Don’t read before Xmas morning at the breakfast table.

Rumuruti, B.E.A. Sat Nov. 16 ‘07

Dear ones all:

        Merry Xmas!!! O yes you are all here. Can’t you see me well I’m here. Perhaps John isn’t with me but I can’t help that. He ran away from me a week ago last Wed. (Nov 6 gone 6 weeks less 2 days) and I haven’t even heard from him but I guess he is all right. He gets such spells of running away every once in a while. Have you no remedy for him. While he is away I sleep up in the tree house with Miss S. We try to stay away from the lions - but ‘course now, on Xmas morning I’m with you people. O yes I am only you don’t know it.

        Hurry up now and ask questions for I can only stay a little.

        Warren - O tell me about the time the rhino got after John.

        O I can’t tell you such stories on Xmas morning you’ll have to wait until John gets back for those. Did you pass that Hearing and Doing around that has his letter in it? Pretty long time in getting out, it strikes me.

        Cora - Tell us about the youngsters there.

        Ha, doesn’t that sound like her tho’? Course a school teacher of 3 months standing ought to be interested in the youngsters.

        Well, when we go to the kralls - a place like this: [Here there is a drawing of the layout of a kraal; (Masai village) an oval with gates at the top, bottom, and two sides and two to five huts arranged along the inside of the oval segments between the gates. Also a round enclosure in the center for sheep.]

        I can’t help it if it looks like false teeth. The openings X are gates closed at night by piling brush in. The “teeth” are the huts the enclosure in the center is for sheep and the rest of the place is for cows. When we go to visit it’s like going into a cow yard. They clean it out once in awhile but no oftener.

        When we first went to the kraals the children would run and scream but now most every one will come & shake hands. Some of them come over & over to show how brave they are. They are such cute youngsters. Some are as pretty and sweet as any white child. I think the babies among these people are as a rule much prettier than among the Kikuyu people. One of Mulungits fathers wives has the cutest little girl. Just as sweet & loving as she can be. I am longing for the day when we can have a score or more come here to school.

        I suppose the greatest trial of their life is to have their head shaved. The mother gets a little tin of water and wets the hair. If the water gives out before she is finished saliva does just as well. Then they have a little piece of metal something like that flat kettle scraper thing we used to have. It’s not very sharp and they sharpen it by rubbing it up & down on their wire armlet. The shaving is a most painful operation and they do it about once a month. There is seldom a time that the victims head isn’t bleeding when they finish.

        In almost everything they mimic their elders. They have no playthings only such as they manufacture themselves. Their chief pleasures are in feasting and seeing the warriors dance. They look forward to the time when they will be warriors or warriors sweethearts.

        Is that sufficient? These people are so filthy. Use very little water, principally perhaps because they have to carry it pretty far usually and then they just simply are not used to it. If there is something on their fingers they want to wipe off they usually pick a leaf off a weed or something often pick up cow manure & use it just as they would water - rub their hands over and over again. Then I suppose they consider them clean enough to mix bread dough. I am not afraid to bet some children grow up without ever knowing how it feels to be washed. But they are happy - however I believe the day isn’t far off when we will be able to have them come in for school and then every day they’ll get such a washing as they little dreamed of. Wont the first bath be satisfactory for the bather tho. Just think how the water will color up. Come on Cora that’s your job.

        Change the subject. I baked some dandy buns and bread today. Only two loaves of bread tho’ - for the last two batches got moldy before we could get them eaten. I haven’t baked for about 4 weeks. Just waited until every bit was gone because the new would always get old before the old was eaten.

        I’ve been catching rats. One or two every night - and one morning when I went up to the house I went to the cupboard to get a knife & here sat a nice fat fellow. I picked up the knife and struck & killed the rat. Now you see that was pretty near like the farmers wife only I didn’t cut off it’s tail and it wasn’t blind and I’m no farmers wife and there was only 1 instead of 3 - but otherwise ‘twas pretty near like it, wasn’t it. Just here I want to say you never did a better thing than when you got that out of sight trap for me. We tie it fast and then an elephant couldn’t carry it away. The second one you sent isn’t quite so good - it has a flat thing that flies around and catches them & the other has just like a wire. It flies quicker or something. John has said over and over again he doesn’t know what he’d do if it wasn’t for those little traps. We have two big wire concerns too but they aren’t nearly so good.

