Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-03-04
AN AMERICAN SIiEIIx.

About twenty-five years ago q compa.
ny ofyoung men started out from Da.
mascus, bound for Jerusalem. They
had not gone far before band of armed
horsemen surrounded them, and ordered
Il halt. Tho leader said the caravan
might move on, unhurt and unh1rmed, 4,
it they would deliver mp one oftheir num-
Der, young man named Randall, who
should not suffer if he would come along
with them peacefully. The terms, though
hard, were acccded to, and the last look
his companions had of him was to see
him mounted on n fine horse, attended
by the gay horsemcn of the Bedouin Sheili
of the lie Arish tribe, which tribe usually
winters in the neghborhood of Damas.
Gus, and in the summer move south and
east ovor the great plain, seeking pastur
age and water for their hocks and herds
The young man was taken to the Sheik's
tent and, to his surprise, found mag
niicont entertainment awaiting him.
What does it all mean? Arzalia, the
Sheik's daughter, had seen tho young
man, and fallen passionNtely in love with
him and this is the wedding feast, TIL,
young man and Arzalia were married
There was no escape for him. His tent
was guarded by night and his person
watched by day, lest he should escape,
and this guard wns kept over him for
years. He and Arzalia, however, SEEM
cd happy children were born to them,
and their domestic life was marked by
kindness, courtesy and true affection.
Randall rapidly acquired the Arabic lam
guage his wife as rapidly mastered the
English. Their children were taught in
both Now, who was this Randall In
Oneida county, New York, lives his fa-
ther, who has never seen tho face of his
son. Tho father is now man of some
seventy years, who was brought up among
the Indians, and has travelled again and
again with the hunters of his tribe over
the entire Mississippi Valley in search of
fish and game. At the age oftwenty one
the chief Of the tribe said:
You had better return to the white
people, for among them you can be more
Of man than among the Indians"
He returned, secured Wolch lady
for his wife, and while she was on Wis
ii to her relatives in Wales this son was
born. The mother dying soon after his
birth, he remained until manhood with
his kindred in Wales, and was taking n
trip through t. Syria, previous to his
coming TO America, when he was captur-
ed by the Sheik and compelled to marry
his daughter.
His mother was n Baptist, and ho, be
fore he left Wales for Orient, was bap-
tized. When no was admitted to the
Sheik's family they had TO receive his
religion as well rs his person. Through
| him his wifo became Christian his
fnther-in law became n patron OF his son
| in-law's faith his children were brought
up ain tho fcnr of tho Lord :" his son
has become ShcilS of the tribe-the father
in-law having died. All the surrounding
religion, and have pledged their swords
in its defense. Many have been baptized;
hundred Of children have been taught the
new religion.
But dervish, zoalot of the Moham
medan faith, had for long time been
endeavoring to stir up opposition and
persecution he strove to have Randall's
sons thrown out of the employment o:
the Turkish Government, and failing in
this, turned his assault upon daughter OF
the foreigner, and charged her with
witchcratt and apostacy from the true
faith She was brough: before the meg
lis, composed Of IA venerable sheiks and
efiondis, TO answer charges which invol-
we'd her life. The chnrges being substan-
tinted as best they could be by witnesses,
she was called upon to answer them
through her advocate. She, although
but fourteen years of age and dressed in
the noatest manner, and with n placid
face and calm heart and unfaltering trust,
responded, "Most venerable fathers,
will reply in person :" and then with
fervor and faith and power, holding her
Bible in her hand, and frequently read
ing passages from it, she made defense
wolt thy Of an apostle and when she fin
ishcd the unanimous verdict was in her
favor and the chiefs Of the tribes pledged
each other their swords anew to defend
all Christians who thought and felt a.
Rosa did. But tho old dervish brcathed
revenge and determined to take that
young life.
The trial was in October, 1879. In
June, 1873, while Rosa was teaching a
cass Of forty-two little girls, in grove,
about the way TO heaven, the dervish
stealthiIy approached, and, before any
ono was aware, he had murdered the
maid and fed. The feeteSt horses of
the tribe, with armed riders, went in
pursuit. He was soon captured, tried
and executed. But the work is growing,
the truth is extending, and new chapter
in the history Of spreading gospel light
has been unvailed TO US, alike startling
and impressive. When the whole story
is told, (as it soon will be,) more re.
markable chapter in the history Of the
preaching of the Gospel has not been Of
fered this century.
In the last letter from Lady Arzalia
lie Arish Randall, giving all the particu
lars of her child's trial and tragic death,
occurs this beautiful sentence and earn
est request: pray for me, that my piety
may be as humble rs the violet, as eEdur-
inp rs tho oliye. and rs fInorant as the