Lucille’s letter before King left for China

There were several letters from Lucille Mardock, the young cousin form Tyler, Texas I had mentioned in the April 22nd e-blog.  There was a close connection between King and Lucille.
Future posts of her letters will be from earlier years and you will get a glimpse of life of our cousins in Texas. 

1935 Nov 20 – Lucille’s letter just before King left for China

                                                                              428 South Fleishel Avenue
                                                                              Tyler, Texas
                                                                              November 20, 1935

Dear Cousin King:

      We received both your letters, and are surely sorry that you won’t be able to come to see us before you leave for China.  We wanted to see you so much, but it is practically impossible for us to get away now to come to Wichita.  I am working and Julian is in school, and it would be too long a trip for either Papa or Mama.  The doctor doesn’t want Papa to take any long automobile trips, and Mama gets sick if she rides far in a car.  Papa is taking insulin three times a day, and it is difficult for him to get away for any length of time.

     We would send you some pecans, but our crop was not good this year, and there are very few down there.  Papa is building a house down in the pecan orchard, just a small frame cottage.  That will destroy some trees, and there will be a lot more people down there so don’t suppose we will have any pecans at all by next year.

      We are so glad you liked the sugar cane.  It is very good, and Mama said you didn’t have any up there.

      I am enclosing a cashier’s check that Mama wants you to take to her younger sister in Canton, if your mother still lives there.  If she doesn’t, and you have to send it to my aunt, just get it to her however you can to save yourself time and trouble. I guess you had better cash this check here before you leave.

      Mama wants you to get some linen cloth for her. I believe she told you all about it when she wrote you in Chinese.

      We wanted to send you something to take with you, but freight is so high that we did not get around to it.

      We are all so glad that you are going to have this trip home, because everyone will be so happy to see you again and you will enjoy being there so much, too.  Mama said to tell your mother that she is always thinking about going back to China and talking about it, but we haven’t made any plans and won’t until Julian is out of school.  Mama speaks of your mother all the time and wants to see her very much, so please tell her that we all hope it won’t be long until we can.

      Just in case we don’t hear from you again before you leave, we all wish you a happy and pleasant voyage home, and give your love to everyone.

                                                                              Your cousin,
                                                                              Lucille 

Not sure if this is the letter by Lucille’s Mama. Sam Mardock is Lucille’s father and owned the Cotton Belt Restaurant by the train station in Tyler, Texas. 
Can someone who reads Chinese be able to translate the letter for us? Typical request by ABCs doing family histories.

I had mentioned Ken and I went with Grandpa to Tyler, Texas, in 1956. Here are photos of King with Lucille and the other of her Mom, Wong Shee, probably from that trip.