        Well I’m getting tired and sleepy. You people eat so long.

        Warren and Cora have you looked at your stockings yet. I’ll bet you have. Who said Merry Xmas first. Warren no doubt; he’s usually the first on Xmas and 4^th of July.

        Well if you paople will excuse me I’ll go and take a nap for I’m very tired and haven’t had any P.M. nap for a long time and that makes me more tired at night. Tomorrow is a hard day so I’ll want a good rest.

        I’ll talk again when I wake up.

        Lass ess schmeken.

Mon. Eve.

        Back again and you are still eating breakfast. Well I am glad you seem to enjoy it.

        Now what do you think I killed today - another rat. ‘Twas behind the books in the book case and I pushed them back quick and mashed it dead. I’m a regular murderess lately.

        O but I wish you could all have been with me yesterday morning - well in fact all day. In some ways Sun. is our hardest day but I’ll tell you how yesterday went then you’ll know almost how all go.

        I got up about 5:30 and was slowly going up to the house when I noticed there were chances of a beautiful sunrise. The sun is south about as far as it goes and comes up back of part of Mt. Kenia. Yesterday morn. it looked as tho there was a monstrous furnace open and the light streaks shot out across the sky and there were waves of clouds and each wave crested with that peculiar shade of red. Got brighter and brighter and proportionately farther reaching. O it was grand. I just sat down on a stone and filled up with it. Tho’t of you all and wished you could feel as I did. ‘Twas just cool enough to be kinda snappy and yet just right. I sat at least 15 minutes gazing and admiring and in my heart praising Him who alone can give such beauty. The sunsets and sunrises here are admired by every one.

        Now I’ll wager you prefer sunrise stories to rat stories for working up an appetite.

        Well we had breakfast and after a few preliminaries we got started for a Kraal about 4 miles from here. A Kikuyu carrying the organ, Enoch as spokesman and Mulungit as general helper & Miss S & I. The grass was very wet but we always put on old skirts so we went along not feeling bad if our dresses did get bedraggled. We had to cross a little stream that had raised a little and tho’ usually muddy & hard to get over was much more so this time and Miss S. always has a hard time so this time she wouldn’t try but let the Kikuyu carry her over. In many ways she makes me think of Miss Bucks and especially in crossing streams.

        We got there and found the cows and sheep hadn’t been taken out yet but were all lying outside the Kraal in four divisions. On wet mornings they don’t take them out until the dew is off the grass. You see it seldom or never rains all day or is wet all day but the sun always comes out for a few hours. Well it was a treat to see them separate out the calves then take the cows out each lot going in a different direction.

        Then the women began their work of gathering in the little lambs those that were too small to run along; they are kept in little huts made for the purpose. When that was finished then the flocks of sheep were taken out - young boys most always take them. One drove went out that had perhaps 7 or 800 in it and there were 3 others; not quite so large however.

        After all live stock was taken care of then we got about 20 or more women together for a meeting. Having finished the meeting - which you’d no doubt think was a debate for they ask questions most faster than one person can answer - we came about half way back and stopt at another kraal. This I suppose is our favorite one if we have any. We like the people and then there’s a nice large tree in the kraal under which we always have our meetings and by this time it’s usually getting on toward 11 o’clock.

        These people love to sing and all you have to do is to set up the organ and start to play and you’ll soon see the women and children come strolling in from all sides each one having their own tune and time but all the same words. “Yes, Jesus loves me.” They do delight to sing it over & over not because it means so very much to them but it’s the white mans song and something quite new.

        At this kraal there has always been an old old man and he is usually so drunk as to be funny but we misst him Sun. Don’t know where he was. As we were coming home we met two women from the near kraal coming along the path. They knew where we had been so began at once to sing “Ee Yesu aanyor” and shook hands with us and asked questions and laughed like any old Evangelicals.

        These people as a rule are very nice. When they realize that you are not after their property then they are nice as can be.

        They are usually awful beggars but it seems strange they have almost never begged at all since we go out to work among them.

