Page 309 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

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answer i|uchlinus ami talk about the pictures milil one b\ mic llicy
discovered they could tell tlie whole story and are proud hi he allowed
to repeat it to the class. Bits of local color add to the vividness of the
tales and 1 learn much from my little story tellers and store up many
a laugh. It was under date palms that Adam and Kve strolled when
they walked in the garden. “And Hod said to Jacob, 'Oh my eye, don't
he afraid.’ ” “Oh my eye” is a common expression of endearment. Bas­
rah houses usually have a big bay-window protected by wooden lattices
from behind which the women, unseen, look out. It is called a
shcnishirl. I am not sure what kind of a house Daniel lived in but
Sadig knew. “Daniel went up to his room and pushed up the shenishid
and prayed.” Daniel and the lions’ den is a favorite story. They
almost lifted the roof showing me how lions roar. How do they know
about lions? A circus came to Basrah last spring. Mot a boy of any
size but had got inside that tent usually by sneaking in with the croud
or crawling under the side. And the shepherd with his sheep, h
there an Arab child that does not know how the shepherd always lead*
the way and the sheep never go in front of him, how he takes them paa
the barren places to grass and water, drives off jackals and brings them
safe home at night? The naughty little lamb and how frightened it war
the hunt of the tired shepherd who would not even eat his supper till
he found it, is the tale these children love best of all and always a
voice adds, "Isa el Hai is our shepherd.” Yes, Jesus the Living Oi#
is becoming a living reality to these little ones, new pictures of Him
are wiping out old impressions from false stories and a love for Hi®
is growing in their hearts which some day we pray He will use to
lead them (nil of darkness into His fold.
Story hour is not always a peaceful, attentive lime, however. Tl*
little babies will cry or small tots tire of sitting still and run around the
back of the room, while bigger boys and girls get to arguing ^
occasionally even pounding each other. It is difficult to keep them i*
order as the picture cards are given out. Happy are they when U*
picture matches the story and when I have to give others what a clamor
there is to change them. Finally, the eye medicine does its work. Then
are many sore eyes in the group and they eagerly ask for the medicir*
to relieve them. One by one they take their places and those who an
afraid are encouraged by the others. Often some of the mothers ***
after the class that they may have the drops in their eyes, too. \^
then goodbye to my urchins for the day. Tomorrow and each succeed
ing day I will meet some on the street, hear a voice call behind inc
a glad welcome as I push open the door of a hut. How many 1*^
doors these little hands have opened, how many women have liMn*j
lor the first time to the stories which their children are learning. Sea*
times I find no welcome at all but usually it is a cordial one. 7^
mother shows the little box or bundle in which a small buy keq* fe*
treasures and his picture cards are carefully stored away there. AnuU,
time they are tacked on to the mat wall of the hut, seldom arc U*>
lost or torn.
Would you like to know some of these children? There is Fetlii »u >1
brings Obed, a little chocolate drop and slips up front in the church * jl