven o clock. A noble assembly. Meeting 
 open to all for free communication of thought. The subject 
 of National School continued. A brother from Heulakegh 
 first spoke, in a simple, heart-stirring way. The Malatia pastor 
 next, a good, soul-reviving address ; his theme, the influence 
 of pastors in giving tenths. The Heulakegh pastor told of 
 dropping the thought of tenths into the minds of his people. 
 29 
 
6/4 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Then a " poor brother " from Shepik, said he had given first 
 fifty, and now four hundred piastres ; adding, " Let me not be 
 proud ; to God be all the glory ! And, brethren, I don t feel 
 it; I can t say it has left a place (a hole). Can t tell any 
 more ; dropped in to see and Lear." Sarkis Aglia, the head 
 of the Protestants in Sivas, said, " I had heard of the Union, 
 and thought it was a little thing, not much ; but now that I 
 have seen and heard for myself, my heart is full of joy. THIS 
 is THE TRUE WAY ! How I wished, as I sat here, that our 
 people at Sivas could all be with me, to see with their own 
 eyes, and hear with their own ears ! We must join you in this 
 effort, that God may bless us also." To which several voices 
 responded, "Amen !" The Perchenj pastor next spoke of a 
 brother coining to him to know his duty about giving tenths ; 
 and of his own feelings, adverse to that method : Finally, 
 he gave his name, and immediately five of the brethren sent 
 up their names ; two women weeping, sent up their names 
 (pledging to pay their tenths), and one said, " When I am dead, 
 nil my property shall be the Lord s!" Another woman 
 pledged herself to pay one of every ten piastres which she 
 should earn in her daily labor. The pastor from Cesarea, in 
 Cappadocia, of the Western Mission, spoke in Turkish, from 
 the words, "When I am weak, then am I strong ;" followed by 
 the pastor from Aideierman, in the Southern Mission. Then 
 one of the lay delegates made a good speech, and very en 
 couraging, of "staying up" the pastors hands. HagopAgha s 
 prayer, alluded to " corning out of Kgypt and slavery." The 
 Missionary Hymn was sung. Speech of a helper, "I give my 
 self, my tenths, life, time, honor, all to the Lord ! " The Presi 
 dent s speech about the missionaries : " When the people are 
 independent, they will appreciate the worth of, and love the mis- 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 675 
 
 sionaries ten times more than before ; and we shall work 
 together in harmony and love." Several brief addresses were 
 made by laymen, showing that the pastor must set his people 
 the example ; must lead, if he wishes them to follow. Mr. 
 Williams followed his missionary brethren in a few pertinent 
 remarks about the impelling motive LOVE TO CHRIST ; that 
 we love those for whom we suffer and sacrifice something ; 
 illustrating the truth by a touching story, and ending with the 
 words, "So Christ loves to have us bring the offerings which 
 He can show to the Father, and say, HERE is THE EVIDENCE 
 OF THE LOVE OF THE SOULS FOR WHOM I DIED. " Solemn at 
 tention was given till the close of the meeting 
 
 In reviewing such gatherings, and the more intimate acquaint 
 ance which constant contact with the inner life and thought of 
 the people affords the missionary, and the POWER THEREBY 
 GAINED FOR GOOD IN WORK AMONG THEM, one is deeply im- 
 pressed with the paramount importance of CHRISTIAN COURTESY 
 in all our intercourse and relations. The consciousness that 
 the Missionary respects their abilities, tastes, prejudices, and 
 customs, has a wonderfully elevating influence, and opens their 
 hearts to receive his teachings as nothing else could do. . , 
 . . . It is well for a new missionary to know that, much as 
 we pride ourselves upon our superior civilization, many of our 
 customs are as disgusting to an Oriental as some of theirs to 
 us. The dipping of one s hands into the water again and 
 again, in washing instead of having it poured upon the hands 
 they regard as very uncleanly. And stones are circulated 
 among them, by those who have visited European and Ameri 
 can homes, of other practices (certainly not the most conducive 
 to health), which they regard with unqualified disgust. A num 
 ber of the Missionary Herald, dated in 1825, gives an incident 
 
6?6 THE ROMAXCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 related by Dr. Jonas King, in his travels through Syria. He 
 and his companions had reached a kahn at the close of a weary 
 clay, and reclined upon their carpets to rest, when a party of 
 high Turks, sitting opposite, seemed much disturbed, and re 
 peatedly called out to them with opprobious epithets : As 
 they did not change their position, one of the Moslem attend 
 ants came and bade them remember that they were in the 
 presence of Turks. When this produced no effect, he was 
 greatly enraged, and spat upon them ! This treatment the 
 "Franks" accepted as " persecution for righteousness sake ;" 
 when, in fact, they had grossly insulted the Turks (by stretch 
 ing out their feet in their presence); who, in turn, showed the 
 " infidel dogs " the greatest possible indignity in their power. 
 
 BLIXD HOHAXXES, THE WALKIXG CONCORDANCE 
 
 One day, soon after my arrival at Harpoot, I stepped into 
 Mr. Wheeler s study, and there saw a man of rather in 
 significant appearance, whose sightless eyes were painful to 
 behold. " This is blind Hohannes," said the ISadveli, " and he 
 wishes to enter the Seminary ; what do you say to our admit 
 ting him?" "Does he know the Bible?" I inquired. "Oh, 
 yes ; they say that he has it at his tongue s end ! indeed, he is 
 so ready in quoting chapter and verse, that the Protestants 
 call him * Hamapapar Concordance. "If that is the case, I 
 should admit him ; for the very fact of his being blind, would, 
 I should judge, attract and interest many in his preaching." 
 
 I shall ever remember hearing Hohannes preach his first 
 sermon in the pulpit of the Harpoot church ! It was an ex 
 cessively warm Sunday, and in his excitement the great drops 
 of perspiration rolled down his face ; but the poor man had 
 not prepared himself with a handkerchief for the occasion, and 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMKXIA. 677 
 
 our sympathies were much excited in his behalf. Hohannes 
 was not gifted in speech or intellect ; and some of the students 
 were inclined to look down upon their " weak brother ;" but 
 God was preparing him for a great work among his people. 
 He was extremely fond of music, and his little, squeaking fiddle 
 was his constant companion and valuable helper in introducing 
 the Gospel among his countrymen. In my Winter visits to 
 the villages I often came across his track, and never failed to 
 hear his "Come, now, Varzhoohi, teach us that new tune!" 
 on our return from an evening meeting. After Hohannes 
 finished his course of study, and I can see him now in the 
 class-room leaning upon his staff, and listening intently to his 
 teacher s instructions, he was stationed at Shepik, a miser 
 ably poor little village, not far from Arabkir, where God greatly 
 blessed his ministry. 
 
 He lately visited Harpoot, and preached his Sermon on 
 Tithes. And as I listened to that remarkable discourse, I 
 wished that friends at home could have looked upon the assem 
 bly, to witness for themselves the interest of the people. The 
 blindness of the preacher added to the impression. Saying, 
 " We will read" such a chapter or hymn, he would repeat the 
 same word for word. When he called upon the people to 
 read, it was for their sake rather than his own ; and when the 
 reader had reached the point he desired, he never failed to say 
 " Stop ! " that he might take it up just there. Doubtless many 
 a more learned and talented man, among those educated by 
 missionaries, would look with pity akin to contempt upon this 
 poor preacher, who has little book-knowledge except of his 
 blessed Bible ; but ah, how far above them he stands in this 
 respect ! making us realize afresh, that a missionary, of all 
 others, needs to be a " discerner of spirits !" This one Book 
 
678 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 is bis Theological Library. It is his study by day and by night, 
 and he is really a WALKING CONCORDANCE !* 
 
 The preacher commenced his discourse by repeating that 
 striking passage in Malachi, " Will a man rob God? Yet ye 
 have robbed Me : but ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee ? 
 In tithes and offerings." He then, in few words, told us that 
 he proposed to show from the Word of God that the giving of 
 a tenth to the Lord was a primitive institution, attended with 
 great benefits and blessings to the givers, and perpetuated 
 and enforced under the New Dispensation no less than the Old. 
 
