Letter from Mattie to the Ones at Home
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Mattie to the Ones at Home
Subject
Baptism; Travel; Hospital schools; Construction projects; Occupational mobility
Description
Mattie says that Dr. Kerr has left for Hong Kong and the Gilman family will arrive there shortly then will go on to Hoi han. Work has just begun on the new hospital school. Their table boy is going to another missionary household where he will receive higher wages as a cook. Mattie looks forward to seeing Hattie in the future since she is just now leaving America to come back to Canton.
Creator
Kerr, Martha Noyes
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #5
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
Unknown
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_534
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Dear Ones at Home,
Mail day- Only a
note this time. 12 oclock
mail leaves at three.
Dinner at 1 oclock, prepar
atory service before Com-
munion at 2. Dr Kerr
left for Hong Kong this
morning at 6 1/2 to be away
until to morrow night
or Monday morn. The
Gillman family are here
have been with us nearly
a week. Leave to morrow
morning for Macau, then
on to Hongkong Monday
and Hoi han Tues or
Wednes. Their baby was
baptized last eve here
Our own Mission invited
Baby behaved beautifully
was altogether charming, We
had a cake baked and marked
with her name which we
insisted upon her cutting
but as she is only 4 months
old had to have some
assistance. They called her
Agnes. Mr Gillman came
up last Monday. It is
[u] awfully [/u] hot, regular Sept.
weather. I have yet to see
some women who are
desirous of joining the
Church, and feel I can
not write many minutes
We have just opened
work among the boys and
men in the shape of a
hospital school for them
Has been in progress
only 3 days so we will
not say much about
it. Have the former
teacher of the boys school
which school is now
among the things that
were. Dr Swan is home
from the country. I did not
tell you we had ice cream
last night. Ayan is in
miserable health and has
no end of trouble with her
miserable theatre going
relatives. San Luk is to
be promoted to this side
or demoted as the case may
be. Miss Butler expects to
pass her over bodily
and we can find work
enough for her. My table
boy expects to go over to
Mrs Henry as cook to
morrow, and we must
look up some one else
He wishes to be a cook
and I would not stand in
his way a moment, for of
course he can get better
wages. I offered him to her
because she is in need and
I want him to go into a
Christian family. It will
be growing cold at home
by this time. The family will
begin to lessen. Henry and
the boys, then Sarah and
Hattie. Oh what changes
we do have. As for myself I
dare not look forward a day
One day at a time Hattie
Hattie will be on the eve
of leaving when this arrives
if not already gone. We hope
for our mail on Monday.
Well I must say good
bye. How I shall rejoice to
hear all about you when Hattie
comes. Will write more
[Continued vertically on the first page]
if possible next time. When Hattie comes you
will hear more of what goes on perhaps. I
live from day
to day, hoping all
the time for
more time but
we will have
time bye and
bye. Am thank
ful everyday
for the oppor
tunities we
have. Wish I
could write
some of them
out.
Lovingly
Mattie
Mail day- Only a
note this time. 12 oclock
mail leaves at three.
Dinner at 1 oclock, prepar
atory service before Com-
munion at 2. Dr Kerr
left for Hong Kong this
morning at 6 1/2 to be away
until to morrow night
or Monday morn. The
Gillman family are here
have been with us nearly
a week. Leave to morrow
morning for Macau, then
on to Hongkong Monday
and Hoi han Tues or
Wednes. Their baby was
baptized last eve here
Our own Mission invited
Baby behaved beautifully
was altogether charming, We
had a cake baked and marked
with her name which we
insisted upon her cutting
but as she is only 4 months
old had to have some
assistance. They called her
Agnes. Mr Gillman came
up last Monday. It is
[u] awfully [/u] hot, regular Sept.
weather. I have yet to see
some women who are
desirous of joining the
Church, and feel I can
not write many minutes
We have just opened
work among the boys and
men in the shape of a
hospital school for them
Has been in progress
only 3 days so we will
not say much about
it. Have the former
teacher of the boys school
which school is now
among the things that
were. Dr Swan is home
from the country. I did not
tell you we had ice cream
last night. Ayan is in
miserable health and has
no end of trouble with her
miserable theatre going
relatives. San Luk is to
be promoted to this side
or demoted as the case may
be. Miss Butler expects to
pass her over bodily
and we can find work
enough for her. My table
boy expects to go over to
Mrs Henry as cook to
morrow, and we must
look up some one else
He wishes to be a cook
and I would not stand in
his way a moment, for of
course he can get better
wages. I offered him to her
because she is in need and
I want him to go into a
Christian family. It will
be growing cold at home
by this time. The family will
begin to lessen. Henry and
the boys, then Sarah and
Hattie. Oh what changes
we do have. As for myself I
dare not look forward a day
One day at a time Hattie
Hattie will be on the eve
of leaving when this arrives
if not already gone. We hope
for our mail on Monday.
Well I must say good
bye. How I shall rejoice to
hear all about you when Hattie
comes. Will write more
[Continued vertically on the first page]
if possible next time. When Hattie comes you
will hear more of what goes on perhaps. I
live from day
to day, hoping all
the time for
more time but
we will have
time bye and
bye. Am thank
ful everyday
for the oppor
tunities we
have. Wish I
could write
some of them
out.
Lovingly
Mattie
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Kerr, Martha Noyes, “Letter from Mattie to the Ones at Home,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 26, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/590.