Api
Hill, Mahagi, Belgian Congo, Africa
July
28, 1912.
Dear
Ones:
The
last letter I wrote you was taken by the Lake steamer “Samuel
Baker” on last Tues. up to Nimule and I think will no doubt go
out
via the Nile and now we expect the Steamer back on Tues. so I
am
writing again both to answer your letter that came in last
mail &
to add a few more articles to the list for Bertha S. to bring
along. Then I tho’t you could see by the postmarks on the last
letter
whether or not it went out via the Nile and if so how much
longer it
takes than this way via Butiaba & Mombasa.
Now
here are several more things I’d like you to send. You know
the
lamp I bro’t, mama. Your iron bottom & glass bowled one.
Well
we had used it the evening before the house blew down & of
course
altho’ the chimney was strong it couldn’t hold up under a roof
pressure so it smashed - and that was the last of those strong
ones
like you use on the bracket lamp. There is still one thin one
- it
has the scallops broken off the top but that doesn’t matter.
Now I
wish you would send at least 3 of those strong chimneys with
Miss
Simpson and a good shaving brush for Jno. The best we
can get
here go to pieces so soon. Warren will know which are good.
Don’t
care for beauty but for durability. Then I tho’t perhaps you’d
better send only 2 pr. each of shoes for the children and one
pair
for me. You know my size I think. Mostly No. 4 and medium
width. I
wouldn’t get anything for less than $3 as it doesn’t pay to
get
cheap ones all the way out here. If Lora could wear them a
little or
else put them into the dirt so they look worn. The childrens
too
then she’ll have no duty to pay on them. I really wanted a
pair of
slippers for Jno. something for wear in the house but I’m
afraid
she’ll think we are loading her down. She can put it into her
freight - all but suspenders. I’d like them as soon as
possible.
one pair at least. Now please do this for me & send me the
bill
& I’ll ask Mr. Palmer to remit the money to you the next
time
any comes for us. I’m not particular where you get the
stuff only please don’t get the cheapest but the best
or nearly so. I do hope you can get those lamp chimneys. If
that
one goes we have with us then we’ll have to use our lantern
and
candles. Of course we will be grateful for those - better than
sitting in the dark. But that lamp had done us good service.
And is
it 4 yrs old already? It doesn’t seem possible that it’s 10
yrs
since Grandpa & ma celebrated their golden wedding. Well,
time
does fly. If we go home again at the end of 5 yrs. then our
time is
already half up but if I feel then as I do now I’ll feel as
tho’
I don’t want very much to go. There’s too much to be done here
and too few to do it. Some of the people that came out when I
did
haven’t been home yet and McKenricks are in bad shape.
Johnstons
haven’t been back either. Don’t know just why they don’t go
but think they are waiting for helpers on their station and
then
neither one of them have been sick any only Mrs. J. is
somewhat
nervous.
We
are having such nice rains lately. Have had one tonight since
dark. No wind but a soaking rain. I don’t like wind tho’. We
all have
some garden made now. this weather is fine for it. Raymond
made a
little garden of his own yesterday - sowed some peas in it.
When it
begins to thunder & lighten he asks if that will hurt his
peas
any. And Claudon. I wish you could see him some of these days.
He
is so cunning. Sometimes he starts out for some place &
I’ll
call him to come back. He stands still & drops his head
and
turns it to one side & stands there looking onto the
ground. I
usually laugh at him but he wont crack the least bit of a
smile. Once in a while he’ll raise his eyes but only for a
glance when
down they go. Of course I can’t resist catching him up and
having
a little romp. I always imagine Cora just about eating him up
at
such a time. He was a picture the other evening. He had on
that
little green apron you made for R & sent in the box that
came
while we were home. and brown stockings & the boots. They
come
almost to his knees then one stocking was loose and hanging
over his
boot top and to top it all he had put J’s cap on with a piece
of
lining sticking out in front & the shield over the back of
his
neck. How we laughed & wished for a camera. He is picking
up
the language here from the native boys. but I think if we
speak in
English always he will learn it first. I don’t want him to
learn a
native language before he does English. So many of the
children do
but I think it’s a detriment. Paul Sywulka can’t speak any
English yet and he’s older than R. Claudon repeats what we say
so
much. He has used “There you are” for quite a while. and now
he
uses single words a lot. He picks up stones to throw at dogs
and
says “He tone; so at doddy”. “Here is a stone: throw at doggy”
would be it in English. Then I’ll ask him “where is mama’s
kiss” & he says “He tiss”. He says “Raymond” plainer
than R. did at his age. I have to watch him pretty closely
about
picking up things. We have both scorpions and centipedes here.