 " Open your Bibles," he said, " at the 1/j.th chapter of Gene 
 sis, and let some one read the i8th and 2oth verses." Bibles 
 were instantly opened all over the house, and the passage read, 
 in clear tones, by one of the congregation. "Abraham gave 
 tithes to Melchizedek," said the preacher, "more than four 
 hundred years before the giving of the law to Moses : Abra 
 ham, the father of the faithful, whose children the Jews gloried 
 in being Abraham, whom even Moslems honor and called 
 The Blessed. " 
 
 "Now turn to the 28th chapter and read the 2oth, 2ist, 
 and 22d verses." Jacob s vow was read, concluding with the 
 words, " And of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give 
 the tenth to Thee." He then rapidly drew the contrast between 
 Jacob s going to Padan-aram alone, and in utter destitution 
 and the return, with his flocks and herds and camels, men- 
 servants and maid servants; for the man had increased exceed 
 ingly, in spite of the covetousness of Laban. "And now," he 
 said, "open at the 27th of Leviticus, and read the 3oth verse. 
 " And all the tithes of the land is the Lord s, 1 " repeated the 
 preacher, "nine-tenths for yourselves, but one-tenth is holy 
 
 * This account was first written for the Missionary Herald. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 679 
 
 unto the Lord. Open at Numbers xviii., and read the 
 2oth, 2ist, 26th, 28th, and 29th verses." This was done, 
 and then Hohannes briefly commented upon each verse. 
 He said that the Levites, who ministered in the house of 
 the Lord, were to have no part or inheritance in the land, 
 for the tithes of the people were to be their inheritance ; 
 and of these tithes, they were to offer a tenth to the Lord, 
 "even of all the Best thereof!" "Read Deut. xiv. 22, and 
 xxvi. 12. See the abundant provision made, not only for the 
 Levites, but also for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. 
 Read also 2 Chron. xxxi. 4-10, where the people are described 
 as obeying the command of God, and bringing in abundantly 
 of the * increase of the land. And the chief priest answered 
 King Hezekiah, when he questioned him concerning the heaps 
 Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house 
 of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty ; 
 for the Lord hath blessed his people, and that which is left is 
 this great store. " 
 
 " Now read Nehemiah xiii. loth, i3th, and i4th verses. Mark 
 the contrast ! The people no longer gave tithes ; the house of 
 the Lord was desecrated, and the Levites had forsaken their sa 
 cred office, and fled, every one to his own FIELD ! And now," 
 said the preacher, "we will turn to the New Dispensation. 
 Open at the 23d of Matthew and read the 23d verse : These 
 ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone, 
 are our blessed Savior s words to the Scribes and Pharisees. 
 Ye do well to pay tithes, it is your duty, but ye ought also 
 to do judgment, mercy, and faith. Now turn to Luke xi. 42 : 
 Wo unto you Pharisees, for ye tithe .... all manner of 
 herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these 
 ought ye to have done, and not to leave other undone. Read 
 
6SO THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 Luke iii. 7-12 : Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, " re 
 peated the preacher. " John the Baptist was a connecting 
 link between the Jewish and the Gospel dispensations, and he 
 spake as he was moved by the Spirit of God, Now also is 
 the axe laid at the root of the tree. What tree ? It was noth 
 ing less than the tree the ROOT of SELF and SELFISHNESS ! 
 What this good fruit is He tells us in the nth verse : He that 
 hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none ; and he 
 that hath meat (food), let him do likewise. Where now remains 
 the TENTH ?" he exclaimed. " Under the New Dispensation, 
 not one-tenth merely, but ONE-HALF is required !" (At this 
 announcement there was an evident sensation in the audience; 
 many a face lighted up with a smile, as the electric current 
 shot through the assembly.) 
 
 The preacher continued : " Read now the 6th of Luke, 38th 
 verse : Give, and it shall be given unto you/ Give, and you 
 shall have the wherewithal to give ! Shut your hand and your 
 heart, and you shut the windows of heaven ; you keep back 
 the blessing of God. See what Christ says in Luke xii. 33 : 
 Sell that ye have and give alms, which means consider 
 yourselves as stewards of God s grace on the earth ; seeking 
 your inheritance in the world to come. You are to set light 
 store by your earthly possessions, and lay up Treasure in Heaven. 
 Now read Luke xiv. 33." Slowly and solemnly the preacher 
 repeated the words of the Master, " So likewise, whosoever 
 he be of you that forsaketh not ALL that he hath, he CANNOT 
 be my disciple ! Ah, my brethren," he said, " it is not merely 
 a tenth, or even a half of our worldly possessions that Christ 
 claims, // is our ALL ! Think upon the meaning of those words. 
 It is thus He speaks to you : * If you wish to be my disciple, 
 you must count the cost ! You cannot serve two masters. You 
 
SOWING AND REAl INC; IN ARMENIA. 68 1 
 
 must give up everything that the children of this world seek 
 after. You must hold yourselves aloof from your earthly pos 
 sessions (the Armenian version of the text quoted from Luke 
 xiv. 33), holding to them loosely, setting your affections on 
 things above. Your comfort, pleasure, honor, ease, yea, your 
 very life, you must esteem as nothing in comparison with My 
 Service ! And in thus losing all you will find ALL, and that 
 for ever ! " 
 
 u Open your Bibles at Matthew xix. 29, and at Mark x. 29, 
 and read the glorious promise to those who truly forsake air 
 for Christ and His Cause. See," exclaimed Hohannes, after 
 solemnly repeating the passage, " see how Rich the Reward ! 
 A hundred-fold in this life, and life everlasting beside ! Now 
 open at Luke xix., read from the 2d to the zoth verse. Note 
 the words of Zaccheus : The half of my goods I give to the 
 poor and mark the answer of our Savior. But what say 
 you ? Is salvation to be bought with money ? We all know 
 that it is without money, and without price. Why then this 
 blessing upon Zaccheus?" "Because," answered one of the 
 congregation, " the giving was the fruit of \\isfait/i / " " Yes, 
 rejoined the preacher, " Zaccheus brought forth fruit worthy of 
 true repentance, and immediately received the promised 
 blessing. 
 
 " Now let me tell you a story. When I was in the class in 
 sermonizing, in the Seminary, our teacher was very anxious 
 that we who were soon to go forth as Preachers, and perhaps 
 become Pastors, should work upon right principles ; and he 
 often talked to us of our duty, as leaders, to teach the people to 
 do for themselves. He sometimes told us of places where much 
 money (of the American Board) had been expended by mission 
 aries, and little real good accomplished, because the people 
 
 29* 
 
682 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 had not been taught to give for Christ s cause. In one little 
 village/ he said, 40,000 piastres of the Board s money was 
 spent, the people giving only 50 piastres during thirteen years ! 
 And the work in that place amounts to nothing, to-day, in 
 consequence of this unwise course. 
 
