When Tuba Khanum was a child, she and her sisters had a
difficult time. The only time they had with their loving and wonderful Father,
Abdul-Baha, was at tea early in the morning. He was always so busy taking care
of the hundreds of people who came to Him for help. But at tea He would chant
prayers and tell them wonderful stories of the Lord Christ and His Mother, of
Muhammad, of Moses and the other Prophets. They loved Him very much.
Later when they attended school from seven in the morning
until five in the afternoon, they had a little reading and writing but no play
time and only a little to eat at noon. Mostly they listened to someone reading
but who never explained anything.
When the children needed someone to listen to their troubles
and difficulties they always went to their grandfather, Baha'u'llah. He took an
interest in everything about them. Tuba says in her letters; "We children
looked upon Baha'u'llah as another loving Father. . . He used to send to Beirut
every year to buy stuff for our clothes. Baha'u'llah would then call for us to
choose which we liked best for our frocks. . . He was always punctual, and
loved daintiness and order. . . and liked to see everybody well-groomed and as
neatly dressed as possible." You can imagine that this was not easy, as
prisoners cannot go wherever and whenever they wish.
Tuba tells us that "above all things, cleanliness was
desirable to Him. 'Why not put on your prettiest frocks?' He would say to us.
"All our holidays, all our treats and our happiness
came from Him in those days; when boxes of sweets were brought to Him, He would
set some aside for us. . . 'Let the dear children come in and have some
dessert,' He often said, when we were being sent off to bed—My Father and
mother not wishing that we should disturb Him—but He always welcomed us with
loving words. How we adored Him!
"'Now children, tomorrow you shall come with Me for a
picnic to the Ridvan,' He would say, and our night was so full of joy we could
hardly sleep."
(Adapted from the ‘Chosen Highway’ by Lady Blomfield, Child’s
Way magazine, March-April 1971)
