Anna V. Blough letter to dear ones at home, April 24, 1915

              Ping Ting Hsien, Shansi, China
24 [?] April 1915

Dear Ones at Home, -

Have just had Father�s letter as he was leaving Lordsburg. Also one from Jennie and Ida. Am glad Father had such a good time in the west. Yes, I must mention that his and Raymond�s picture came. It is good of both at least it is natural of Father and shows Raymond as a very fine looking boy and I suppose it is good of him too. How I do appreciate pictures.

I believe I mentioned before that we thot [sic]we could buy the land so we could build. Last Tuesday it finally came, tho for several days it looked as if it might all fall thru. Since then we have been planning on the buildings and their arrangement. It is not a light matter to do the planning for a Mission Compound. When it is for oneself there are not so many others effected by it. But the convenience of all the future work depends on this. I may be able to send a plot of the arrangement as we are thinking of it. By having the fireign [sic] houses in one compound we can avoid much of the filthy conditions that exist in living near to Chinese.

We have had a very interesting case of a little girl this week. One eve at half past eight oclock a man brot the little girl in to Minerva. I was called over to see her. She was nine years old, tho no higher than a four year old child for she was a hunch back. Her filthy clothes did not nearly cover her body. On her feet were only a ragged pair of stockings and her hair were touseled dreadfully. They wanted to put her in school. But we could not arrange for her that night. They said there was no place for her to sleep that night. So we took her back to the school to the matron. The school girls all came out to see her, one with a comfort for her to sleep on, one with a pillow. Next morn another came with a pair of shoes. It was then arranged to keep the girl and by giving her food, we are to have the control of her life.

Tuesday P.M. This did not get off the other day, so I will just continue the story of the little girl. She is one of the most interesting characters I ever saw. Guess she has had a hard time in life and fought her way. She was not here long till she was given a bath. When she saw the tub of water she said she did not want to get into the river, and kept saying it all the time she was being bathed. Then came the time to clean up her head. It was the same thing over, she did not want it, never-the-less she had it. She is very much afraid of us foreigners. Minerva can not do anything for her tho the others can. At first she could not be coaxed to go in to the prayers at school, or to go in when the girls were studying. But gradually she is picking up and has now taken a notion learn to read. Yesterday the teacher thot she would give her an introduction to Mrs. Wampler, She got her inside of the house and to go out, she made her walk thru the house instead of going right out the door. I am sure she will get over this fear as she is getting over other things. She is such a unique character that I feel she may afterall amount to something.

Last eve we all took our supper out over the wall under some pine trees. It was very nice.

I am sending along a plot of our Compound as we propose to lay it off. Nothing is on it now outside of the Boys� School. They are putting a wall around it all so things will not walk off. Will soon begin on the building. May this find you all well and happy. Love to all,

Yours as ever
Anna V. Blough