Narok, Masai Reserve, British East Africa,

Thur. Evening, Nov. 6, 1919.

Dear Home and China Folks:

        Here comes the yellow paper again!!! I had about forgotten that I had any left but ran across this so will again give someone a pain. As it is already 8 P.M. I will not promise to keep at it very long. John has finished his evenings work and gone to bed but I thot I must at least start this or I will never get at it. Have been doing school work - that is getting lessons ready. Must prepare much myself as there is very limited help in the native languages.

        Now the first thing I want to say that after a long silence I have had two letters from Lora, and the parcel came too in last nights mail; MANY MANY THANKS!! Mama’s card written at Monroe came yesterday and her letters written after she got home came last week.

        Now the next thing is the account of Tuesdays storm! Well, say, it was SOME storm alright. You all know that our walls are of mud and wattle - or in other words first goodsized posts were put into the ground and on either side of the post were put small sticks and filled in between with mud and small stones. Well the inside sticks have been up since we live in here but in the bedroom the mud is in only part way up, about four feet from the top, on two sides and then I had an old blanket up to keep the wind out. On Tues. John wanted to put up a long shelf on the south side and I said we would take the blanket down and put old pieces of burlap up as I needed the blanket. He had the shelf up and a bit of the burlap up when it was dinner time and then we lay down to rest a bit but it was very dark and thundering and rumbling in the northwest. We finally got up and began where we left off with the wall covering but soon the wind got very bad and the rain came in sheets and then quickly switched around to the southwest and came in thro our unprotected wall. We held up pieces of burlap thinking it would soon change the direction and that the worst would soon be overwith. But you never saw such a stubborn storm. It was hailing hard and blowing so hard we feared the roof might go and coming into the house thro every crack it could find. Hail stones were blown across the room and onto our bed on the far side and so many that the spread was soaked. C’s bed is by that south window and his bedding was pretty wet altho we tried to protect it with burlap. Finally we got the burlap fastened so we could let go and really our fingers were just numb from the cold and wet. There was so much ice on the floor that I slipped and most fell. The wind puffed from one side to the other just as tho it was trying every side of the house and the side that it usually comes from and where we had the window specially protected there it wouldn’t come. That is freaky Africa for you. Rain and seldom wind comes from the south but it did on Tues. The hail came in sheets and lay in heaps all over the hill and on the roofs. The water poured into the boys houses awfully, most of their fires were out, blankets wet, and they were rather miserable, but as soon as it stopped the sun came out so hot that we all got things dried up some before it went down, for good. The corn leaves are in shreds, look like grass, but otherwise there wasn’t so very much damage done. One tree a ways down the hill broke down and the lettuce is pretty badly battered but today we had a nice steady rain and things are lifting up a little out of the mud and dirt. The thing that put the climax on for me was my bread. I had a complete failure last week owing to the flour being musty and was baking on Tues. and it seemed fair but was not quite done when the storm came and altho I knew that the roof leaks like a seive yet I thot the oven would be safe. The fire kept up and after it was over I went to get the bread and the big tin with three big loaves was full of water and the bread soaked too, not with nice clean water but ashes and soot mixed with it. I almost cried for little Billy Rainbow is here now and he likes bread so much, and then too the waste of it all and flour at Rupees 16 a load. Well, John told me what to do and he and the boys are very patient and do worry down my failures, so I took off all that was very soft and black and the rest I sliced and dried out like toast and now we crackle away at every meal like a lot of pigs in the corn crib. We are so thankful that the roof didn’t go and no one was hurt in any way. The children gathered up some hail and we made a little ice cream just to try and it was so good that the next morning they found big chunks of hail frozen together and I used most all the milk we had - they preferred to eat their porridge without - and made about a pint and had it for our dessert yesterday noon. Billy had never eaten any before and he made about as big a fuss as Mulungit did the first time he ate some. Course it was rather coarse grained as I only opened it once to stir it, but it had vanilla in it and sugar and that made it FINE in their estimation. The opposite hillside was a sight. We couldn’t see it at first but when we did it was like a huge river tearing along and such a roar, the river was way up but went down very fast which proves that the storm was not very far reaching. Now I must hike and will try to finish another evening.

        Next night: The bread is mixed and the last kidlet is washing his feet for bed - Billy always calls it washing his “legs” instead of his feet. I have just taken five jiggers out of Raymond’s toes and one was as big as three. This seems to be the jigger season. This day ends the first week of school. All the way around it has gone pretty well. Had a letter from Mrs. Barnett and she tells where the twins are in their studies and I try to keep Claudon with them but in some we are behind a little but we are taking more studies than they are. Raymond and Kenneth are together and Beth McKenrick but Kenneth is soon going home and Beth is very slow so I don’t care so much about his studies tho I am trying to keep him somewhere near. I go to the native school and help with the advanced number work and then I usually go over and see what is needed to be gotten ready for the next day.

