Seven Maids of Far Cathay | Page 6

very great interest, when big mail come in, every
body so much excitement, every body snatch letters then run away and
read - read like hungry dog bite bone. Miss Sterling all time get very
big letter, very large character on cover, color blue; when big blue letter
not come, O then Miss Sterling too sad. One day I very bold and say:
"Miss Sterling you very much love big blue letter?" she all smiling say,
"Yes truly I do love big blue letter the very best of all."
This time we have very hard work, for spring time near, and much of
work is to be done before we to our homes may go.
One day Miss Powers say, "Perhaps we are giving too much hard work
just now, perhaps more better we go on river have play for one week."
O then all College have greatest joy and excitement; girls all time talk,
what can do, how can do. Some times girls talk too late at night,
Matron have much hard work. When Matron say, "No more of talk
tonight," then all very still for little while, then when Matron go far
away, talk begin again, and go on and on. Matron have another bad
trouble with girls, every Chinese girl think she die if air from night get
into her lungs, so she go to bed and pull Mieng all over head and ears
so no air can touch her. Today too sad thing happen, "Miss I Sterling
fall ill, cannot to class room come, Dr. Ewing say cannot do work for
many days, and ask Matron to send some good girl to help Nurse.
Matron appoint me to go, I most happy to have honor, and because of
this I can no more write at this time.
To My Honorable Family, Bing Ang. Bing Ang. Your Most Miserable
and Contemptible Child. Neuchang, China. January 25th.

To My Honorable and Wise Mother, Moy Sen, Greetings. Bing Ang.
Bing Ang.

Two Moons ago I have sorrow to tell you Miss Sterling very ill. This
time I have great gladness to tell you she all well again and we all
happiness once more.
Great joy and pain have gone over our heads like flocks of birds since
last time I have Honor to write to you.
Both day and night I watch over Miss Sterling though Matron say many
times I must to go into air or be ill. Nothing can my heart comfort but
to every moment look to see if some little thing I may not do to relieve
Miss Sterling from so great pain. Every day the burnings of the fever
make fire in brain of our Adorable Miss Sterling until she know
nothing of what say or of what do, this all too terrible, and make my
heart to bleed most so of all when she cry out one name over and over
again, this name sound like Dick, Dick, sometimes Dear Dick, then
most times she try to rise up, but is too weak and so she sink back on
pillows and lie so still, so still, I freeze with fear she be dead, O then I
creep out and cry to death, and pray pray to heaven, and burn much
incense, and then creep back and bend close over Miss Sterling to bear
if any little wavering breath come from lips or not, for it seem to me
she is surely to die.
One day very strange thing happen. Nurse go out and say I am to watch
all what Miss Sterling do? if she call out or move to rise I must give to
her of large bottle one portion. A very long time I watch every breath,
then all suddenly Miss Sterling try to sit up, and cry out: "Where am I,
What has happened? O yes I remember I am in China" - and she sink
back on pillows, like one little baby she fall asleep, all so full of peace
and so quiet and still. When Nurse come back and I tell her of all this,
she say - "O yes the climax, now Miss Sterling will surely live I think."
That moment such a joy, too great to bear, come into my heart, I could
to shout for gladness, and all the other girls too glad also.
Now every day Miss Sterling one little bit stronger grow, so that Miss
Powers promise us she soon will be able to go on beautiful river fete,
for that day all wait with heart of gladness.
Bing Ang. Bing Ang. From Your Detestable and Foolish Child.

Neuchang, China. March 20th.

Most Honorable and Wise Mother, Moy Sen, Greetings. Bing Ang.
Bing Ang.
So wonderful thing happen since last time I write,