Letter from Mattie to her Mother, September 3

Letter from Mattie to her Mother, September 3

Travel; Steamboats; Letter writing; Friendly visits

Mattie is in Amoy. She is slightly disappointed that most of her correspondence has dropped her and is very glad anytime she receives mail from home. She traveled first to Hong Kong and stayed with Bishop Burdon's family, then went on to Amoy. The trip was fine aside from slight seasickness. She stayed with Dr. Guald and his family in Swatow.

Kerr, Martha Noyes

The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #5

Unpublished

09-03

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

PDF

eng (English)

Text

noyes_c_cor_517

Amoy sept 3d
My [u]dear Mother[/u]
I can hardly think
it is so near mail time
and I feel a little farther
away from home here in
Amoy as we must post
our letters on Wednesday
instead of Saturday.
I feel in debt to every
body but I do not get
many letters now except
from the home people
most of my other corres-
pondents have dropped
me . I have not yet
seen my expected box but
no doubt it will be on
board the next steamer
which is the pacific
mail line. Oh how glad I

shall be have something
which was packed up by
the dear people at home
but I do not know how
you had time to get it
ready you have so much
to do. I am now safely in
Amoy -and a most delight
ful place it is. The last
fortnight of my stay was
spent in Hong Kong with
Bishop Burdon's family
then I went to Mr Edge's on
Monday and packed up
for Amoy going on board
the steamer at 1 P.M. on
Tues. I did my [u]own packing[/u]
was busy all day Monday
and Tues forenoon - so you
see I am stronger than
when I went to Hong
Kong. There was only one
other European passanger
a man in the customs at

Canton. We left Hong Kong
at 5 P.M. took dinner on
deck so I was able to do
justice to it but I told the
Capt it was not an econom-
ical plan for the company
The next morning he and
I had it all to ourselves
our man being sea sick
I had a little touch of it
while I was getting dressed
but was glad of it for am
sure it was good for me
Reached Swatow Wednes
day morning and Dr Gauld
of the English Pres. mission
came off and took me to
his house where I remain
ed until the next afternoon
He has such a lovely
wife and I of the dearest
little children .The eldest
[u]curly headed[/u] little [u]Emily[/u]
quite won my heart. she

was 3 years old and kept close
to me nearly all the time
of my visit. In the eve
there was a mission prayer
meeting so I saw most of the
Missionaries. I did enjoy
it so much for I have not
been to a Mission prayer
meeting since last Jan.
The next morning we
went over the Boarding
school buildings for the
boys and girls but it being
vacation did not see
any of the pupils. hope
however the school will
be in session when I
go back. Perhaps I shall
remain over there then
one steamer. I expect
to go to Canton about the
1st of Nov. Swatow is a
much prettier place than
I supposed and the mission
aries are all very nice.

[Note: Letter continues sideways on page one]
I will write more of my trip in other letters. I am so
glad you had Henry for [u]two months. Dear[/u] Mother
you have no strength
to give me I know
would I could
remove your
affliction. Oh
Mother if it were
not that Christ
died for [u]sinners[/u]
I could never
hope to be saved
When I look at
myself I am
ashamed and
humbled into the
very dust. My
prayer now is
that I may not
fail to learn the
lessons God means
to teach me
by these experiences

[Note: letter continues sideways on page two]
Set us look up always [u]Away[/u] from ourselves to the
[?beloved?] of Christ and that is able to wash away every
sin. In Christ we have hope.

I do not dare add an envelope lest it should ove-
run postage. Please tell Em her lines "set Aside"
[u]were very[?sound?][/u]. I think of Henry nearly all the
time. The Lord support you in the sad partings

[Note: letter continues sideways on page three]
Please send the enclosed letter to Miss M. E. Coe
Bloomfield
NY

[Note: Letter concludes sideways on page four]
It is almost dinner time Your [u]loving daughter[/u]
Mattie



9 月 3 日厦门 亲爱的妈妈，
我很难想象现在是邮寄时间这么近，
我觉得离厦门的家有点远，
因为我们必须在星期三而不是星期六寄信。
我对每个人都感到亏欠，
但我现在没有收到多少信，
除了家里的人，
我的大多数其他通讯员都放弃了我。
我还没有看到我预期的盒子，
但毫无疑问它将在太平洋邮线的下一艘轮船上。
哦，
我多么高兴我能有一些东西被家里亲爱的人们收拾好，
但我不知道你是怎么有时间准备的，
你有这么多事情要做。
我现在安全地在厦门——这是一个最令人愉快的地方。
我在香港逗留的最后两周是和 Burdon 主教的家人在香港度过的，
然后我周一去了 Mr Edge's，
收拾东西准备下午 1 点登上轮船的淘大货。
周二。
周一和周二上午我自己打包忙了一整天 - 所以你看我比我去香港时更强壮。
广州海关只有一名欧洲乘客。
我们下午五点离开香港。
在甲板上吃晚饭，
所以我能够公正地对待它，
但我告诉船长这对公司来说不是一个经济的计划第二天早上他和我自己拥有了这一切我们的人晕船了我有一点点接触在我穿衣服的时候，
我很高兴，
因为我确信这对我有好处 星期三早上到达 Swatow 和英国出版社的 Gauld 医生。
任务结束，
带我去了他家，
直到第二天下午，
他有一个非常可爱的妻子和我最亲爱的孩子。
最年长的卷发小艾米丽赢得了我的心。
她 3 岁，
几乎在我访问的所有时间都与我保持密切联系。
前夜有一个宣教祷告会，
所以我见到了大部分宣教士。
我非常喜欢它，
因为自去年一月以来我就没有参加过宣教祷告会。
第二天早上，
我们参观了男生和女生的寄宿学校大楼，
但由于放假，
没有看到任何学生。
但是希望我回去时学校会上课。
也许我会留在那儿，
然后一艘汽船。
我预计在 11 月 1 日左右去广州。
Swatow 比我想象的要漂亮得多，
传教士都非常好。
[注：信在第一页继续横向] 我将在其他信中写下更多我的旅行。
我很高兴你有两个月的亨利。
亲爱的母亲，
您没有力量给我，
我知道我可以消除您的痛苦。
哦，
母亲，
如果不是基督为罪人而死，
我永远无法指望得救。
当我看着自己时，
我感到羞愧和卑微到尘土中。
我现在的祈祷是，
我可能不会不学习上帝打算通过这些经历教给我的课程
[注：第二页的信继续横向]
让我们永远仰望自己，
远离我们自己，
转向基督所爱的人，
那能够洗净除去一切罪恶。
在基督里，
我们有希望。
我不敢加一个信封，
以免超过邮资。
请告诉 Em 她的台词“搁置一旁”非常好听。
我几乎每时每刻都在想亨利。
主在悲伤的离别中支持你
[注：信在第三页继续横着写]
请把随附的信寄给纽约 M. E. Coe Bloomfield 小姐
[注：信在第四页横着结束]
快到晚餐时间了
你亲爱的女儿玛蒂

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