Seoul, April 12,
1936
Dear Father:
On this Easter Sunday I shall make you a visit by letter.
Your letter of March 24 came this morning.  It was about the* decision
to buy the house on Ninth Street after they had decided not to buy.
Apparently you had written shortly before about their not buying, but
I have not had that letter yet.  So there has been no inconvenience
to me.  Since they have made the first payment and signed a note, I
guess they will not change their minds ^gain. The deed is on its way
now, as I signed it April 1 and mailed it immediately. A letter in
the second denary this morning came from Aunt Norah.  She spoke of
Uncle Victor being up north and finding the dogwood and wild current
in bloom and very beautiful. I was glad to hear throurfi you recently
- l- *mmA t.' V
that he was be*ter. Aunt Norah also mentioned your writing about the
flowers at Bonnivue.  She said that Aunt Iva vrote that you were
looking wonderfully well.  I enjoyed reading Dr. Rawllngs' letter,
and am glad you sent it to me.  I. shall look for the mention he said
he would make of your book in the World Outlook.
*• On your trip to the Orient I don't suppose you will want
to do much curio shopping, although one nearly always does no matter
how firmly he has determined not to be beguiled.  But if you do not
have too much to take back, I have been wondering if this would not
be a good opportunity to send a chest for Bernie.  She asked me to
find one for her, if possible with iron trimming, and she will pay
the cost.  I am not sure I can find what she wants. But if we can
find one attractive and reasonable in price, even if it should not
suit her, you probablv could dispose of it to someone else.  Seoul
* %.W a*. t • *»
chests are almost alwavs brass trimmed.  They say iron trimmed ones
are to be found only in Pyengvang. When you come we can look for
them there.  I may make one trip up that way this summer, when I can
do some preliminary scouting.
The weather is not like spring yet, although the sun has
come out the last day or two and tempered the cold a little. Before
that we had some very stormy days with pouring rain. The rain is
good at least for the summer crops which soon will be sown. But I
heard that in parts of the country a thirdiof the barley was frozen
during *he winter.  As the poor people depend on the barley to carry
them through till the rice comes in in the fall, this means considerable suffering for at least part of the year.
Yesterday and the day before the weather permitted me to
get out for some exercise.  I have gained considerably in strength,
but still tire easily.  I found this morning I had overdone yesterday,
and so I lay down for part of the morning and slept well.  I am
counting on getting out to church tonight, which will be my first
service since the last time I preashed^ the ni$it I took sick.  Pastor
Kim Ik Doo is preaching in one of the city churches, and I want to
hear him.
Since before her marriage Mrs. Han has been a member of
a "savings society*, something like a^bank.  It has an annual meeting
of all members where reports are made and everyone feasted.  The one
to which she belongs has nearly a thousand members, I think, and
yesterday was their annual meeting day.  I am telling you this because
of the unusual feast.  It was like the formal feasts in Japan thafe