My Dear Mother:

This perhaps is a sad day to you since it is Nettie’s birthday. Yes it is best as it is. She has taken the journey we all must take and her troubles are all over. Altho’ at the time she did not understand why she must go, she knows the Father’s will now.

Christmas and New Year’s are past. We had three guests for dinner Christmas, Mr. & Mrs. Yun, whom I have often spoke of. He is a Korean & she a Chinese. Then we had a Russian young man who speaks English. We had quite a variety of nations represented for a small table full. We count Miss Rothweiler German for her parents were both born in Germany. We five Am[ericans] represented 4 different states. We received New Year’s callers. Did not have as many as formerly for various reasons. The order to cut the hair had gone out and the Korean men were afraid to come out in large numbers.¹

The foreigners were invited to the palace at one o’clock and to the Diplomatic club at 4 o’clock. Some came late & some early and taken all together had a goodly number but as I say not so many as last year and the year before. New Year’s night, Miss Paine & I were invited to a party at Dr. Underwood’s, and had a very gay time playing games etc. Half past twelve was later than we habitually keep. This is the week of prayer. We have service at half past four at the houses of the missionaries. We meet today at Mr. Miller’s² of the Pres[byterian] board.

The news is all about the hair cutting. It goes hard with the Korean to lose his top knot. Haven’t time to write at length on it, will do so later. School opened again today and when the machinery goes we must also.

We sent our order off last week to Smith brothers. I will try to send you some money in my next letter to buy my dress with and to have it made, also some more for the loan.

Page 145 →Buy a good strong piece of lawn; line the waist but not the sleeves; trim i[n] lace or ribbon anything so it is pretty neat & stylish. Things get old fashioned soon enough. I want to get off to Won San the first of July or earlier so if you send it by March to California, Smith will see I get it through someone else’s order. People order early so as to have their garden seeds for an early garden so many send very early as we do, but there will be some orders leaving in March I know. This letter will probably reach you not later than Feb. 10 so I think you will have time to see about it. Perhaps I had better not trouble you since you are so busy, but maybe I can repay you in some way. I have made the order out for $25 gold. I have allowed $10 for the dress. I judge it will be in the neighborhood of that if more I will pay the extra. The fifteen is for the March payment of the loan. Hope it will reach you all right and find you well. Have not heard from you lately. Mail came yesterday brought me a good letter from Etta Snay but none from home. Dec. 4 paper Republican also came. Every other mail seems to be my luck now.

Lovingly—

Lulu

My Dear Mother:

“Uncle Sam” was unusually good to me this time. Today I received 6 letters, Mary’s picture and the one of the children beside my home papers which I’ve not had time to read yet. Your letter was dated Nov 26th via Vancouver. We are told the next mail has already reached Chemulpo, so I hope we will have later news tomorrow or next day. I did enjoy your letter so much. No, I’m not home-sick but I am always anxious to hear from home.

I was so glad too to receive the pictures. The one of Mary side view is very good & the baby is as sweet and bright as can be. I’ll not have time to write her this week so please tell her I received them in good condition. I like the one of Grant & Helen—they are excellent but Martha looks so different.³ Has she changed that much? Yours has not yet appeared?

I had the queerest letter from Laura a few days ago. She has taken up with the so-called “Theosophy.”⁴ I know nothing of it except that it is said to be somewhat Buddhistic in belief. If you find anything on the subject please send it to me. Poor Laura, between you and me I fear that she is going to be like her mother. From the sound of her letter I fear she is going to be a chronic invalid. Page 146 →Etta Snay says Laura looks so well.—Mame Hillman sent me a very pretty book “Hiram Golf’s Religion”⁵ for Christmas which I received today. The Japanese are so excessive in their celebration of New Year’s, which comes the same time as ours, but they are not satisfied with one day of it. For that reason the mail has been delayed and here now we are getting two mails together.

What did we have for Christmas dinner? I really don’t remember but we don’t fare badly. We get stores from California at the beginning of each season. In the summer we have our own garden & fruit. During the winter we have canned tomatoes, pears, corn and asparagus, Ham, dried beef, salmon & sausage which we get from California. Then, we are able to get fish, chickens, pheasants and beef any time. I often think of you when I go into the store room to give the cook the day’s rations. We keep butter, sugar, flour, corn meal, germ meal, oatmeal, beans, canned meats, vegetables and fruits in large quantities. Of course it is expensive but is the only way to live out here. You always wished you had a stock of things to depend on. We wish we had some good stores in the city where we could buy what we need now & then.

Did I ever tell you about how we buy eggs here? They are done up in straw ten in each string put end to end [drawing of a row of ten circles] so there is no danger of breaking and the bundle can be carried like a stick. We get delicious nuts, we call at home English walnuts, and chestnuts. We have Japanese oranges every meal. I’d like to exchange a dozen for an apple now & then, however. So my “must have fruit” is satisfied. If we were cut off from the home stores we could subsist on the rice, which the country affords more or less in large quantities.

Last night I was invited out to dinner. We had tomato soup, fish, goose, potatoes, canned string beans, mashed boiled chestnuts, salad, cherries, coffee, cake and nuts.

Did I tell you I wore my green silk New Year’s day? That was the first time I have worn the whole dress. I wore the skirt a great deal last summer with shirt waists. It is large for me but I was afraid I’d take cold so I put on an extra flannel shirt of Josephine’s (for my flannel are all union suits) so it looked exceedingly well. I felt as if I wasn’t so out of style after all. We sent mince pies over to the Am. soldiers for Christmas. The cook made the pies. Mrs. Scranton & Appenzeller sent cakes and I think the Presbyterians sent them some things for New Year’s. I feel sorry for them so far from home and nothing to do. I shouldn’t be happy if I had to sit & wait for something to happen. I need not say they have nothing to do for they guard us at night, but they are on for only two hours each.—I’m so glad to know you will soon receive the package I sent you, by Page 147 →this time no doubt you have received it and perhaps the ring & bookmark of tortoise shell I sent to Georgia and father, by Mrs. Hall.

