MRS. WHITING’S SCHOOL.

In 1846, Mrs. Whiting commenced a girls’ day-school in her family at Abeih, and in Beirut there were four schools for boys and girls together, and one school for girls alone.  In 18 Mission schools there were 144 girls and 384 boys.  This girls’ school in Abeih in 1846 was taught by Salome (Mrs. Wortabet) and Hanne, (Mrs. Reichardt,) the two oldest girls in Mr. Whiting’s family.  It was impossible to begin the school before August 1st, as the houses of the village which had been burned in the war of the preceding year had not been rebuilt, and suitable accommodations could not readily be found.  During the summer there were twelve pupils, and in the fall twenty-five, from the Druze, Maronite, Greek Catholic and Greek sects, and the greatest freedom was used in giving instruction in the Bible and the Assembly’s and Watts’ Catechisms.  A portion of every day was spent in giving especial religious instruction, and on the Sabbath a part of the pupils were gathered into the Sabbath School.  During the fall a room was erected on the Mission premises for the girls’ school, at an expense of 100 dollars.

The following letter from Mrs. Whiting needs no introduction.  It bears a melancholy interest from the fact that the beloved writer died shortly afterwards, at Newark, N.J., May 18th, 1873.

“My first introduction to the women of Syria was by Mrs. Bird, mother of Rev. Wm. Bird and Mrs. Van Lennep.  She was then in the midst of her little family of four children.  I daily found her in her nursery, surrounded by native women who came to her in great numbers, often with their sick children.  They were always received with the greatest kindness and ministered to.  She might be seen giving a warm bath to a sick child, or waiting and watching the effect of other remedies.  Mothers from the neighboring villages of Lebanon were allowed to bring their sick children and remain for days in her house until relief was obtained.  She was soon known throughout Beirut and these villages as the friend of the suffering, and I have ever thought that by these Christian self-denying labors, she did much towards gaining the confidence of the people.  And who shall say that while good Father Bird was in his study library among the ‘Popes and Fathers,’ preparing his controversial work ‘The Thirteen Letters,’ this dear sister, by her efforts, was not making a way to the hearts of these people for the reception of gospel truth, which has since been preached so successfully in the neighboring villages of Lebanon?

“In the autumn of 1834, Mr. Whiting was removed to the Jerusalem station.  I found the women accessible and ready to visit me, and invite me to their houses, but unwilling to place their girls under my instruction.  All my efforts for some time were fruitless.  Under date of Aug. 22, I find this entry in Mr. Whiting’s journal:  “During the past week, three little Moslem girls have been placed under Mrs. Whiting’s