Butiaba,
Uganda, Aug. 4, 1914
[ans.
10-13-14]
Dear
Mr. Palmer:
I
have just written the Crowell Publishing Co. 381 Fourth Ave.
New York
to renew my subscription to the Woman’s Home Companion and
told
them I was asking you to send them the amount of $2.50. Am
sorry to
trouble you but wish it could be done as soon as possible as
I’m
not sure how long last years subscription lasts & I don’t
like
to miss any numbers.
Haases
money matters take some figuring to keep straight. They’ve had
their money in the bank with ours and its been a game to keep
up with
his orders - as one mail brings word “send every thing to me
by
London draft” and just after filling that order one comes
“hold
everything til further orders”. Well, it keeps life
interesting
and he is nice about misunderstandings, in his letters at any
rate.
I
don’t see how the $14 already taken out of his money at the
office
can effect me - or my accounts for if you took it out wouldn’t
you
have turned it into the Emergency fund and then I’d have had
notice
from Mr. Hetz that so much was put into the bank for the fund
and as
to the $37.70 still to be returned - he still has some credit
in the
bank & that (37.70) can be placed to credit in Emergency
fund
book and deducted from his. We can settle that between us but
the
$14.- I should like to know about as I do not find I have that
amount
down as coming for the fund.
As
you will know before this Mr. Hurlburt is at Dungu and letters
this
week written June 27 & first of July say he has been
rather
miserable ever since up there. Others were well but he had
been
having trouble with his nerves. sleeplessness etc.
We
knew he was very short of money when they went and as he was
not here
to consult about the Whiteside gift we tho’t the best possible
thing would be to send him (Mr. H.) some of it - so we did.
John
wrote Mr. Whiteside by last mail. We have had no word from the
bank
yet but will no doubt have by this mail. We are really hoping
that
when Mr. H. gets the money he will come back as I fear the
altitude
is too low there for him. He had been feeling so fine while
here.
Of
course we don’t know, he may have money to come back with and
still
not feel he ought to come.
We
hear from Haases quite often. Last word Mr H had had fever
& was
not well - she wrote. He never writes any thing about himself.
They
had a box of goods sent them from Columbus, O. & it came
here so
they asked us to open & send contents by parcel post. I
have
made it into 7 parcels. Two are gone & we’ll send two each
week til they have all. I know they were badly in need of some
things so I was glad to do it as it gets to them quicker.
During
this month of Aug. we are having vacation. from native school
mainly.
but we are all trying to do the things that can’t get done
other
times. I have just started school with Raymond & Claudon
so
instead of stopping I’m giving them more time. They are keen
on
learning and altho have been going only two weeks they have
quite a
lot of words they know by sight & many or most of them R.
can
write. Claudon is only 3 ½ so I’m not pushing him much.
All
here have been quite well lately - I get a slight attack of
fever
occasionally. The children have been very free for several
months. John manages to oversee the workmen but can’t stand
doing much
himself. Seems to have little strength but has had no fever
lately.
The
rains are on now and gardens are doing well. Rice is heading.
We
have had several ripe figs & one pineapple. Another is
coming,
and soon we hope to have many.
As
John was working a little distance out & didn’t want to
come
home for dinner we all decided to take lunch out. We were
scarcely
thro when it began to rain. It had been very pleasant up to
that
time, and came up very suddenly. We hustled back and barely
got into
the house when it rained quite hard & has been at it ever
since. Just now it is blowing & raining so hard. It makes
it so bad
when we haven’t windows for things get wet when there’s such
wind
in spite of canvas etc. We hope to get some put in on the
windy side
- tho’t we’d use some of the gift money. We keep fires going
all
day in the living room grate. So many wet things to dry all
the
time.
We
had a midnight visitor again one night last week. Was an awful
bold
fellow and kept coming back when we thot we had scared him
away. John had been working at the big organ & had left it
on the
veranda & thrown canvas over it. We heard some one at it
&
even tho we talked & lit the lantern, when John unlocked
the door
there he stood still. Course he took to his heels then. If
John had
expected to see him he could easily have caught him but it was
so
unexpected. Had not taken anything but cut the treadle st
[here a
large piece of the letter is missing] … brot the organ in then
and
went back … still talking when he came back again … door and
he
stood away from the step … where he could watch me. I stept o
…
could make out who he was but he … Raymond’s room window &
tore the c … R- was so frightened as it mad … tearing the
canvas. He hasn’t ret … Perhaps wont. We are seldom trou …
Mulungit
is well again and is e … here as much s we are.
It
is now bed time. May Go …
Florence
S …
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