Give my love to all—

Lovingly, Lulu.

Miss Rothweiler is at the East Gate so I will answer your questions in the next letter.

My Dear Mother:

I really have nothing to write you for I’ve sent you two letters since I’ve heard from you. You know how hard to write in such a case. I am waiting anxiously to hear again from you about Grant and also the outcome of Grandpa’s will. I do hope you will have no trouble and that the breach may not be broadened between you & Aunt Anna. What would not one sacrifice for the sake of peace?

I sent you in the last letter money for my dress and money for the spring quarter of my loan accumulation. Of course if you can get my lawn bought & made & expressed for less than $10—you can have the remaining pennies, if it should come to more I will make it up to you. I do not know how much you must pay for making now Jessie is a “dress- maker” & not a “serving girl.”

I haven’t gotten the letter written to father about the hair-cutting but it is still going on and I want to write it all together when I see how it ends.

Have you heard me speak or rather have I written you of Dr. & Mrs. Busteed? Mrs. Busteed gave birth to a baby girl, their first one, and it died when but twelve days old. I felt so sorry for her, for she had looked forward to the pleasure and had so many sweet little dresses & clothes for her. We cannot always understand God’s providences, but it is a comfort to know He does all things well.

I summoned courage to write to Mr. Colton for the money I asked of Mary.⁶ She is so bound up in her home and baby that she can’t think of anything else. We do so want to begin our church so we can finish by fall. We had hoped the board would help us some but they have appropriated $1200 less for Korea on account of the debt they have concurred during these hard times. I think Mr. C. is well able to give us something and I know he is a generous man and a business man. I think I shall at least hear from him. Please do not speak of it to them however. Did you say Mary was “enciente”⁷ again?

Page 148 →Our W.F.M.S. board have appropriated us $1600 for our home at the East Gate and promised us a new doctor transferred from China, but we fear she will not come.

We have been having quite severe weather lately. I can fancy you with a hood upon your head. How would you like one of their “nambowie”⁸ like I sent the children? I have thought because they were open on top you might not like them but that is the Korean fashion. I’ve never sent you one of the Korean pockets because I could not find suitable silk to make them of.

I think when I get some more thimbles, the girls will make some, perhaps Georgia can sell them for the church. I sent some to a little correspondent in Chicago & she sen[t] me a dollar in the last mail asking for more also for stamps to sell. I haven’t much to write but I’m well & happy and send you & father & Georgia an unmeasurable quantity of love.

Good-night—

Lulu.

How about those photographs of you?

Dear Mother:

I began thinking I would write to someone else but the date reminded me that it was your birthday. Are you 57 today? Twice as old as I am. I will be 28 in March you know.

We are anxiously looking for the mail again. This cold weather makes the mail come to us very irregularly. I haven’t felt satisfied with your letters for some time for they are six & seven weeks old. When I’ve finished reading I want the next mail to come quickly.

January 29

The mail arrived today bringing me your letter of the 18th (Dec). Miss Paine’s the 25th, so you are still behind the schedule. It was a very satisfactory letter however, telling of the removal of the dead in Sidney among other things. Speaking of my ancestors—Miss Harris received a letter today from an “Ames” who is writing a history of the family. I send you the address. Suppose you write him. “Dr. Azel Ames” #161 Shawmut St. Chelsea, Mass.

No you did not speak of Zoe’s sickness. I wrote her only yesterday. Sorry she is in such trouble, wish I might help her some way. I am glad you are doing Page 149 →what you can for her.—Yes, send the books out. Think you will find they come out cheaper by mail than to freight them. Yes, send the “Talks with Jesus,” I think I will find them very helpful in my teaching. We get the magazines all right, mark them “books” and they will come for at most four cents per copy. I will pay the expense. Do not roll but send flat the paper is not so apt to break.

Yes my heart aches for Aunt Anna. I sent her a beautiful handkerchief a few weeks ago. In Web’s letter. I have not written Aunt Anna since Grand-ma’s death. I wrote Grandma Sept 6. You made a mistake saying she di[e]d Sept 16th. In looking up your back letters I find one of Oct 17” saying “Grandma died yesterday.” It is hardly possible that she ever knew I had written her.

You have never sent me any of Grant’s letters altho’ I have asked for them often enough, so I have none to return. I gave you directions and sent you money about my dress a short time ago. Hope it has not been a great trouble to you. Do not attempt to do so much for me. If you keep up the one share you started for me a year ago that will make me six shares and that will be something for me when I [am] home again.

I sent Georgia a letter a few days ago. She is improving. You speak of the diary I wrote in early days. The funny part is I was so ashamed that I had neglected it so many months that when Lizzie Frey visited me I attempted to fill up. I was quite sure I had washed my face & combed my hair & put my clothes on every day, but to relieve the monotony I omitted to mention all three for each day. Then I was quite sure on five days I had gone to school; on the sixth had played & on the seventh had gone to Sunday School. I deserve some credit after all for the way I got out of having so many blank pages.

You speak as if Nannie was having hard times. What is Mr B.[ʾs] business and have you reason to think they are needy? Glad you speak of Edna receiving the thimbles. I received $1.00 today in payment for ten I sent and received $1.00 two mails ago. So by the pennies the church is going up. Write me immediately when you hear from Grant for I too am anxious to know his whereabouts.

