Many wished to send their daughters in this way; but she
was decided in her refusal to receive them, because thus only could
the highest good of the pupils be secured. At first, so great was
her dread of home influences, that she sought to retain them even in
vacation; but she soon saw that their health and usefulness, their
sympathy with the people, and the confidence of the people in them,
required them to spend a part of the year at home. This also gave
their teachers a good opportunity to become acquainted with their
friends and neighbors, and a door was opened for many delightful
meetings with women, in which the pupils rendered much assistance.
It also secured the influence of the parents in favor of what was
for the good of their daughters, and made them interested in the
school. During Miss Fiske's entire residence in Persia, fathers
rarely disregarded her wishes concerning their daughters in her
school.
The only time that the teachers were ever reviled by a Nestorian
father was in the case of a village priest. He came one day to the
Seminary to see his daughter, and because she did not appear at
once,--she was engaged at the moment,--he cursed and swore, in a
great passion, and when she did come, carried her home.
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