        It is full moon tonight and is very hazy tho was clear at first. Masai say it is a green moon and they never move at this time nor visit nor kill cows but say if anyone moves now, from one place to another, they will have to keep on moving all their lives.

        Another important thing that happened today was that I cut the three heads of hair - a job no one enjoys and therefore it is left til it is very necessary. tomorrow morning I want to catch the chickens one by one and grease their heads for what we call male jiggers. They stick in their heads and then stay there. They are around the eyes and bills of the chickens. They aren’t very bad yet but I don’t want them to get a start. I made myself think of Cora today because there were so many little things I wanted to do that I went and made a list and now perhaps I wont think to look at it. I am going to try bread again tomorrow, just a small lot this time, and if it doesn’t get good I will make some new yeast - these cakes that I am using are getting stale, perhaps but I can’t make cakes as there isn’t enough sunshine now to dry all in one day. Mulungit said tonight that this weather is very strange for this country and the Masai do not know what to make of it. They never had so heavy rains before.

        I hope you get Alice’s birthday letter on time for that was to be sort of a Christmas letter, but if she is way out in Cal. it will be June before the rest of you get it. Are you going too Mamma? I hope so.

        O say the box finally came. We really should have had it long ago but it has been so long on the way between here and Kijabe. Tagi came back from there last Sunday - that is, he arrived here on Sunday and he brot it. Mr. Rainbow staid here til meeting time so we didn’t open it til Monday morning and it is certainly fine and we do say a big thank you mamma. Everything was in tins and such nice ones. All the cereals in round tins that had had Malted milk in them with screw tops and a handle on the top. The ten pounds of sugar just about filled one - I should think they hold about 2 gallons anyway if not more. There were five of them and then the five pound tin of Baking powder and a nice tin with the apricots and the tin of soda. Everything in tiptop shape just as tho we had just bot it at the grocery around the corner. It is such a treat to get nice clean things like that. The box was worth twice as much because of the tins as we need tins so much here and we had a good outfit in the Congo but not here. We have tried some of the oatmeal - no not the oatmeal but the wheat and the youngsters had three fits about it and we oldsters almost had another for it is very nice. We are out of rice so I had the boy boil some of this and when he washed it he said I can’t get any dirt from this - I said no, because it comes from America. and things in America are clean and not handled by Indians. Just for instance along with this box came an order I had ordered from the Indian at Kijabe from whom we often get things and who knows that goods should be done well to get here alright. I had ordered a few pounds each of coarse salt and some of fine and some of rice and he wraps each separate in some news paper and puts all together in a big gunny bag and of course when it gets here it is all mixed up. Now I must take it tomorrow and dissolve the salt and then strain out the rice and dry it and then evaporate the water from the salt again to get anything like what I had ordered. The coarse salt we get is in crystals and altho usually quite clean yet not fine for table use so as it is cheaper I get it and use it for cooking.

        We are expecting Mrs. Rainbow back here tomorrow and then she will likely take Billy home with her for over Sunday - that is if he will go. He usually has his way about things.

        I think I told you before that the second box had been lost and we sent for damages to Durban but we have heard nothing as yet. I want to count up just what it cost to get it out here. You paid to Durban and we paid from there up here. John has gone to bed and I better go too. I will try to get all your good letters together and answer them tomorrow night. Kitty is on my lap fast asleep. R- rubbed her head with oil to kill the fleas and she looks a sight but I know she feels much better and will look alright tomorrow.

