Narok,
Masai Reserve, Oct. 11, 1921
Kenya
Colony, E. Africa.
My
dear Aunt Annie:
I
can’t remember how long its been since I last wrote you but I
know
its been long enough. And in last mail yours & Aunt
Lorenes
letters came telling about dear old Grandpas going to glory.
Thanks
so much to both of you - mama’s letter just telling he had
gone,
was here when we returned from Kijabe, two days before yours
came.
We
too are grateful that he didn’t need to linger long and suffer
and
how happy he is with so many of those he loved. I don’t know
the
exact date when I wrote his birthday letter but I believe it
was
about Aug. 12 - near that date at any rate & of course the
thot
did go thro’ my mind as to whether he would get it or not -
but one
doesn’t so often think of them going during the summer months.
While we are all glad for him we are wondering how you are
faring.
-
- Now this is Sun. eve the 16th - and while John is
playing a bit from “St Paul” oratorio I’ll talk to you again
for awhile. Seems like I don’t get much time at it but if I
put
all the bits together after awhile I’ll get a letter. The
reason
we are playing at St. Paul is because Lora’s letter came
yesterday
- a copy of Grandpas birthday letter - & in it you
remember she
told how they were going to sing it. I should like to have
heard it.
Some of the choruses are so grand. I’m so sorry our letters
will
all get there for his birthday & that will make you miss
him so
much more. It’s so strange but it was that way with papa &
Grandma too. I see Lora wrote hers Aug. 11. Just the day
before and
since they are a day ahead of you she may have been writing as
he
went. You can enjoy the news in them and Grandpa may know all
that
we had in our hearts to say to him & if he doesn’t now he
will
some day.
This
is vacation month and the McKenrick family are here. Mr. &
Mrs. Beth age 14 & Kathryn age 13 and baby Flora 15 mos.
so you see we
are quite a crowd. Just as school closed a number of the
children
got sick - and when a letter came saying Claudon had measles I
said
at once “I’m going over”. You see John had to go for Council
meeting, but I was going to stay at home but when I heard C.
had
measles I knew it might mean he’d have to stay there in
quarantine
while the rest came home & I knew that would be awful hard
for
him. Well, we got the word Sat. P.M. & Mon. P.M. we left.
This
time with our mules hitched to Mr. Clarkes buckboard or spring
wagon. We walked the first 12 miles as it’s mostly up hill
& stoney
then we slept there & were off early next morning &
went
right thro to Kijabe. Got there about 4 P.M. Claudon was at
the
window of his room & the first one to see us. Found
Raymond sick
too with what Dr. called tonsillitis but before many days it
turned
out to be measles. We put off returning home for 3 days in
order to
take Claudon. Then I had about decided to stay because of
Raymond -
but (pg. 2) the last morning his temp. was down to 99 - and
his spots
were going away and he seemed to think it was alright if I
went so we
came on & left him there. He comes home this next week.
See how
the Lord worked things out. I confess I worried some just how
we
could get him home without some one having to make the trip
for him. Last week Mrs. Rainbow wrote to know if she could use
my mule for a
trip to Kijabe. She comes here & stays the night &
gets an
early start & goes the biggest half of the way. Last
evening
when she came it didn’t take long to find out when she was
returning & here it was the day after Raymond gets out of
quarantine & she gladly took the other mule along for him
to ride
back on. So we are expecting them in on Thursday eve. If
Raymond is
as weak as Claudon the trip will be pretty tiresome. It took
C. down
awfully & Raymond was really sicker than C. but we are
glad they
are both well again. R’s eyes were so sore but with Dr. Davis
right there to see him every day & Miss Slater to wait on
him he
had very good care. Another boy had measles & 3 other
children
had chicken pox. Kathryn has had it since we are here. Was up
today
for first time. As so many of the children were sick &
next term
was only two months or less we took the Drs suggestion &
are not
having school open again til right after Xmas.
I’m
awfully glad to have them at home awhile - tho we’ll have
company
most of the time. When McKenricks go Mr. & Mrs. Gabbott
&
two children come for a vacation. We are glad to help others
to get
a vacation now that we have this comfy house we can do it.
This
again Wed. eve. I have your card of Jan. 22 & letter of
Jan. 3.
enclosing squash seeds. Thanks for all. You were still
enjoying the
visit of the Minches at the time of the come together. Our
baby is
having her bath & how she does love it. We’ll get some
pictures of the group when Raymond comes. She’s such a sunny
light
curly haired little tot 15 mos. but rather slender. It had
been so
hot & dry & windy - in fact haven’t had any regular
rains
since last Jan. just showers - about 10 days ago it started to
rain &
we had several days of good stiff rains so the hills are green
again
& we hope we’ll get more. It is time for the lesser rains,
&
we do hope they wont fail.
