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As I stood on the deck of the steamer, which had brought us up through the gorges to Chungking, one of the Y.M.C.A. secretaries leaned his elbow on the railing beside me and said, “Tell me just how you feel as we come into Chungking.” There was a beautiful valley on the south side of the river where we would spend most of our time….But already I could feel the shadow of loneliness a foreigner feels out here. I looked at the teeming crowds of people on the streets and remembered the dirt and misery one must see every time one goes out. “Frankly speaking,” I said, “I feel as if I were going in for a second sentence of seven years.” He smiled and nodded. “I understand,” he said. The emotion evoked by the question of my fellow passenger was with me as I stepped off the gangplank and the ragged chair-carriers pushed and scrambled to get the fare. Each throwing his rope onto the baggage to mark his claim. The wife of a senior missionary became quite alarmed: “They are going to kill us!” she cried. It took considerable tact to remind her that this was the customary way for the carriers to establish their claims. In the midst of the crowd of chair-carriers and sampans I saw the stout figure of our Business Agent, Gordon Jones and his capable Chinese assistant. I realized this was an everyday situation for them and so there was nothing to fear. When I got on shore, to my surprise I felt “I am coming home” and no longer saw myself as going into prison. (“Life with Jim”) The isolation was real. The Endicotts were now living in the former Mission school dormitory at the Duckling Pond compound where Norman was born. One room was set aside for school and she was both mother and teacher. The first few weeks were trying: Norman was miserable and quarrelled constantly with Stephen. It was one of the “bogeys” that had haunted her on furlough. Remembering Dr. Blatz’s confidence in her, she set about dealing with it creatively: 13 A Greater Acceptance of the Universe 109 We tried a new plan this week. I suggested to the boys, when some disputes arose which seemed difficult to settle, that we take them to a Family Conference . They liked the idea but we had to wait all week to get any time with Daddy. In the meantime, I noted down disputes as they arose, and made a list of the agenda to be dealt with, and also a list of suggestions which I would like us to talk over all together. The plan worked like a charm. They were quite willing to drop a quarrel, once it was suggested it would be better to take it to the family conference. They kept asking when we were going to have it, and were quite impatient as it had to be postponed once or twice. Saturday evening, however, we took the pre-bedtime hour for it. I suggested Daddy as chairman and he taught the boys how to move and second, how to elect me as secretary and so on. I took notes of the resolutions, which were passed in formal fashion. The boys both loved it and agreed that the thing was settled when it was passed on. (to Jane, 25 November 1934) The Family Conference, November 25, 1934 Meeting opened with Daddy in the chair. Moved by Norman, seconded by Stephen that Mother be the Secretary. 1. The Canal and Philip Resolved that we put a fence around the canal and Philip only be allowed to go in when the boys are there. Resolved that another old bathtub be fixed up for Philip’s boats. 2. The Schoolroom and Shirley and Philip Resolved that S.J. may come in during the free activity, but Philip may not. S.J. must go out for Arithmetic—may return later. P.M. may not come in till after 10:00. They are allowed to stay only if quiet. 3. Question of Knives Decided that the brown knife probably belongs to Stephen and therefore should be his. Norman applied to Daddy for a knife to replace the one Philip threw overboard. Granted. 4. The Workshop and Shirley Resolved that Shirley have a place to keep her wood and that each person put away his own wood when finished working, and that a piece of...

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