        Sat. evening: Just took four more jiggers out of R’s feet so it is late again almost eight. Must answer Mamma’s first. But first Mrs. Rainbow did not come so we still have Billy here. I washed the salt out of the rice today and had about three pails of brine which will have to be boiled down - the rice is about dry. One advantage is that the salt will be much cleaner than otherwise. Thanks for the little card of stars that Claudon earned in Dutch Hollow S.S. Most made me homesick to be back there. I can’t be sure of the seeds you sent, O yes now I see you have written on and thanks for them, I shall put them in the seed box and watch for them. Course we couldn’t imagine what you were up to way up in Wisconsin and were eager to see. What a nice trip you had and what a nice place that must be - almost as nice as the Heights, isn’t it? John knows where Rhinelander is, but our good atlas is in a box up above and hard to get at. We have one down here but somehow Wisconsin is missed out. But we will see just where you are one of these days. You say nothing of any partnership or did Warrens buy it themselves, and will he need help to run it or how will they do? Was it much cheaper than Illinois land? Light is going out so I must stop and fill. My what wouldn’t I have given to have had a visit among the relatives at Monroe like you did - I think I spent more time thinking of them all the next few days than I have since out here this time. And to think that you saw our little Heights again, Cora lets swear to meet there in five years and spend a year reliving old times. What new old times they would be, not so? I thot so hard about every thing you wrote about that I dreamed so vividly about being in Monroe and we were leaving for out here by airship and mother was standing out at the step to say goodbye and the streets were water and we were boarding a sail boat but seemed to think it was an airship and were waving goodbye and had that same goodbye feeling that I think I have never had since the first time I left home when it seemed I was going into the unknown all alone. It has been so different each time since then but I never dream that we are leaving without that same first feeling. Do any of you ever see your childish ideas in your children? You do, I suppose, Lora. Cora you can’t yet but you will. The boys so often make me think of us youngsters with some of their imaginations. I think I never noticed it so much as this time they are with us. All last month we had such thoroughly good times and I think I never so much injoyed them as I do this time they are here. So often they will say “O Mamma wouldn’t it be nice if so-and-so would happen”. Perhaps we’d be coming home from a days fishing and be tired enough to drop and have the last pull to make when R- would begin by saying “what if there was a street car line there and we could jump on a car and uncle Warren would be conductor and he wouldn’t collect fares from us” etc etc or when we are two hours or more from home Uncle Warren would come and pick us up with an airship or something else just as ridiculous. I can remember when we still lived in the old house and we had to pump water for the washing and I would wish that all at once the water would come spouting out all alone with out any pumping. And then even later in the new house when making beds I would imagine there is a Prince coming to town and was going to look at all the beds and see just how they were made and of course he always chose mine as the best and would give a piano or some other wonderful gift for a prize. How foolish it all was and here I see the same thing in these African youngsters of ours - not even getting to the other side of the world changes child nature! But I said I must answer letters. Your card Mamma written at church at Monroe came after the letter telling of your trip there. So glad you got there and had such a nice time tho it was short. Just as soon as I opened your Sept. 4 letter and saw the Republic clippings I said something has happened and then got the one telling of Uncle’s stroke. I was not surprised for you had written that he was very poorly, then opened the other and saw the obituary and knew all was over. I have wanted to write to Aunt Ellen ever since I got it but haven’t done it yet. I wonder what she will do, I suppose you will tell in some letter. Glad so many of the relatives could come and that it was such pleasant weather. Say mamma could you send some of the clematis seed some time? I remember it has seed tho I know you get roots and start it that way yet I wondered if it would not grow from seed. There is one here that grows wild but I have never seen it very long and runs on the ground more. If I ever get a chance I will try moving one tho these wild things are awful had to move. Yes thanks mama for the renewal of the Digest, John is digesting one right now, and seems to have gotten very interested for he was to be ready to have the light out at nine and it is 9:30 now. I will try to find that girls address and write her. Do you mean that Reuben Ott’s boys were all at George Urbans? I thot they were all married and had homes of their own. You will know before this that we have received the 80 dollars you sent and we hope to get things alltogether so we can go at building after the next rains. We haven’t the roof as yet but are corresponding about it now. John got notice that he is on the Conference committee to make out a program so will no doubt have to go over sometime this month and will then go to Nairobi too and get his tooth taken care of. I am not sure what or where the $100 of papa was used - think I wrote before that things were rather in a muddle and while I know that there were to be $500 put aside for a house yet we have never received it and no one seems to know anything about it. I am at Mr. Hurlburt now trying to get some other matters straight, and we will see too about money. I can tell you about how much that box cost us. receipts came today.

        Tues. evening: Widow tonight, for today John and Mulungit left for a place in the hills for a few days work and looking around to see about putting up some kind of a protection for future living and work there. It hasn’t rained for a few days and yesterday looked as tho it would not rain again so they left this morning and I am sure they are and have had a big rain up there this evening. John said if it rained they would be back tomorrow for it is very cold up there every one says. I want these letters to go tomorrow, so I will have to get a push on.

        Mama, I’m not surprised that you want to hear first about the money before you send more. We are writing to Barnett now to see what he can do about helping us get it down, I mean the iron, for if we had that we could go on and get other things gradually. But we must have a roof, John can’t make another one like this tho this is very good it is too hard work. We heard in a round about way that the industrial dept was to come over here and put up buildings - ha that would be fun then things would go fast. But I’m not worried-

        Talk about it; I don’t just know what a “bungalo apron” Lora but I imagine it is a large one to be worn over all and I had one that Alice gave me I think, some time while we were home - brown checked finished with red braid and it is just now falling to pieces and I do like it sometimes so you see I will soon have another to take its place. Yes, we do remember that Mr. Stamm as a Seminary student, never dreamed he’d come out so prominent. Meine tseit!! anything more? No, thanks for the offer of stamps for when I do send to you for something you return the part pay I send so what’s the use of stamps. You tell Bert, a great big thank you for the pretty bills they will just fit some place, don’t know where just yet.

