I had been spending part of an afternoon in a day-school taught by another of my former pupils, and on my return, found Kohar and Vartig, a young girl who attends Markared's school, waiting to see me.  They had come to seek aid and counsel in a matter of great importance.
    It seems that Vartig was betrothed when she was but five years of age.  She is now thirteen or fourteen, and her friends wish her to marry, but she protests against it; she has tasted the sweets of knowledge, and is very anxious to study.  Besides, she has received the truth, in the love of it, and the young man is a bigoted Armenian, with no sympathies in common, and, according to the custom of the country, she has no personal acquaintance with him... (The Romance of Missions, West, 1875)