The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-01-11

SO clean" q place and he wished her
to see it. Gladly did we open every
door, closet and cupboard to her,
and 1t would have repaid any New
England contributor to have seen the
expression of wonder, surprise and
delight at the plain, simple furnish
ings of the Home. Frequently the
husband. asked The wife If she
would not consent to send their little
daughter to the school,, But no, the
mother could not be persuaded to
consider it. He seemed hopeful,
however. that by another year she
would be willing to do so. Mean
while, the little, one is attending our
day. school in Birch Over and over
the teacher expressed his regret that
the schools were not located in a
Moslem village where needed most
as he readily admitted that his peo-
pie were far behind the Christians
in education. In this trifiing Incl
dent We can see the entering wedge
that will one day break down the
adamantine wall of Islamism.
Ordeal of Selecting Children.
A few vacancies occurred in the
Girls Training Home and many in
the Boys Home, owing mostly. to the
fact that room has been provided
for eight additional boys this year.
The selection of children was a real
trial to us inasmuch as there has
been such scramble for places. 1t
was touching to hear the earnest
pleading of parents and friends, urg-
ing us for Christ's sake to take their
children.
We took two days off to go to
Nablus (Shechsm) for the purpose
of examining two prospective pupils.
At the appointed place and hour five
anxious fathers with their boys were
present, every one urging his claim
to a first consideration. One offered
extra money. Another said ITO us
We're born seven sons but they all
left us for the better world. Then
We prayed God to give us son TO
keep and in time He gave us another
whom we named Shihadeh, meaning.
begged OF God Now we ask you to
take our Begged of God and make
of him a man who VIII know the
'Giver'." An aged father, whose whit
ened locks and pleading voice would
touch q heart of stone, said: "Out
of thirteen sons, only two are left
us. The older is in foreign land
and for this little boy | am RESPONSE
BILE to God. The sands of my life
are almost run and | must see this
boy educated before l go in peace to
my fathers" Inviting the superin-
.tendent into his room, he took him
firmly by the hanas, saying: Il will
not let thee go until thou bless me-"
Being refused, he said: When the
time comes for opening the school, j
shall bring my boy and will not take
him away even if you take a gun and
shoot me for refusing to do sol"
When the opening day came, true to
his word, he was present with his
son and the boy being satisfactorily
arranged for, the father in beautiful
Oriental imagery of speech said; Il
shall continue to pray the God of
Heaven that this institution may be
as trees planted by rivers of water
that bring forth their fruit in their
season."
A Mohammedan said: Surely, you
will not turn away Moslem boy
when he knocks for entrance, but will
give him first chance"
Do you wonder that We hunted up
an extra room so as to take eight
more boys this year?
The new school year has opened
under favoring skies and all bids
fair for a year bf blessing. With
good spirit both teachers and pupils
are entering upon their appointed
tasks. Edna Metcalfe and Marion E.
Jones, who reached Ramallah Oct. 3,
and began work the next day, are
proving a real blessing to the Mis-
sion. They are entering heartily
into all the duties and responsible
ties of the institution and are bring
ing the freshness of spirit that
abounds in American life.
A. ROSENBERGER, Supt.
Ramallah, Paletine, Nov. l, 1911.