Anna V. Blough letter to dear ones at home, Jan. 30, 1915

              Ping Ting Hsien, Shansi, China
Jan. 30 [?]1915.

Dear Ones at Home, -

This week the calendar that Father sent came thru in good shape. However if you send more such things another wrapping of paper would be better as this was almost worn off. I think he must have gotten the prettiest one he could fink. I think I will have it framed sometime and put it up aside of my Autumn one. I almost can imagine I am down at the road looking up thru the grove at home when there is snow on the ground. Am very glad to have a calendar, for I was getting lost on time all the ties [time?].

Last Monday Dr. Wampler went to Shanghai and Emma went along to visit at Peking. I mean she went with them part way on the train and so did not need to take any Chinese helper along. On that day too. Bro. Crumpacker and the two men from Peking started south into the mountains hunting. We have not heard from them, so do not know how the game is.

On Tuesday Dr. Hemmingway and Dr. Brubaker went thru on the train to go to Shanghai and were going to meet Dr. Wampler up the line at the junctin DrMHemingways little girl Isabel came along and is staying here to play with Frantz till he comes back. This little girl is seven years old and this fall had the scarlet fever, so her hair are short. When she came and Frantz saw her, he said to his mamma, “Mamma, is she a truly girl? She don’t have any ribbons on her hair.” His knowledge of American girls is not very large and all he knew wore ribbons. The children are having agreat time together. She is a lively girl and t ink of all kinds of things. It seems good to have a little girl around.

Yesterday when we were down at Crumpackers, Rebecca startled us by saying “Why out there on the city wall is a foreign man”. So we quickly looked and sure enough about twentyfive feet away on the wall a man was walking. We have seen nothing more of him. Do not know if he is a tourist or a tobacco man The former kind of travellers usually hunt up the foreigners, while’ the latter try to avoid the Missionary.

This week Minerva got a new typewriter like mine from Shanghai. She has been using Emma’s this last year but wanted one of her own. The kind I have is the best for carrying about and no more than we use them for just our letter writing they are likely to last us a good long while. My speed is working pretty good now and it is much less of a task to write with it now tha formerly.

Last evening I was pretty tired with Chinese characters, so I got my Zoology books out and studied up on fish. It was very interesting with my bowl of gold fish before me. Learned that gold fish are a native of China. Two of Minerva’s died this week but mine are alright yet.

Everybody here is getting ready for the Chinese New Year which will be in this week. Already firecrackers are heard sometimes. The women are too busy to come out to services, for they must a l have new clothes, the houses must be cleaned and food must be prepared. We must buy up coal and eatables ahead, as at that time for several weeks all will be taking holiday and will not bring in their produce.

We heard this week that Winnie Cripe had Tonsilitis. Suppose she is better or they would write to us soon again. When Dr. Brubaker gets back from Shanghai, he and his family will go back to Liao from Taiku.

Wonder how all is at home. Had but little mail this week, in fact what did come was from last week and this weeks has not come in yet.

This about all the news of this week, so I will close, wishing you all good things and hope you get along well.

Love to all,
Anna V. Blough