Sajikkol, Seoul,
December 29, 1929.
Dear father and mother:
I am "back again in Seoul after my Christmas excursion to
Wonsan. And as I expected on  my return, there were letters here
from you; out I had the special surprise of one written bv mother.
That was.hardly expected ^ret, and I hope i+ did not t^x ^our
strength too much.  Of course I always* love to hear from you, but
if at any time it proves a s+rain on you, please do not hurt yourself for my sake.
I certainly was interested in your account of the "Comfort
Powders" and the other experiences with the people in the hospital.
Maybe there will oe more lasting results in the eternal records
from these present days of hardship than there would have been
had you not gone through this trouble.
The draft for $21 from the Wesley Women was received, and I
deposited it yesterday,  The exchange Is as it has been for some weeks,
$493/8 -or  ^100; they a:ave me  ^42.55 for the draft.  1 wish there
were some satisfactory way of telling all the people my appreciation.
When I decide how to use the money I sh»ll write you about it so you
can tell them.  I *m sure they will like to'know.
At last 1 have started a little book of accounts, which I
should have done long ago.  It is divided into four sections; one is
for Him'Pyung Yong's account, one for my country travel, expenses,
one for the gifts from Trinity, and tH* fourth for my own living
expenses and personal gif*s.  As yosi know I receive ¥200 this year
for travel, and so I must keep that accotint separate,  if I keep a
record of the special gifts from ^rinity and the purpose for which
each is sent, it will be a help to me  when calls come «nd then I
can make a definite statement of the way eoc^ ^ift was used.
My teacher is suggesting that 1 buy a silver spoon, with
some of the money from your classes. Korean spoons are good solid
silver and not very different in appearance from the old silver
spoons made by Henry Ruckel •v One costs about three or four yen,
I think. Your suggestion that, some of the money from the Men's
Class go for country bedding is^a good one.  I was begrudging
using up my travel money for that. The silk comfort I had made
cost "¥7.50, and a. light* under-comfort for my teacher 4.50.
There must be a lot of excitement in the Hamlin family and
among all the relatives over Floy's radio successes.  I hope it
will not make her lose her beautiful simplicity and Christian
earnestness.  I read on the train coming from Wonsan an article in
McCall's Magazine by Marian ^alley telling why she was leaving
public life at the age of twenty-two; and it impressed me with
her unsullied love for plain home-life.  She said she did not dance
or drink or smoke, and had at last realized her dream of a big farm.
I hooe you did not deplete your supply of Jam to send me
some for Christmas.  I feel bad to think how much trouble ^ou-have
gone to;  I would not have mlrded your not sending me anything under
the circumsta nces.
Strange to say, just at this point I was interrupted by a
man from the postoffice who brought the package, and I have Just