Strange Teas, Dinners, Weddings and Fetes

mp and ceremony to assume the duties of his position. His retinue consisted of a great many guards, servants and sold

a hat. He was short and stout, well bronzed by the sun, and had that air of command which so much distinguishes

er Turk, though I have seen many handsome ones. They all see

the famous Mosque of the Sultan Selim. Damascus is about ninety miles from Beir?t, and the road that connects the two

several abuses in the administration of affairs, and gave great offence to all cl

who was remarkable for her goodness, and he esteemed her very much. But this lady had a great sorrow, f

s; the other was very industrious, made beautiful fancy-work and embroidery, and was always busy with her needle, so neither became a

boy, Mehemet Ali, was seven years old, and the little girl,

any way to mention any of the doctrines of our Christian religion to them. This was a hard thing for her to promise, but she did so and assumed the charge of the children. T

well (French is the favorite language

s, else how would you have known who Mehemet Ali and Fareedie were, or how e

aid that would interfere with their morning lessons, so t

is the perfection of weather), and I sent a carriage for them at half

he had a red tarboosh on his head. He had worn a hat, but this gave offence to the Turks and was

t in a quiver of excitement. When she came in, she kissed me on the cheek and gave me some white jasmine blossoms strung like beads upon a fine wire, something little Syrian children are very fond of. Her first astonishment was the long mirror in my wardrobe

ehemet Ali was very grave, although his little beady black eyes were lookin

only ever so much larger)-"trees of flowers," she called the shrubs; then she spied a little rocking-chair, something that was a wonderful curiosi

ll never do; I will take her o

ill be a great treat, fo

possible!"

es anywhere in their houses, and the little books I have to t

d show her something. I opened the book at random, and I shall never forget the look upon Fareedie's face,

ages hurriedly, mentioning the names of each animal

, it may be you have a picture

fear it would be hard for you, if I gave it in

re I could think where to look the boy seized upon a copy of the Scientific American, and there, fortunately, were several pictures of engines and boilers. He did not move for a l

served. Prexea was a Greek in religion and hated the Turks, so she was

ntly did not wish to lay down his paper, till Mr

How droll! How dro

the floor, on a rug, to eat, and had a low Arabic table put in front of each of them. Their tables are about eighteen inches high,

more like leather. The children usually had one of these cakes for the dish, and all that they were to have to eat would be put on it, the

A brilliant idea struck me. I ran to the bookcase and got two dictionaries, which I put on the ch

s soon as we were seated, he pointed to my sideboard and

one and speared the food with the other so ineffectively, that we to

of course; for it would have been an insult to their parents to have let them taste pork, which is held in great abhorrence by

am in it, nor served in anything but a tiny Oriental cup. I gave it to them in our own coffee c

I must confess, but otherwis

t; and after tea Ali lost his impassiveness, and went round the house examining ever

them home. With many promises to come again, they went away, kissing me lovingly, Ali with the coveted

to have her dismissed. Then Midhat was transferred to Smyrna, and my little friends left Beir?t, never to return, I fear. Perhaps you know the Pasha was ordered to

rom all civilizing and good influences, my dear little friends are for

of them, and how sad it makes me. Their future is