        We got home just about one o’clock & had dinner then went down to our kraal for a meeting with our boys and the people from the two near by kraals that we visit during the week.

        That lasted until 3 - then we had the rest of the day to ourselves. When J. is here we have English meeting at 4 P.M.

        Talk about your full days. Then come to Africa. But it’s fine even if one does get tired.

        I don’t wash on Mon. but get the clothes soaped and water all carried then the boy starts fire early and gets the water hot. Then I take it into the tub and fill the boiler with cold & put the white clothes and kerocine in to boil. While they boil the boy washes the colored - or what he can while he’s getting breakfast too. When the white are ready to come out we empty the tub, put them thro’ one water into the rinse then onto the line. Have a lot of new muslin stuff in this week. Some of that unbleached I brot along. I made a pair of pillow slips and a washstand cover and a helmet cover. I think it will come out quite white. The pillow cases do wear out quick. Mother S. made J a pair and I’ve had to throw one away it was completely riddled and I had turned it too. I know I had some in my book box for I have only two fine pairs and I certainly had some common ones. I washed that gray gingham apron you made me mama, for the first time last week. I’m trying to get the old things worn out before we get more people up here. The latest in waists is that green and red wool with tabs down the front piped in red velvet. It does very well while we are alone but will never do when others get here.

        But I must tell you a little more about J’s running away and why and where.

        Mr. Riebe and Mr. Marshall came here and J went with them to find places for two new stations among the 5 tribes between here & the Nile. One will be about 3 days from here. The other I’ve no idea of. They will travel among the Suk, Njamus, and Ilkamasia people. In two or three weeks they wanted to get to the R.R. then go down to Kijabe by train. J. had an accident the last Sun. here. One of his side front teeth was crowned and it broke off so he almost had to go to Nairobi to have it fixed and then the party arrive the first part of Dec. and the Field Council wanted a meeting then & wanted him there for that. Then there are four people to come up here to learn the language and go onto those two new stations and they can’t come alone so he may bring them along. So taking all together he thot there was sufficient reason for his going down. I’ve not heard from him yet and there is a possibility of his coming home but not very probable. Expect a letter tomorrow.

        Had word from Mr. Adams about the money you and Monroe people are sending but haven’t the money yet. If it comes before J. gets back he’ll likely order or get things in Nairobi. I tho’t ‘twould be nice used for maps, globe, blackboard or lumber for school desks or chisels etc for use in the work room. We want very soon to have some time each day given for carving and making plain furniture. It’s what they need and what they like too.

        We don’t know what we will do with these people if they come now. They’ll just have to live in tents & eat with us. In a month or two more we could be in the house if some one were working at it but there isn’t a stone being touched. O we’ll manage some way.

        We did enjoy having Mr. Marshall here. He is a man of such wide experience. He could entertain one by the hour with stories. We were disappointed in not having Mr. Hurlburt here, but She was sick and they called in the Dr. who after careful examination said both lungs were effected and one had a break. They had always known she had pulmonary trouble - that’s one reason why they came out here - but they didn’t think ‘twas so bad. When the Dr. announced that Mr. Hurlburt said he’d stay there & sent Mr. Riebe in his place. It will be hard work for them to pick or choose stations for some of those parts are very unhealthy and they might do as Rhodes did - or had to do - abandon the place.

        Mr. Hurlburt has to go down there too & find a new place for them. They are visiting around until something is done.

        O I’m so thankful this is such a healthful place. While it isn’t nice to have J. gone on these different trips yet it’s much nicer than being sick all the time.

        But it’s getting late and I wanted to talk with you about lots of things yet. How is breakfast getting on. In the morning we will have “Mukombe” porridge and fried “kikwa” cakes. Did you get any sort of an Africa crop? There was mukombe among what I sent you perhaps you are having some for breakfast too. We like it for a change.

        I’ll just go over the P.C’s. then I’ll stop again and rest a day or so - just to see how long you’ll eat. Ho - it’s thundering. Your two Convention P.C’s were fine Cora. Thankee “oling”. Was glad for the one that has Keiser and his wife on. Think I must write them a Xmas card - or something. Cora Beth sent me one of the big group too. So when one wears out I’ll have the other.

