A German Jew, who was present, said in his broken
English, "I have seen much bad to missionaries in other countries,
but nothing bad like this, to take little children from words of
Jesus Christ."
Even Deacon Isaac, a brother of Mar Shimon, who was prominent in the
act, was ashamed of it. On a visit to the school, eight years
afterwards, he asked leave to speak to the pupils, and said, "My
young friends, I want you to do all you can to help your teachers,
for I once troubled Miss Fiske, and it has made my life bitter ever
since." Here the good man broke down, and there was not a dry eye
among his hearers; while he added, "I have vowed before God that I
will do all that I can to help her as long as I live." And all who
know him can testify that he has kept his word, ever since his
conversion in 1849. When he first began to be thoughtful, he heard
that one of the pupils was in the habit of praying for him. He sent
for her, and insisted on her praying with him; and though he was the
most intelligent of the Nestorians, and possessed of rare force of
character, and Sarah was more noted for devotion, than for her
mental powers, yet he learned from her in a most childlike spirit;
and that scripture which says, "A little child shall lead them,"
found in this case a beautiful illustration.
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