A SYRIAC CHRISTMAS
najla, my landlady, and elias the carpenter, were
Syriac Christians from Diarbekr, and belonged to that
part of the sect which Rome has gathered into its fold,
without altering many of the old customs and ritual.
Near Christmas time Najla told me that they were going
to read the Gospel out in the court by a bonfire on Christmas
Eve, as every family does—and would I join in the cere-
mony*
I was going out that evening, and dressed a little earlier,
and found the two small boys, Yusuf and Charles, waiting
on my doorstep, their feelings equally divided between
the splendour of my appearance in evening dress and the
excitement of a bonfire. They took me one by each hand
into the open court, where small lanterns were hanging
among red and green paper streamers, and a heap of dry
thorns stood in one corner.
"The youngest should read, but Charles knows only
his ABC/' said Najla while she handed us candles, " so it
will have to be Yusuf. May the Holy "Words bring you
all your heart's desire, oh light of my eyes." She kissed
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