They promised and threatened and wept, but though greatly moved at times in her feelings, she remained firm to her purpose.

They tried to induce her to go home for a single night only, but she knew them too well to trust herself in their hands.

Her mother had artfully arranged to meet her at the house of a friend; but her brother came, a little before the time, to warn her that a plan was laid to meet her at this house with a company of priests who were all ready to marry her forcibly to a man whom she knew nothing about, as is often done in this country.
Miriam thus gave up father and mother, brothers and sisters, for the sake of Christ and his gospel.
In the year 1855 Mr.Ford removed to Beirut, and Miriam accompanied him.
She made a public profession of her faith in Christ in 1856, and was married in 1858 to Mr.Ibrahim Sarkees, foreman and principal proof reader of the American Mission Press.

Her father has since removed to Beirut, and all of the family have become entirely reconciled to her being a Protestant.

Her brother Habibs is a frequent attendant on Divine service, and regards himself as a Protestant.
Miriam is now deeply interested in Christian work, and the weekly meetings of the Native Women's Missionary Society are held at her house.
The Protestant women agree either to attend this Sewing Society, or pay a piastre a week in case of their absence.
I close this chapter with the mention of Werdeh, [Rose,] daughter of the celebrated Arabic poet Nasif el Yazijy, who aided Dr.Eli Smith in the translation of the Bible into Arabic.