Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

The Children's CornerIused to think, "Why should other boys and girls go toschool and I have to stay here and work?"He determined if he was going to continue to workA thrilling life story, written with Fred Karmay's permission.FRED KARMA Y'S AMBITION REALIZEDMrs. Kenneth SandersonDid you ever wish you didn't have to go to school?Did you ever think, "Oh, how niceif I could just stayhome all day and do whatever I wanted to"? Before youdecide either way read Fred Karmay's story and maybeyou'll think school isn't so bad after all.To go to school and learn to read, write and somearithmetic was practically a passion with little FredKarmay. Just like you, Fred started to school when he wassix, but he didn't live in the U.S.A. but in Syria. Thereitcost money to go to school.Unfortunately, three months after he started schoolFred's mother died. His father moved from one place toanother to work and Fred's schooling stopped. Within afew months Fred started attending a school where theytaught the Koran, and like all the other little boys, dayafter day, they memorized part of it. Sometimes theyrecited it in unison, shouting at the top of their voices toshow how well they knew their lessons, and sometimeseach boy droned out the lesson.One day a policeman on a horse came by and stayedat Fred's home. His father was proud that his son couldread and write and ordered him to show off his knowledgefor the guest. Proudly Fred did his best and must haveimpressed the visitor, for when he saw that Fred could notonly read and write but add and multiply as well, hesuggested, "Why don't you send your son to the AmericanMission School? Then he can learn English, too."Mr. Karmay wasn't very enthused about thesuggestion but young Fred was entranced with the idea.Later he said, "The idea of learning English struck myhead like a bullet." By this time he was eleven or twelveand lived seventy-five miles or so from Latakia whichmade it impossible to go there to school. Beside that hisfather was quite certain his son had all the education heneeded. Fred says now, "I firmly believe that this was theguidance of God when the policeman made thatsuggestion."Although Fred's family owned land and orchardsthey never seemed to bring in much income to the family.Then World War II came along and life seemed to be oneconstant move from one job to another and money wasalways scarce. In order to help out, Fred got a job workingfor a rich landowner. He helped Mrs. Shretah bydoing the washing, buying, and even cooking sometimes.Still Fred wasn't satisfied. He just couldn't get overthe idea that he must go on to school. Night after night hehe would also sneak away in the daytime and go to schoolin Latakia, which was only about three miles away fromthe Shretah's farm. Each day when he started off forshopping or other chores he would hide his school booksunder his clothes. When he returned at night he carefullyhid them under his bed. But one day the secret was nolonger a secret. His employers found out.The family insisted that Fred stop school. Fredinsisted he just had to go to school. Finally after a lot ofarguing, when they saw he couldn't be persuaded tochange his mind, they agreed, "Well, alright, but be sureyou continue to do your work for us as well." Thirteenyear-oldFred at last had his way. Never mind if he wasonly in second grade! Unfortunately, when the new schoolyear began, work again claimed Fred's full attention andfor two more years he didn't manage to return to regularclasses. Don't think, though, that it was "out of sight out ofmind." He was determined he'd get to that AmericanSchool yet.At last in 1943 Fred's father moved nearer toLatakia. One morning Fred was up with the sun and offwalking to Latakia. When he reached the city he inquiredfrom first this one and then another, "Where's theAmerican School?" At last he found it and putting on hisboldest front he walked into the school and asked to seethe principal. Fortunately for Fred it turned out to be Dr.Herbert Hays. His heart was touched when he saw theeagerness of the boy for an education. He asked one of theteachers to examine him and see what class he couldfitinto. Fuad reported that Fred could do fourth grade workand maybe the next semester begin the fifth gradeif heworked hard. That afternoon as Fred walked back to thevillageit seemed like his feet hardly touched the ground.Just imagine, he was at last enrolled in the AmericanSchool. He'd left his last school in second grade and theywere willing to put him in the fourth grade. At that pointlife seemed to be all roses.(To be continued)The Parable of the"PIG AND THE COW"A pig was lamenting his lack of popularity. Hecomplained to the cow that people were always talkingabout the cow's gentleness and kind eyes, whereas hisname was used as an insult. The pig admitted that the cowgave milk and cream, but maintained that pigs gave more."Why," he complained, "we pigs give bacon and ham andbristles and people even pickle our feet. I don't see whyyou cows are esteemed so much more."The cow thought awhile and said gently, "Maybe it'sbecause we give while we're still living."—Selected10 COVENANTER WITNESS