Yes I wrote Frank immediately after receiving his letter but have had no reply. I look for one now in a mail or so, for I think if the children receive the little gifts I sent he will acknowledge them. You said something at first of your thought that he would marry again quickly. What did you found your suspicions on and what do you think now? I received a letter & a picture today from Miss Burnham, a friend whom I knew in Chicago. She is a Senior in “Women’s Medical College” Phila., but a Presbyterian. If she were a Methodist I would see that she came to Korea now in our great need. We have not yet heard from Dr. Carleton who was to be transferred from Fouchow, China. By the way did Page 150 →I give you Dr. Hall’s address so you could acknowledge the receipt of Georgia’s ring etc. which you received a year ago? She lives in Liberty, N.Y. I do not know whether she will come back to Korea or not, not this year at any rate. I sent the spoons 1/2 doz. and some red silk for Georgia, which I have spoken of before, I sent by Mrs. G. H. Jones.⁹ Her father’s home is in Pomeroy, O[hio]. I have told her you would pay any duty there may be on them.——As I was sitting at the supper table the gate man brought me a letter which had gone to some other house from Martha.¹⁰ What a sweet little letter it was! If she composed it she did remarkably well. I shall answer it before many days go by. An exceedingly good letter for a youngster not yet 9 years old.

I’d like to step in and see you for a little while—but it is a great comfort that we can write to each other. I am looking forward to another letter. Mail reached Yokohama last Sunday so in another week it will be here. We give them 10 days’ time usually to reach here altho’ we often receive them in a week.—Please take me in your confidence as you say you do Georgia. What is the amount of the mortgage on the house and what is father’s hope of lifting it?

Love to one and all—

Your loving Lulu.

Dear Father:

I am going to begin, at least, this long promised letter today. We are having three days’ vacation for this is the Korean New Year’s. An attempt was made to celebrate the 1st of Jan. but among the common people it was not very successful. In time they may give up theirs, but it can’t be expected that they will adopt all our customs at once.

This is a very queer New Year’s. Day before yesterday I wrote mother a postal saying everything was quiet and we did not anticipate any serious trouble. My card had scarcely reached the post office before I learned that we were having another political earth-quake. You remember I wrote you in October of the attack on the palace, the murder of the queen and the imprisonment of the King. The instigators of the scheme were backed up by the Japanese. Since then we have lost much of the admiration we had for the Japanese at the time of the war.¹¹

For a few weeks the Japanese by the aid of this cabinet had things their own way, unmolested. The 30th of Dec. a large body of the king’s sympathizers Page 151 →attempted to enter the palace, hoping to reinstate the king but they were unsuccessful.

Some escaped to China afterward; many were seized and cast into prison; others sought refuge among the foreigners. The prison punishments are terrible. It is said that the prison walls were white washed daily to cover the blood stains after the brutal beatings.

To show their power, the cabinet prepared an order, forced the king to sign it, demanding the people to cut off their top knots. To us it did seem laughable but to them a more terrible calamity never befell them. They have suffered because of war, famine and pestilence yet these are nothing as compared to the loss of their beloved top knots. I’ve sent you pictures of the Korean men, showing how they wear the knot on top of the head, I think. There was¹² weeping and wailing and mourning as for the dead when the husbands and fathers came home top-knot-less. It was quite a serious thing for it threw a great many out of work in the middle of winter for the net, pins and ornaments which they wore in their hair gave occupation to a great many.

Everyone prophesied that this government could not last long, yet the change when it came was a shock to us. Two days ago by the clever strategy of some of the palace-maids [the King] escaped from the palace and sought refuge at the Russian Legation. For several days the women had been going out and in and the guards had ceased to look in the chairs, they had become so accustomed to them. At seven o’clock in the morning of the 11th of Feb. the King, Crowned Prince & Princess passed out of the palace gates in these same chairs and were received by the Russian Minister.¹³ His Majesty has been busy since forming a new cabinet and giving orders. He ordered the arrest of some of the old cabinet. The people were so furious that they seized two of the ministers and killed them on the “big road” in the centre of the city. They were not satisfied with this but after they lay dead, they stoned the bodies until they were scarcely recognizable.¹⁴ A Japanese was standing by, and in their fury they attacked him killing him and two others who came to his assistance. The Koreans feel very bitter toward the Japanese [and I do not know but they have reason for this hatred. Killing the queen as they did is not a thing likely to be quickly forgotten].¹⁵

We do not know what action the Japanese will take. We have looked for war between Russia & Japan, but since Russia has been so cautious, and the King sought protection of her, there seems now no ground for fighting. Time will tell, however.

This has been a very quiet New Year’s day. We usually have a great many Page 152 →Korean callers, especially children. It is custom for the children to bow and receive a penny or some candy and cake. But today our street is guarded by many soldiers, Russian & Korean. Our servants can only go out and come in with a permit which we receive for them from the Am. Minister. We foreigners can go & come as we please.

There is nothing monotonous about life in Korea. One needs their nerves repaired now and then. I am hoping to go off to Geun-san¹⁶ for a few weeks, when school is out, if Russia and Japan do not make it unsafe to travel on the water.

I hope this trouble won’t interfere with the mails for we have waited long already, and I’m hungry for a home letter. Your letter has been unusually long on the way, hasn’t it? Do write me soon.

Your loving daughter,

Lulu.

My Dear Mother,

Finally the mail came bringing me two letters from you bearing the dates of Christmas and Jan 6, two anniversary days. A good long letter from father. As I just wrote him a letter last week, I’ll wait until some news develops before I answer. His excuses for not writing me are not very satisfactory. He should write not because he wants to get a letter from me nor because he has anxiety for me or my work but because it gives me pleasure when I’m so many miles away from home to hear from him. There is little danger of many telling me the same thing for my B[ellefontaine] correspondents are few—besides every one writes in his own style and every side of a story is a little different. However, it isn’t news I want altogether but exchange of thoughts just as we would have if we were talking together at home. I too thought of Nettie on her birthday—I cry more now than I did when I first heard of her death—not so much because she is gone but because of the lonely way she died and that I wasn’t there to help her. She would let me do many things for her——but God knows best, and I’m sure I came here because He led me. I could not have served him in two places. Yet I can’t help but feel if I had been home things might have been a little different for she seemed to understand me.

