Page:Domestic Life in Palestine.pdf/285

278 "My aunt came to me, and told me of her anger and her grief, and said, 'It is better not to speak any more of this, and we will find another girl.' But my heart had gone forth to this one, and I could not think for another. So I went to the Greek priest and told him the whole matter. And then the priest went to the father of the girl, but the father said, "Not so; I have two larger girls; they must not be left; they must make their espousals before this little one.' Then I said to the priest, 'Speak for me again, that I may have that little one.' So the father made a writing, and I put my seal on it, and agreed to give him much silks, and cottons, and soap for this daughter—more of all these things than he would make me give for the larger daughters; for he knew my heart was gone out from me. I saw her again, for not quite one minute, when the espousals were made and witnessed. Then my aunt made a room ready for me in her house, and many men came to eat with me there a good feast. And many women went to eat with the girl in the house of her father, and danced before her, and sang songs of rejoicing. And all people knew that we were espoused; but I might not see her again.

"Then I went to Nablûs. And, after a year, four men, with horses, went for me from this town to Nâsirah, and they brought her, and then immediately we were married."

He introduced his young wife and her infant son to me. She was very bright and cheerful-looking, with a high color, and dark, clear eyes. She said that Nasirah was a much better town than Nablûs for Christians to dwell in. The Protestant congregation of Nablûs was founded by Dr. Bowen, the late lamented Bishop of Sierra Leone. He established a loom there, and gave the people an opportunity of working. He paid them for their labor, taught them many useful arts, and afterward, by degrees, gave them religious instruction. He was a great favorite with all classes, and many of the Greek Catholics declared themselves Protestants.