        Red paper is in the bottom of the trunk so I’ll give you a relief and finish on white. If it took missing supper to write to us I am glad you missed sometimes. Perhaps if I did that I would get some of my writing done too.

        Glad you had such a nice time at all those gatherings, both family and ministerial. That tan and red look just like you and I’m glad you had help to make up your sewing-- Claudon is having the pleasure of sleeping “with mama” tonight as John took some of his bedding and I didn’t want to get out the nice.

        You ask what the children need - ties, TIES, that’s the cry. and when I say where is your tie they say its all worn out! I made a red one for Claudon and a blue for Raymond and a brown for John and all are in shreds. I make the children’s like men’s only a little shorter. Both ends alike in width and a little to one side of the middle of the tie I make it a little narrower. At home here they don’t wear them but at school they do. Also kerchiefs. There is a size a little larger than a ladies and not quite so large as a man’s that suits them fine but really any size does. Did I tell you the date of the arrival of the package? Nov. 5 - it may have been at the office a little sooner as we usually get the mail only once a week. Just about two months straight, to come. I too thot of the coincidence of the brothers visiting Uncle Henry and papa just before they died. Thanks for the letters from Beth and Aunt Lorene. Yes Cora, here comes Aunts to you and I owe them both letters and have wanted to write Cora Beth for such a long time, guess I’ll miss supper and do it.

        So glad that Aunt Lorene’s have a more comfy place for the winter - sounds like they are fixed pretty fine.

        Aug. 12, was your last chirp, Cora, and that had some pictures in. Please send me a good one of Lois in the high chair, I believe that is the best of any I’ve seen. My what wouldn’t the children and I do if we could get our hands onto her. Claudon did so love a little girl of less than two years at Kijabe - some English folks that came to us from Mr. Studd’s Mission and were on their way home but stopped at Kijabe for awhile and are staying there and helping in the work as they are both so well now. We thot once that perhaps they ight come to help us here. My how we do want a doctor. This man was not a doctor but a very earnest worker and he and John had such good times together while we were at Kijabe. None of the other children could get on nearly so well with little Beryl as Claudon could and he didn’t make any fuss over her either but she would cling to him. Talking about packing chicken, Cora, makes me think of our treat today. We have some foreign stock among our whites and we have been threatening one nice big grey & red rooster and so when John said he and M- would go today I said then off comes that roosters head and John had the biggest share and we each had all we could eat for dinner and some lovely gravy!! He was big and being only about four months old was nice and tender. The old black hen that has been laying so faithfully has just today made up her mind to set and if she will stay on her nest tomorrow I will give her some of the white hen’s eggs. Those two are all that are laying but Mrs. Rainbow says the young ones should begin in another month. There are about a dozen and if they are faithful we should have fried eggs once in awhile for breakfast. Now here it is again. A M. Ward order!! Don’t fret it wont be used. I’ve turned the pages many times to see just what will be first, and second, and so forth. I think a hand grinder such as we had in the Congo will be first. It is raining a nice quiet rain. Hope John is comfy. They took M’s tent and our fly for our tent is so large. Billy just turned over and called “Daddy, Daddy” so I have settled him. His and R’s beds are in this room and I think the typewriter bothers his sleep. I keep having a hurry up feeling that John will want to go to sleep and I wont be done with this. Claudon said he was going to stay awake til I came but I guess he is dreaming. Now I think I do remember that blue goods and so did John too. Say if I had a chance at that Heights place to go around and pick up things I’d gather up a little of that rubbish we left. My next stunt will be to get some clothes made for the boys and some pyjamas for John. Just when that is to take place I don’t know for the days seem pretty full. I’ve been helping some in the native school and then keeping an eye on these leaves little time for extras and (to back of 4) for three days the cook has been sick & R. starts fires & helps me with dishes etc. They haul water from stream in a big 5 gal. drum. That’s usually fun. & the woods is full of wood so we get on famously.

        Must stop now - there are other letters to get off. God bless you all. Love to all the dear ones, friends & relatives. I’ll try to write each of those who helpt send the $80.

        Your own heathen.

        Jno, Flo & the boys.

        I was mistaken about the receipt for the box bring in - but I think it will be about, or at least $8. more. We got the bills but I forgot the exact amount.

        Exchange is so fierce now. On the $5 you sent mama we got Rs. 12.49 & used to get Rs. 15. Wondered how gold would exchange. We have received a draft for $50. I’ll see what that brings & perhaps that would be cheaper. Haven’t the returns as yet, it was drawn on Zanzibar Bank. Did I say Lynns 25 came. We get 62.+ rupees used to get 75 rupees. Everybody complains but that doesn’t seem to better it.

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