Norwegian Missionary Association of Stavanger. Hospital and Mission Station,
YiYang, Hupeh, China
March 6, 1910 Dearest Gertrude ',
Thank you for the birthday card which I received yesterday. I am old now don't you think? When I was at your age I thought people were very old when they were 29 years. It was good to hear that you all are well.
Well now I have had my first examination in Chinese last Saturday. I don't know yet what grade I received but I feel that I did quite well. I will let you know later when I find out. Thordet, Holbe and Mrs. Holbe, Dalland and I sat for the exam. They all say that it was well done by me that I was able to take the examination after such a short time but I have worked on my studies each day since I arrived.
Maybe you would like to know what I was asked. First I was given some Chinese characters on a piece of paper which I should translate into Norwegian, also written, then I should translate some material from English to Chinese, similarly written. This I managed quite well. Then I had to proceed, first to read a portion of the Bible to translate to Norwegian, and next read a message without any guidance and respond unscripted to a number of questions on what was read. Finally I was asked to converse a bit with the teacher, in English naturally, as the others listened. I failed to answer a question on the names of two rivers in Hunan which is something I had forgotten to learn. It's so much fun to realize how far I have come so that I could take such an examination. Don't you agree!
Mother wrote in her last letter to ask me to send the shoes, They have been ordered for some time but I don't know when they will be complete. On of our nurses here has two small serving dishes which she says she wants to give to my two sisters. Next week I will go to a store over in the town to see if I can find something additional as well. One of our helpers here became engaged last week and I bought him some handkerchiefs and a keychain which I gave him from Sister Dorothea and me. It was a duplicate which was fine with me because I can send it to father because perhaps he ca n us it as a watch chain.
I wrote to mother and suggested that she should begin to attend a ladies group and otherwise get out more. She has an awareness of this that she seldom gets out. You must help her in this matter. I am aware of what a great effort it is for her to get out and she needs clothes and help in other ways. When one seldom gets out it soon gets so one no longer is motivated to get out. Now you must try to help mother in all ways to get out and about and I am sure you will do all you can now that you are well again yourself