Modern Persia | Page 3

firmly decided
to make the match, but his mother said, "Only if he himself wishes."
But Daniel's aim was very high, he was running to obtain a higher prize.
He said to his mother, "I am married to my studies." His mother replied,
"My son, I have dedicated you to God, I cannot compel you to marry."
His father was full of indignation and anger against the disobedience of
his son, and he said, "I will never send you to the Presbyterian college.
I cannot spend one cent on you."
Daniel was very fond of fishing, hunting, and raising grapes, and was

one of the best husbandmen in Persia. One morning when fishing, a
young man whose name was Abraham, and afterward a classmate for
seven years in college, handed to him an envelope in which was written
by Dr. Oldfather, a missionary, and President of the Presbyterian
College at Oroomiah, Persia, "We have accepted you in our college."
Daniel thought this a calling from Jesus Christ just as He had called
four of His disciples from their fishing. He threw his net on the shore of
the river, and kneeling down, thanked God for this, His holy calling.
Rising up from his prayer he took his net, and started for home. On
arrival he told his parents that he wanted to go to college. Again his
father objected, saying that he could not spend any money for his
education.
But his mother sold all her jewels and sent him to college.
COLLEGE LIFE.
In 1875 Daniel went to Oroomiah college. For first two years Rev. Dr.
Oldfather was President of the college. In the second year he was
converted by hearing a sermon and a song by Dr. Oldfather whose
singing quickens sleeping souls of sinners. His class at the beginning
was thirty persons, but at graduation only twelve. He studied very hard,
sitting up at night with his book until eleven o'clock. One of his
classmates, Rev. Abraham, was his bosom friend. They recited in a
small closet often until midnight and then had prayers before going to
bed. Daniel graduated in 1882 under the Presidency of Dr. J. H. Shedd,
one of the most eminent men ever sent as a missionary to Persia by the
Presbyterian Church. All his classmen are leaders in the Presbyterian
church as well as of the Nestorian nation. For two of them have lately
been offered the title counts by the late Shah. Dr. S. J. Alamsha a noble
consecrated Doctor of Medicine, one of the fellow graduates of Daniel,
shows the tenor of the spirit of Christian fortitude and devotion in
declaring his faith in the Trinity in the very face of the Governor of
State who had just threatened him with persecution by cutting off his
hands if he insisted on repeating the confession. But Dr. Alamsha
replied that he was a Christian, and if ever questioned as to his faith
would confess it not only at the cost of his hands but his head also. He

further stated that he would not impose his faith on any one unless they
requested, and that if the Governor did not want his confession he had
better not ask for it.
[Illustration: WIFE AND DAUGHTER OF THE AUTHOR.]
Two weeks after Daniel's graduation he was elected instructor in the
high school for three years. Each year he had a week of revival
meetings which was very fruitful in the conversion of many students.
Nearly one hundred students were graduates under him in high school.
In 1885 Daniel was married to Miss Sarah George, a young lady
graduate of the Ladies' Seminary, whose mother was instructor in this
seminary for seven years. In 1886 was offered to him the chair of
Ancient Syriac in Oroomiah College which he occupied for seven years.
His many friends rejoiced with him in his call to this higher and wider
field of labor. When he moved to college Mrs. Daniel was very
ambitious for his success in College. She said, "I like to tell you I want
you to teach your studies better than any professor in the college; I
want you to devote all your time to your work; I want you to be a
shining example to all students; I want you to love all students as your
brothers; I want you to respect yourself. Be kind to all students, let our
home be as their homes. I want you to preach the best sermons, then
you will be the crown of my head and I will love you as the pupil of my
eyes." This was a very hard charge and very precious work, but it
proved for Daniel very precious jewels. Mrs. Daniel is one of the most
intelligent ladies of Persia. For the first