Woman and Her Saviour in Persia: By a Returned MissionaryLaurie, Thomas
History
Woman and Her Saviour in Persia: By a Returned Missionary
Laurie, Thomas
Church of the East -- Missions; Missions -- Iran; Women missionaries
But it is time to bring forward her husband, in letters which open up a
new department of usefulness, and illustrate the meaning of Mar
Yohanan, when he brought her first pupils to Miss Fiske, and said, "No
man take them from you." The truth was, that the same parents, who at
first could not trust their daughters in the Seminary for a single
night, were now unwilling that they should be united to a husband who
did not commend himself to its teachers as a suitable companion for
their pupils. But let Oshana speak:--
HONORED LADY, MISS FISKE: I have a petition to lay before your zeal,
which is active in doing good to all poor insignificant ones like me.
Dear lady, whose love is like the waters of the Nile, and spreads more
than they; for it reaches the sons of the mountains of Kurdistan, as
well as those of the plain. I am venturing to trouble you more than
ever before. This summer, when I went to my country (Tehoma), my mother
and uncles, who greatly love me, with a natural love, beset me to marry
one of the daughters of my country, whomsoever I should please; but I
made known to them that I wished, if possible, to take one of the
pupils of your school, for I said to them, "If I take one of these who
are so wicked, ignorant, immodest, and disorderly, they will embitter
my life;"' I entreated of them not to put this yoke of iron on my neck.
They listened a little to my petition, from the mercy of God, but made
me promise that if it should reach my hand, I would marry this winter.
The girl on whom I have placed my eye, to take her, is Sarah; because
she has the "fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom," and she
has been brought up in all the graces of Christianity, and has well
learned the holy doctrines; and in the fear of God, and the knowledge
she has acquired, she can help me, and strengthen me, in the work of
God, on which I have placed my heart for life.
And now, to whom shall I look to help me in this matter? I will look to
God, the Lord of heaven and earth. But he works by instruments. Then to
whom shall I look, as the instrument to do this work? I am a stranger,
poor, and without a name here. My relatives are far away. If I have
friends in Oroomiah, they cannot do this kindness for me. If I remain
silent, silence alone shall I see. Now, my lady, I look to you for
help; and with confidence shall I do so more than I should to my
parents; for you have guided me and my sister better than any
Nestorians have guided their children. Yes, by your hand God will
supply my need. Now do as you think proper. From your unworthy
OSHANA.
P.S. The other letter (enclosed) is for Sarah, and on this subject.
Some time after he was engaged to her, she was very sick, when he wrote
as follows; and the reader will notice that the "honored lady" gives
place to
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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