of Time, and Edwards's History of Redemption. To these were added
such practical works as Pike's Persuasives to Early Piety, Pastor's
Sketches, and Christ a Friend; and the pupils understood books a
great deal better in the free translations thus given, than in the
more exact renderings issued from the press. Baxter's Saints' Rest,
poured thus hot and glowing into a Syriac mould, was more effective,
at least for the time, than the same after it had cooled and been
laboriously filed into fidelity to the original.

The Seminary was unlike similar schools at home in the matter of
expense. In 1853, the cost for each pupil was only about eighteen
dollars for the year, including rent, board, fuel, lights, and
clothing in part; and as this was paid by the American Board,
education to the people was without money and without price. We have
already alluded to the efforts of the teachers to train up the
people to assume this expense themselves.

Let us now trace the progress made in getting the pupils away from
the evil influences of their Persian homes. In 1843, besides her six
boarding pupils, Miss Fiske had a few day scholars; next year she
had still fewer; and the year after that, they were dropped
entirely. 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