I am glad you had a pleasant Christmas. One nice thing is that, while I am reading of your Christmas time you are probably reading of ours, but it is Page 153 →natural I presume that we each should want to know later news. I hope the Japs won’t give us another three weeks wait.

It would seem real funny to me if Emma should marry after all. I’d begin to think I too might some future day do the same thing. Let me see, she is older than Nettie was. She must be 35, is she not? Yesterday was Miss Paine’s 27th birthday. Mine will be here before many days. I wonder if you have at this date received my letter I wrote you your birthday. It seems to me I sent you some money for a present but I forget. Perhaps money is just as acceptable as anything to you—at any rate I remember I sent you something for your pictures did I not? Please do ask Mary to pose you for I am so anxious to get the picture before you are much changed for of course I expect to find you some different as time changes everyone. As for Nettie’s picture—don’t trouble about it as far as I am concerned—if we had a good picture or more of these old ones with the blue velvet dress on, I would be glad; but there is something so uncanny about copies.

I do hope you won’t indulge in a Japanese rug. What are the colors of Aunt Anna’s? I see many of them in blue and white but they are mostly cotton. Our Chinese rug is beautiful in shades of brown & blue all wool and 12 1/2 by 13 1/2 and we find but little more than your rug a Japanese rug of 5 x 4 will cost—We paid about $13 gold for it. Be patient and I’ll bring you one when I come home if possible. I should use the parlor tapestry for the sitting room and shut up the parlor if you are not able to buy a new carpet for the parlor, perhaps by the time Georgia is old enough to have beaux you can buy a nice one (carpet I mean) for her. That is what I think is best policy. Don’t let Georgia go with the boys too young for she will get tired of them by the time she is old enough to enjoy their company. My first beau was Johnny Hamilton & I wasn’t much more than 12 years old—Don’t you remember how you knocked on the door at eleven o’clock. I did not have sense enough to be moderate. I was so insulted that I told him to stay an hour longer. Georgia is a dear good girl—if she benefits by our mistakes she will be ideal. I hear she is growing to look like you did. Laura said she looked like your early pictures.

No, I think it is useless to try to get a life insurance policy now there is so much political trouble, that is why we failed before. I have but little money to invest. If I put some in the loans that is all I can lay away at present. Perhaps I can make it $100 before the year is over.

I bought me a new dress, I’ll enclose a sample. I think I’ll have it made this spring and can wear it for traveling but I am beginning to think it is too good Page 154 →for that. Several of my wool dresses have gotten so dirty and after I washed them they have become too short. I wish I were where I could make them over for Georgia.

I do not agree with you that I am a fair composer. I fear I could not make much of a living that way. I’m too much like you—lack confidence in myself. I’m glad the Blessing children do so well. However I’m not thinking of changing my vocation. If as you say health would not permit me to return some time I’m quite sure something would be provided.

I did not know of Uncle Sam’s illness before. Isn’t it sad? I think you mentioned some months ago that he was not well but I had no idea it was very serious.

I had a letter from my friend Miss Ricketts of Siam. She is back at her home in Delphi, Ind. and has so far recovered her health she has hopes of returning in the fall. I am so glad for her. The doctors thought the bone of her spine affected but it proved to be only the nerves. I had a letter from Hattie Frey too. She writes me quite often. They all had a happy Christmas with Lottie in Dayton.

Do you hear from Mrs. Paine often? Has she sent you a schedule? Your letters still date a week behind hers, but it doesn’t matter just so they come. I have not heard again from Frank. I thought they would find the “headgear” convenient when the[y] ran out doors for a few moments.

A little more about the loan. I do not quite understand. Suppose I should put in $100 every year, then as many hundred as I had would be so many paid up shares. Is that the meaning? I can do that I think after this but not for the present as I have planned to take a summer trip which will take my extra money. Perhaps in the fall quarter I can do it.

Someday I’m going to make a nice cottage plan and then when we have enough to build a house, we will rent the big one and live cozily in the little one, won’t we? Have you sold that strip of ground yet on the west side of the house? I’ve intended asking you many times where you keep the horse. Did you build a stable? From Father’s description you must be very comfortable and a very happy contented family. I’d like to step in and see you. Our measle patients, 21 all together so far are doing nicely. But we are shut out from everything. Mrs. Allen gives a Washington birthday party but didn’t invite one of us. We can’t go to church or prayer meetings—Missed the Seoul Union Entertainment and the Christian Literary Meeting last evening. Everyone is afraid.—Mrs. Hulbert gave birth to a nice baby boy last night. The second boy in the mission now. Inclosed is sample of my new blue dress—7 yards cost me $15 silver—divide by 2 and you have the approximate in gold—56 inches wide. Page 155 →Good bye—Hope you will all be well when this reaches you. Accept much love

from Your daughter—Lulu.

P. S. Glad to hear you are going to send me the Delineator.

Dear Mother:

Mail came yesterday. I received two letters from Georgia and one also from Father. Your last was dated Jan 21; written the same day Miss Paine’s mother’s was. You said in your letter that father would tell me about Grant but he failed to do so in his letter. I’m real anxious to know where he is and how he is but you gave me not a hint. You also said you would enclose a clipping (of what or about what I don’t know) which you doubt the wisdom of sending but want to know if it is true. Since you did not enclose the clipping I’m unable to give you the information you want.

