Letter from "Dear Ones at Home", April 2
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from "Dear Ones at Home", April 2
Subject
Friendly visiting; Streets; Streets--China; Unskilled labor
Description
In this letter home, Mattie is describing the things and peoples she sees while standing outside on her verandah. She gives a description of Chinese people walking past and pities many of them, especially coolies. Dr. Happer came to visit and Hattie got home from a visit with women hoping the join the church. She talks about her exchanges with Hattie as she came home and Dr. Kerr as he called up to her.
Creator
Kerr, Martha Noyes
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #5
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
04-02
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_512
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China
Apr 2nd
Dear Ones at Home
I have just "had a thought"
as mother says and will put it into
immediate execution. In the first
place I am standing on the upper ver-
randah looking out on our street which
borders the Canal. It is about 5 P.M.
and our study hours are over though we
had company this afternoon and I have
done almost nothing but more of that
[illegible]. I just happened to think I would
try and tell you a little about the scene
which to night is quite similar to those
which usually greet our eyes where we
look into the street. Well almost in front
of our gate is a bare-foot China man
who has brought an enormous basket
of flowers - roses [?tube?] roses gerranium
leaves and some purple blossoms of whose
name I know nothing. He has a whole
crowd of people about him men women
and children the way they gabble is
a warning. Here comes a man with
an umbrella over his shoulder carried
as a [--shoulder--] so[--u--]lder would carry a gun
and shuffling along as though he did not
care whether school kept or not
I feel sometimes as if I would like to
shake a little energy into these people
Two men follow each carrying [--m--] two
immense baskets each on the end of
a long bambo polo thrown across their
shoulders They walk as if they had all
they could life - poor fellows I pity them
If there is any one I do feel sorry for it
is the Chinese Coolie There is a big
fat man with a long blue gown white
stockings and shoes so he belongs to the
respectable class {There is Dr Happer
knocking at our gate but I will slip be-
hind the shutter so he will not see
me for I do not want to stop writing
and go down to the parlor besides I
expect he wants to see Henry and not
I Well my fat man with his little bunch
of greens or something he will eat with
his rice [--has--] is lost in the distance
so I have done him. Here comes a
wedding chair like the one in our picture
at home so I suppose some one is about
to {Chut moon} or be married and here
behind it follows some of the presents.
I have not yet been fortunate enough
to see a bridal procession. There is
Hattie at the gate waiting for the boy
to answer her ring. We ring a bell at
the gate rather than door and no
one gets onto our premises without
permission as the gate is always
locked. she has been to visit two women
who wish to join the Church but she
feels they will need further instruction
Here she is up stairs and as is usual
in the Noyes family says "Matt what
are you doing" whereupon being told replies
That is real nice. Clara remembers
her experience about the leave she
gathered for us and decided I believe
that our house was not a very good
place to keep secrets. see that man
with his cue wound about his head
just as a woman at home would
do if she were about to go to the wash
tub. and carrying a huge hat under
his arm like the one in the picture
of the little girl we send home.
