St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-03-04
Letter from Turkey.
SIvAs, TURKEY, Dec. 9, 80.

H. anu L Ntul OH d iOuS pldhhCu Nl9iV
to the bazaars to purchase necessary ar
ticles for cur schools.
Starting at 10 a. m, we did not reach
home until 3.30 p. M, walking most of
the time one can form little idea of
the time it takes to make purchases of
the natives. As soon as they see ladies
wearing hats, they double their prices,
knowing that the English consuls have
such high pay, they seem to care but
little what articles cost, so they natur
ally infer the same is true of Americans.
And it takes as much time for them to
fall in their prices as it does for Ger
man peddlars or those in the Jew shops
in America.
The distant mountains are white with
snow, but we have not had any here
yet. At the beginning of winter we
find a great many extra cares and du-
ties, 10 be prepared for the intense cold
of this climate. Windows must be stuff
ed with rags and pasted up, cellar win
dOvs banked, listing put on doors and
windows; you must first find boy,
then watch him to see if he does his
work properly. Purchase stoves for
the school room and hire some old man
to attend and protect you in crossing
the city and aid you in making pur-
chases, procure the different kinds Of
fuel, and return home and wait perhaps
two weeks for it to be delivered, stir
ring up their minds in the meantime to
keep in remembrance their promises.
The people here have yet to learn the
meaning of the word Immediately: toI
they are proverbially slow in their
movements and one great and impOr-
tant requisite for missionary is to pos
sess patience. You sometimes hear
some of our old and returned missiona
ries criticised for lack of energy and for
taking things so calmly, which may be
true; fOT if they were naturally en-
thusiastic and energetic, they find it alb
sOlutely necessary to adapt themselves
in some measure to the people with
whom they come in contact; or, if not,
they soon wear themselves out with
useless worry and danXiety, because they
cannot accomplish nearly as much as
they planned or desired.
We gave up our teacher in the Girls
| High School to go as a Bible reader to
Tokat, for there did not appear to be
any other one so spiritually minded and
qualified to fill this position then
when this opportunity for new school
in the other part of the city offered it.
self, for which we had for Il long time
been hoping and praying, there was no
one to teach the school unless we sent
Primary teacher; but, although our
own suggestion, with our limited
knowledge of the language, and only
inexperienced girls to assist as, we felt
as if we were throwing plank into
the Atlantic Ocean and walking out in
the strength of and faith in the Lord ;
as it was done for the advancement of
Gods kingdsm, we hope that in answer
to our prayers, the crude material left
may through his grace be polished and
made useful, developing them both
spiritually and intellectually. We feel
encouraged in learning the language,
taking lessons three times a week III
Arithmetic, so as to instruct the Pri-
mary teacher. am becoming intensely
interested in the school, and only regret
that | cannot do more for these poor
girls. We are much pleased to find
one of the girls doing SO well that We
think she will become a regular teach
er. We have her teach arithmetic tC
little children from to 10 years of age
| have had two black boards made anC
covered with a coating of black paint
although very rough indeed, and it vii
take many crayOns to work them, We
as few of the children study only men
tai arithmetic, the teacher will be care
full of them.
We now have twelve bOarders, an,
it takes much time to watch over them
Yes, the care of these girls is mucl
more than in America. First, you mus
see that they have their meals in time
+ assign every one their work, and Sc
; that they do it well +; attend prayer
. morning and evening with them, motto
. whether they waste food or fuel, tina
: the house is kept clean, that thei
clothes are all in order, that they ob
serve study hours, attend school in sea
son, or 90 with their families to tax
d baths, which absents them general
a half day, and among so many take
e some away almost daily, as it is regard
II ed here rs a very important thin!
e Last, but not least is the cutting an
If basting the work for the sewing ella.
$ every Friday afternoon. 1t takes SON
Is time to prepare the work for 60 girls ey
a cry week. The work consists of dresse
rs mems shirts, aprons, crochet and patel
s work. We cut out Is aprons the 9th,
=. a afternoon, but all the calico and viii
; cloth which you sent me last spring
just gone. We are looking anxiously f,
III our box to arrive, containing the patel
-, work it will he such relief to ba,
Is it all basted. Each of the missional
ia ladies here have taken two girls
e- clOthe and take care of. We usual
e take our dresses and make over f
" them. The second girl whom l ha'