Rumuruti
Laikipia, B.E.A. July 10 ‘08
My
dearest Mother:
Lions
roared all night, rained too. 3rd night a leopard
looked
in the window paws on window sill face against glass.
I’m
writing you because I don’t know what else to do this eve.
I’ve
been thinking of you so much lately - perhaps because, no
doubt, you
are thinking of us. All is well so far. Dr. Blackburn arrived
yesterday. And now, of course, we are ready for anything. I am
so
hoping he wont need to wait long. There are so many just
waiting
now. Mrs. H. & children of course are anxious to get back
especially since Mrs. Blackburn & two babies are there;
then the
3 men with their donkeys & horse came yesterday and are
eager to
return. Miss Nicher will return with Mrs. H. and wants to
write Mr.
Barnett to meet her at Nakuru and she can’t tell any thing
definite
- so it all seems to be waiting for me etc. Tho I’ve always
said I
didn’t expect any thing before the middle of July - any time
after
July 13.
Am
feeling splendid. Have been having no trouble of any sort.
We
may not send this letter tomorrow and before another mail day
there
may be a P.S. to add. Have Alice’s letter ready to send
tomorrow &
shall send it then write another when it’s time.
This
is really Cora’s paper but I’m using it for you this time.
Don’t
know just why. handiest I guess.
I’m
enclosing a postal sent me by the Y.W.C.A. at N.W.C. and will
ask you
to get the book for me. I should like it ever so much.
O
but we are enjoying your generosity these days. The horse
radish ha
grown so and spreads so fast that we are using it
considerable. Have
it with beets like Aunt Mary Minch had when Lora & I were
there. J. likes it so much. Well, that’s one thing
that keeps
reminding us of you. Then one day Mrs H. came into the kitchen
with
a piece of paper in her hands and said she had a scheme for
using
green tomatoes. The birds eat them so - they wont even let
them
begin to turn red before they go at them. So when I asked her
what
it was she proudly announced “Green Tomato Mince”. I laughed
&
said I had the recipe but had never gotten at making
any. So
she said we’d compare notes and try them. Said she had never
tried
but often wanted to. Hers came from her sister, and was almost
exactly like yours only much larger. Vinegar is very expensive
so I
used salt water as you suggested and it is so nice. We
think
it’s a great success. She had another recipe for green tomato
salad but is very much like piccalilly. Very nice too. We have
finished the salad but still have considerable of the Mince
and are
glad for it now as all seem to like it so much.
But
I think J. is ready for bed and I’d better stop. We had no nap
today either. J. & Dr. went out hunting and just got well
away
from the house when it started to pour down. They came home
just
drenched. Then after cleaning up & having supper they went
out
again & got two nice rabbits. Had rabbit for dinner today.
Guinea fowl yesterday. I’ll finish tomorrow perhaps.
Thurs.
P.M. July 16.
Well
I didn’t suppose I’d be so slow with this. Now, while the rest
are in the other room having tea I’ll talk to you. A Mr. Judd
who
is a guide for hunters, has called with a Mr. or rather Dr.
Rainsford
[“Rainsford” written in John’s hand] from a large New York
City
church. I didn’t want to stay out in the other room so Mrs.
Hurlburt said she’d look after things.
We
all know Mr. Judd quite well. His little girl is in school at
Kijabe
now.
Well,
whatever sort of a Dr. that fellow is he can talk a blue
streak. Not
hard to entertain by the sound of things.
By
this time, when I started this letter, I didn’t know but we’d
be
able to add the P.S. but nothing has as yet developed. Dr. has
been
here a week now. Seems to be enjoying himself. he really told
J. he
didn’t care how long he had to wait as he needs a vacation
very
much. His wife wrote Mrs. H. that he was quite run down and
that she
was glad for the chance.
Fri.
A.M.
Dearest
Mama your letter came - just finished reading it. The bed is
made up
& I’m getting a hot bath. Getting all things ready as
indications point to “somethin’ doin’”.
Fri.
eve.
Nothing
as yet has happened. I’m bound to stick out the day. Some
pains
but not enough to drive me to bed.
There
was so much I wanted to write about. J & Dr. have gone out
to
try to shoot some thing before dark. Your letter mailed June 3
came
today. Was so glad for it. The gum was in splendid shape &
we
immediately divided it. and it did taste good. XXX
So
many interruptions - now it’s bed time. Wonder what the night
hours will bring. Will report in the morning. Wish you were
here. It is such a satisfaction tho’ to have Mrs. H. here.
Good
night. J. may talk in the morning.
[in
John’s hand:] This is morning but its not Florence talking but
John and the boy. As dandy a little fellow as ever you want to
see. See letter for particulars.
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