in earnest or not. I am
not very much pleased to hear you say that you go out in the
afternoon to fly kites with a parcel of old mandarins. I think that
you might find some better use for your time; and I am afraid from
the way in which you speak of them, that these old mandarins are
not very respectable characters. Your brother says that kite-flying
means speculating, and that the mandarins are probably brokers. I
trust, my dear boy, that you are not making any of your money in
this way. Who is this Chim-jung-tsee, who is to be your teacher? It
is a very strange name for a Christian to be called by, and I don't
like the sound of it. And what do you mean, when you say you want
to learn the language so that you may be able to talk with the
natives? I never stopped in Canton but once, and that was when the
axle-tree of the engine, or something else, broke down. There were
a good many people from the village came up to the depot then; and
I heard them talk for more than an hour, and I understood every
word they said. I am almost afraid that your application to
business, and selling your papers at such a profit, is turning your
brain. You must not work too hard, and you must be careful about
your diet. I shall try and send you a bundle of doughnuts next
week, when I fry. There is something in your letter about eating
rats and birds'-nests, and other horrible things. I suppose that
you intend that for a joke. I wish that you would tell me where you
pass your evenings, and what kind of books you are reading, and how
many meeting-houses there are in Canton, and where you go to
meeting. Whenever you have to stay there over the Sabbath, I would
like to have you write out a full account of the sermons that you
hear. We all hope that you will come to see us next Saturday
night. Bob says that you are so busy that you will not be able to
leave; and that you have to sit up all night, and then sleep in the
day-time. Bob and Mamie send their best love. I will send a pair of
socks with the doughnuts. Your little sister says, "Tell brother
that I want him to bring me something pretty from Canton." I don't
know but she thinks you are away off in the great city of Canton,
in China. Write as often as you can to

Your very affectionate mother,

DEBORAH WHOPPER.