 " It so happened, that when my course of study was finished, 
 I was appointed to that village. It was the last place I should 
 have chosen. I had no desire to go to that field, but God 
 had so ordered, and I went. The missionaries told me that 
 my wages would be 1,500 piastres per year,* of which the 
 people were to raise 600 piastres ; and before I left, Badveli 
 Wheeler took me aside, and counselled me to make it as easy 
 for the people as possible, by eating at their houses, because 
 it would come hard to them at first to do so much. Soon 
 after I went there, a neighboring pastor came over to the 
 village, and we held a meeting with the brethren. We talked 
 about my support, and it seemed that they had, with much 
 difficulty, subscribed 500 piastres per year. I told them the 
 missionaries had said they would raise 600. Never ! they 
 exclaimed, we cannot raise another para / And Pastor M. 
 said it was impossible they were too poor. Where then, 
 shall I get my other hundred ? I asked. We will help you 
 from our place, he answered. 
 
 " But my mind was not at rest. That night I thought much 
 on the subject. I said to myself Suppose the American 
 Board should some day withdraw its support from this and 
 other feeble churches, what will become of them ? And I 
 prayed : * O Thou who knowest all things, and with whom are 
 all plans, show Thy ignorant servant how Thy kingdom can best 
 be established in this land. And it seemed to me that a voice 
 
 * Sixty dollars. The piastre is about four cents. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 683 
 
 said, in my soul It can be done, by giving one in every ten! 
 When I thought it over, it occurred to me to test it first in my 
 own case. One tenth of my 1,500 per year would be 150 
 piastres. * No ! I said, * I can t give as much as that ; I 
 should suffer for it. But when I came to take it out of every 
 month s allowance, it did not seem so much. * One tenth of 
 my 125 per month, will be 12 J piastres ; I can do it, I said, 
 and I witt t even if I do have to pinch a little ! * It happened 
 that Pastor Bedros visited us about that time, and I laid the 
 subject before him. It can be done, he said, and it must 
 be. I will give a tenth of my salary. And so said Preacher 
 Hagop, who also came over. Well, then, I said, do you think 
 it will do for me to lay it before the brethren ? Yes, they 
 replied, it is the best thing you can do. So I prepared myself 
 and preached to the people on the next Sabbath. The Lord 
 blessed His own word. They accepted it, and came together 
 to be written for their tithes. When we made a rough 
 estimate, it appeared that their tenths would amount to more 
 than my entire salary ! Why, how is this ? they all said ; it 
 was so hard before, but now it comes very easy, and is truly 
 pleasant. 
 
 " Now, to show you how God blessed that little flock, I will 
 mention one case. There was one of the brethren who had a 
 vegetable garden, which the Turkish official, in writing down the 
 taxes, had estimated at 900 piastres (for that year s produce), 
 taxing him 90 piastres. Others said it was too much; it would 
 not produce that amount. But mark the fulfilment of the 
 promise in Malachi iii. 10. That brother sold 3,000 piastres 
 worth of vegetables, besides what was eaten by a household of 
 thirty-two persons, and given away, amounting to full 3,000 
 
 * Hohannes bad no family to support. 
 
684 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 more.* Others were also blessed, and all acknowledged that 
 they had never known a year of such prosperity. The people 
 not only supported their Preacher and School-teacher, but also 
 paid over 2,000 piastres for other purposes." 
 
 The preacher was about to close his discourse, when a mem 
 ber of the congregation arose, and asked permission to say a few 
 words. "I have learned," he said, -from one of the mission 
 aries at Oorfa, another truth which has great weight in this giving 
 of one-tenth of our income to the Lord. Under the old dis 
 pensation, the Jews were only required to care for their own 
 nation, but under the New Dispensation the Command is, * Go 
 
 YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY 
 
 CREATURE ! Therefore a tenth is not enough for Christians to 
 give." To this the preacher responded : " A teiitJi is the very 
 least that a disciple of Christ can give. Over and above that, 
 he should give as God prospers him." " And now," he added, 
 " let us seek the aid of the Holy Spirit, that we, and all our 
 offerings, may find acceptance before God." 
 
 It is difficult to do justice to a scene and a sermon so unique. 
 When that sightless man was led up into the pulpit, his appear 
 ance was anything but attractive. He looked rough and 
 uncared-for; quite inferior in person. But he had a Message 
 from the Lord of Hosts, and well did he deliver it ; reminding 
 one of the words : " God hath Chosen the weak things of the 
 world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things 
 of the world, and things which are DESPISED, hath God CHOSEN." 
 
 It was worth much to see and hear one who had been so 
 evidently taught of the Spirit, and made the honored instrument 
 of laying a new foundation-stone for the building of Christ s 
 
 * As we left the chapel, Maranos whispered, " It is all true, for that 
 story was about my father." 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 685 
 
 Church throughout the world ! I or the new ray of light 
 that dawned in that obscure village of Armenia, two years 
 since, has begun to radiate from many distant points, and we 
 believe that it will solve the problem of the support of Christian 
 institutions in all lands, and hasten the day when the earth 
 shall be filled with the glory of God. Well may every worker 
 in foreign lands say, with Jesus : " I thank thee, O Father, 
 Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things 
 from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes. 
 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." The 
 following brief statement of the influence exerted by this ab 
 stract of Hohannes s discourse is copied from a leading journal.* 
 When we learned a year or two later, that Blind Hohannes 
 had gone from earth to the Work and Worship of the heavenly 
 world, we could but feel that he was taken away from the evil 
 to come. It is not in human nature, even when under the 
 influence of renewing grace, to endure, without injury, the 
 
 * The January number of the Christian Work, a standard English 
 missionary publication, reprints with due acknowledgment, from the 
 Missionary Herald, blind Hohannes Sermon on Tithes, with the sug 
 gestion that it be circulated by hundreds of thousands among the 
 Christian people of England. There is hardly anything more remark 
 able in the history of modern missions than the influence God has 
 been pleased to give to this poor blind man, set to laboring as best he 
 could in one of the poorest mountain villages of the interior of Turkey. 
 His words, enforced by his humble spirit of self-sacrifice, have proved 
 a power in the hearts of the native Christians from the Bosphorus to 
 the Tigris ; have been repeated on the plains of India, in China, and 
 Africa ; (and translated into Welsh have awaked a great interest all 
 over Wales), causing the establishment of several churches with 
 pastors supported by the people, read with interest by thousands in 
 this country, and are now urged upon the attention of Christians in 
 Great Britain. The kindly sympathy of the gospel shown by the 
 missionaries at Harpoot to one of the " little ones," is bearing the 
 most precious fruit. 
 
686 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 praise and applause of the world. And had the good man 
 lived to know what results were accomplished by his setting 
 forth of the truth which God had imparted to him, it might 
 have puffed him up with pride and conceit.* It is a painful 
 fact that such has been the result in other cases, where those 
 who had been trained by missionaries to preach the Gospel 
 among their own countrymen, have read or heard so much in 
 praise of their ability and usefulness, that the balance of their 
 mental equilibrium had been greatly disturbed. "I can write a 
 
 sermon in fifteen minutes, which will take Mr. two hours," 
 
 exultingly said one of the young Armenian preachers who had 
 been petted and praised by that generous and magnanimous 
 missionary. " Miss S., when are you going to write about me? " 
 asked a young Hindoo girl of her teacher, after reading (in 
 English) an interesting account of a school-mate, published in 
 a missionary periodical. And we have heard of others who 
 looked through such journals to find their own names; and of 
 still others, who could not appreciate the true motive of the 
 
 * The eulogiums and laudations which one often hears, and reads 
 of living personages (" tormented before their time,") according to the 
 custom now so prevalent, calls to mind the experience of an eccen 
 tric character who had always insisted that every man ought to hear 
 his own funeral sermon, since it concerned //* /// more than anybody 
 else ! So, when he was very ill, and sure that he was " elected to 
 die," he sent his good wife to the old minister, who kindly complied 
 with the novel request ; and when he had prepared the sermon, came 
 with all gravity to read it by his bedside. "I never was much given 
 to being proud, or sot up," said the old man (who lived to tell the 
 story,) " but that sermon almost did the business for me ! To think 
 of the church crowded full of people, and some standing in the aisles, 
 and me, lying there in my coffin, and the minister looking down from 
 the pulpit, and saying all that for an hour ! Why, I almost backslode I 
 I came mighty nigh falling from grace ! I tell you, if there s anything 
 that 11 make a man sot up, it s HEARING HIS OWN FUNERAL SERMON !" 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 68/ 
 
 missionaries in publishing the details of their work, and attrib 
 uted the entire enterprise to a desire for fame ! 
 
