Chapter I: Preface

When a tourist is seated on the deck of a steamer, waiting to leave the country in which he has enjoyed an outing, his eyes do not seek the low-lying shore of the sea, for the memories he would retain hereafter. He lifts his eyes to the overhanging mountains. Nor is it the whole massive range that holds his vision. He looks instinctively to the scattered, lofty summits which stand aloof as it were from the monotony of the lower range. Especially as the sun sinks below the western horizon do his eyes dwell lovingly on those highest peaks which are colored with the light of the setting sun.

My purpose in sending out this collection of sketches is somewhat the same. I have not attempted a continuous narrative, with all the monotony of repeated acts, but have sought to make vivid to the reader some of the more conspicuous features of missionary life, in the hope of deepening sympathy with the workers and increasing zeal in the work. That is my excuse for the free use of the personal pronoun, not to make prominent the person, but to emphasize the reality. May the volume be enjoyed by our fellow workers in America, and blessed by Him whom we all serve.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. ARRIVAL IN SYRIA 3

II. LANGUAGE STUDY 14

III. TRAVEL AND COMMUNICATION 19

IV. EVANGELISTIC TRIPS 34

V. ALEPPO 53

VI. NEW STATIONS AND BUILDINGS 65

VII. CAMPING LIFE 75

VIII. PERSECUTION 87

IX. EMIGRATION 94

X. SYRIAN ENTERPRISES 104

XI. INTERRUPTIONS 111

XII. OUR SUPPORTERS 127

XIII. PERSONAL FRIENDS 136

XIV. TRIPOLI BOYS' SCHOOL 150

XV. MOVING 164

XVI. THE MUEZZIN OR THE BELL 169

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
Henry A. Nelson Memorial--_Tripoli Boys' School_ _Frontispiece_

Latakia Boys' School _Facing Page_ 34

Tartoose--_Crusaders' Church_ 34

Aleppo Minaret 53

Hadeth Summer Home 75

Abu Maroon, the Hadeth Carpenter 75

Homs--_Boys' School_ 104

Tripoli Boys' School--_First Home_ 150

Tripoli Boys' School--_Second Home_ 150

Homs 164

Heathen Temple and Mount Hermon 164

Hamidiyeh Mosque--_Tripoli_ 169

Old City Gate--_Tripoli_ 169

SILVER CHIMES IN SYRIA