The San Francisco call., 1897-10-17

Il VIII write, and Will send her money
when l can earn iI-but not Though
the p stoffice. l will send it to friend,
10 one of The foreign EN- bassies, you under
stand"
And you intend TO work?"
''Oh, if can. l must work. will work
| 10 bring her here, TO ct her away from
| there. can sew; l like TO sew. What
wish Is 10 become a modiSte. OF course,
1t will be haId me-. am stranger.
L have no friends. | must learn English,
TOO. But We Armen ans hav gift for
learning languages-see, it is not ego:ism
Tor my people on my part-sreater even
than the Russians have. We can learn
he Asiatic tongues, which the Russians
cannot master. | snail learn English and
shall become modIste."
And she witl-the brave little bodyl
Inere is energy, capabilItv, determina-
ton in her every word. And what mo-
i've she has, what incentive TO work!
~ ou must lie lonesome-homesick," L
said you liked ConstantinopIef
Who does not love his own country?"
She asked. 'Constantinople is beautl-
! iu, fine city. l have not been here
! long. L do not know about America. If
uld 40 back" she went on, Iougingly,
"and be at peace with my people; but l
Go not hone for that. l am very much
troubled now for Armenia. There is no
| nope now for my people-and my motheri
L Will work to bring her here 10 me-my
! poor o.d mother! You see we Armenians
live close together. Three or four houses
are connected. Evenings we spend now at
one house, now at another. We do not
go out much in the evening-neither men
|
neig bors, our people. Here, you see, 1
| do not know any one. l miss Inv friends.
l miss my mother"
She spoke rapidly, softly; her low voice
was full of anxiety.
"Wait, [ will show you her picture"
She hurried out of the little parlor and
ran upstairs.
"See, she said, returning.
1t was the picture of very tall old
woman, who once must have been a very
strong woman, mentally aud physically.
She sat so erect, her head was held so
well, her dark eyes were clear, strong and
brave, and her mouth was firm but gentle.
A fine, interesting old face-stronger,
finer than tnat of the daughter, whose
hand as she held the picture caressed 1t
in way that brought tears to ones eyes.
"Ah. la Pauvrstter' she murmured,
looking over my shoulder as if she were
speaking TO the face. "See she is old-very
old. And she has been i'll; it is for her
of her l think. They worry her-they
trouble, they frighten her,"
you think of her always?"
Every houT-always l think of her.
You understand; now you see why l am
afraid to talk 10 you. Think of her. old
and sick, and if what you write should
harm her-you would not harm herr"
Harm herl Who could harm a woman
like thatr woman upon whose old face
is written the story of, perhaps, 20 brave.
patient, industrious years. a woman
who. in her old age. has had to endure
the crowning suffering of separation from
this girl she must have leaned upon.
yearned over.
Ii thought that despite my care there
| was the smallest indiscretion that might
cause moments uneasiness to that poor
old Armenian mother 1 should not dare
to print it.
l wouldn't harm your mother. Mad
ernoiselle, But would help-lf could
your mothers brave, faithful, loving
daughter. l would put her story before
the rich women of this city and ask them
what is their duty in the case.
l have probably failed in reprod ucinp
the impression that this pathetic story
made upon me. There are too MANY
small details that 1 am not permitted to
publish. The tale lacks the personal in
terest the girls name and face would
give il.
Still, here's an Armenian refugee in San
Francisco, Mesdames. You could do
nothing for her when she was in Tursey.
Her own courage and her friends devo-
ton have rescued her from the horrible
fate of thousands of her countrywomen.
What are you going to do with her now
| that she is here?
it isn't case for charity. That woman
would need all FOOLS Courage who
would treat this self-reliant, loyal girl as
| If she were beggar. She needs the aid
that greater, nobler women, and men too.
have needed-belp to help herself.
She needs the upholoing arm of some
great-hearted woman of affairs, who will
recognize the talent for WORK there lies in
this strong soul; who will give this
Armenian girl, this young stranger thou.
sands OF miles from home, with an ever
present, wearing filal anxiety to burden
her addi tionally, the temporary support
which will enable her, in time, to stand
| alone. MIRIAM MIcHE1soS