CHAPTER IX.
LUCIYA SHEKKUR.
The work done for Christ and for Syrian girls in the families of Missionaries in Syria, may well compare with that done in the established institutions of learning.

Mrs.Whiting was not alone in the work of training native Arab girls in her own home.

The same work had been done by other Missionaries before her, and has been carried on with no little success by Mrs.Bird, Mrs.Calhoun and others, up to the present time.
It is an interesting sight to see the Thursday afternoon Women's meeting in the house of Mrs.Calhoun in Abeih, and to know that a large part of that company of bright, intelligent and tidily dressed young native women, who listen so intently to the Bible lesson, and join so heartily in singing the sweet songs of Zion, were trained up either in her own family, or under her own especial influence.

By means of her own example in the training of her children, she has taught the women of Abeih, and through them multitudes of women in other villages, the true Christian modes of family government and discipline, and introduced to their notice and practice many of those little conveniences and habits in the training of children, whose influence will be felt for many generations.
When Mr.and Mrs.Bird removed to Deir el Komr in 1855, they not only opened a large school for the education of girls, with Sada Haleby, one of Dr.De Forest's pupils, as teacher, but received into their own family three young girls, named Luciya, Sikkar and Zihry, all of whom entered upon spheres of usefulness.

Zihry became a teacher, in Deir el Komr, and has continued to teach until the present time.