The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-20

| Church pray and labor for such revavdts.
JOHN S. GRAsTYI
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
DR.. Kalopothakes Mission in Greece.
Letter from Mrs. N. 81. Kalopothakes to fne
Rev. George W. Leyburn; sai{
81 AREopoLIs, October s, 1885.
have just returned from visit 70
your school-house, from whence l have
brought flower, (the only green thing
near, to press and send you. And, a.
this completes nearly all my duties 10
this place, and the time for leaving Is
drawing near, / must sit down, and give
you an account of all we have been do
ing and enjoying here this summer.
.i You have been almost constantly in
our thoughts, and for myself, I can truly
say, that your labors and prayers here
have been an Indictment to me, from the
day of our journey to this place. All
the way along over those mountain sides,
I was thinking with what different cir
cumstances you were surrounded thirty
years ago-coming as strangers from
home of plenty to this barren land, and
how you labored with little to encourage
or cheer you; and yet here was the fruit.
We were owing our coming to you; for
under God, the conversion of my dear
husband, and his wife and children, were
all the result of that visit of yours. |
lifted up my heart in alteration of that
power which works so differently from
what we expected, and wished often, and
prayed that our visit, if it had no other
influence, might lodge some seed in one
such heart as that little boys, whom you
had been the means of blessing. My
first impressions of the town were most
agreeable. 1 found it better in every
respect than I had expected. My hus-
band had prepared his fathers house for
our comfort, and the ocean view from the
terrace compensates for everything. 1t
is continued feast of my eyes, and then
the air is so pure and bracing that we
have not suffered with the heat at all.
suppose our situation here can
hardly be compared with yours. My
husband knowing, and being known by
all, has all means at his disposal, and
though it is barren land, we have not
wanted for anything. Of course, inter-
course with other places is far greater
now, than in your days, and we have
plenty of fruit and vegetables brought.
and then the native frank osyka* are
nice, and the quails (0rtykia. which fall
at this season, fill our mouths continually
with good things. We have received,
too, unbounded kindness and affection
from the people. / Iregard my husband
as an exception to the rule, that "pro-
phet hath no honor in his own country,
The tears have often come to my eyes at
the words of affection and blessing that
are given us, as we pass through the
streets. From the first week, l began to
gather the girls who do not 60 to any
school for instruction, and have kept up
regular weekday and Sabbath school
till now.
My principal object was to teach the
Bible; and those who did not know how
to read, of course I taught, but the larger
girls I also taught arithmetic, and the
first part Of grammar. With Polyxenas
assistance, (she is Greek Protestant
girl whom we have had for several, years,
and whom we are fitting for a teacher.)
we also taught them to sing Greek
hymns, new collection which DR.. Biggs
has translated, such as "Come to Jesus,
como now, 81 ought to love my moth
err" &c.
On Saturdays we had sewing school;
and on the Sabbath, one exclusively reli-
gious. We have on the west side, a Gov.
cred terrace open at its sides, which
looks upon the one where you used to
live. I often thought, how glad you
would have been could you have looked
forward to day, when the praises Of
God would be resounding from your
neighbor's house. Ny husbands lastand
youngest sister was married this summer.
so now we are in sole possession of the old
homestead.
I brought the pictures we have of you
and E., and hung them up in our
room up stairs, and also an engraving
we have of Mr.. and Mrs. Houston; and
everybody almost recognizes theirs and
yours.
am astonished to find how people re-
member you here. If I thought l should
be spoken of with so much affection and
gratitude thirty years hence, 1 should be
very happy! But must tell you of our
trials. Besides our daily morning and
evening worship in Greek, at which We
are seldom alone, especially at evening.
(when usually from ten to fifteen men as
semble of their own accord my husband
has also his usual service on Sabbath
mornings, and without inviting any one.
the number of those who came to hear
increased steadily for several weeks, un-
til there were over forty-6lling our long
dining-room, so that We had to open the
kitchen door; and many sat and stood
there. Among others was priest--Papa
Franka, as he is called, who expressed
himself so much pleased, that he told u,
he wished that every householder would
assemble his family in the same way and
read the Bible to them. But, aa he was
jealous probably of Mr.. KS popularity
he in short time wrote to the bishop
who is not here, (and he is his agent
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