Oroomiah, Sept. 29. 1848.
Wednes. Oct. 4. 48.My beloved Father.
I wrote the date of this letter some days ago, and now am happy to commence a reply to your most welcome letter of July 1. 3. 4. Thanks for the numerous inquiries you propose, as it gives me abundance of matter for a letter sheet. Your particularity gratifies me very much, for I wish to hear from every member of the family, in every monthly letter. You spoke of writing because it was convenient. I beg you will never hesitate to write: however much others may write, the words penned by my own dear Father's hand are peculiarly acceptable. But where are the words, prompted by a loved mother's heart, & penned by her own faithful hand? May our Father above grant successive years of labor for each other, and may all be preparing for an eternity of sinless service in our Saviour's kingdom.
At present, all the members of the Mission are in good health. The young children have more or less ill turns, but we have all occasion, to bless our mercy-giving God.
Dear Sister F. is able to prosecute her duties with vigor - and she accomplishes a great deal - though she is of a slender make, but her power of endurance, well fits her for her station. She wishes to write my home friends a few lines sometime, but her own correspondence is very large.
I think you would gain much information of manners customs &c from reading Mr. P's book. I would venture to suggest, that you have family reading an hour or so, whenever there is a leisure evening, in the coming winter.
As to the Syriac language, I was more pleased with its sounds than any foreign language on the way. I very well remember with what interest I listened. I listened to the first prayer in Syriac, as I heard Dr. W. one morning, on our journey. You would notice gutteral sounds, such as you never heard at home; (Mr. Jackson can give you the gutteral sounds. It is the khait, pronounced with more power than in Armenian.) with the exception of these, I think it musical. While on our journey, last autumn, Mr. Stoddard induced me to try to sing in Syriac. As you may be interested to read the sounds, I will write them in Eng. character, as nearly as I can, giving the sounds. Tune: Rockingham.
Ya' Alaha goura oo hilana, God great and powerful.
Babun haddeesha oo rakhmana, Our Father, holy & merciful.
Musyit illee, slotee shme lee: Listen to me, my prayer, hear it.
Gane mkislokh, la ruppee ly, My soul from thee, not cast it.I have translated it word by word, as it is written in Syriac; it is necessary to change the Eng. for rhyme. Pronounce a like in father.
The Nestorians are very fond of singing, but much prefer animated & quick pieces. They are much pleased with some of the Revival Melodies, and lately, they have been learning ["]How happy be they, Who their Savior obey." They all like to sing Treble - think the base is not pleasant, because it is so low. Mr. Stocking has a heavy bass voice, which is quite an addition to our singing.
I think before this two packages have reached you, which will give you an idea of female dress, &c.
The sun-rise appears as at home. We have much less cloudy weather than in America - for weeks together, not a single shower. A part of the business of the farmer, is to water his fields. This is managed very skillfully - little trenches are dug & so arranged that the water once turned into one of the larger courses, finds its way to all the others. Wheat is raised in abundance, & under the penetrating rays of a cloudless sun, matures early. The climate is rather warm for potatoes, still they are raised, & I have seen some, from a village, a little distance from Seri that were quite mealy. Squashes, tomatoes, onions & beets are here - the former rare. Fruit is very abundant. I think the peaches rather inferior to those in our Lincoln orchards. Near the city, you see scarcely a spot, uncultivated. A few days ago, we went with our school to a vineyard a mile or more from our premises - it was a luxuriant sight, to behold large clusters of white, red & purple grapes, on vines running along a ridge of earth.
The people have little occasion to suffer physically, i.e. for necessaries of life, unless some judgement as the locust or mildew cuts off their supplies. We have very good water. I think, I am quite as fleshy, perhaps more so, than when I left you. My duties are not beyond my strength, & I find many happiness in them.
The cholera, which carried off so many last year, has committed its ravages, farther westward, yet it had come near us, in one sense: for our beloved sister Stoddard & the nurse of her children fell victims to its power. Have you thought this scourge may cross the Atlantic? Oh, that our beloved nation may turn to God, without
theira visitation of Heaven's judgments.I feel much less dread of this disease, than when in America. Have I not written you, concerning the manner of burying the dead? I must now turn from these subjects, and advert to friends about you. Almost every letter proves this is a world of change. My sympathy to afflicted ones, & kind remembrances to all, who inquire for me. I rejoice to learn that Mr. Jackson's ministrations are so acceptable - may a refreshing from on high, visit you, & may souls be turned to Jesus.
We are in a quiet state here at present. Mas Shimon has left Oroomiah, & is now in Turkey. The Koords have ceased their plundering, and we hope for less of excitement from without. I fear allusions to facts here, have awakened solicitude on your part, but I hope they have all been quelled by prayer, relief-bringing prayer. Kindest love to all. Would that all the inmates of our family would remember "We've no abiding city here, and seek for themselves, heavenly habitations."
Assure our Marlboro friends of my health and happiness. I hope Sister W. returned home, refreshed by her visit, as well as Sister Shedd. Do not let the Catalpa come, without a word for me.
Now may grace abound towards you - may Jesus be increasingly precious & your hope rest more entirely on Christ'sRock.
With a daughter's love, Mary Susan
Mr. & Mrs. C send love. Yonan sends many chlamas.
Mr. & Mrs. Stocking rejoice in your daughter's coming.