        The ones from Galva & Freeport and mamas from Topeka Kans. were all received with gratitude. Then there’s one from long ago - “By night” which looks much like a big camp fire. I can almost see a native or two around it and the dim outline of a tent behind. It’s very fine at any rate. We liked them all very much. Am sending a few out for Xmas. Some that one of the girls got for me at Conf. time and sent them to me by express. If I don’t get to Nairobi pretty soon I’ll not know how to act in a city.

        How funny it will seem to get into a big city at home. But good night or good morning or something.

Tues. P.M.

        I have only a little while to write before supper is ready but I’m so eager to get at it I can’t wait for evening. O I got the loveliest mail today. Mama your two letters mailed Oct. 8 and Oct. 10 and Cora’s mailed a little later and the books from the Vir. Pub. company and the Arith. - which by the way isn’t the one I wanted - and I was so happy I just wanted J. so badly I pretty near exploded. There was no letter from him either but think there’ll be one on Fri.

        Now where to begin is hard to tell. So I think I’ll go call Miss S. & we’ll have supper then a long walk - my John would scold if he knew how little walking I’ve done since he left - but I know Miss S. doesn’t care to and it’s no fun going alone but I will after this rather than miss for my nerves get on edge pretty quick these days, when every minute is so full I hardly know what to do first. - Then after a walk comes an hour or so of Masai language. I act as teacher but a mighty poor one. Then we either read or write. Tomorrow is last mail out to catch you for Xmas so we’re trying to get a number off. Am sending about 1 doz. P.C’s. I have only this and a letter to J. to go tomorrow.

        More anon.

After supper.

        Well, I’ve just put my little fat bedfellow to bed to get it warmed until I come. Guess what? The hot-water bottle. My feet get so cold and I can’t go to sleep til they are warm. I always warm up on J’s when he’s here. O dear I miss him in more ways than one.

        Now I declare you are still eating - well I’ll finish my visit with you tonight or try to at least.

        There are two letters of Cora’s that I’ve not answered besides todays but I’ll just look over them in a hurry to see if there’s any general news.

        Yes mama I promise to send Aunt Anna a print of our Hooppole house - and if you want more say so. It does come out beautiful in Velox. I’m going at picture things again very soon. I want the house finished so I can get a picture of it and a few others. I certainly sent the extra cow pictures of the boys - didn’t I? I know I printed and toned some and surely I put them in with the last lot I sent. Please tell me if you didn’t get them.

        I quite often lately do patch the envelope corners. One of yours today was open all of one side. Just as tho’ it had been opened.

        In this letter I am enclosing two large & two small winged white ants. When it rains they come out thick and fly about then fall to the ground, lose their wings and crawl into the ground. Tonight when we were out walking we saw some that had lost their wings that were being pinched to death by a little black ant. If a white ant gets near the driver or pinching ant it is soon disposed of - pinched to death and eaten.

        There are numbers of pinchers in the garden - we ought to drive them up here such a day as this. The chickens are very fond of the white ants. They eat until they can scarcely walk. The children are fond of them too. Even Eddie & Flossie Harrison used to eat them.

        Cora, your telling about your wax works made me think of those I saw at Liverpool. A big concern and all in wax. The Royal family and poets & poetesses, murders of all sorts and descriptions. They told us the London ones were far superior. Well, I didn’t like them so well - only saw the nurses, doctors & other patients.

        I don’t blame you a bit Cora for not feeling like writing. You mustn’t write when you ought to be doing something else much as I like to get your letters it isn’t good for you to stay in and double over a desk when you ought to be outside. Keep your nerves in good condition and I prophesy a most happy year of school work. but ruin your nerves and not only you yourself are miserable but all around you. I never worked around a more nervous person than than Miss S. is and while I pity her yet often she gets me so upset that I am beginning to feel as tho’ I never will be able to do real good school work again. She is the best hearted girl in the world but O so tho’tless.

        Albert S. is a great fellow - think I’ll have to tease him a little. It’s unusual for people around our country to day dream for 15 miles of walking but they often get so “boozy” that they imagine they are dreaming.