If
he sees something coming toward him he is afraid - one day he
was
making a fuss about something and when I looked it was a
centipede
coming toward him - but when a thing is lying still he picks
it up.
scorpions are mostly under stones and he’s not apt to get hold
of
any. R. knows about both & makes a big fuss whenever he
sees
either. As we were emptying boxes the other day there was a
big
scorpion under the paper in the bottom of the box. Claudon
says
“fall down” when he tumbles and “down” when he wants to get
either up or down. Jno made a chair for him last week & I
hoped
he’d begin to feed himself at the table but he wont touch the
spoon
but I think it’s because I put it for his right hand & he
is
left handed. Does everything with his left
hand. Wonder if you’ve sent his shoes. He needs them soon. the
boots are
getting pretty small. But he has gotten a lot of good out of
them. They show it too. When Jno puts him onto his shoulder C.
calls out
“He we go”. Raymond has picked up the Swahili chorus of “Yes
Jesus loves me” it’s “Yesu anipenda” and C. hears him sing it
so he starts in too & goes around singing “Yesu penda” and
it
does sound cunning. Claudon had fever again yesterday but only
for a
few hours. They don’t seem to mind living in a tent. Both stay
well & eat hearty.
We
haven’t heard whether Mulungit has arrived yet or not. When
Mrs.
Downing wrote last she said they were expecting a telegram
from the
coast any minute telling of the party’s arrival. But I want to
thank you so much for the dresses. It is good of you to do it
and
they will come in handy. I told Dr. the dresses were all
coming to
the wrong Florence. She is the one who has lost the most
clothes;
but I hope you’ll send the pattern you’ve been using &
I’ve
asked Mr. Gribble to bring some goods from Nairobi & I
will make
her a dress for her birthday Dec. 3. I’m afraid those you’ve
sent may not fit her as she’s larger than I am - not taller
but
bigger - if they should, I might want to give her one if I
could
decide which one. You remember that brown & black striped
that
you & Aunt A got & cut out & then sent. Well, I’ve
patched & worn & worn & patched until I can’t do
either
much longer but if I haven’t gotten a lot of comfort out of
that. My! I wear it 2 or 3 weeks sometimes before it needs to
be washed. Then that dark blue with white rings in that mother
S. got me is
going too. both such comfortable garments that I pretty nearly
shed
tears at thinking of giving them up but when here come 3 to
replace 2
I brighten up again & hope to see them soon. Am so glad
for the
soiled one. ‘Twill be like something unusual from home.
Perhaps
African water wont wash it off. all the better I’ll have it
with me
always then.
How
I wish papa or Warren or both were here awhile to help Jno. He
played out last week. Overdid and had a spell of fever. Such a
lot
of work to be done and only one man to do it is rather
discouraging
business sometimes. Mr. Haas sick every once in a while makes
it
imperative that they should get into a house as soon as
possible. and
the girls having things taken and their tent is not strong so
when it
storms they are nervous so they ought to get into a house too
and
when Jno is on his back the walls wont go up at all. They are
getting up somewhat but it goes pretty slowly. Con’t know when
we’ll get into any but when the others are housed if we stay
well
Jno must take it slower. We are comfortable here and can live
here
as long as necessary.
But
it’s getting late & I’m getting cold. It’s 11 P.M. so I’ll
finish another time.
Mon.
night. What a rainy day we have had. Not just so much rain but
mist
blowing up from the Lake. ‘Twould have been nice if we had
been in
our house and had a nice grate fire going. It wasn’t bad as it
was
for we were cozy as could be in the tent. C. began with fever
- a
little over a hundred this morning & there it staid until
almost
noon when it went up and wouldn’t come down until about 3. He
feels better tonight but looks pale. He most always has it
every
other day - and R. every day when they have spells of it. No
doubt
it will soon be out of their systems then there will not be so
much
danger. They can always be reinfected but where there are so
few
mosquitos as here there’s not much danger.
Thank
you for the seeds mama. They always come so handy even if they
have
about traversed the globe. It’s your May 17 letter I’m
answering
Lora. You wrote most & you mama added a sheet. Thanks for
the
ribbon, such little things make it seem more Xmasy. We have
nothing
here like the cedar - nor any thing that would do for Xmas
tree but a
few days ago Jno found a sprig of leaves that had been bent
but not
broken off entirely and they were as brilliant as any autumn
leaves
at home. We tho’t we’d try the scheme for Xmas.
You
say Lora you went to M. Ward & Co and hadn’t much to do.
Took
your time & money. Don’t say so. I remember when we went
in
there one morning and came out about 3 P.M. so tired & so
poor. They do take ones money - no mistake about it. So it’s
Elden - I tho’t Eldon. but it’s very pretty any
way. John had 2 uncles in Cedar Rapids when we were home, John
&
Levi & they were so disappointed that we didn’t get there.
Since then Uncle Levi has died.
How
nice to see Aunt Molly again. I saw Elsie while home but none
of the
rest.
Isn’t
it nice to help putter around at home. I enjoyed it too and it
must
be nicer still with so many conveniences. But having boys does
spoil
one and I don’t blame home folks for not wanting to entertain
missionaries. I imagine the folks tho’t us pretty lazy
sometimes. It seemed as tho every body was so much busier than
people were the
years we were home. One really couldn’t visit unless you went
into
the fields with them - ‘twas so with Jno’s farmer brothers. Of
course later on then in Nov. when we were there there was a
little
more time but chores took most all day. Well, I’m not being
spoiled these days. Haven’t had a boy on whom I could depend
or
even leave the washing of the dishes with since we left
Kijabe. I
did a few times & my stock of knives & forks &
spoons is
about cut in half. Awful snipers. and now we can’t hire any
for
more than 4 days at a time.
