Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-04-29

How the Son Of an American Became
an Arab Sheik-LOVe ia the Desert
and Its Result.


How the Son of an American Became
an Arab Sheik-LOVe In the Desert
aud Its Result.
About twenty-five years ago a COM
pany OF young men started out from
Damascus and headed for Jerusalem.
They had not gone far before q
band Of armed horsemen surrounded
them and ordered halt. The leader
said the caravan might move on, un-
hurt, if they would deliver up one
of their number, young man named
Randall, who should not suffer ii he
would come along with them peaceful
ly. The terms. though hard. were ac-
coded to. and the last look his com
panions had Of him was to see him
mounted on fine horse, attended by
the gay hOrsemen of the Bedouin
Sheik of the lie Ayish tribe.
The young man was taken to the
Sheik's tent, and to bis surprise found
magnificent entertainment awaiting
him. What doesitall mean2 Arzalia, the
Sheik's daughter, has seen the young
man and fallen passionately in love
with him, and this is the wedding feast.
The young man and ArOZalia are mar
ried. 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 was kept over
hTin for years. He and Azalia, how
ever, seemed happy; children were
born to them, and their domestic life
was marked by kindness, courtesy and
true affection. Randall rapidly ac-
quired the Arabic language; his wife
as rapidly mastered the English. Their
children were taught in both.
Now who was this Randall? In On
eida county, New York, lives his faith
er, who has never seen the face of his
son. This father is now man of some
seventy years, who was brought up
among the Indians. and has travelled
again aud again with the hunters of
his tribe over the entire Mississippi
valley In search of fish and game. At
the age of twenty-oHe the chief of his
tribe said to him: You had better
return to the white people, for among
them you can be more of a man than
among the Indian" Hereturned, secur-
ed Welsh lady for hiswife, and while
she was on visit to her relations 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 a trip through
Syria, previous to his return to Ameri-
ca, when he was captured blythe Sheik,
and compelled to marry his daughter.
His mother was a Baptist, and he, be-
fore he left Wales for the Orient, was
baptized. When he was admitted to
the Shiek's family they had to receive
his religion as we'll as his person.
Through him his wife became a
Christian; his father-in-law became O
patron of his son-in-laws faith; his
children were brought up Tin the fear
of the Lord :" his son had become 4
Sheik of the tribe-the father-in- law
having died. All the surrounding
tribes have become favorable to the
new religion, and have pledged their
swords in its defense.
But Dervish, a zealot of the Mo-
hammedan faith, has for a long time
been endeavOring to STIR up opposition
aud persecution; he strove to have
Randall's sons thrown out of the en-
ploy of the Turkish Government, and
failing IN this, turned his assault upon
the daughter Of the foreigner, charg-
ing her with witchcraft aud apostasy
from the truth. She was brought be-
fore the Meglis, composed of III ven
cradle Sheiks and Offendis, to answer
charges which involved her life She
although but IL years of age, and
dressed in the neatest manner, with a
placid face, aud calm heart and unfalt-
ering trust, responded Most venera-
ble fathers, [ will reply in person." and
then with fervor, and faith, and power,
holding her Bible in her hand, and
frequently reading passages from it,
she made defense worthy of an apos-
tie; and when she finished, the unaDi-
nous 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 as
Rosa did. But the old Dervish
breathed revenge and determined to
take that young life.
The trail was in October, 1872 In
June, 1873, while Rosa was teaching
class of forty little girls, in grove,
the Dervish stealthily approached, and
before any one was aware he had nur-
dered the maid and fed In the last
letter from Lady Arzolia lie Avish
Randall, giving all the particulars of
her child's trial and tragid death, oc-
curs this beautiful sentence and earn
est request; Pray for me, that my piety
may be as humble as the violet, as en-
during as the olive, and as fragrant as
the Orient. San Francisco ChrORi-
Gle.