Chapter I: Introduction

Two years ago the author of this charming little volume happened in my office. I requested her to be seated, as I wanted to talk to her. I then told her that she had traveled much in this world, having visited Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany and the Bible Lands; that she had seen and heard much that would be interesting for others to read about, and I wanted her to write a series of articles for the _Young Disciple_, giving in the simplest way possible the information gathered during her travels.

“No, indeed,” she quickly and positively replied. “I cannot do that.” I told her I felt confident that she could prepare a number of articles, or letters, that would prove exceedingly interesting and profitable reading, and that the people were anxious to read what a woman had to say about the Bible Lands, the people and their customs. Repeating what she had said, she added that during all her travels she had not made one note, that she would have to depend entirely upon memory, and felt sure that she could not do justice to the undertaking. I urged her to give it a trial.

After a few weeks she handed me two letters. I examined them, and told her they were just what was desired, and that we would take as many more as she felt disposed to write. More than fifteen thousand readers of the _Young Disciple_ know the result. For months they were delighted with these letters, and even before they were completed in the paper the author received many communications urging her to bring them out in book form. Many mothers wrote her and urged that the book should be published, that it was greatly needed, and would be the means of accomplishing much good among the children and young people. Even the children write sister Miller and insist upon her publishing her letters in a book. These requests became so urgent that the author finally decided to carefully revise the letters, write more fully on some points, and give the result of her labors in this neat little volume. We bespeak for it an extensive circulation, a careful reading and a wide field of usefulness.

J. H. MOORE.

_Mt. Morris, Ill., Sept. 25, 1894._

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Across the Atlantic.—The Aller.—Small Sleeping Rooms.—A
Singular Kitchen.—Last Farewell.—Seasickness.—Children on the
Ship.—Four Little Boys.—Fog Horn.—The Lookout.—Icebergs.—A
Little Sailor Boy.—Porpoises and Sea Gulls.—Taking on the
Pilot.—Lights on the Other Shore.—Landing. 11

CHAPTER II.

Land.—Bremen.—On the Way to Denmark.—Copenhagen.—Religion
of Denmark.—Singing.—A Farmhouse.—Malmo.—Market Place in
Sweden.—Limhamn.—Fishermen and Boats.—Beautiful Lakes
of Sweden.—Children in Sweden and their Bows.—Pine
Branches.—Mother and Babe.—A Meal along the Way. 31

CHAPTER III.

Norway.—Kong Halfdan.—Fjords.—Hay Transfer.—Government
Vessel.—Two Young Girls.—A Glacier.—The Captain’s Kindness.—The
Beautiful Picture.—Tromsö.—A Floating Buoy.—Eider
Ducks.—Lapp Family.—Reindeer.—Torghatten.—Fish.—The Trap
for Salmon.—Hammerfest.—The White Polar Bear.—The Drunken
Sailor.—Arctic Ocean.—Whaling Station.—The Little White
Church.—Striking a Reef of Rocks. 57

CHAPTER IV.

The Story of a German Boy.—The Priest.—Catholic Woman.—Corps
of Singers.—My Singing Lesson.—Funeral Procession.—Children
Playing.—Wooden Shoes.—Neatness of the German Children.—Their
Politeness.—Cologne.—Its Cathedral.—Height of Towers.—Odd
Costumes.—Art Gallery.—The Picture I Saw. 88

CHAPTER V.

Calais.—English Channel Experience.—Reaching the Pier.—Going
Ashore.—London.—The Fog.—Show Lights.—British Museum.—National
Gallery.—The Tricky Monkey.—Westminster Abbey.—The Tower. 103

CHAPTER VI.

Venice.—A Gondola.—The Pigeons.—Trieste.—Piræus.—Athens.—Paul
and Mars’ Hill.—Sickness.—From Athens to Smyrna.—Man
Overboard.—A Lesson of Unselfishness.—Smyrna.—A Cruel
Father.—Ephesus.—Paul’s Missionary Journey.—The
Vesta.—Beyrut.—Jaffa Landing. 117

CHAPTER VII.

Jaffa.—The Careless Camel.—Bible Characters who lived in
Jaffa.—Jonah’s Temptation.—On the Way to the Holy City.—An
Arab and his Plow.—Ramleh.—Lydda in the Distance.—Leprous
People Begging.—Leprous People of Bible Times.—Camp-fire in
the Cave.—Jerusalem.—Our Room.—Solomon’s Disobedience.—Tower
of David.—The Stubborn Donkey.—Mohammedan Cemetery.—Mount of
Olives. 145

CHAPTER VIII.

Bethany.—Bethlehem.—Rachel’s Tomb.—The Shepherd Boy.—Ruth
and Naomi.—Garden of Gethsemane.—Departure from
Jerusalem.—Yosef.—Jericho Road.—Ain-es-Sultan.—Morning
Call.—Donkey Boy.—Dead Sea.—Along the Banks of the Jordan.—John
the Baptist.—Bad Roads. 168

CHAPTER IX.

Strange Kind of Fuel.—The Village Oven.—Women’s Work.—Fresh
Bread.—The Little Baby.—Landmarks.—Bethel.—My Faithful
Friend.—A Trying Time in the Saddle.—Sinjal. 196

CHAPTER X.

Shiloh.—Jacob’s Well.—Tomb of
Joseph.—Shechem.—Samaria.—Gibeah.—Dothan in the
Distance.—Fountain of Gideon.—Shunem.—Shunammite’s Son.—Nain.
205

CHAPTER XI.

Riding into Nazareth.—Virgin’s Fountain.—Tricky Horses.—Cana
of Galilee.—Tiberias.—Story of Jesus and his Disciples.—Boat
Ride on the Sea of Galilee.—Capernaum.—Mounting
Horses.—Disappearance of the Dragoman.—A Serious Accident.—Lake
Huleh.—Cesarea Philippi.—Mount Hermon.—Crossing the River
Pharpar.—Damascus.—Via Recta.—Bible References to Courts.—Cup
of Coffee.—Water Seller. 218

CHAPTER XII.

Farewell to Damascus.—Ain Fijeh.—Quarrelsome Arabs.—Onward
to Baalbek.—A Friendly Arab Family.—On the Mountains of
Lebanon.—Baalbek.—Rejected Stone.—From Baalbek to Beyrut.—My
Horse John.—Homeward Bound. 243