They have such a fashion of going
bare-headed and having these big
hats with them to use in case of
rain. I expect they are heavy for the
head should think they would be
Here are two women and 3 men
standing stock still looking up at
me and laughing as though I was
one of the funniest objects in the
world but I "reckon I am not too good
to be looked at" A woman with a
baby on her back looks as if she
would not object to come in but
I do not feel moved to invite her to do so A thorough
bath and some clean clothes would be an improvement
to both. A poor coolie has just now set down his burden
for a moments rest. [--He--] The upper part of his body is
wholly innocent of clothing and he has callouses on his
shoulders lar'ger then my hand could cover. There goes
Dr Happer home If there is not Dr Kerr out there calling
up to me He says "if you have 50 cash up there I wish
you would throw them down to me. I suppose he wants
to get a boat to take him home. I told him we thought
of going down to see them after tea but he thanks me
Do not need to consult him professionally - which opin[--i--]on
I [?beastily?] concur. There are 7 little children squatted
down on the sidewalk :cracking nuts I should think
from appearances. They look [u]as[/u] if they had just escaped
from a porE house wearing shams that resemble
Joseph's coat of many colors. There people patch enough
but no difference whether the new is like the old cloth or not
Here is a boy with two buckets of water The drinking
water we use is brought a distance of 3 miles and we
pay about 7 cts per week for what we drink There are at
this present time or were an instant ago [u]25[/u] people gazing at me
with the most undivided attention well
中国广州 4 月 2 日
亲爱的在家的人
我刚刚像妈妈所说的那样“有一个想法”，
将立即执行。
首先，
我站在上层阳台上，
眺望与运河接壤的街道。
现在是下午 5 点左右。
我们的学习时间已经结束，
尽管我们今天下午有同伴，
而我几乎什么也没做，
除了更多[难以辨认]。
我只是碰巧想我会试着告诉你一些关于晚上的场景，
它与我们通常在我们看到街道时映入眼帘的场景非常相似。
好吧，
几乎在我们的门前是一个赤脚的中国人，
他带来了一大篮鲜花——玫瑰管玫瑰天竺葵叶子和一些我不知道名字的紫色花朵。
他周围有一大群人，
男人女人和孩子，
他们喋喋不休的方式是一个警告。
来了一个背着雨伞的人，
肩上扛着伞，
就像士兵提着枪一样，
拖着脚步走着，
好像他不在乎学校是否继续上课我有时觉得我想给这些人注入一点能量两个男人每个人都背着两个巨大的篮子，
每个人都扛在肩上披着一根长长的竹马球的末端他们走路，
好像他们已经拥有了他们所能拥有的一切——可怜的家伙我可怜他们如果有任何一个让我感到难过的人，
那就是中国苦力有一个大胖子，
穿着蓝色长袍，
白色长袜和鞋子，
所以他属于受人尊敬的阶层{有哈珀医生敲我们的大门，
但我会滑到百叶窗后面，
所以他不会看到我，
因为我没有想停止写作，
去客厅，
除了我希望他想见亨利而不是我。
好吧，
我的胖子带着他的一小束蔬菜或他要和米饭一起吃的东西在远处迷路了，
所以我做了他。
家里来了一把像我们照片中的那把的婚礼椅子，
所以我想有人即将{Chut moon}或结婚，
在它后面跟着一些礼物。
我还没有幸运地看到新娘游行。
海蒂在门口等着男孩来接她的戒指。
我们在门口而不是门上按铃，
没有人未经许可进入我们的场所，
因为大门总是锁着的。
她曾拜访过两位希望加入教会的女性，
但她觉得她们需要进一步的指导 她在楼梯上，
按照诺伊斯家族的惯例，
她会说“马特，
你在做什么”，
然后被告知回复 那真是太好了.克拉拉记得她为我们请假的经历，
并决定我认为我们的房子不是保密的好地方。
看看那个男人的头上缠着暗示伤口，
就像家里的女人要去洗脸盆时一样。
腋下夹着一顶大帽子，
就像我们送回家的小女孩照片中的那顶一样。
他们有一种光着头，
带着这些大帽子以防下雨的时尚。
我希望他们的头很重应该认为他们会是这里有两个女人和三个男人站着仍然看着我笑着好像我是世界上最有趣的物体之一但我“认为我不太好被看” 一个背着婴儿的女人看起来好像她不会反对进来，
但我不觉得有什么感动邀请她这样做一个彻底的沐浴和一些干净的衣服对两者都有好处。
一个可怜的苦力刚刚放下他的包袱休息片刻。
他的上半身完全没有衣服，
肩膀上的老茧比我的手还大。
Happer 医生回家了 如果没有 Kerr 医生在外面打电话给我，
他说：“如果你有 50 块现金，
我希望你能把它们扔给我。
我想他想找条船带他回家。
我跟他说我们想喝完茶就下来看看，
但他感谢我不需要专业咨询他的意见，
我急忙同意这个意见，
人行道上蹲着7个小孩子：从外表上看我应该认为是坚果。
他们看起来好像刚从毛孔房子里逃出来，
穿着类似约瑟夫的彩色外套的假货。
那里的人修补得足够了，
但新的是否像旧的布一样，
这是一个男孩，
他拿着两桶水喝着我们使用的水被带到了 3 英里的地方，
我们每周支付大约 7 美分的饮料费用 目前或不久前有 25 个人全神贯注地注视着我
Apr 2nd
Dear Ones at Home
I have just "had a thought"
as mother says and will put it into
immediate execution. In the first
place I am standing on the upper ver-
randah looking out on our street which
borders the Canal. It is about 5 P.M.