        Was very glad for that little picture of Everett Morse. Looks just like him tho’ more developed and manly. How well I remember when I taught the Ringle school and he swept & started fires for me. Often took my horse at the door and let me go in where ‘twas warm. Then one time I made a rule of some kind and he broke it and the punishment was staying in at recess the next morning & how I went home that night and cried because I knew he’d be too proud to stay in and I tho’t so much of him that I could scarcely enforce my rule - but I did it the next morning - and he stayed after some little trouble but that stands out as about one of the hardest trials of my teaching days. However on the way home and after I went to my room I cried & cried. But those days are past and I am so glad for the chance he is having at Valpo. I always considered him one of the most capable of the whole set of boys I had that year.

        I am so glad that you people (papa & mama) had such a fine trip - and you shouldn’t have taken your time & strength to write on the way - but I know about how you felt. The girls would enjoy it etc etc. Well we do but I feel you could have enjoyed yourself more - why you could have sniped papas chocolates faster if you hadn’t stopt to write. What a joke on the candy - wasn’t it.

        You know when letters come I always read them aloud. We get the mail about noon or just after we finish then we go into the other room & prop up the pillows & J. looks thro the papers & I read aloud. Well you know today I couldn’t read and know what I was reading unless I pronounced the words so I could hear myself. It struck me so funny but I could remember what I read lots better. I think when J. comes back we’ll have to take a week off and camp out I’ll have to read the letters to him. There have been two foreign mails since he is away. In the last had W’s suggestive P.C. and a letter from Albert. Both very good.

        Yes I knew of the uncle John S. a preacher on the other side. I hope that other side business will soon be cleared out & we’ll all be one again.

        What a lot of trouble you had about those pans. Sometimes I just feel as tho’ it’s too much to expect you people to get and look after things we order. and then again when one thinks of the expense of going to get a thing and then having it sent here besides the cost which is very high here - it makes one say - well just this one thing more and that’s just what I’ll say in my next for this one I want to have free from any wants. I must tell you I set out the one aster that was left in the box and the two perennial sweet peas. They came up so nice and thrifty. You may know I watch them. The one spirea asparagus or something - didn’t come. The second I’ve not put in yet. I am longing to get the yard in shape so I can plant things and know they’ll grow. at least they’ll be where I can watch them better.

        What do you think I did on Sat? You know the red cushion worked in black for John. It got soaked with fat and when I washed it one side faded almost white just the edge and a little in. Well we had an arm chair bo’t of Ridler when he left that has had a canvass seat put in & needed a cushion so I took that red - put the faded to the back & cut it down to fit - not destroying any of the figure - and used only part of the figure - and used only part of the black ruffle and made a back of a red handkerchief & tied it onto the chair. Now I’ll use the black that’s left for around that fancy birthday cushion that I worked on the boat. I had nothing to finish it with but now will make a narrow double bias ruffle. Pretty smart, not?

        Hurrah for the box money!!! All things come to those who wait. Don’t worry about that music stuff - J. will send another list when he gets back - it may not be just the same but whats the odds. He’ll have so much to look at that he wont care for new music at once. I’ll warrant his old will be like new to him when he gets back. If there are people with us much of the time he will not play much. He’ll have to get over his finicky notion about playing when others are around.

        Have had no trouble with Miss S. she stays up here in her shell like a good oyster. Only comes down for meals.

        There were all 5 of those Self & Sex Series came here - I wonder if that was right? We always said that some day we wanted all but didn’t expect them now. If it is a mistake I’ll wager they’ll not get them before I have read them.

        I just can’t realize that you have been to all those places you wrote about. How very nice it must have been to see all old friends and relatives.

        We had a letter from Mr. D. as he was on his way to Washington. Just a short hurryup one but enough to say he had had a good time at both homes. How nice ‘twill be if John can see him. I wish I could. Theirs was my first home in Africa. That is, first eating home.

        I’m sure we can fix the pans alright. You know one can do many things in Africa you can’t at home.

        Never mind about any more picture materials. Mr. Riebe gets all his in Eng. and sends orders for others so when we need some & have the cash we’ll order thro’ him. Thanks so much for your trouble about the tray. I can use soup plates as I have been doing.

