great care of her, and often used to make
vows to some saint in her behalf. At one time, when she was very
ill, they vowed to Mar Giurgis (for they are members of the Greek
Church, and St. George is one of the favorite saints of the Greeks,
and indeed of all the Christian sects here, and they still show the
spot where he is said to have killed the dragon) that if she
recovered, she should carry to one of his shrines two wax candles
as tall as herself and of a prescribed weight. While she was still
feeble they provided the candles, and as she was too weak to walk,
they carried her and the candles also, to the holy place and
presented them.

When she was eight years old, they were persuaded by an
acquaintance to place her in one of the Mission families. Here she
was instructed in her own language, and especially in the Holy
Scriptures. She was allowed, however, to keep her feasts and fasts,
and to attend her own church, until she became convinced that these
things would not save her and she wished to give them up. One feast
day the lady with whom she lived gave her some sewing and told her
to seat herself and do her task. She refused, saying it was a feast
day, and it was unlawful work. A little while after she asked
permission to go and visit her brother's family; but the lady told
her, "No, if it is unlawful to work, it is unlawful to visit. I
have no objection to your keeping your feast days, but if you do
you must keep them as holy time." So she gave her a portion of
Scripture to learn, and she was kept very quiet all day, as though
it was the Sabbath, and without the day being made agreeable to her
like the Sabbath by going to Church and Sabbath School. She did
not at all like keeping a feast in this manner, which is very
different from the manner in which such a day or even the Sabbath,
is kept in this land, and was ever after ready to work when told to
do so. When her brothers saw that she was beginning to give up
their vain ceremonies, they became anxious to get her away, lest
she should become a Protestant; and at one time, when she went home
to attend the wedding of one of her relatives, they refused to
allow her to return, and it was only through the good management of
the native friend who was sent for her, and her own determination