Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-01-27

Athen,I
ATHENS, November 27, 1874.
Dear --. am very glad 10 get your
kind letter. with its assurances Of continued
interest in our work. / feel very much the
need Of am assistant, and am grateful for
your kind thoughtfulness about it. Tell
- have no doubt She could help me,
and that Che fitness for any work must be
OF God yet lie prepares us by a varied dis
ciplne for the places lIo would have us I'll,
and very much the same qualities are needed
for successful work at home and abroad
only at home the responsibility is so divided
that the individual counts for less If it
were only question Of helping me, could
easily fiji the place.
Most Of my time is filled up with things
which any one can do, and which many
could do far better than !, but | want one
who can stand between the school and the
community in case of my illness or DEATH
The execution Of the law would close my
school at once but people have confidence
in the general influence of the school, aud a
pretty strong persuasion that am no Jesuit
The answer 10 a great many scandals has
been, awe know Miss Kyle" God has
given me this favor as the only way Of
securing the work under unjust laws.
wrote you about the visit Of the minis
ter and his directing me not TO give any re-
ligious instruction myself. OF course, was
not going TO send away my children at the
first word, and have received no written
order, and have many private assurances
that no further notice viii be taken. To
similar message from the Synod | made no
reply officially, but talked very freely to
the priest sent, and told him that while my
business is with the minister, he was at lib
erty to repeat my words where he chose.
could not acknowledge the authority Of the
Synod by any response but did not choose
to offend them 10y saying so in direct speech.
A deputy sent me word to put any priest out
who came to meddle, as they have no right,
but prefer to send them away good-natured
have in scheol the children of three depu-
ties, and they all use their good word for me
with the minister. \ little nece, too, Of the
bishop Of Athens is in school. | have a
large number OF influential patrons, and l
rather suspect they may go beyond the sim
pie truth in defending me- but cannot learn
certainly.
Most Of my children are young, but it
will be so much the better for us as they
grow up. Indeed, see every year a marked
gain in conduct and in good feeling | Ihave
one hundred and five pupils, six OF them
boarders. OF these, three pay full price
themselves the other three must be helped,
aud have one other entirely dependent,
the little Annaoze, whom took when your
money came. have always looked upon her
as in a certain sense your child. She is very
bright and good. a sweet-natured, delicate
child. hope she may become a very useful
woman She has more talent than almost
any child in school, and is very helpful about
the house.
think wrote you that Sophia united
with the church at our last communion, the
second Of my girls II seems little, but it
is a great deal for Greece. have some hope
for another, and there is an increasing
thoughtfuncss in many minds. am trying
all the time to make them feel that the Bible
is the one rule Of faith and practice want
them to get into the habit of referring to it
as authoritative while they are small, but
avoid all controversy. OF course | select and
enforce with a special care the great truths
which will meet their errors when they come
toput things together We need TO be wise in
dealing with them. Proselytism is a crime
saying anything against the church is
crime but it would be hard to make out a
case of proselytism in the court Since
writing this, another message has come from
the Metropolitan. He wanted to know if |
had introduced the catechism as had been
directed. | said my business was with the
minister of education if there was no writ
ten communication from him | could make
no reply. could answer only the constituted
authorities. talked with the messenger as
pleasantly as | could told him it seemed
best to leave each thing to the department
TO which it belonged the minister would
doubtless do his duty etc. But what shall
| say?" Nothing from me-" The Metro
| politan must know that this is irregular
Perhaps he thinks that being woman,
may be frightened into a course that they
might possibly be ashamed TO force me into
| The parents only smile at these things
Many of them say "Since we are content,
why need the government trouble itself p"
Still do feel little uncertain, and know it
affects people at home. Still, what are we to
| do? We must not let work so encoura-
| gingly begun, fail for want of courage to take
the necessary steps forward because we do
not see the end. The present need is urgent,
and if one is fitted here she is in the great
line of mission work eastward The world
is wide, and calls come from every field
My quiet life was broken in upon 10y a
wedding two weeks agony French teacher,
who has been with me from the first The
wedding was intended TO be very quiet, but
Mr.. V. is very popular young man, and the
people who must be invited were more than
hundred. The first entertainment was in
Greek style. The English Minister, still a
powerful leader in the Assembly, was pres
ent and three other deputies, all friends tony
school, the English Consul and his family, the
director of the English bank, DIR. and Mrs,
Hill, and good many other people of posi-
ton. The papers spoke of it as brilliant
affair. The "brilliant" was all in the lights
and flowers, and elegant dresses of our
friends, our own establishment being plain
enough. Literal ioads Of flowers were sent
by friends aud our simple rooms were made
very beautiful. This Mr.. V. isl not an ayowed
Protestant, but really so in belief. lie feels
! great interest in our work, and has done