Some Tacoma mail came in today, a couple of Rep[ublicans], Georgia’s two pictures but no letters from America. Georgia is young ladified beyond my most serious thought. I try to imagine how 3 years has changed her but I cannot. Zenade has the same face, the same expression I remember her to have had. Of course she must change (in a few days I pass my 28th milestone) we are both almost three years older than when I left home, but it seems to me she is quite so for a 13 year old girl. They all said she looked sixteen in the picture. She always was old though for she grew up in old atmosphere. She looks some like Lottie Frey, but I am more glad to see a more striking resemblance to you. I was so shocked to see the notice of the deaths of Connie Kernan and her mother, I could not help but think of Mrs. Whitworth’s sorrow for I remember how long it was before she recovered from the shock of her Father’s death.

I’m sorry to hear of Zoe Purkey’s troubles. She certainly is having a hard fight and it is sincerely hoped that her hopes in her little boys may be fully realized someday and in her old age will be peaceful and without care.

I received a letter from Web yesterday. I sent him some stamps—now he wants some coin. I wonder if Aunt Anna has received the handkerchief I sent her in Web’s last letter. I do hope there may be some remedy for Aunt Anna. It is a terrible thing, I do not believe that Web realizes it, does he?

Another letter today from Mrs. Swallen tells of the unsettled condition of affairs in the North. I was quite surprised to see my note to Father appear in the paper. It is to be hoped that he isn’t the only one who appreciates my Page 156 →ungrammatically written epistles. I hope he does not force them upon the Editors. The mistakes are so much more noticeable in print that in writing.

I was quite amused at the letter written from Cal. by an Ohio girl. Do you know whose friend she is? I judge she is a Presbyterian by her talk—I think the missionary spirit she shows admirable. If she were a Methodist I’d like to hunt her out for Korea. By the way, we hear a Miss Spear is coming to us from the Philadelphia branch. Mrs. Hall comes back in ’97—I hear the Baptists are looking for a new man. We will look for him too after the hint you gave us.

I had to part with one of my back teeth not long ago. I couldn’t do as Miss Paine did, go to Japan, and I could not stand the pain any longer so I got out of bed, went to the hospital and had it out. This is part of the “missionary’s sacrifice” we hear so much about. Really I did feel it to be altho’ I laugh usually at the way we are pitied because of the life we have chosen. George wants to know if I’d come home if I had a chance. Ask her what she thinks.

All well. No special news—

Lulu

Let me urge you again to keep the fact that I’m putting money in the loan or sending you money a secret. I’m in a somewhat different position from the school teachers at home. L.E.F.

Dear Mother:

Twenty eight years ago yesterday I came into the world and altho’ it is a good many years ago I suspect you have not forgotten the trouble I made you then. Father can’t well appreciate since he was absent when that important event took place. Grant’s birthday also passed by and I intended writing him but since you mentioned him in your last letter I thought I would wait until the next mail is in and see if you tell me where he is and anything about him. I also thought of Frank on his birthday. You know it is the day before mine. I have not heard from him again. I hope the children will grow stronger as they grow older. I was well remembered on my birthday. Mrs. Scranton gave me a picture of herself, Miss Harris a fan, Dr. Cutler a book, Miss Lewis, a lantern (something you don’t need in your electric lighted city) Miss R[othweiler] a silk handkerchief, Miss Paine a pair of pretty vases. Wasn’t I lucky?

Yet I don’t feel very happy over my gifts, how can we be when there is so much suffering in the country? The King is still secure in the Russian Legation. Page 157 →I think the people would feel more content if he returned to the palace, but he cares more for his life than the condition of his people. In the country the rioting is terrible. We hear that whole villages are being burned and the people murdered, and we also hear threats of the rioters coming to burn Seoul but as from year to year we have heard almost as serious things we feel content to wait and not worry. But the trouble I began to speak of is the great poverty. A few moments ago the woman I have here sewing told me of three in a family she knew who starved to death. The doctor has five little urchins picking up stones in the garden for their meals today. But it is a beautiful day and it makes hope brighter. There will surely be a way out of this trouble before long. We hear of the Japanese fortifying the south mountain, so they are certainly contriving something. What Russia has on foot we don’t know.—In fact we really know nothing. We only await events. Something is inevitable.

I don’t know what the Japs can mean by keeping the mail so long. We have had two or three steamers in lately from Japan but they fail to bring us the American mail which is long ago due. We haven’t lost any yet, but the delays are provokingly long.

Long ere this you have received money and direction as to one new frock. I have my new dress made which I sent you a sample of in my last letter. I do not feel so good in Chinese made clothes as I do in home ones, but the tailor did very well and I suspect it cost me less than if I had had the work done at home. I sent to Shanghai by Mrs. Busteed for a couple of sailor hats. The tailor made Miss Paine & I each a silk skirt. I’ll enclose sample so with shirt waists we will be well fixed. We had them make a new pattern, that is it is over five yards wide, perhaps now they are making them narrow again in America. I told Miss Paine a few days ago that when I go home to stay I believed I’d join the Deaconesses¹⁷ or the Salvation Army in order not to be bothered with styles.— —When I write these things to you please don’t send to anyone else. Perhaps it isn’t even interesting to you.

Miss Arbuckle of the Presbyterian Mission goes back to America—starts this week not strong enough to do the work. She came out about a year before I did. Miss Davis of the Southern Presbyterian goes as far as Japan with her ordered off on account of ill health. I’m thankful I’m well this Spring and hope I may be able to keep so, but if it is a possibility, I shall try to miss the hot weather in Seoul. Miss Lewis and I were the only ones of our household in Seoul all last year so we are entitled to a vacation this coming year. Miss Paine was not gone long but it was a change never-the-less.

