[Paragraph breaks added for ease of reading. This letter, although partial and without a dateline, is from China, as can be seen from the content. It can be dated from the period 1882-83, as it refers to Robert (who didn't arrive in China until late 1881), going to Wei Hien to purchase land to build houses on (Robert Mateer established his permanent mission station at Wei Hien, in Southern Shantung Province). The letter also mentions Lillie Mateer being there (she arrived in 1881), Calvin Mateer, his wife Julia, and other missionaries. Most likely written to Jennie, sister of Robert, Calvin & Lillie, as it mentions news of her upcoming marriage (Jennie married for the second time around 1882).]it is eight weeks today since I've seen him [the writer's husband, who is off traveling in the interior of China]. Lillie declares that Su [?] and I make her sick talking about our absent husbands, but we hope in three more days they'll be with us. Won't we give them a welcome? Calvin has only been gone a month. He has had wonderful success during this trip. At one village where they heard the gospel for the first time a year ago, he baptised 46 persons of whom 20 were women. It makes ones heart thrill to hear such grand tidings. I do not know how many more in all he has received into church fellowship since he left T[ungchow].
In Rob's last letter he said that while he was with Mr. Corbett he had baptised 59 but his trip wasn't more than half accomplished then. It does seem as tho' the Lord were sending showers of blessings upon Shantung. I long to be having a part in this glorious work.
But I must tell you of our future prospects as to settlement. No doubt Lillie wrote you of Mr. Laughlin & Rob accompanying Mr. Corbett early in Sep as far as Wei Hien. While there they succeeded in purchasing a lot of land outside the city on which to build houses. This had to be done quietly however for fear of raising an uproar among the people who are exceedingly jealous of foreigners coming to make their homes among them. But with all their care the truth got out and there was such an excitement that the gentlemen had all to leave the city for their own safety as well as that of others. After their leaving it was rumored that the man who sold them the land and the "middle man" were to be killed so they fled for their lives to Tungchow. Calvin persuaded them to return with him and when they reached Wei Hien they found every thing very quiet. In the interim the people had made complaints to the "gwan" that foreigners were coming to buy land and asked him to stop them, which he said he had no power to do. He said he was sorry to see them coming but that they had a right to buy land where they pleased and he couldn't hinder them. This settled the people so that there was no further trouble. They have since been making arrangements to build in early spring so that we hope before many more months to be in our own homes and in our own field of labor. The prospects are now very favorable and we feel especially thankful, for missionaries generally have great difficulty in getting a footing in any new field in China.
Mr. Laughlin has been home ten days. Neither he nor Rob had been well before starting. Indeed both had been quite sick with diarrhoea but they hoped the change would do them good. Mr. Laughlin did not seem to get any better, so after six weeks he surprised us one day by walking in. Rob was better, so he stayed to finish up the business there and make further arrangements. He'll be here on Thursday evening tho' (D.V.) He will write to you when he gets home. The news of your marriage or rather your prospective marriage had just reached us the week he left, so he has had no opportunity of offering his congratulations.
Julia is much better this last week or two and so am I. I've had rather a dull summer for I've been sick since the middle of July with diarrhoea but I hope now it is past. I'm beginning to feel myself again tho' I am not very strong yet. Mr. Laughlin goes to-morrow to Chefoo to meet Mr. & Mrs. Hayes who are coming as missionaries to Tungchow and Mrs L and I are going to take