 Blind Hohannes died at the village of Havadoric, an out- 
 station of Bitlis ; which a colporteur had reported but a short 
 time before, as being a " heaven on earth." " In that village 
 of but forty houses among the mountains, where a few years 
 since the people were notorious as robbers and murderers, now 
 how changed," writes Mr. Knapp. " Sixty are learning to read, 
 some of whom are upwards of eighty years of age ! I spent a 
 night in that village last Fall, and while I sat out of doors 
 talking with the villagers about the necessity of educating their 
 sons and daughters, I noticed a couple of the latter who 
 came tugging up the exceedingly steep mountain, each with a 
 ponderous load of brush-wood and roots upon her back, whjch 
 had been gathered upon the adjoining hills. As they threw 
 down their loads near my feet, panting for breath, and the per 
 spiration flowing from their faces, an old man turned round and 
 said, Educate our daughters ! Why, if we should do that, who 
 
 would bring our wood V They are having religious 
 
 meetings every day, and are collecting stones from the moun 
 tain sides, hoping to build a chapel in the Spring." Only a few 
 days later the same pen records the death of the faithful worker. 
 
 " Hohannes died after three or four days illness. He was 
 apprehensive that he should not survive, and spent much of his 
 time in giving counsel to his little flock, and in making arrange 
 ments for the future comfort of his wife. So calm was he, and 
 so confident of his approaching end, that he gave special direc 
 tions as to his burial, and had himself clothed in the apparel 
 in which he wished to be interred. Preacher Garabed went 
 with some of the Christian brethren from Moosh to officiate at 
 the last sad offices of burial, expecting, as usual in such cases, 
 
688 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 to meet with much opposition from the Armenians (who refuse 
 a place in their cemeteries to Protestants). But so completely 
 had Hohannes won their hearts during the four months of his 
 labors among them, that, greatly to the surprise of Garabecl 
 and his party, they found that the Old Church Armenians vied 
 with the Protestants in honoring the departed, and especially 
 in seeing that his last requests were carried out to the letter. 
 The Armenians were genuine mourners with the Protestants at 
 his grave, which they allowed in their own burial-place. lie 
 was greatly beloved by all classes, and the Christians of that 
 now stricken village deeply mourn his removal. Hohannes 
 earnestly besought us to throw our influence in favor of the 
 tithing system ; and he practiced what he preached. His 
 salary, necessarily on an economical basis, was only $8 a 
 month ; and although he had a wife and a lad to support from 
 this, he gave, without fail, one-tenth into the "store-house," 
 leaving $7.20 for the monthly support of his family. 
 
 In looking over the columns of the Missionary Herald, and 
 noting some of the far-reaching results of the life and work of 
 him who, without danger of spiritual pride, will reap its fruits 
 through all eternity, we find an account of an Evangelical 
 Union in the Mahratta Mission, India, with addresses by na 
 tive preachers on the " setting aside, and giving of a tenth of 
 every one s income for religious uses, as the minimum" The 
 question under discussion was, " How can our churches be 
 come Self-Supporting?" and one of the leading native pastors 
 said, in substance, as follows : " How does it happen that such 
 a question arises in regard to our churches? Do not Chris 
 tians provide for their own temporal support ? Their souls are 
 certainly as much their own as their bodies ! People of other 
 religions and Christians of other lands support their own relig- 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 689 
 
 ious teachers. Why should not Christians here do the same ? 
 Does Christianity seem to them of so little value that they are 
 unwilling it should cost them anything ? Not so ; but there is 
 a proverb which says, "Who will go afoot when he has a horse 
 to ride ? And in like manner, why should we be at any ex 
 pense in religious matters when the Mission is so ready to bear 
 it all for us? This leads to another question: Why did the 
 Mission at first assume this expense ? and why have they borne 
 it till the present time, instead of calling upon us to take it? 
 . . . Unfortunately the result of this course has proved most 
 
 disastrous for us We have grown up from infancy 
 
 to maturity, increasing from half a dozen to as many hundreds, 
 and from one to twenty-three churches. The cost of support 
 ing our pastors and our schools has largely increased, but we 
 seem to ourselves utterly unable to lift the burden a finger s 
 breadth. Our indulgent mother (the Mission) must still carry us 
 in her arms, for she and we both think that we cannot yet walk 
 alone ! Had we been accustomed, from the first, to give accord 
 ing to our ability, the ability to give would have increased with 
 our growth, and to-day we might have been able to bear the 
 whole burden ! What if this support on which we 
 
 are leaning were suddenly withdrawn, where would it leave us ? 
 W r e cannot expect it to be always continued. It behooves us, 
 then, as wise men, to set things in train for SELF-SUPPORT ! 
 . . . . If we take hold in earnest, and make proper exer 
 tions, we can bear all the ordinary expenses of our Christian 
 institutions. . . . Did we not buy those lifeless, good-for- 
 nothing idols, build temples for them, and pay for their conse 
 cration and worship? Did we not provide the turmeric, frank 
 incense, flowers, lamps, and meat-offerings for the ordinary 
 worship, and special gifts for the festal days of our fictitious 
 
690 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 household gods ? And the still heavier expenses of sacrifices, 
 oblations, and feasts for the numerous worshippers did we not 
 bear these also ? The bootless cost of long pilgrimages ; the 
 fees and ritual expenses, incurred at such places, did we not 
 pay them all? And how much did we give for hearing the 
 legends, purans, kirttans, and other recitations ? How much 
 went for needless funeral rites, lunar observations, and feasts 
 for the dead ? How much to fortune-tellers, etc., etc." . . . 
 Such testimony from one of tliemsclves, is worth infinitely more 
 to Foreign Missions than volumes of sermons by outsiders ! 
 When Mr. Williams was in Mosul, last Winter, he heard that 
 there was a Frank traveler stopping at one of the city khans. 
 He called, and found an English banker, who had been spending 
 a year in India for his health. As a Christian man he was 
 deeply interested in Missions, and inquired how the Cause was 
 prospering in that part of the world. When told of the efforts 
 put forth by the Protestant Armenians to support their own 
 (Gospel) institutions, he said, with much emphasis : " THAT is 
 THE TRUE WAY ! As a business man, I have watched the Mis 
 sion-work in various parts of India, and it is my settled convic 
 tion that, where the people are not willing to practice self- 
 denial, and do for themselves, there is no real foundation to the 
 work among them. In the end it will prove a humbug ! " 
 
 Some of the facts which have lately come to light respecting 
 the giving of a tenth to the Lord by the people of Harpoot 
 and its vicinity are so remarkable that they border on the 
 marvelous. The good pastor of Heulakegh says : " I hardly 
 dare to mention it, lest it should provoke a smile of incredulity, 
 but it is a fact which my own eyes have witnessed too often to 
 be deceived ; any one who chooses to glance over the fields of 
 growing grain around our village, can tell those of the Protest- 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 69! 
 
