In the following summer she was married to Mr. Bistany, who was for eight years assistant of Dr. Eli Smith in the work of Bible translation, and for twenty years Dragoman of the American Consulate.  He is now Principal of a private Boarding School for boys, called the “Medriset el Wutaniyet” or “Native School,” which has about 150 pupils of all sects.  He and his son Selim Effendi are the editors and proprietors also of three Arabic journals; the Jenan, a Monthly Literary Magazine, illustrated by wood-cuts made by a native artist, and having a circulation of about 1500; the Jenneh, a semi-weekly newspaper published Tuesday and Friday; and the Jeneineh, published Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.  There is not a more industrious man in Syria than Mr. Bistany, and he is doing a great work in the enlightenment of his countrymen.

Raheel’s home is one of affection, decorum, and Christian refinement, and she has fulfilled the highest hopes and prayers of her devoted foster mother, in discharging the duties of mother, neighbor, church member, and friend.  May every missionary woman be rewarded in seeing such fruits of her labors!

In January, 1866, Sarah, one of Raheel’s daughters, named after Mrs. Sarah L. Smith, was attacked by typhoid pneumonia.  From the first she was deeply impressed on the subject of religion, and in deep concern about her soul.  She sent for me, and I found her in a very hopeful state of mind.  Day after day I called and conversed and prayed with her, and her views of her need of Christ were most clear and comforting, and she wished her testimony to His love to be known among all her young companions.  Her friends from the school gathered at her request to see her, and she urged them to come to Christ, and several who have since united with the Church traced their first awakening to her words on her death-bed.

One day Sarah said to me, “How thankful I am for this sickness!  It has been the voice of God to my soul!  I have given myself to Jesus forever!  I have been a great sinner, and I have been thinking about my sins, and my need of a Saviour, and I am resolved to live for Him hereafter.”  On her father’s coming into the room, she said in English, “Papa, I am so happy that the Lord sent this sickness upon me.  You cannot tell how I thank him for it.”

After a season spent in prayer, I urged her, on leaving, to cast herself entirely on the Saviour of sinners, before another hour should pass.  The next day as I entered the room, she said, “I am at peace now.  I did cast myself on Jesus and He received me.  I know His blood has washed my sins away.”  She had expressed some fear that she might not be able to live a consistent Christian life should she recover, “but,” said she, “I could trust in Christ to sustain me.”  After a few words of counsel and prayer, and reading a portion of Scripture, she exclaimed, “It is all one now, whether I die or live.  I am ready to go or stay.  The Lord knows best.”