Family registers were unknown. In 1835, probably not five Nestorians
could tell their birthday, and but few knew in what year they were
born. Miss Fiske kept a list of all the children, which was read at
every meeting; but at first she could record the birth of only the
very youngest. The deceased children were written down in a separate
page, and it was sad to see how much they exceeded the number of the
living. One childless mother, who had buried eleven, was always
present; for she said she wanted to pray for the children of others,
though her own were not. They assembled in Miss Fiske's room,
sometimes to the number of thirty, with, such of their little ones
as were too small to attend the other meeting, and, seated on the
floor around her, were never more happy than when telling their
troubles, asking questions, and receiving instructions about family
duties, much more specific than could be given on other occasions.
Now and then she read to them, from English books, facts and truths
adapted to their needs. One good man in Fairhaven, Connecticut, who
had heard of this, sent a complete set of the Mother's Magazine, to
be used in that way.
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