Anna V. Blough letter to home folks, May 21, 1916

              Ping Ting Hsien, Shansi, China
May 21,1916

Dear Home Folks,

This is such a beautiful day. This morning after breakfast the Wamplers, Minerva and Bessie and I took a walk out east of the city. Up on a hill that over looks much of the city is a small temple and some big trees. It was such a cool and restful place. We will be glad when some of our trees here on the compound grow up for shade.

The melon seed that Jennie sent has come and is up already. Do not have an extra good place for mellons yet I hope there will be a few good ones for us. The ones the Chinese have are so inferior

Just tweeks more and the Liao folks will come. Two weeks will go quickly. By that time I must have my trunk packed to go along with he Brubakers to the coast when the meeting is over. The most of my sewing is done now. I used the patterns that Ida sent to good advantage and some of the others used them too.

Just a few minutes ago a miner was brot [sic] to the dispensary who had a fearful accident. Have not heard yet how serious it was. The head man at the mine sent a note to Doctor saying, �Please DR. Wampler, save my miner.� There have been a number of those cases.

This time I suppose I have been favored above some of you in hearing about Elmer�s plans first, but by the time this reaches you everyone will know. It was surely thotful [sic]of him to write to me ahead so that it would not come ax such a surprise to me after it was over. He said in June, but June has thirty days and so I have no idea what day it will be. By the way, a month from yester will be his birthday. I am so anx ous to hear all about it. Please someone tell me details, and newspaper clippings, etc. I confes that it was a surprise to me at this time. But I am sure that he gets a fine little woman and how I should like to know her.

Several weeks ago I told you I was taking the doses for Typhod vaccine. It is supposed that the first one effects you most and by the time the third one comes you scarcely know it. It worked the opposite for me, the first was so slight, and by the time of the third one a week ago last Tuesday eve it was pretty severe. Took it about nine in the eve. About One oclock at night I woke up with a chill. Shok for about an hour and then began to burn. Was in bed for a day and a half and had a fever of 103. But it is over and I ought not be sussecptible for several years to the fever.

We had a letter from Bro. Crumpacker and he gave us his schedule for the spring. According to that there is a possibility of of their visiting Waterloo in the near future. I do so hope they will, for I know it will do you so much good to hear direct from China. Shall think of you the next couple weeks.

You said you were to Grandma�s birthday gathering. Am glad you were and glad you took her the fish. We get so much enjoyment from ours and everyone else does. I have a tiny celluloid duck swimmim g on top. The fish move it about and many people have asked if it is alive.

Have been having some very good experiences in the homes of late. It seems that it is going so much easier to make myself understood as well as to know what to do in varying circumstances. Of course it is not what I want it to be but I can see progress. You know my brain works slowly and so it takes time for it to go in. Then too I can understand them so much easier too. It will be such a joy to me when I can do this work well. Since this is my work in life, so in it must be my joy.

Mother, I am not sure that I ever made it clear to you as to the nature of the work. Emma is to have the city to work. Shegoes