and our study hours are over though we
had company this afternoon and I have
done almost nothing but more of that
[illegible]. I just happened to think I would
try and tell you a little about the scene
which to night is quite similar to those
which usually greet our eyes where we
look into the street. Well almost in front
of our gate is a bare-foot China man
who has brought an enormous basket
of flowers - roses [?tube?] roses gerranium
leaves and some purple blossoms of whose
name I know nothing. He has a whole
crowd of people about him men women
and children the way they gabble is
a warning. Here comes a man with
an umbrella over his shoulder carried
as a [--shoulder--] so[--u--]lder would carry a gun
and shuffling along as though he did not
care whether school kept or not
I feel sometimes as if I would like to
shake a little energy into these people
Two men follow each carrying [--m--] two
immense baskets each on the end of
a long bambo polo thrown across their
shoulders They walk as if they had all
they could life - poor fellows I pity them
If there is any one I do feel sorry for it
is the Chinese Coolie There is a big
fat man with a long blue gown white
stockings and shoes so he belongs to the
respectable class {There is Dr Happer
knocking at our gate but I will slip be-
hind the shutter so he will not see
me for I do not want to stop writing
and go down to the parlor besides I
expect he wants to see Henry and not
I Well my fat man with his little bunch
of greens or something he will eat with
his rice [--has--] is lost in the distance
so I have done him. Here comes a
wedding chair like the one in our picture
at home so I suppose some one is about
to {Chut moon} or be married and here
behind it follows some of the presents.
I have not yet been fortunate enough
to see a bridal procession. There is
Hattie at the gate waiting for the boy
to answer her ring. We ring a bell at
the gate rather than door and no
one gets onto our premises without
permission as the gate is always
locked. she has been to visit two women
who wish to join the Church but she
feels they will need further instruction
Here she is up stairs and as is usual
in the Noyes family says "Matt what
are you doing" whereupon being told replies
That is real nice. Clara remembers
her experience about the leave she
gathered for us and decided I believe
that our house was not a very good
place to keep secrets. see that man
with his cue wound about his head
just as a woman at home would
do if she were about to go to the wash
tub. and carrying a huge hat under
his arm like the one in the picture
of the little girl we send home.
They have such a fashion of going
bare-headed and having these big
hats with them to use in case of
rain. I expect they are heavy for the
head should think they would be
Here are two women and 3 men
standing stock still looking up at
me and laughing as though I was
one of the funniest objects in the
world but I "reckon I am not too good
to be looked at" A woman with a
