#13: A grateful Turk (c. 1902)
Once when the whole country-side was busy with the wheat
harvest I was one of three on a ride to a neighboring city,
and as we passed a village harvesting and threshing, I asked
about someone who had been in our Hospital. The answer came,
"You must mean Osman Agha; he's not here today, he's at
another village". The next day as we came back, three men
stepped into our roadway, laid hold of our bridle reins
and said, "You must turn back. You must stop and see us,
and accept a little of our refreshment before you proceed
on your way". We answered that we were travelers, and must
push along on our journey. Then the villager holding my
horse stepped forward and said most courteously and
earnestly, "I'm Osman Agha. I'm the man you asked for
yesterday. I was in your American Hospital. And now if
you should pass my village without entering my little
house and partaking of my humble hospitality, it would be
a lasting shame and disgrace to me." Such an invitation
was not to be rejected. We were escorted to the coolest
spot, furnished with the best available village carpets
and pillows, and while the best meal the place afforded
was prepared as quickly as possible (and such fare in
its way was almost equal to a Thanksgiving dinner),
our host told the listeners about his experiences.
He came to the Hospital for relief from a cruel facial
cancer, and an operation was prescribed. He was afraid,
but when they got ready they laid him on a nice, clean
bed and gave him some medicine. He went comfortably to
sleep, and when he woke up his operation was all done.
He was in the Hospital till the wound healed, and he
did not know there could be such a place in the world.
There was no quarrelling, fighting, swearing, among
the people working there, but everyone was full of
kindness, good nature and good will; knew his work
and did it day or night on time and just as the doctor
ordered. So medicine, food and care were given just as
each patient needed, and the whole place was really
just like heaven. Then he talked of his personal
condition and affairs with a faith and a peace worthy
of faithful Abraham. But the facial cancer had not
been wholly cured. He said he knew it might come back
any time with extreme force, but he and all his
interests were in the hands of God and whatever
happened it would be all right. We never met again,
but I think when the Doctor approaches the gate of
Paradise, he will find Osman Agha waiting and watching
to welcome him.
NEXT: Anatolian Hellenism
(c. 1902)
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