Can’t begin our building yet, things too unsettled. But expect to begin Page 158 →on the East Gate building as soon as it is possible. As for our place here, we have fifty girls and find it quite crowded but something must be done for the carpenter condemned our house a few days ago. The mud walls are not strong enough to support a heavy Korea roof of tile. The beams are leaning in some rooms. It is no uncommon thing for a Korean home to collapse. Miss Paine says she wouldn’t dare write this to her mother so don’t repeat it for the carpenter thinks there is no immediate danger. Miss Paine also says you will be wanting me to get my life insured. I explained did I not that they refused to give us policies on account of the trouble in Korea not because my ancestral record was not straight.

Lovingly yours—

Lulu E. Frey

Dear Sister Georgia:

Your letter came a few days ago and later came your pictures. I was so happy to get it and have it now above me so I can see it all the time. You look quite a little lady and I am very proud of you. You have had a happy winter skating and sliding, what are you going to do through the summer? You will soon have your Spring vacation and then you & Zenade & Lena will make the most of time. It won’t be long before the picnic time is here. Where do you have picnics now, at the lake?

So you are naughty in school? If you are naughty, be sure it is after all your lessons are learned. I’m afraid I used to play and then if there was any time left, I would study. If you could hear me scold the girls for being idle or playing in study hour, you would think I had been a very good little girl. I am quite ashamed now that I wasn’t. My teacher Mrs. Wallace explained the doctrine of predestination to me once by saying—“Every day I tell you you must not whisper in school and I even seat you where you will have the least temptation but I know you will whisper before the day is over.” I could see the point she was making but she didn’t make a Calvinist of me never the less and I’m glad that I don’t believe God brings anyone into the world with the fore ordination that they are to be lost. Let me see I was talking of school wasn’t I, and I got switched off. Do you go to the new building next year? Will Tom Hubbard be your teacher again? I did not get that letter written about Korea you wanted, but never mind, some other time you may want it.

Page 159 →What a nice town Bellefontaine is getting to be. I will hardly know it when I come back. I’ll feel like Rip Van Winkle or like the old woman in Mother Goose who had her skirts cut off—“If it be not I the dogs will bark.” I’ve forgotten my Mother Goose.—Poor Grandma was distressed because I couldn’t quote scripture correctly and I’m glad she can’t know that my memory fails me even when it comes to Mother Goose’s rhymes

Do you read very much? Miss Paine and I are reading “Barnabas” now. Web wrote me he had read it some time ago. But the sweetest story is the one we read a few weeks ago “Titus” or “Comrade of the Cross.”¹⁸ I wish you could read it. It is a prize story by Miss Kingsley—comes in paper edition. I think Mamma & Papa would enjoy it also.

Do you take good care of the children? It is almost a year now since Nettie left them. I cannot bear to think of it. I’ve so much I wanted to tell her. I came across the last letter she wrote me a few days ago. She was better she said & would now be strong if she didn’t have the grippe¹⁹ again. If I could only have been there to have helped her in those lonely last days. But there are so many who need to be helped and one can’t be everywhere. Those last days of hers was when I was all alone with my Korean girls fighting the Cholera away from our door, for I watched hourly for any symptom, & when I saw the slightest I used the remedies. God knows best always.

Write me again. Tell me about Grant. I hope the day just opening to you is as bright a one as this closing one has been here.

Goodnight—

Your loving Sister

Lulu E. Frey

No I’ll not be back before my five years are up “even if I have a chance” unless I am forced to go. Then I expect to return again.

My Dear Mother:

Patience or more truthfully speaking, impatience was rewarded today for the mail came. Your letter of two dates Jan. 27th and Feb. 3rd came, also a nice letter from Clara Miller and one from Maggie. I had 16 sen overdue postage to pay on Clara’s for she always writes on one side of thick paper. Do not mention it however. She also started it on its journey with a two cent stamp. The letter however was worth it all for she tells me the girls are going to send me Page 160 →nightgowns for our girls. Isn’t that lovely? Maggie writes me you are to be invited to visit her this summer. I think you would enjoy it—you and Georgia.

I must unburden my mind about your buying the Bush property. If you have bought it I shall be sorry I said anything but I cannot think you intend to. No doubt in your mind you have invested your prospective dollars in a thousand ways. I can’t bear to think of your going there. Don’t you remember when you did not move out of the house Nettie said you never would try to better yourself. You do not, surely, intend to go back into that little inconvenient house again now that Georgia is growing into womanhood. No hall, no closets, no bathroom, little bedrooms and a little kitchen in the middle of the house. The suggestion makes me sick. I know you will be better off in a small house but build a modern one. Brooklyn Heights is the best part of town. What do you mean by being far out of town? Four blocks from the Courthouse. Leaving all personal feelings out for I may never live at home again, I do not think unless it is necessary I would go back. I’ve been turning it over in my mind and have been wondering if Mrs. Blessing has not been persuading you it is next door to her, I remember. Don’t go back there.

You say nothing of Grant. Don’t be so afraid of duplicating news. I’ve been so anxious to know about Grant and now you know and neither you, father, or even Georgia tell me of him, thinking one of the others has. You wrote last of him hearing he was attending the Atlanta Exposition. Was that true?

Miss Paine is down with the grippe. I hope I shall escape. I’ve been very well this winter. The fever still troubles me a little, but my appetite has been good. One never feels well in the spring so altho’ I feel a little “dragging” I do not feel discouraged.

I feel so sorry for Aunt Anna. I have no picture now but think I’ll try to get one some time. Why? Does she want one?

I think I have told in a previous letter that we can have binding done here but perhaps you had better keep them now until I go home unless you have already sent them, for after all we do not know what may occur tomorrow in this country. I have heard the revolutions called “political summersaults.” A good name—It will cost much to get them in by freight and I fear they are too bulky to burden any one with bringing. You know how inconvenienced I was bringing that battery for Belle Allen. We feel we must favor one another, yet I do not like to burden anyone with any large thing. Thank you for those books. I shall enjoy them I know.