baby on her back looks as if she
would not object to come in but
I do not feel moved to invite her to do so A thorough
bath and some clean clothes would be an improvement
to both. A poor coolie has just now set down his burden
for a moments rest. [--He--] The upper part of his body is
wholly innocent of clothing and he has callouses on his
shoulders lar'ger then my hand could cover. There goes
Dr Happer home If there is not Dr Kerr out there calling
up to me He says "if you have 50 cash up there I wish
you would throw them down to me. I suppose he wants
to get a boat to take him home. I told him we thought
of going down to see them after tea but he thanks me
Do not need to consult him professionally - which opin[--i--]on
I [?beastily?] concur. There are 7 little children squatted
down on the sidewalk :cracking nuts I should think
from appearances. They look [u]as[/u] if they had just escaped
from a porE house wearing shams that resemble
Joseph's coat of many colors. There people patch enough
but no difference whether the new is like the old cloth or not
Here is a boy with two buckets of water The drinking
water we use is brought a distance of 3 miles and we
pay about 7 cts per week for what we drink There are at
this present time or were an instant ago [u]25[/u] people gazing at me
with the most undivided attention well
中国广州 4 月 2 日
亲爱的在家的人
我刚刚像妈妈所说的那样“有一个想法”，
将立即执行。
首先，
我站在上层阳台上，
眺望与运河接壤的街道。
现在是下午 5 点左右。
我们的学习时间已经结束，
尽管我们今天下午有同伴，
而我几乎什么也没做，
除了更多[难以辨认]。
我只是碰巧想我会试着告诉你一些关于晚上的场景，
它与我们通常在我们看到街道时映入眼帘的场景非常相似。
好吧，
几乎在我们的门前是一个赤脚的中国人，
他带来了一大篮鲜花——玫瑰管玫瑰天竺葵叶子和一些我不知道名字的紫色花朵。
他周围有一大群人，
男人女人和孩子，
他们喋喋不休的方式是一个警告。
来了一个背着雨伞的人，
肩上扛着伞，
就像士兵提着枪一样，
拖着脚步走着，
好像他不在乎学校是否继续上课我有时觉得我想给这些人注入一点能量两个男人每个人都背着两个巨大的篮子，
每个人都扛在肩上披着一根长长的竹马球的末端他们走路，
好像他们已经拥有了他们所能拥有的一切——可怜的家伙我可怜他们如果有任何一个让我感到难过的人，
那就是中国苦力有一个大胖子，
穿着蓝色长袍，
白色长袜和鞋子，
所以他属于受人尊敬的阶层{有哈珀医生敲我们的大门，
但我会滑到百叶窗后面，
所以他不会看到我，
因为我没有想停止写作，
去客厅，
除了我希望他想见亨利而不是我。
好吧，
我的胖子带着他的一小束蔬菜或他要和米饭一起吃的东西在远处迷路了，
所以我做了他。
家里来了一把像我们照片中的那把的婚礼椅子，
所以我想有人即将{Chut moon}或结婚，
在它后面跟着一些礼物。
我还没有幸运地看到新娘游行。
海蒂在门口等着男孩来接她的戒指。
我们在门口而不是门上按铃，
没有人未经许可进入我们的场所，
因为大门总是锁着的。
她曾拜访过两位希望加入教会的女性，
但她觉得她们需要进一步的指导 她在楼梯上，
按照诺伊斯家族的惯例，
她会说“马特，
你在做什么”，
然后被告知回复 那真是太好了.克拉拉记得她为我们请假的经历，
并决定我认为我们的房子不是保密的好地方。
看看那个男人的头上缠着暗示伤口，
就像家里的女人要去洗脸盆时一样。
腋下夹着一顶大帽子，
就像我们送回家的小女孩照片中的那顶一样。
他们有一种光着头，
带着这些大帽子以防下雨的时尚。
我希望他们的头很重应该认为他们会是这里有两个女人和三个男人站着仍然看着我笑着好像我是世界上最有趣的物体之一但我“认为我不太好被看” 一个背着婴儿的女人看起来好像她不会反对进来，
但我不觉得有什么感动邀请她这样做一个彻底的沐浴和一些干净的衣服对两者都有好处。
一个可怜的苦力刚刚放下他的包袱休息片刻。
他的上半身完全没有衣服，
肩膀上的老茧比我的手还大。
Happer 医生回家了 如果没有 Kerr 医生在外面打电话给我，
他说：“如果你有 50 块现金，
我希望你能把它们扔给我。
我想他想找条船带他回家。
我跟他说我们想喝完茶就下来看看，
但他感谢我不需要专业咨询他的意见，
我急忙同意这个意见，
人行道上蹲着7个小孩子：从外表上看我应该认为是坚果。
他们看起来好像刚从毛孔房子里逃出来，
穿着类似约瑟夫的彩色外套的假货。
那里的人修补得足够了，
但新的是否像旧的布一样，
这是一个男孩，
他拿着两桶水喝着我们使用的水被带到了 3 英里的地方，
我们每周支付大约 7 美分的饮料费用 目前或不久前有 25 个人全神贯注地注视着我
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Kerr, Martha Noyes, “Letter from "Dear Ones at Home", April 2,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 19, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/566.