I
am going to enclose some little pictures a Lieu. Hommelen took
of us
the first day in the Congo. Wonder if you couldn’t have them
enlarged. He takes for sterioptican and has many such pretty
ones. He has several hundred. These are so plain & good.
Think you
can see them pretty plain by putting them into the
stereoscope. He,
Lieu. H. is so fond of Raymond. He is just Jno’s age but has
been
out 13 years. Wants to stay 8 more & then he gets a big
pension
and can live in ease the rest of his days. In No. 1 we are
from left
to right. Miss Harland, Dr. N, I, Raymond, Jno & C., Mr.
Hurlburt
& Mr. & Mrs Haas & baby. No. 2 you will recognize
all no
doubt - Mr. Patten stands to the left. That was Hurlburts tent
&
Haases to the left. Ours next & our store tent last and on
the
right of Hurlburts was the girls sleeping tent and then their
dining
tent where all had their boxes stored. The piece of one you
can see
in front of Hurlburts is a small one that Kamau & Billy
slept in. The two boys Mr. H. brot along. The boy we had at
Kijabe wants much
to come up & help us now and we are writing that we would
be glad
to have him come. It’s awful uncomfortable to feel you can’t
leave the tent a minute without having some one walk off with
things. He may come with Mr. Gribble.
Take
good care of these pictures please & return them to me.
“The
first party to the Congo” Apr. 21 1912. Please tell me what
ones
you haven’t of the 3 groups of us. I’ll enclose one of the 3
boys and also of the 2 for you, Lora as Mr. Gribble finished
more for
us and say he enlarged one and it is nice. I want to send it
to
mama, but how about Jno’s people then. There is only one tho’
and so only one can have it and we don’t care to keep it so
I’ll
send it to you mama as you’ll have many visitors. I’ll look
for
it tonight and if I find it will send it in the morning. You
may
call it your wedding present at 40th celebration.
What a
nice time you will have & how we’ll all think of you &
wish
to be there too.
I
think it’s so strange that Cora said so little of Prof.
Sindlinger’s illness & death. and the Chronicle only
mentioned
it. Don’t understand. You’d expect a little more said of so
old
& faithful a war-horse.
Never
mind about the dresses not being for good. I don’t
need
that kind so much. House dresses, comfy & neat are the
biggest
demand. and I do thank you again for them.
You’d
better continue to send our letters to Kijabe if you don’t do
better than Cora did. Just now I looked again & it was
alright -
it was so marked up I got the writings confused. Tho’t she had
Mahagi B.E.A. Our mail really goes to Hoima Uganda & from
there
to Butiaba & then here. Neither this nor B. are P.O. but
we hope
both will be soon. Think I told you to address us here via
Mombasa,
Pt. Florence & Butiaba. That brings it to us.
How
sad about Nellie Bunker Greenwood - but how blessed to think
of her
work. She certainly was brave and true. Don’t suppose she is
living any more now but reaping her reward. Somehow that piece
of
news has stuck to me so - more than anything else your letter
contained. They & we were at Jessie’s one evening. I
always
tho’t a great deal of the Bunker girls tho’ didn’t know them
very well. It is hard for John, no doubt but easier to
have
her resigned and ready to go.
I
suppose I knew Jessie had a 3rd baby but you
haven’t
mentioned boy or girl & name that I remember of. Must
write
Susie & that birthday present of mine. So nice for Rollin.
The
other eve Jno was working out side & R. & C. were
standing
with arms around each other watching him. It looked so cunning
and
Jno said later how nice for R. to have C. He would get pretty
tired
of playing alone.
Did
I ever tell you that Mr. Joris the Gov’t man had rhubarb in
his
garden & didn’t know what it was nor how to use it. We
soon
showed him. I’m going to bake bread again tomorrow - yeast
bread. Baked last Fri. the first yeast bread in 3 mos. My it
was good. This time potatoes were scarce so I made yeast of
green bananas
instead.
I
shall copy down the cake recipe. At Kijabe cakes were almost a
failure. too high but here they go better. This sounds good.
Now
I want to write a little note to Mr. Hurlburt yet & then
go to
bed. Jno will meet the boat tomorrow if it doesn’t rain. I
want
to wash clothes if possible to dry them. Wish I was a man
&
could lay stone. I’d get some buildings put up pretty quick.
Now
I’ll stop. Heaps & heaps of love to all.
Flo
& family.
[from
margins] I was going to put a note into this for Cora but I’ll
wait til next mail & then write her at N.W.C. as Senior.
Under
another cover we are coming for the wedding celebrations. Wish
we
could fill your pockets with rubies but we can’t.
Raymond
always writes letters to you all but somehow they get
destroyed
before I get them sent.
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