        You don’t wonder that when Mrs. H. was here & the men away we looked & looked so often among the bushes between us and the path, that we often said if those bushes would curl up & die we’d know why. I still think of it when I look out that way. We have glass windows on that side and muslin ones on the other.

        Whats the matter with Walter Ott? that he stays away on decision Sun. or did you possibly mean Eugene? I can’t understand.

        When we had full moon in Oct. I said to J. I supposed your flowers had to be covered and you were busy taking in what you wanted. Well by this time you have everything in. Are you planning anything for Thanksgiving? We were going to have a sheep killed and have the boys up but I don’t think we will if J. isn’t here. and we don’t expect him.

        What makes everything so high priced? Whenever there is mail from home Mulungit & Enoch want to know what news there is and I was telling them that people at home are picking corn now and tried to tell them what a lot they have. These people know a farm only as a big garden. So I tried to explain. Then Enoch said tell your father to send us a few bags of corn meal. So I told him you were sending us a machine to grind corn and that they must raise a lot then they could have corn meal.

        Am glad for Dan W’s Mabel. but she seemed such a girl yet when we were there. Had a letter from Ethel. The first since I’m out here.

        Yes I too am glad for Little Black Me. I shall value it especially because it was Mr Gress’es own private property. I shall be glad for it.

        Some time I’ll try to find some more e-hair for you but wont have room in this letter. Am afraid all the long ones are used. [elephant-tail hair]

        Please tell in some letter if you ever got those things sent with Mr. Downing. You have never said a word and have you both the lion claws or did you send one to J’s people. Don’t know that we said you should but I tho’t perhaps you had.

        What a joke the birthday surprises were.

        O dear I’m afraid ‘twill be a long time before we can pay you back for your trouble. I really feel quite guilty. Am so glad Lora’s send for a few things too - then we don’t feel so greedy. And when you write how busy you are with every minute taken it makes me feel as tho’ we squeezed in someplace when you should have rested. I hope we can do something great big some day for you too.

        Well, how some of those funny little things stay with one. The idea of finding a rotten box so Cora wouldn’t hurt her feet. How I laughed. Yes we got clay jars which are fine in ripening bananas. We have them bro’t here from Kikuyu country & they are as hard & green & put them into those jars & pack leaves around them in less than a week they are sweet & ripe. If that box comes up from the coast in the time it ought J. may be there to repack and we’ll get things just about Xmas time. J. always said if the stuff came a few days before we’d leave it until Xmas day.

        I’m afraid that would be awful hard work, tho’. How glad we will be for those good boards. I will write John in the morning and tell him particulars.

        There are only two of your daughters that are real smart. Who taught Cora to open the safe or did she find out by herself as I did - over the left.

        I’ve just written Alice Hessel. Wonder if she’s married yet. O there’s a flea that’s pestering the life most out of me.

        Suppose it seems quite old timeish to be sending money to Naperville again. I imagined perhaps W. would be cheaper than we girls were. Always tho’t boys got thro’ cheaper. Yes I’m glad Albert is there to sort o’ look after the kid a little. If he is eating Xmas breakfast he can smoke that in his pipe after breakfast.

        Yes it would be pretty nice to pay only half postage of what we pay now. Mr. Riebe told us when he was here that he is sending used stamps to a place in Eng. and for large denominations he gets half. but Eng. or Africa stamps only and wants us to save ours. If you think it worth while save those on my letters and return them to us. We may be able to send U.S. stamps too. I don’t know. Mr. R. was experimenting & would tell us results.

        Thanks for the ‘08 calendar. Will fix it on my blotter. Did you think how near the same date Mr. D & party left that we left? One day difference I believe. Hope none of them will be treated as I was in Eng.

        Thanks for the list of those who helped with M’s watch. I shall try to get a good picture of him & print cards for the different ones.

        I’ll just in a general way go over things & then when the box comes I’ll give the usefulness of articles in details. I just feel so good yet all good because of all the rush & hurry you have had but I almost shouted today when I saw some of the things you had sent. Thank you just lots more than this letter can ever contain.

