Section of Letter from Mattie to her Mother

Section of Letter from Mattie to her Mother

Women missionaries; Travel; Measles; Commencement ceremonies

Mattie writes to her mother about her letter writing and sewing habits. She talks about making and mending clothing. She writes that Hattie may go off to Swatow when school closes, Miss Shaw will go to Amoy for the summer, and Lilli Happer is in Japan. She is anxious to hear about Commencement at Wooster. She also mentions that measles is going around at the school.

Kerr, Martha Noyes

Loose, The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection

Unpublished

Unknown

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

PDF

eng (English)

Text

noyes_c_cor_602

As I sat down before it for the
first time, I could not help breath-
ing a petition that what is thereon
written may always be of such a
character as to do some one some
good. I do think we may pray that
our correspondence may be blessed
to those to whom we write though
I can hardly feel I can hope for
it while I spend so little time in
writing. Hattie and I just scribble
at lightning speed almost that is as
near that as we are able to make
it. Lucy has regular times set apart
for this purpose which will certainly
be better for her correspondents.
Perhaps you better not speak of that to
her friends as she might think I
was writing about what I ought not
Our sewing girl is going to prove
quite a treasure to us after awhile
I taught her to heel stockings the
other day and she can do it very
nicely she has fixed my linen
duster into a wrapper. I cut up the

cape and made ruffle around the
bottom so now it is a nice length.
Our little sewing machine will
do us a great deal of good I think
These Chinese never have to
hurry and so it is all right. There
is one thing about it when we
want to sew any thing thick we
sometimes have to have some one
turn the concern so the [--feet--] foot
can be raised a little. With a
treadle machine one can man-
age it I thought perhaps Sarah
would like one of these but this
one thing would be a great objec-
tion to one who was alone when
sewing. Henry is beginning to
prepare for going to synod or
his shirts are being cut out for
the [u] expedition [/u]. I believe he will
dedicate a new [u] suit [/u] of clothes at that
time. I shall be very glad if he
can go for I am sure it will be
a rest and benefit. We mean to

send off Hattie when the school
closes in September perhaps to
Swatow. It is only about a day
and an half in distance from
Canton and is on the sea shore
a nice place to spend vacation
She is acquainted with some
of the missionaries there who
have already given her a warm
invitation to visit them. Miss
Shaw is now at Dr Kerr's under
medical treatment and I think
as soon as she is able will go to
Amoy for the summer. Lillie
Happer writes from Japan that she
feels much better and perhaps
we shall see her before October.
The Chapel is going forward
famously and we hope soon to
be in our new home. Mr Atkinson
writes that the little box we sent
from California has at last been
received I am very glad for we
began to fear it would never

[Written vertically on the fourth page]
reach its destination. We are so anxious to hear
about Commencement at Wooster. I hope so much
we can know what Em's performance is before the
day comes. Clara will have plenty of business this
summer if she has 10 music scholars. Mother I be-
lieve you have quite a busy set of children. Our
united efforts ought to accomplish something for some
body seems to me. You must take things moderate
ly now you have so many others in the field
Our school is going on as well as it can but we
are having an experience with the Measles. I think
5 of the 20 have them and there is a case of Ague another
of intermittent fever. I think some of us will steal
the Dr's profession if matters are not soon mend-
ed. Well I must close. Only think you will not get this
until the last of July and then the girls will all be at
home. How I love to think of all the dear ones on the Hill
Your loving Daughter



当我第一次在它面前坐下时，
我不禁呼出一种祈求，
希望上面写下的东西总是具有为某人带来好处的性质。
我确实认为我们可以祈祷我们的信件能祝福我们所写的那些人，
尽管我几乎不觉得我能寄希望于它，
因为我花这么少时间写信。
海蒂和我只是以闪电般的速度涂鸦，
几乎是我们能够做到的。
露西为此安排了固定的时间，
这对她的通讯员来说肯定会更好。
也许你最好不要对她的朋友说这件事，
因为她可能会认为我在写我不应该写的东西 我们的缝纫女孩会在一段时间后证明对我们来说是一笔宝贵的财富，
我前几天教她穿高跟鞋，
她可以非常好，
她把我的亚麻布掸子固定在包装纸上。
我剪掉了斗篷，
在底部做了褶边，
所以现在它的长度很好。
我们的小缝纫机会给我们带来很多好处，
我想这些中国人永远不用着急，
所以没关系。
当我们想要缝制任何厚实的东西时，
有一个问题，
我们有时必须转一下关注点，
这样脚才能抬起一点。
有了一台踏板机，
我想也许莎拉会喜欢其中的一件，
但对于一个独自缝制的人来说，
这件事情会是一个很大的反对。
亨利开始准备参加宗教会议，
或者他的衬衫正在为远征剪裁。
相信到时候他会奉献一套新衣服。
如果他能去，
我会很高兴的，
我相信这将是一个休息和受益。
我们打算在 9 月学校关闭时将海蒂送到斯沃图。
离广州只有一天半的路程，
在海边，
是个度假的好地方。
她认识那里的一些传教士，
他们已经热情地邀请她去拜访他们。
肖小姐现在在可儿医生那里接受治疗，
我想她一有空就去厦门过暑假。
莉莉·哈珀（Lillie Happer）在日本写道，
她感觉好多了，
也许我们会在 10 月之前见到她。
教堂正在以着名的方式向前发展，
我们希望很快能在我们的新家中。
阿特金森先生写道，
我们从加利福尼亚寄来的小盒子终于收到了，
我很高兴，
因为我们开始担心它永远不会[垂直写在第四页上]到达目的地。
我们非常渴望听到 Wooster 的毕业典礼。
我非常希望我们能在这一天到来之前知道 Em 的表现。
如果克拉拉有 10 位音乐学者，
她今年夏天就会有很多生意。
妈妈，
我相信您有一群相当忙碌的孩子。
在我看来，
我们的共同努力应该为某些人完成一些事情。
你必须适度地做事，
现在你有这么多其他人在这个领域我们学校正在尽其所能，
但我们正在经历麻疹。
我认为 20 人中有 5 人患有这种疾病，
还有一个 Ague 病例，
另一个是间歇性发烧。
我认为，
如果事情不尽快得到解决，
我们中的一些人会偷走博士的职业。
好吧，
我必须关闭。
只是认为你要到七月底才能得到这个，
然后女孩们都会在家。
我多么喜欢想起山上所有亲爱的人 你亲爱的女儿

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