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inferior wife. I got over feeling badly about it, as it is quite right in their eyes, and much better than for me to be living alone, for then I would have a bad name.3
Living in such close proximity to married missionaries was fine, provided the people involved got along well. Edith liked the Malcolms, but she felt imposed upon by Mrs. Ferguson. The Fergusons, with three children and another on its way, came to Taiho in late 1904 to replace the Malcolms who went on extended home leave. On several occasions Edith complained about demands made on her as a single woman by Mrs. Ferguson.
I am willing to spend and be spent for the people whom I came out to help, but I must confess I begrudge the time and strength spent for fellow missionaries, ... A single lady worker has a bad time living with a family as she is looked upon as general nurse and companion and seamstress.34
35 but
Edith felt that the Ferguson children were “dear and sweet” the nicest term she could find to describe their mother was "very dependent".36
Edith worked with women and children at Taiho. She did not say very much about how she worked with the women in her letters, except that there were hints of meetings at the mission. She also called on the women at their home from time to time, but as very few women had leisure except during the Chinese New Year's, the women only visited the missionaries en masse on the first or second day of the year. Since Edith's letters were written to thank Louese for Christmas presents and to tell Louese what gifts she had sent to the Strawbridge children, Edith usually took pen in hand in January or February, the Chinese New Year season. The open houses, therefore, were top-most on her mind among the news she wished to tell her friend.
This has been a busy day, but nothing like yesterday. It is Chinese New Year and the people began coming before we had finished our breakfast, 7.30, and they kept it up all day. Some come to pay their respects and some say they do too,
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inferior wife. I got over feeling badly about it, as it is quite right in their eyes, and much better than for me to be living alone, for then I would have a bad name.3
Living in such close proximity to married missionaries was fine, provided the people involved got along well. Edith liked the Malcolms, but she felt imposed upon by Mrs. Ferguson. The Fergusons, with three children and another on its way, came to Taiho in late 1904 to replace the Malcolms who went on extended home leave. On several occasions Edith complained about demands made on her as a single woman by Mrs. Ferguson.
I am willing to spend and be spent for the people whom I came out to help, but I must confess I begrudge the time and strength spent for fellow missionaries,. . . A single lady worker has a bad time living with a family as she is looked upon as general nurse and companion and seamstress.34
35 but
Edith felt that the Ferguson children were “dear and sweet the nicest term she could find to describe their mother was "very dependent".36
Edith worked with women and children at Taiho. She did not say very much about how she worked with the women in her letters, except that there were hints of meetings at the mission. She also called on the women at their home from time to time, but as very few women had leisure except during the Chinese New Year's, the women only visited the missionaries en masse on the first or second day of the year. Since Edith's letters were written to thank Louese for Christmas presents and to tell Louese what gifts she had sent to the Strawbridge children, Edith usually took pen in hand in January or February, the Chinese New Year season. The open houses, therefore, were top-most on her mind among the news she wished to tell her friend.
This has been a busy day, but nothing like yesterday. It is Chinese New Year and the people began coming before we had finished our breakfast, 7.30, and they kept it up all day. Some come to pay their respects and some say they do too,
Page 180Page 181
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