The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-12-25

gun anew after the floods subsidized,
for Armenia is one of the oldest lands
and it's people trace their lineage direct
to that Biblical emigrant ship which
colonized it when the world was young.
From many quaint, fiat-roofed dwell
ing arose Christmas carols to which
soft-voiced echoes sang responsive
choruses among the cliffs, and at least
one church bell tried bravely, singly
and alone, to supply an imitation of
Christmas chimes. 1t was a peaceful
picture, upon which the stars twinkled
approvingly as they bespangled the
slopes with frost-diamonds and coated
countless sparkles from the pallid snow.
The Armenians are a devout people, and
make much of the Christmas festival.
This little hamlet was in many respects
not unlike Bethlehem, and near it were
many shepherds who guarded their
flocks by night. as did those of Judea
when tine angels sang of peace on earth,
good will to men.
At the home of Abanazar, the head
man of the village, there were quiet
festivities, decorations of holly and
other evergreens, songs of praise and
stories which for generations had hand
ed down cherished traditions and
legends of Armenia. There were the
aged grandfather and grandmother.
Abanazer and his good wife, three little
girls ranging from six to twelve years
old, and Zillah, the 16-year-old daugh-
ter, with her affianced lover Akthar,
the stalwart young herdsman. She
was q beautiful maiden, with regular
features, large eyes aglow with love,
the small but symmetrical form char
acteristic of SO many women OF her
race. In her picturesque costume she
was marvellously handsome, and her
tones were as musical as the tinkle
of silvery bells or the low notes OF Ak
thar's flute, to which she sometimes
sang soft accompaniment. The pleas
ant scene in this home was duplicated
in many others that starlit Christmas
eve.
Suddenly the scene changed. The
church bell rang in sharp, short strokes,
a spirited alarm, confusion succeeded
calm. and there were excited exclama-
tions and hurrying in hot haste as
riderdashed madly down the one central
street shouting: Save yourselves,
Christians, the Kurds are coming!
But there was no time. Close upon
his tracks came hundreds of swathy
borsemen. turbaned and fierce, with
loud Mohammedan maledictions
shouted in deep-voiced hate, and eyes
which cleaned like live Goals from ne
meath beetling brows. In a moment
andemopium seemed to have broken
loose. the guns spoke sharply, seine
tars flashed in silver and turned GRIM
son. and soon the flames from burning
buildings cast their lurid glare over an
earthly hell wherein fiends held hlgn
carnival in shedding innocent blood.
Abanazar and his family, with others
gained the church which stood on the
edge of a precipice, and there maze .
brave stand, but it was useless
Breaches were made In the walls, inc
Mace carried by storm, and hundreds
slain before the altar dedicated to peace
and decorated with Christmas symbols
IN readiness for the morrow. The lioor
literally ran in blood, and lillian II
speechless anguish beheld the men @.
her family and her lover cut down. anu
women subjected to fortunes winch
chilled her to the soul. With olner
women and girls she fought heroicaiiy,
hut finally found herself GREATNESS ana
disarmed in the embrace OF Rus'eHl,
tbe huge leader of the Kurds, VINO mao
often IN days of peace paid her a''en-
t;ops rs often repealed.
suddenly she drew the steel Dodk'n
from her hair. plunged It with unerr'hs
aim and the strength born OF despera'
t,on into the giants heart, and as ne
sonL to the floor she bounded 70 inc
side Of the church. seized ligh'ed
taper. opened trap door IN .ne nor.
hurled the light into supply OF Po~nF.
s4ored there. and springing through
side door Ieaped from the Prec'p's s., p :,
s scores Of other women had done with
the horrible half hour preceding ns1s
vras : fIash, a thunderous roar. ~" III ~
.assa church seemed to be heayen nign
s = -, while In the lurid light Of inc *
, - sic, dead bodies Of men and women
-...,d he seen among the nyile Fr ny
sss r and with them scores o. i've