You are probably worrying about my dress about this time. I am sorry to trouble you. As I think of it I almost wish I hadn’t asked you.

Page 161 →Glad to hear the picture is coming. Yes, Georgia’s pictures reached me two weeks ago. I hope she is not so mature as she looks in the picture. She writes as if she were still the child I left.

No political news. A few days ago 3 Japanese spies got into the Russian Legation, but they were caught. Now the road is guarded even more closely.

I hope you are feeling well this spring. Don’t overwork or over worry. Take life as easy as possible. It is too real to be easy. I often wish I were a child again, so I might shift all my cares on my mother as I used to do. Yours are no lighter I fear for you bear my burdens yet even though I bear my own. Even though we are grown we are still children in God’s sight and can rest secure in Him.

Goodnight—

Lulu.

Dear Mother:

Miss Paine is out of bed today and we are so glad. It has been very hard on her and leaves her as La Grippe²⁰ does everyone, weak. I have so far escaped and do not feel as if I were going to take it at all. I have been unusually grateful for if I too had been sick it would have been difficult for both of us and I fear we should have been obliged to close school. As it was I took all Miss Paine’s work & my own also for the past week. Of course I was obliged to give up my study. By the way the examining committee have prepared for us some conversations in Korean which we must commit. I dread the undertaking for Miss Paine and have our school work to prepare. A teacher in America must prepare her lessons, but how much more must we in another language. While I can’t preach (?) in Korean yet, I am getting so I can talk a little. We are getting quite worried about our California order. We ordered it a long time ago but have heard nothing of it. We hear that the Rio Janeiro has been out from San Francisco 36 days and has not been heard from. I do not think you had a letter on it for you mentioned that you had three days to catch the mail but the letter was late & came on the next steamer. Of course the goods is insured so there will be no money loss, but we need many of the things badly. Everything is quiet. Our friend Mr. Yun goes to Russia as Sec. of the Embassy, for six months;²¹ his little wife has gone to China for a well deserved change. She has proved herself a plucky little woman. Miss Rothweiler has gone to Chemulpo & thereabouts on Evangelistic tour. I must close.

Page 162 →Love to all—

Lulu.

Have you heard from Grant?

I hope you keep well. Will send George some thimbles. She can sell them 10 c a piece and send me a dollar bill for the church.

L.E.F.

My Dear Precious Mother:

Two letters came from you today Feb 10 & 12. No I do not think any of your letters are lost. If you put down the dates you write letters to me and cancel them off as I acknowledge them you will see if you receive them all. Maggie has received Georgia’s letter but you have never written her. You often said you would & often put messages for her in your letters to me. I am afraid we will be obliged to marry her off this spring for her mother is very anxious and since the 7 years for which she was placed here have expired we think it best. She is sixteen now. We had great ambitions for her for she is exceptionally bright.

The steamer I wrote you of put in at Honolulu (altho’ not scheduled to go there) for repairs hence the delay. The mail she carried came today. We learned of the California order. It is on the way so that worry about its safety is over. We will probably receive it in a few days. I was so delighted to learn of the coming of a box, and even the looking for it will give me many days pleasure. It was so kind of the girls to make the gowns for me. You will be late sending anything by Mr. Steadman so I do not expect anything but a letter from Oscar Carlton. Never mind I really need nothing. Sometimes send some little things to Miss Paine for Mrs. Paine always remembers me when she sends to Josephine. Miss Paine is up and taught school this afternoon, and I had a little chance to study. I found out that I could do the work alone so if she goes home and I have no one to help me I can do it. I hope by that time to be better able to use the language. They don’t send us workers very fast. I had a letter today from Lyda Jacobs. She said she was asked if this story of me was true. The natives put me in a box and shut me up so that when I got out I could not stand up. What ridiculous nonsense!

Now about that dear brother of mine. I must confess your letter made me feel serious concerning him but I will not allow myself to worry about it, since Page 163 →you simply inferred. I wish you would tell me facts. Have you heard from him at all since you had a letter from Switzerland and he started as he said for India? You speak as though you thought he were coming to me. He will never come here to meet my friends until he comes with his head up. If he is escaping, he will not come here. What do you mean by “they are inquiring for him”? Who are “they”? I’m very anxious to know of him. Yes, I continue to pray for him. As for the woman question, I know nothing but this little story he wrote me about a French girl nursing him there (Switzerland). She has been with him he says in Paris, Australia, and America. He writes “to amuse me since he knows it will be odd to one in my world.” If he only knew it I see more of the kind of life he intimates here than I ever knew in America. I took it for a lie, made up to shock me. If I allow myself to think I am so thoroughly disgusted and ashamed of him that I can’t cry over it. I shall burn your letter with the talk of him in it.

As for your picture, you surely don’t look natural. Do go again and take a side view, your face and features are some like mine and a side view is much better. You look so fleshy in the picture that it changes you greatly. Are you growing fat? Perhaps the finished picture will be better, but please ask Mary to take you and have a partial side view taken. I know I will not like this front view. I’ve tried many times to get a good picture here of myself and you know how well (?) I have succeeded. Last fall Miss Paine & I tried to get cards taken together but my half was a failure. Hers was good so she had some finished of her leaving me out. I shall try again this spring before I lose the little fat I’ve put on during the winter. Miss Lewis and I are planning a nice trip this summer. We expect to take the boat ride up to Vladivostok (Russia) & back via Japan and Won San where I hope to stay a couple of weeks with Mrs. Swallen. We must not set our hearts on it too steadily for it is too uncertain in this country.

