Jane Lathrop Stanford Papers

[Enclosed with 9-10-93]

Goette

My dear brother.

We are here now in a very pitiful condition. Last years harvest was a very poor one, and this year the prospects are even worse. We had no rain for months and everything is dried up on the fields. Our want is immense, especially in the northern part of our province Schensi. In [Pei-hoii-wei?] the poor and starving people are living on the most nauseous food, horse manure even being used in innumerable cases. You know out of your own experience, what we have to suffer in such circumstances, and therefore I request you, may I conjure you to start immediately and collect alms for mine and your starving Christians, and our dear little orphan children.

Your brother

John Capistran Goette O.S.F.

miss. ap. of Shensi