St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-06-25
Mr.. Morse's Bulgarian Dictionary.

When Miss Ellen NJ. Stone was in St.
Johnsbury she said: Seemingly l could
never have learned the language if it had
not been for Mr.. Morse's dictionary" 1t
may be of interest to know more of this
dictionary. c. F. Morse was the first
missionary OF the American Board
to the Bugarians. 1t seemed inn
possible to learn the language. There
was no dictionary or grammar and
no Bulgarian who knew English.
Providentially Mr.. Morse had studied
Turkish for a few months. He procured
a Bulgarian teacher who knew Turkish
and in this roundabout way, study OF the
language was begun. Every word OBJ
tanned was arranged alphabetically; the
work was fascinating the digging OF
roots and Analysing compound words.
Mr.. Morse sometimes worked IA hours
a day. Mrs. Morse made the last copy
for the press and at the end of two years.
the work was mplete,-7500 Bulgarian
words defined in English and an equal
number OF English words defined in Bull
garian. This, with a small grammar,
constituted all the help missionaries
have had in acquiring the language, or
Bulgarian students in acquiring English.
About the time the dictionary was COM
peted Mr.. Morse translated the NewYork
Primer This was the first picture book
the Bulgarians ever had. 1t had a great
sale. Three editions of 10, 900 each rap
idly followed each other. Mr.. Morse
devoted all his leisure time in the prepa-
ration of Bulgarian literature. A cate
chism of $50 pages was translated and
a select volume of sermons. Awork was
prepared entitled THE true worship
ers," giving the scriptural, historical
proofs of Professionalism. This has been
the great storehouse OF Protestant truth.
Other works were prepared, making
1900 pages of Bulgarian literature, and
it has been a great pleasure to know
that these books and tracts were being
constantly circulated.
Mr.. Morse frequently passed over the
road where Miss Stone was cap
tured, and Peters house in Bansko,
where Miss Stone spent her last
night, was the house in which Mr.. Morse,
35 years ago, preached the gospel to 16
Protestant brethren, who raised on the
spot SOS with which to commence the
work. These brethren were subsequently
organized into the Protestant church of
first pastor. Bansko is the home of
Madam Tscilka and is the handsomest
and healthiest town in Bulgaria. The
health of the family made it necessary to
visit America, when it became apparent
that it was not expedient to return.
! Mr.. Morse then made up his mind that
| his mission was to educate his nine chill
dren and seventeen years ago the family
moved to St. Johnsbury. Two sons and
three daughters have graduated from
college and the rest have enjoyed the
advantages ofthe st. Johnsbury Academy.
When most men would retire from busi-
ness. Mr.. Morse entered upon his bust
ness career. He has sold over 1000 PeO-
pies Cyclopedia; the company have
twice awarded him a premium for hav-
ing sold more books than any other man
in their employ, and in connection with
his travels he has delivered gratutously
about 600 missionary addresses.
Mr.. Morse is at present at home under
the doctors care, occasioned by being
thrown from his carriage, but the doctor
thinks he will soon be out again.