We
received two parcels of papers a mail ago. The children are
enjoying
them. I let them take them to R.V.A. where other children are
&
can enjoy them too.
Tues.
eve Oct. 25. This does drag along. When there is so much
visiting
to do it is hard to get an evening off. Last night I spent
helping
Mrs. McK. learn to knit. What fun we had. She is something the
build of Cora Beth - long bony fingers & they get mixed up
in the
work & needles - & she drops stitches etc. We have had
such
good times I hate to have them talk of going home next week -
&
John too may have to leave for a trip among some stations up
country
(pg. 3) well I’m very glad the boys are here. Raymond got here
last Thur. Wish you could all be here next Sun. We are going
to
have baptismal services. The two McKenrick girls & our two
boys
- no, just Raymond now. I’m so glad to have them take the
definite
stand and it will be such a testimony to the natives. We have
a
class of 12 in preparation for baptism but aren’t ready yet.
Mr.
McK. will do it as he is ordained. This will be Sun. A.M.
& in
the afternoon we’ll have the Lord’s supper. It will be so fine
to have the children partake of it along with us. God is good
to us. You know how it feels don’t you?
Say,
the Great Com. Prayer League sends us tracts & the last
time a
slip came saying they’d send to any one we want them to &
I am
sending your name to them. They usually have such good helpful
things on prayer. Was just looking over your Apr. letter &
I
think I must have answered most of the things you asked about.
Thanks for the picture of Grandpa & ma. No, I haven’t any
like
it. Mulungit will get the other one. He doesn’t live here any
more. Moved to another place but still on the Reserve. He was
here
about a week ago but I forgot all about the picture.
I’m
going to put in a sample of khaki like we use for riding
skirts. I
make a skirt & bloomers & rather short middy. Am just
making
a new skirt now which is bloomers & skirt all in one &
is
full enough to use for walking as well as riding. Don’t know
yet
how I’ll like it. I borrowed the pattern.
Thanks
so much for the Republic clipping of obituary & Hooppole
news. Was glad for it all. I have an envelope with all my
“precious”
things in & it goes there too. I can’t keep all letters
but
there are often parts I tuck away.
I
should say you had been busy. What a satisfaction it is to you
tho’
that you could be with the folks just when they needed you so
much. My I wish it were possible to keep the place. It will
seem awful to
go to Geneseo & not to Grandpas - but we can’t keep every
place
that is dear to us can we? I’m something like you have been -
sort
of rover. Well, sometimes it seems necessary.
I’m
sure a letter of mamas has gone astray some place as I had a
letter
from Anna Zimmerman whose home is Meadows, Ill. & thro
uncle Jake
Minches family is related to us - & in it was a clipping
that
uncle Jake had died & in mama’s last she told only of
Lawrence
Lehmans death.
Say,
before you settle so good why don’t you & mama plan a trip
out
here & spend a year or two here. I’ve thot about it so
much
lately. It wouldn’t cost you any thing only traveling expenses
&
that wouldn’t be any more & not as much as you’d spend at
home. Really do think about it. We would be the happiest
chickens
going if you’d do that. I’m going to write mama about it too
&
you just plan it together.
Please
don’t worry a minute about not sending “your foreigners” any
thing. Your last year gifts were so substantial that they last
way
past this year. I have worn the little striped dress so hard
but its
so easily laundered & looks so fresh that I wear it quite
a bit &
the other two are most like new yet. I think we are going to
have a
family Xmas at home this year. Hope so. We have this lovely
house
that we didn’t have last year & really we don’t need
anything.
(pg.
4) I wasn’t going to take another sheet but I’ll have to add a
bit more. I wanted to enclose some pictures & I guess I
wont
send it tomorrow yet but leave it open til I get some pictures
fixed. This must be a Christmas letter - & I hope you will
have a
pleasant time. By that time we’ll know where you are, no
doubt. Perhaps you’ll spend it with the boys. hope you do for
Christmas
time isn’t a time to be alone. You can’t hardly feel lonely
when
you realize how happy the folks are who are all together in
heaven. The number is growing so fast lately.
Tomorrow
John leaves for up country looking over the country along a
new
Railway that is to be built and there are several centers
where
mission work should be done & most of the missions think
the
A.I.M. should do it so he must make a trip & find out. He
will
perhaps be gone 2 or 3 weeks. Much of the trip will be done
with
others on motor cycles so I hope he can get back soon. He has
had a
lot of trouble lately - found he was suffering from tapeworm
but took
medicine after starving for 60 hours & thinks he is rid of
it. Has felt better the last 3 weeks but today feels pretty
bum. Hope he
is better tomorrow.
Now
I’ll add the pictures & get this off. Merry Christmas
&
Happy New Year - and a sense of His constant presence all thro
the
year.
Lovingly
Florence
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