Seven Maids of Far Cathay | Page 6

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, my poor language can nothing show out of what my heart now hold.
Have patience with my dull and stupid writing while to you I give one complete history.
On the fifth day of this Moon Miss Powers say - "Tomorrow morning all girls in this College have clothing and beds ready packed, for river fete. Ten boats wait at Short Bridge landing. Ten of the clock strike all must be there. Each girl take one carrying basket, no more."
Next day two hours before rise of sun all girls run up and down make large noise and