 ant tithe-payers by their excellent condition, while many of those 
 adjoining have been injured, and present a very different ap 
 pearance." The business of raising silk is very precarious, al 
 most as uncertain as a lottery ; but " this year the silk -worms 
 of the Harpoot Protestants (all tithe-payers) have been in fine 
 condition, while Armenians and Turks, engaged in the business 
 at the same place, have suffered a total loss. The chief objec 
 tion to Protestants engaging in the business is, that for four or 
 five weeks the worms must be fed and cared for on Sunday. 
 The worms, however, are dormant once in eight or ten days, re 
 quiring no labor on that day. And it has so happened this 
 year that the worms belonging to the Protestants slept on the 
 Sundays, thus freeing our brethren from work on that day ! 
 We have made inquiry among silk cultivators to learn whether 
 there is any law or habit by which the period of their sleeping 
 can be controlled, but without success. Though we do not 
 predicate anything upon these facts," writes Mr. Barnum, 
 " they seem quite remarkable, and have attracted much atten 
 tion here." It was not a little amusing to learn that two Turks, 
 in another place, having noticed the unusual prosperity of the 
 Protestants, and attributing it to their new principle of giving a 
 tenth to God, secretly came and begged to have " their names 
 written " as tithe-payers also ! Many of the brethren have been 
 so unusually prospered since commencing this consecration of 
 their property to the Lord, that they say their nine-tenths will 
 be more than the whole used to be when they gave little or noth 
 ing to the Lord. God seems to have encouraged the faith 
 of His simple-minded children, by opening the windows of 
 heaven as promised (under the Old Testament dispensation), 
 and pouring out temporal blessings. They have honored Him 
 with their substance, and He has " filled their barns with 
 
692 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 plenty, and their presses burst out with new wine." " Take 
 it quick, quick ! " said a merchant, who had promised, like 
 Jacob, to return to the Lord a tenth of all that He should give 
 him, and found that it amounted to so large a sum that he said, 
 "I cannot give so much" ; and set aside a smaller amount; 
 when his conscience smote him, and coming to himself, he 
 cried : " What ! can I be so mean ? Because God has thus 
 blessed me that I have this large profit, shall I now rob Hun 
 of His portion ? " And fearing his own selfish nature, he made 
 haste to place it beyond his reach, in the Treasury of the 
 Lord ; coming almost breathless to the pastor s house, and hold 
 ing the money in his outstretched hand. [This was one of 
 the private transactions witnessed and related to me by a for 
 mer pupil, the- wife of the pastor. And I was delighted to 
 learn, from the same source, of the enthusiasm displayed by 
 the Protestant women, in spinning, weaving, and knitting, to 
 earn money for the support of their Koordish students, and for 
 the " National School." This is even more hopeful, for the 
 future, than the cutting off of jewels for chapel building, (an 
 instance of which accidentally came to my knowledge, in a 
 recent visit to a village, where, soon after entering the pastor s 
 room, I saw a donkey come to the door, heavily laden with 
 two great bags, which a couple of stout men, with evident ef 
 fort, brought in. Approaching the sacks, I found that they 
 were filled with copper coin, and to my inquiry, the pastor 
 said: "They re the avails of ornaments contributed by the 
 sisters to help build our new chapel!") .... The 
 children of Hooeli contributed, at one of their meetings, suf 
 ficient to pay for the two pillars in front of the pulpit in the 
 new house of worship ; and nothing in my missionary life 
 ever touched me more than to see those poor lambs of the 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 693 
 
 fold, giving, with great joy, the money which they had saved, 
 or earned, as " A PRESENT TO JESUS ! " instead of spending it 
 for cheap sweetmeats or toys]. The Harpoot church has 
 wholly supported its pastor since the year 1866.* In reply to 
 inquiries made of Pastor Marderos by a missionary from 
 another field, who fancied that there might be some undue 
 pressure exerted to bring about such a result, he frankly said : 
 "It comes as easily as this; if my people promise me six 
 thousand piastres per year, it always amounts to seven thousand. 
 They look out for my interests in various ways. One comes 
 to tell me of wood or coal that can be procured cheaply, 
 another of wheat and other provisions, in the market, at a re 
 duced price, and so on ; because they feel that I belong to 
 them ! " It is soul-cheering to see actually realized, not only 
 in one but many instances the principles so long advocated 
 in the Western Mission by Mr. Parsons, of Nicomedia, and Mr. 
 Leonard, of Marsovan. The subject of self-support has, how 
 ever, received much attention within the last few years from all 
 
 * At the present writing, the out-stations depending upon Harpoot 
 alone are seventy-nine in number. Besides the two Training-schools 
 and the Normal School at the city, numbering over one hundred 
 pupils, there are eighty-eight common schools, with three thousand 
 one hundred and twenty pupils ; twenty-two churches, mostly self-sup 
 porting, with a membership of over eleven hundred (one hundred and 
 twenty-six received on profession during the year). The entire 
 number of pastors, preachers, teachers, and other helpers, is seven 
 hundred and ninety-eight: and the amount of money contributed 
 by the various Protestant communities for the support and extension 
 of their own institutions, in this one field, during the last year, was 
 $6,868. And the two churches trained by Mr. Walker at Diarbekir 
 and Kutterbul having a total of one hundred and twenty-eight 
 members with the Protestant community in the city, contributed for 
 the Cause of Christ in 1866 the sum of $1,150 in gold, supporting all 
 their own institutions, and aiding in active missionary work. 
 
694 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 the members of that Mission, giving promise of greater ad 
 vance in the future. 
 
 FINAL WORK, AND FAREWELL OFFERINGS. 
 The daily strength scarcely sufficed for the daily labor in 
 the school-room, as the months went on ; and many of those 
 " Blessed Lessons " were followed by such extreme prostra 
 tion, that, as I slowly crawled up to the quiet room on the 
 roof, after a season of elevation which had made me un 
 conscious whether, as the Apostle says, I was " in the body 
 or out of the body," the words of the poet seemed very ap 
 propriate : 
 
 " Then down again to earth I fall, 
 
 And from my low dust cry, 
 Twas not in my wing, Lord, but THINE, 
 That I got up so high ! " 
 
 In view of leaving Armenia, with no expectation of a re 
 turn, I was strongly impelled to gather up the instructions 
 given to my pupils during the past years, and preserve them 
 in a permanent form for their use in years to come. Such a 
 work would prove a kind of Legacy and Love-token more 
 precious than any other gift, since into it would go a part of 
 my life, my very self! This was commenced, and occupied 
 many hours of the Winter, but was laid aside for other labor 
 till the Spring was well advanced. And then, certain hours 
 of every day were devoted to what was entitled " Loving 
 Counsels for the Christian Women of Turkey ;" and the 
 wife of Parson Marderos came over at those times, to aid 
 in giving it the purest Armenian construction,* and to make 
 a clean copy, at my dictation. 
 
 * Such aid is always requisite in foreign Missionary work of this 
 kind. Noonia had lately completed an excellent translation of Dr. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 695 
 
 This book was at first intended solely for those who had 
 been under my instruction in the schools at Constantinople 
 and Harpoot. -But when Pastor Marderos and others learned 
 of it, they desired that the scope of the work might be so en 
 larged as to take in all the Christianized Armenian women of 
 the country ; which was done. The work was completed, and 
 submitted for criticism and approval to one of the mission 
 aries, who, with Pastor Marderos, read it through a day or 
 two before my departure ; the latter expressing his pleasure 
 and gratification with the language, the subject-matter, and 
 the style. He repeatedly expressed his thanks, and the 
 hope that it would prove very useful, and a great blessing 
 to his countrywomen, among whom he should labor to have 
 it widely circulated, as a " CHRISTIAN MANUAL/ to aid 
 them in their work for souls. 
 
 Goodell s Sermons, from Turkish into Armenian, without any aid or 
 necessary revision by others ; and B. Garabed, the young assistant in 
 the Seminary (who aided in preparing the " Key to Open the Bible "), 
 not long ago made an admirable translation of " Day s Algebra," in 
 the Armenian language, for the use of the students. 
 
