“The teaching force of the Seminary was increased last spring by the arrival of Miss Cheney, who entered at once upon the duties of her position, devoting a portion of her time to the acquisition of Arabic, and a part to the instruction of some classes in English.  Still, on account of the repeated illnesses of Dr. De Forest, it was not deemed advisable to receive a new class last autumn.  The only girls admitted during the year were one of Mrs. Whiting’s pupils who was transferred to the Seminary for one year, one of the class who graduated two years since, and who desired to return for another year, and Sara, the daughter of Mr. Butrus Bistany.  These three were received into existing classes, while it was not deemed advisable under the circumstances to make up another class composed of new pupils.

“The course of instruction, Biblical and other, has been much the same as that hitherto pursued.  Miss Cheney commenced “Watts on the Mind,” with some of the older pupils, in English.  All the pupils have had familiar lessons on Church History in Arabic, and some of them have begun an abridged work on Moral Philosophy.  Much effort has been bestowed upon the cultivation of a taste for the reading of profitable books, and a number of the girls have read the whole of “D’Aubigne’s History of the Reformation,” and other history with Mrs. De Forest in the evening class, the atlas being always open before them.  Mrs. Smith has given some instruction in the rudiments of drawing to a part of the pupils, and Mrs. Bird and Mrs. Calhoun have given lessons in vocal music, for which some of the pupils have considerable taste.

“After completing the ‘Companion to the Bible’ in Arabic, the whole school were engaged daily in a Harmony of the Gospels, and other Biblical and religious instruction has been continued as heretofore.  We have ever kept in mind the necessity of not denationalizing these Arab children, and we believe that this desired result has been attained.  The long vacation of six weeks in the spring, and the same in the autumn, the commencement of all instruction in Arabic, and the preponderance of Arabic study in the school, have contributed to this result.  The older pupils have attained to a considerable knowledge of English, giving them access to books suitable for girls to read, and yet Arabic is the language of the school, and the pupils are Syrians still in dress and manners.  The advantages of the school are more and more appreciated in the city, and the adjacent mountains.  Many were exceedingly earnest in offering their daughters last autumn, both Protestant and other, and some when repulsed at the Seminary, besought the mission families to receive their children.”

During the next year, the school was placed in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, under the charge of Miss Cheney.  A class of eight graduated, and the pupils contributed to benevolent objects of the fruits of their industry, over 1200 piastres, or about fifty dollars.