165
As time went on and Edith became more acclimatized to living in interior China, she was able to see things in native terms. Whereas she was finding comfort in the violets grown from seeds she had brought from home in 1903, by 1905 she was able to think of seasonal changes in terms of local flowers. In the last letter to Louese, she wrote that "it is already summer, the cherry blossoms are gone and peach blossoms all but done and we have a long time of heat to look forward to."
Perhaps Edith was feeling better about China and the Chinese. She was feeling homesick less often. She was also finding her work more enjoyable because she was getting to know the women better. She wrote that "much of the time I am so interested in my work that I do not have time to be lonely. I am enjoying my work so much lately, as I feel that I am getting into the heart of some of the women."
Edith was also finding her work being appreciated. One visiting missionary, a Dr. Williams, who was a physician, had been to Taiho in 1905 and had been assisted by Edith in dispensing medication.
Dr. Williams made general the knowledge that I dispensed a few medicines when he was here and doing medical work. So my "medical practice" has doubled and redoubled till I feel myself in kind of a predicament, as I know absolutely nothing about some of their ailments. And they think I ought to know it all. But I haven't killed any yet and the majority seem to get well.52
The letter dated 5 April 1906 seemed to be the last from Edith to Louese. Harry Ryder searched, but could find no more.
Why did the letters stop?
Except for a few minor complaints about her health and fatigue now and then, there was no indication that Edith had suffered illness and had to return to Philadelphia. It is true that the letters were getting shorter. The first letters were eight pages of handwriting each, and the last three only four pages. On the