696 
 
 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 LOVING COUNSELS 
 
 ^tiaq Women of 
 
 IN THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE. 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS* 
 
 LETTER To my Pupilsf scattered by the Bosphorus, the 
 Mediterranean, Marmora, and Black Seas, and on 
 the shores of the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris Intro 
 ductory PAGE 9 
 
 CHAPTER I. Your Calling- and Responsibility 1 1 
 
 II. The Fulfilment of these Obligations 16 
 
 III. Where to Begin Ycur Work 21 
 
 IV. The Ordering of the Household 26 
 
 " V. Your Duties as Wives 37 
 
 " VI. Your Duties as Mothers 47 
 
 " VII. Your Duties as Neighbors 64 
 
 " VIII. Your Duties as Teachers 74 
 
 * The "Introduction" printed in English, is a literal translation of the Note to 
 Pastors, for the benefit of those missionaries who do not understand Armenian, but 
 whose aid is sought in its circulation. 
 
 t LOVING COUNSELS TO THE CHRISTIAN WOMEN OF TURKEY is the title of a beauti 
 ful volume in the Armenian language, put in type and printed at the Tract House, 
 New York. Copies of it have already reached their destination ancl begun their 
 work. A letter just received from one of the lady missionaries at Constantinople 
 expresses the warmest gratitude for this welcome addition to their short list of read 
 ing books, and describes their mode of using it in Sabbath evening exercises, at each 
 of which a few pages are first read, and then made the theme of free conversation 
 between teacher and pupils. It promises to do a great work among the women of 
 Asia, [two hundred of whom were trained in the Constantinople and Harpcot schools 
 by the author] and rich returns are already coming in letters of the warmest gratitude, 
 from those who have received and read the copies sent them (as a present), from their 
 former teacher. American Messenger. 
 
 The funds for the publication of this Armenian book were mostly contributed by 
 benevolent friends ; the largest sum, two hundred dollars, being given by Plymouth 
 Church, Brooklyn, and the next largest, one hundred dollars, by the Sunday-school 
 of the First Presbyterian Church, Palmyra, New York. 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 697 
 
 CHAP. IX. What \Vork for Christ Involves PAGE 90 
 
 K. What Work for Christ Requires 109 
 
 " XI. Means for Putting in Practice these Requirements 135 
 
 " XII. Plan of Christian Work 173 
 
 Under Separate Heads Sunday-schools, Chil 
 dren s Meetings, Mothers Meetings, Prayer- 
 meetings, Soul-loving Societies, with Special 
 Directions for Conducting Them, Pledges, 
 Constitutions, etc. 
 
 " XIII. The Joy and Reward of this Work 204 
 
 " XIV. Appeal, and Conclusions 224 
 
 SECOND PART OF THIRTY PAGES. 
 
 Counsels Concerning Health, Cleanliness, and 
 How to Care for the Sick, of which 4,000 cop 
 ies are printed in Tract form, for general cir 
 culation. 
 
UMMKJ MT, 
 
 uurur 
 
 u in/ r i *b v. v b i> ^ s i 1 1 - ll b ix 
 
 1874 
 
SOWING AXI> REAPING IN ARMENIA. 699 
 
 July has come with its debilitating heat. The early morn 
 ing ride upon the Hartpoot hills (after many a sleepless night), 
 imparts fresh vigor for the new day. It is pleasant to pause 
 upon those summits, and see the shepherds bringing out their 
 flocks, some of the horned sheep have the immense tails men 
 tioned by Herodotus, with the " little carnages" or frame-work 
 upon wheels, to support the heavy burden, and delightful to 
 offer the morning sacrifice where sacred thoughts, like angels, 
 come appealing to our tent door, and we hear, 
 
 " In each faint stirring of the breeze, 
 God s voice among the trees." 
 
 The Annual Meeting of the Mission is convened in the rooms 
 below ; but I am in the midst of " packing " in the " prophets 
 chamber" upon the house-top, interrupted every now and 
 then by a tap at the door : The faithful Maranos comes in 
 with her heart too full for words ; suddenly she slips a gold 
 ring (engraven with her initials and my name) upon my finger, 
 and saying, * Wear it all your life to remember me !" bursts 
 into tears, and rushes to the window to control her feelings. 
 Her history is one of many that would help to swell a vql- 
 ume beyond its proper limit. The first of a large family to 
 find Christ, she suffered bitter persecution at their hands, till 
 at last one after another had accepted Him for their Portion. 
 
 She had received some instruction at Arabkir, and was ad 
 mitted to the school in Harpoot at the time of my arrival. 
 Her expressive and intelligent face glowed with pleasure as she 
 said, when giving me her welcome, " I prayed to the Lord for 
 years, to send me to your school at Constantinople ; but in 
 stead, He brought jjw/ here ! " And once when I was sad and 
 weary, she came to my room, and said, " I came to tell you, 
 
7CO THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 for your encouragement, that if the Lord brought you here for 
 nothing else, it must have been for me !" Her personal de 
 formity (from curvature of the spine) prevented her marriage, 
 and saved her for a work which few Armenian women were so 
 well fitted to accomplish. 
 
 Next came Nazloo and her mother. Nazloo, always modest 
 and retiring, could not say a word, but sat with the silent tears 
 streaming down her cheeks. After a little conversation, her 
 good mother remarked, "You are very busy, and we will not 
 hinder your work. Pmt Nazloo wishes to present you with a 
 token of remembrance and love ; " handing me a little package 
 done up in tissue-paper and tied with gay ribbon. To my 
 great surprise, it contained a pair of silver scissors, beautifully 
 chased, and engraved with her name and my own ; and a 
 silver thimble, likewise engraved. "She wanted to give yon 
 something which would be often in your hands/ said Briskigha, 
 " and told her father to have the rim and plain part of the 
 thimble made of gold. That will cost a great deal of money ! 
 he said ; and Nazloo answered, I don t care if it costs a 
 hundred piastres, for my teacher 1 . " 
 
 . And when they had left the room, she returned to whisper 
 in my ear a secret since I was going away : her daughter was 
 about to be betrothed to a preacher a young widower from 
 another part of the field, who had been attracted by her use 
 fulness in Christian work. This was news indeed concerning 
 Nazloo! And as I continued the packing, my mind traveled 
 back to the time when (as a day scholar) she was so un 
 promising and almost vicious that the missionaries fre 
 quently urged her dismissal from school. One day she had 
 behaved worse than usual, disregarding the rules, coming to her 
 clas?, after repealed calls, with sullen looks and stamping feet, 
 
SO \VING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 70! 
 
 and was told to icmain af;er school. When all had retired, 
 I called her to my desk, and said, " Nazloo, I am distressed 
 about you ; I see that you have no love for your school, or for 
 your teacher!" and as my eyes filled with tears, I hurried 
 away and left her standing there. There was no school the 
 next day, it being Saturday, but I received a note from Naz 
 loo, written in singular hieroglyphics, and with rather 
 peculiar orthography (for she was in the primary class), but 
 saying, "/ do love you, Varzhoohi ! Now to prove it, let me 
 tell you that whenever, on Sundays, I have to stay at home to 
 care for the baby, I always ask my mother whether the Var 
 zhoohi was there ; and if she says No, then I am very anxious 
 lest you are ill ! " 
 
 From that day her conduct, and -it seemed her character 
 also, underwent an entire change. The knowledge that her 
 lore was prized seemed to have opened her heart as if by 
 magic; and for the remaining two years of her pupilship she 
 never needed reproof. Her love for the " Varzhoohi " was 
 very marked (she often came over, from the other side of 
 the city for a visit, and only wanted to 1 ear the " loving coun 
 sels " which were frequently given in the five or ten minutes 
 that intervened ere I was called to some other employment) ; 
 and the frequency of her letters to Diarbekir, during my 
 stay there, caused many a smile and pleasant remark from 
 the Station postmaster. Her mind was not of the largest 
 calibre, and her personal appearance was unprepossessing ; 
 one eye was blind, and her face was corrugated with the ravages 
 of small-pox. But though excessively quiet and unpretending, 
 Nazloo left the school to show an efficiency and persistent 
 energy for which none of us had given her credit. 
 
