[Note by Abby: "Please return at your convenience" makes it clear that Abby passed the letter on to Miss Purington to read, as also indicated by the envelope for this letter.]Peiyang Woman's Hospital, Tientsin, China.
Dear Miss Turner;
My thoughts of you have crossed the Pacific many times. Often time is beyond control. I have set down times and times to get a letter to you or just a note to express my appreciation of your Christmas gift to me. Your book of life of W. T. Sedgwick added much to my general knowledge of Public Health. I was much impressed of his life work as a teacher and loyalty of his students to their chief. In looking over list of his pupils I noticed that we have four of his students in China. Then I was also impressed of his genuine life at home and at his leisure hours.
As a whole we had a very trying year. I like millions of other innocent people are suffering for the wicked deed of a few warlords. Fighting was done around Tientsin and we saw many wounded innocent women and children. We still have at our hospital three innocent patients who were damanged for life. One patient had her lower jaw fractured to pieces, second patient had fingers of left hand removed. Of wounded soldiers who are under our care so much suffering to our people. We had no Christmas this year as we were so busy with war work. Condition is so pitiful here. We as a people are so helpless. The helplessness of this condition makes me sad. Much public money has been seized by warlords, that schools and public institutions have been closed for months. Our city sibsidy [sic] has not been granted for three months. So far as work in concerened [sic] we have three times more this quarter than any other quarter. If not for some of our good friends we would be forced to close our hospital doors also.
Ten days have passed since I wrote the above. We have had much obstetrical cases lately. I had four cases yesterday and one was a very interesting case from pathological point of view. This was toximia and pregnancy. Baby is alive and mother is still in comotose [sic] condition. In seeing so many neglected and sad cases in our work, I want to give more energy for preventative medicine. I do not seem to have enerygy [sic] to do both. Life is more serious here and one does not get the same recreation as you have in America. However I am happy to have had a chance for education and now I can serve others with it. There is much needed for trained Chinese women in every field of service. As one person I might not accomplish much for my country. However I am using very [sic] bit of influence to get Chinese young women trained for different fields in future.
Mrs. Evans told me that Miss Purington is coming to China this coming fall. I hope that I could have Miss Purington for a part of her time during her visit at Tientsin. If chance permits I would take my vacation in fall as to accompany her to some interesting historical grounds around Peking and Tai-Shan.
I close this letter with much of my personal love to you.
Yours lovingly,
M. I. Ting.2. 11, 1926.