We have had a very good prayer meeting here tonight. Our Baptist friend Mr. Pauling²² led the meeting. Dr. Jaison²³ was present also. I cannot tell you much of him except that he is a Korean gentleman who went to America a number of years ago, became an American citizen, graduated from a medical college with honor, married an American woman. His Korean name is Sau Chai Pil. I think he is here to help on the Reforms if possible.

Affairs in the country are very discouraging. In one of the Southern provinces the people have set up another King. The King seems to have little idea of how to govern. He is weak, does as he is bidden by the cabinet in power, anything to save himself.

Glad to hear the good news of Oscar & Lena. How are Mr. and Mrs. Colton?——Has Mary McKee returned to her kindergarten work? You will find Page 164 →my first attempt writing for the “Friend”²⁴ in the February number. Nothing to be proud of but perhaps may be of a little interest to some friends of our work here.

Well must say goodnight, for I must write a little note to Esther before bedtime. Glad the financial trouble is being straightened amicably. You don’t say whether you bought the Bush property or not? Hope not.

With love—

Lulu E. Frey.

Dear Mother:

The China brought us a splendid mail today. Two from you Feb. 20th & 28th, also your picture, a letter from Laura P. from Georgia where she is for the benefit of her health. I may be misjudging her but I feel as if she literally was “enjoying poor health” as “Samantha Allen”²⁵ expresses. She has inherited the inclination to give up to her feelings. Elsie W. wrote me a good letter, also Mame Hillman and received one also from Miss Heaton of Japan. It was such a good mail for it came unexpectedly only six days after reaching Yokohama. It takes away half the pleasure to wait so long and find the mail so stale when it does come. I don’t mean to scold you—you are so good to write often—but never delude yourself that three days will carry your letter to San Francisco. I’ve been disappointed but a very few times. I’ve had four this week for the late mail came two days ago & this was early. Your letter exactly a month old.

Well of course you look a little changed. I don’t know but the proof you sent would have made a better picture, but I want you to go to a common every day Bellefontaine artist and have a half profile taken. I’m so glad to have this picture even if it does not do you justice, and cannot keep my eyes off it. The forehead, hair & nose look natural and the position is very good but the expression of the eyes & mouth are not natural. You have a giddy frock on—Did Aunt Cal & Aunt Cin²⁶ give it to you or did you choose it yourself? It is very pretty.

Well, I don’t need much. In the fall you can send me some fleece lined black stockings. I sent to Shanghai for some hats.—Miss Harris got a very pretty hat today. Her sister sent it out by mail. It was light-wire and lace.

Miss Paine is ready to send to Chingoki so I won’t say more now. Miss P’s mother is sick—a nervous breakdown.

Page 165 →Tell Mary I expected her to treat me better than her other correspondents. Sorry her baby had such a fall.

Hope to hear good news of Grant before long. You will keep me posted. I wrote you yesterday or day before. Will write again next week, if all goes well. I sent off the Repository today. you will find a full account of the murder of the queen in it besides other things of interest. A little article of Dr. Jaisohn of whom I wrote you.

Much love to one & all. Don’t be too proud of me. I am simply one like many thousands. The glamour of “foreign” is around me and Americans go crazy over things foreign. I’m just the same as I was when you saw me in flesh & blood.

L. E. Frey

My Dear Father:²⁷

It has been a long time since I’ve heard from you. Perhaps it is my fault, yet I’m quite sure I wrote you soon after my return this fall.

Things are going very much as usual. Once in a while something happens to break the monotony of work which is as interesting as mine can be called monotonous.

I’ll enclose the invitation & program of the corner stone laying of the Independence Arch. There are a few progressive men in the country who have formed a club which they call the Independence Club. Dr. Jaisohn, of whom I have written you much is the most active member. He has so much of the American’s independence that he inspires all others. He is a host in himself. The club have converted an old temple into a nice large club house and the surrounding grounds they hope in time to make into a large park. At the time when the progressive spirit was high—after the war, the old arch erected by the Chinese 300 years ago was taken down and buried to show that the power of the Chinese was destroyed. Since then there has been several turns of the government—the progressionists ruling a while & then the conservatives etc. but for the present the progressionists are in power. The poor king finds his hands full seeing that he is in a safe place and that he still lives. He is abiding yet in the Russian Legation. The queen’s body still lies in state, at least all they could find, the two fingers and a tooth which I spoke of in my last letter.—

Page 166 →I see I’ve wandered. I was going to tell you of the laying of the corner stone. The foreigners were invited; the high class Japanese & Russians, Germans, French, English and Americans (Americans are all high class here whether of the diplomatic circle or missionaries). Everything passed off beautifully, even to the banquet following, at which they served foreign cakes, salads etc. We were exceedingly proud of the Koreans. (My teacher came this morning asking if we had gone there last Friday. Then with terror in his face he told us of a plot which had been discovered before it was too late, to kill the members of the club, who are the present cabinet, the Governor of this province and other prominent men) and the foreigners. We were all blissfully ignorant of the danger we might have been in and enjoyed the occasion to its fullest extent. Five of the men in the plot have been imprisoned and they are searching for others.

This week Thursday is Thanksgiving. We have some nice geese fattening for our feast. Turkeys don’t “grow” out here, so I’m looking forward to a turkey dinner when I’m home in a couple of years. We are invited to the American Legation for the Annual Reception. Mr. Sill is a capital entertainer so we anticipate a good time. We are all rejoicing over McKinley’s election; we had the news the next day. I do hope he will send us as good a representative as President Cleveland did. We dread to see Mr. Sill go for fear we will not have such an exceptionally good minister again.²⁸

I’d like to see you, Mother & Georgia and all my friends today, but it will not be long before I shall be with you again. It does not seem possible that I’ve started in on my fourth year in Korea. Please write me often. Remember me to friends who remember me.

Yours Lovingly,

Lulu E. Frey