 She gathered the children of the neighborhood into her 
 
702 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 mother s kitchen, for a school-room, till it could contain no 
 more. A room was then secured for her by the missionaries, 
 and I found on my first visit sixty boys and girls learning to 
 read, write, sing, and learn something of arithmetic and geog 
 raphy. As a disciplinarian, she was a marvel of success. 
 There was no appearance of power ; no outward show of any 
 kind ; but in some magical way her pupils had learned the diffi 
 cult lesson of obedience. As the wife of a preacher of the 
 Gospel in a distant town of Armenia, Nazloo is now filling 
 a sphere of more widely extended influence. 
 
 Among the last of the many who brought their little fare 
 well offerings was a company of twenty-six women who had 
 been but a short time under instruction. Most of them were 
 really very poor ; having in their scanty wardrobe but two 
 print dresses, and often going with bare feet. After saying a 
 few parting words to each, I expected them to go, when one 
 stepped forward, and in the name of all, presented me with a 
 little offering, saying, " You are worthy of a better gift ; but 
 this is all we have to bestow. We have put our paras together 
 to have it made, and we want you to eat your soup with it as 
 long as you live! The Master reward you at the Last Day!" 
 It was a silver soup-spoon, made by a native silversmith, with 
 a basket of flowers embossed on one side of the handle, and on 
 the reverse this inscription in Armenian " From the (women) 
 pupils of the Harpoot Female Theological * Seminary, as a 
 token of remembrance, etc., etc." J5ut all this was a 
 wonderful turning of tables for a missionary ! I remembered 
 very well hearing a coarse but grateful village girl newly re 
 ceived into the Mission School at Hasskeuy, call out to her 
 
 * Since the other school rejoiced in that high-sounding title, 
 tliey, too, must have it affixed to their own, it sounded so grandly ! 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 703 
 
 companion, " Mariam, I am going to make the Varzhoohi a 
 present ! " And the reply, " Nonsense ; what for do you 
 make her a present? It is her place to make us presents !" 
 And the experience of rny predecessors, as well as my own (at 
 the Capital), confirmed my conviction that the wisest course 
 was to avoid everything in the way of temporal aid : That 
 the people might learn to look upon us only as Religious 
 Teachers, and not be actuated by selfish motives. Nazloo 
 had never received at my hands anything but love and teach 
 ing. And I had never seen a Turkish or Armenian lady, 
 however rich, using other than a steel or iron thimble ; and 
 silver spoons (and scissors that would only cut paper !) were 
 an unheard-of luxury. But the love and the gratitude em 
 bodied in those offerings, made them more precious than piles 
 of that gold and silver which " perish with the using ! " . . . 
 . . . . It is hard to break away from ties that tug so pow 
 erfully at one s heart ! . . . Kitoobh, the Bible woman at 
 Diarbekir, writes, " Would that your America were Diarbekir ! 
 You would find much work to do for Christ." And after re 
 counting the encouraging results of " our first work together in 
 visiting from house to house, and persuading the women to learn 
 to read the Bible for themselves," she adds, " We much desired 
 your presence with us this Winter. The sisters do not forget your 
 counsels. Again and again do they desire to hear them, for 
 
 they love you much If you see Mrs. Walker in 
 
 America, remember us to her, with loving salutations. We 
 cannot forget her. Her labors for us and her kindnesses were 
 innumerable. The Lord be to her a support (a back) and a 
 refuge, and comfort her under all circumstances. . . Pray 
 for me the weak one that in the houses to which I go, and 
 in the words I speak, I may be unceasingly useful. The Lord 
 
704 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 be with you !" More than a year ago, a letter was received 
 from the brethren at Diarbekir signed by many names beg 
 ging the "Varzhoohi" to come and labor among their families; 
 and offering, in the absence of a missionary home, to provide 
 for my wants and care for my comfort in every possible way. 
 The appeal was very affecting ; and it cost a struggle to return 
 a negative answer to those warm-hearted and needy souls, be 
 reft of their missionary teachers. 
 
 The last word said, the last look given of those whom we 
 might never again meet this side Heaven (alas! the eldest and the 
 youngest of that dear circle of missionaries Dr. Williams and 
 Miss Warfield with whom we had taken such sweet counsel, 
 were not long to linger on earth), and we left the great com 
 pany who had escorted us out of the City, and passed beyond 
 
 the bounds of old Armenia Our route to 
 
 Constantinople lay over mountains infested with lawless bands 
 of brigands ; and the night after leaving Arabkir (where we spent 
 the Sabbath and held meetings) we unwittingly tented by a 
 village of robbers. In fact, some of them were employed as a 
 guard ; and after receiving their baksheesh, followed and inter 
 cepted us when but two or three hours out. Mr. Henry 
 Schauffler (having come from Stamboul as a delegate to the 
 Annual Meeting of the Eastern Mission) was my escort. He 
 wore a Colt s revolver in his belt, and our three or four mule 
 teers each carried a gun, and we had a footman as guard, who 
 was well armed. Presently, while he was parleying in Koordish 
 with the first of the marauding party, six horsemen, armed to 
 the teeth, rushed out from a pass in the mountains and 
 advanced upon us. A more fierce and wicked-looking set of 
 men I had never seen ; and who could tell what might be our 
 fate at their hands in that desolate region ! Not a wor,d was 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 705 
 
 uttered (except by the guard and the scout), and shoulder to 
 shoulder our men marched on, while the advancing party 
 halted and surveyed our strength. 
 
 Suddenly the leader gave a signal, and quick as thought 
 they darted into the deep defile of the mountain, leaving us to 
 go on our way rejoicing at our escape. "Had they not been 
 satisfied that you were genuine and not make-believe Franks," 
 said the guard, " you would not have escaped so easily. But 
 they were afraid of that/wr//" The English government fol 
 lows up any insult shown to its subjects with great vigilance, 
 and a whole village might have to suffer, even if the offenders 
 were not caught ! "Keep close together," said the men, as we 
 passed over other mountains, sometimes so steep of ascent 
 that I dared not ride, and almost feared that my horse would 
 topple over backward. There were fearful passes around 
 rocky gorges, at such a height that it made one s heart stand 
 still ; and after we had descended, the guide would say : " Do 
 you see those mountains with their heads in the clouds ? Well, 
 our path lies right over them ! " The selection of the route 
 had been generously left to me ; and with the knowledge of 
 its dangers, this was chosen not only because it was cooler, but 
 it also afforded an opportunity of visiting portions of the field 
 not yet seen. At Divrick Mr. Schauffler went to the Governor 
 to secure a mounted guard; and while sitting in the outer room 
 of the pastor s house, I noticed that two of the children ap 
 peared very feeble. Mr. Schauffler had returned, and while 
 talking with the father, kindly laid his hand upon the head of 
 the infant, just brought in, not noticing the eruption upon its 
 face, when I inquired the nature of the disease, and said to 
 the young missionary, who was going home to his wife and 
 four little children : " Take care ! The child has the SMALL- 
 30* 
 
706 THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 POX ! " He started as if stung by a scorpion. "Why did you 
 not tell me ? " he sternly demanded of the preacher. And 
 he, good man, laughed at the idea of any one being afraid of 
 small-pox ! But our quarters were quickly changed ; and that 
 evening we had a meeting here also with the little company 
 of Protestant women belonging to that place. 
 
