Anna V. Blough to mother, Dec. 6, 1914

              Ping Ting Hsien, Shansi, China
December 6, 1914

Dear Mother,-- 
Somehow it was rather hard to get at writing this week, for no letter had come from home for three or 
four weeks and nothing special here happened. But this eve your letter of Nov. 1 came, also Father�s, 
Elmer�s, Jennie�s and Ida�s and Ben�s so I do feel pretty good over it and writing goes easier. For 
several nights I have been dreaming of being home with the rest of you and seeing you. No, I don�t 
think I�ve been homesick and at present I am so glad to be here and life would be a great 
disappointment- could I not stay. Yet, I am so glad for the home associations I had before coming here 
and for those there now who are so kind to me. I like to think about home and will be glad when the 
time comes to visit you all again. But this is my place to live and stay and work. 

Have been feeling more keenly of late the real meaning of the work before me. These homes are 
most of them wretched. The husband regards his wife as an ignorant being, incapable or learning and 
only necessary that she may bear him sows. The girls have a dreadful  time of, sold off to the highest 
bidder as a wife, regardless if he be young or old, good or bad, an opium sol or not. And if we ever held 
them to anything better it will be a hard time.

A young woman who broke off opium last winter became so interested in the gospel. Was learning to 
read and seemed interested in every way. Then after home again she got to taking opium again. But 
we were always welcome to go. Recently hre husband came home from Peking where he is in 
business. Yesterday after some of our Christian people were in to visit her he got enraged and put a 
sign up outside that no church people or foreigners were to come in there. So the doors open and 
close.