        How thoughtful of you to put in another comforter. They are comforters in more ways than one - and you are just right they will come in very handy for every one that comes has bedding packed away and if they stay but a few months they rather not unpack. That was thotful. Then the carpet too. O how nice that will be for the new house. Am still saving that I bro’t & am planning to make a rug or something of the rags I have - if I ever get at it. Doesn’t seem now as tho’ I’ll ever find time.

        No we have nothing on Livingstone. My! What a nice library we will have.

        Yes yes you must come then and stay a whole year & read Dickens - etc. That would be ideal and for a change you can go on safari. I have an idea, mama you’d like safari life. We’ll leave papa & J. home to take care of the place & the children and you & I will go out for a time.

        Say, in last foreign mail there were two little red books came straight from some Methodist Pub. concern. One was International Praise & the other I’m not sure but will look in the morning. Those certainly aren’t ones you got are they?

        And O the fruit. I get so crazy for apples some days. Then I eat a few dried ones or sometimes just eat a tomato. We do crave acid things so much.

        I just filled my machine can with oil lately & wondered what I’d do when it’s all - but I know now.

        Well, well. Some more aprons. I looked at that plaid ging you made me after Josie Offerle P’s style, today and thot it’s getting very thin and has several big holes that ought to be patched but it’s hardly worth while. Now I’ll wear it just so for a little then put it into the rags.

        And the S.S. rolls too. Just lately J. said again he wished we could get some more. My! how pleased he’ll be with everything.

        Your “waists & dressing-sacques you can’t wear out” all come in mighty handy here. J. likes dressing sacques so I can wear them. People at Kijabe don’t wear them much.

        Now I’m going to bed it’s getting so late and Miss S. still sits here reading so I’ll finish in the morning. My feet are so cold too. Had no nap today and got up real early this morning so you can pity the pupils tomorrow. Kinley & Ethel have not yet arrived but will likely come in the box.

        It poured this P.M. so we couldn’t go to the kraals. Tomorrow is the one day off then Thurs & Fri go again.

        Good night.

Wed. morn.

        My eyes and stomach don’t feel good this morning. Guess my eyes want more sleep today.

        I am enclosing the postal that was in our book of those that came. You can do as you please with it.

        I wish the tennis you sent were light colored then I know what I’d do with it. J. needs pajamas so badly. I have woolen goods but I don’t like to make them of that they wear out so quick.

        However he ought to have woolen ones in case of sickness or such times as he goes on safari so think I’ll make one suit for his Xmas present. I don’t know what else to make or fix for him.

        A letter from the dentist yesterday says ‘twill cost $5 to get that tooth fixed ready to put back in - how much more the putting in will be no one knows.

        Am sending a few Xmas cards - in mama’s I’ve left A. Allidina Visrams name as he wrote it - or not he but his shopkeeper here. This A.A. Visram lives in Bombay and has shops all over this country. Xmas they always bring fruit & nuts and usually a fancy cake as last year.

        He is leaving here this month so perhaps we’ll not be so well remembered. But we’re getting fresh fruit from Nakuru so I don’t care. Xmas is the time for fresh fruit. Very cheap and usually very good & well ripened.

        In our last order we got some nice oranges and lemons. How we enjoyed them. Made lemon sauce for pudding like Kate Messner recipe only no eggs.

        If I had citron I’d bake some fruit cake for Xmas. J. may bring some from Nairobi. I put it on the list. I used all mine for our wedding cakes. when Mrs H. couldn’t find hers. She has since found it but has so much baking to do that she’ll need it.

        Do you drive Flora single Mr. D. said you drove the big gray. Think he must have meant Nance.

        But now I must stop. Suppose we’ll be writing again soon.

        But I don’t like the way you do about that money you haven’t charged for half the things as it is and all the expense you’ve had you’d better add a $20 & let Ross send it to you. We want a few other things we’ll tell you about in the next perhaps - but if that’s the way you’ll do we’ll send straight to the Firm & not let you be our agents.

        And now no doubt you’ve finished breakfast. Did it taste good?

        I do hope you’ll have very very happy holidays and a blessed year all during ‘08.

        Lovingly Your Africaners

        John & Flo.

        Am putting on this via French boat. It’s very fast & ought to reach you before Xmas. Please tell just when you get it.

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