 A few days were spent at Sivas, where we found the work in 
 a very low state, and an Armenian school for girls, taught by 
 a " mistress " from France that " when they died that would 
 be the end of them "; learning to dance, to trill operatic airs, 
 and read translations of Voltaire s infidel works ! Alas, alas ! 
 Thence to Yozgat ; where, during the week, besides various 
 meetings with the women, the brethren flocked to hear of the 
 work in and around Harpoot : and from Yozgat to Cesarea, in 
 Cappadocia, where a two or three weeks stay with the Mis 
 sionaries Mr. and Mrs. Farnsworth, Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett, 
 Mrs. Giles, and Miss Closson showed a great field, and much 
 work. I was particularly interested in the little village of Moon- 
 jasoon, where the Protestants had, in their " first love," built 
 a gem of a chapel, now too small to accommodate the in 
 creased number ; and the women, who seemed remarkably 
 intelligent and spiritual, said, as I was leaving after a night 
 spent with them and a meeting to which the brethren begged 
 to come, and were willing to take the seats behind the sisters 
 while I told them of CHRIST S WORK in Diarbekir and Harpoot 
 "We have been talking over how we can increase an inter 
 est in the cause of Christ among us ; and are going to fine 
 every sister who does not come to our weekly prayer-meeting, 
 three piastres each time ! " 
 
 In Cesarea, I found two of my former Constantinople 
 pupils, one the wife of the pastor; and as at Yozgat, there was 
 
SOWING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 707 
 
 a continual stream of callers, from noon until a late hour at 
 night helpers, brethren and sisters to hear of the work at 
 Harpoot. The Missionary families were spending the Summer at 
 Talas, two hours from the city, and their accommodations were 
 so limited that my resting-place at night was an alcove in the 
 hall, with a sheet hung before it. The stable was on the other 
 side, and an open sewer under the window ; and with the 
 snoring of two lusty Armenians at one end of the hall, and the 
 constant companionship of tormenting fleas, sleep was almost 
 an impossibility ; and my already diminished vitality went 
 down, down, day after day, to a very low ebb. But during the 
 two weeks stay, we visited several old Greek and Armenian 
 monasteries bearing the names of St. John, and Basil, whose 
 birth-place as also that of "Gregory the Illuminator" was in 
 that region ; and the monks, with whom we conversed, were 
 much surprised because I declined the offered cigarette, and 
 rakee. Their questions about America, and concerning the 
 pecuniary compensation received for our Missionary labors, 
 showed an ignorance and a lack of capacity to comprehend 
 such work only a shade less deplorable than that of many at 
 home who pride themselves upon their broad culture and pro 
 found wisdom ! 
 
 Mr. Schauffler had hastened to Stamboul, and on the return 
 to Yozgat and thence to Marsovan, I made my first essay in a 
 wheeled conveyance a sort of Express-wagon sent out by 
 the friends of Mr. Bartlett. There were no real roads, and 
 often in crossing rough places, among the rocks, we all 
 alighted, and with great tugging the wagon was brought 
 through. One day Mr. Bartlett had just pointed out the 
 narrow paths amid the brushwood of a mountain beyond the 
 stream which flowed at our right, saying : " Those are the paths 
 
70S THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 by which the robbers come down and catch unwary travelers ; 
 for this is the most dangerous part of the road ! " when, as we 
 were leaning to the upper side of the wagon in going over a 
 side hill, one of the wheels suddenly crushed under, and we 
 were thrown over ! A heavy trunk and other baggage fastened 
 me down, and had the horses started, my position would 
 have been perilous. With great difficulty we made our way to 
 a neighboring Turkish town, where the people gathered around 
 us in crowds, and while they w-ere gazing and chattering over our 
 strange appearance, all made way for a noble young Turk, who 
 was a very Apollo for beauty ! Tall, admirably proportioned, 
 of fine classic features, dark eyes that shone with a mild 
 lustre, and a brown curling beard of silky softness, with a 
 dimple playing on his cheek as he spoke, adding to the expres 
 sion of dignity and sweetness combined, as he bade us wel 
 come, and offered us any assistance in his power. 
 
 He was evidently a person of rank and power, and his green 
 turban bespoke him a lineal descendant of the Prophet.* The 
 break-down delayed our journey, and our friends at Marsovan, 
 who came out in great numbers to meet us for two successive 
 evenings, were sorely disappointed. But what a welcome 
 was that which we received, when, at ten o clock of that Oc- 
 
 * The day after my arrival in the country, I started out with the 
 company fresh from America, after a thirty days passage in the 
 good barque "Sultana" to visit the tomb of Polycarp on Castle 
 Hill, in Smyrna. My dress, gloves, scarf, and veil were of the " ortho 
 dox color," the sacred green of the Turk, which none but the lineal 
 descendants of Mahomet may wear. The walk proved very long ; and 
 when returning through the Turkish quarter (the nearest route) the 
 stones flew so thickly and unerringly around my devoted head, that 
 we all took refuge in speedy flight ! It was my first experience of 
 persecution, not for " righteousness sake," but because I was literally 
 
SCKVING AND REAPING IN ARMENIA. 709 
 
 tober evening, chilled and exhausted, we found our way 
 through the dark, dismal streets to the warmth and cheer of a 
 Missionary home, where loving hands grasped ours, and tears 
 were mingled with smiles, as memories of the past were re 
 vived at the sight of dear, familiar faces ! 
 
 A few short weeks of tarrying with those friends afforded 
 a fresh survey of their work which had steadily been build 
 ing upon the true foundations ; the two Training-Schools pre 
 paring and yearly sending forth workers for all the adjoin 
 ing fields. And, under the blessing of God upon Mrs. 
 Leonard s increased attendance upon the sick, every house 
 in the town, of both Armenians and Turks, seemed open to 
 receive the Gospel ; and many were led to accept the truth. 
 Of the hundreds treated by this medically-untrained sister, 
 for typhus and other fevers and diseases not one case has 
 been lost ! The people think it almost miraculous, saying to 
 
 Mrs. L., " Those whom your hand touches recover ! " 
 
 The last stage of the journey to old Stamboul was com 
 menced, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Herrick, crossing 
 
 the Black Sea in a Russian steamer " Yes," said 
 
 the portly Russian General who, with his staff, promenaded 
 the deck, in conversation with the scholarly and faithful 
 missionary whose motto had ever been " Fidelity to Duty " 
 "Yes, if our Government should take possession of 
 Turkey, every Missionary would be sent out of the country ! 
 for Russia will not tolerate any proselytising within her do 
 minions!" And if she should, it might not be the worst 
 thing that could happen to the Protestants, we thought ; 
 for the Gospel leaven has been widely diffused, and the 
 Armenian Christians, if left to themselves and God, might 
 develop and grow as did the Christians of Madagascar, 
 
7IO THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. 
 
 when hunted and persecuted till they dared not pray or 
 read aloud, in their hiding-places, yet preserving the Word 
 of God in their hearts, and daily increasing in strength and 
 numbers: And when, in the "fulness of time," that 
 heathen government \vas swept away by the Hand of God, 
 lo ! a Christian Nation was born ! 
 
 " After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude which no 
 man could number, of ALL NATIONS, and KINDREDS, and 
 PEOPLE, and TONGUES, stood before the throne, and before 
 the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands : 
 
 These are they which came out of great 
 
 tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them 
 white in the blood of the Lamb : THEREFORE are they 
 before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night 
 in His temple, and He that sitteth on the throne, shall 
 dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither 
 thirst any more ; neither shall the sun light on them, or any 
 heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne 
 shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of 
 waters : And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." 
 
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