Narok, Masai Reserve,
B.E.Africa. Feb. 11, 1919.
(pg. 1)
Dear Folks Far & Wide:
Finally I am “going to it” and I don’t care
if it takes a leg I will at least get started tonight. And
just think how good it will go for I can tick to the time of
the raindrops on the roof. Yes sir it is actually raining real
rain and at night too which may keep up most of the night. I
am so full of all sorts of gossip that I hardly know where to
begin. But first I must tell you that I have quite a number of
your letters here that have not been answered for we found
some at Kijabe when we got there and some more here when we
got back, the first ones directed to Narok. It will be two
weeks tomorrow since we left Kijabe and the boys and I have
never had such a hard time to keep straight for I miss the
boys so much. We brot Harry Hurlburt along with us and that
helps but everything along the path and every corner here
reminded us of them and it was just most more than I could
stand. I got busy helping with school work and have managed to
keep at it so steady that things don’t seem so bad any more
but no letter came today and I am so anxious for this first
one. I think it will come tomorrow. I wanted to mail this then
but I know I never will get this done tonight for it is 8
already.
These days have been scorchers since we are
home. Even the very wind, and there was plenty of that, was
hot so one just felt all schrivled up by the time the sun went
down. But it rained a little yesterday and now again today so
we hope the rains are here for good. And such awful fires as
we have had. Got started in the big cedar forest north of us
and then the wind changed direction and it would sometimes
burn right toward us. With such a long drought everything is
so dry - even the leaves on the trees crumble in ones hand,
and then there has been so much hard wind which just swept it
right along. One night I was quite nervous about our place but
it did not get this far, but where it did go it looks awful,
nothing but stumps, black ones, left and the ground as clean
as a floor of vegetation. It has swept over acres and acres
for they have been burning for almost a month. One of these
days we want to walk up the hill and just see how things look,
only I guess it wont make one feel any better about it all.
The Masai dont mind for they don’t know that clearing forest
lessens the rainfall; all they want is more pasture land, but
it soon grows up with sage or other bushes and is not nice at
all.
Now I think I better go back and begin
where I left off, only I am not sure just when I last wrote.
My letter record says Dec. 28 surely it must have been later
than that. My good resolutions that I would write you oftener
have not helped very much. I was pretty busy just before we
went to Kijabe for I waited with going at the boys sewing til
their clothes should come from Kijabe and then finally went at
it any way and then when we got to Kijabe we found that the
Indian who was to see that they were sent had not sent them.
He was an “Indian” proper. So I had to get a double hustle on
and then Miss S. true to her sex put off getting her things
fixed up til the last week and wanted my help so I had plenty
to do. We left here on Friday morning at 4 oclock and went by
the light of the moon. Twas pretty fresh so early in the
morning but better than going in the sun. We got to quarantine
on Sat. AM and then Tagi had to take back his oxen to his
fathers kraal to stay til we got back so we didn’t leave til
Sunday P.M. by the regular transport wagons. And it was dusty
and it was windy and so we 4 walked on for an hour or two then
the boys got tired and they and I got onto the wagons tho it
wasn’t very inviting for it was so dusty. John wouldn’t get on
but preferred to walk and went ahead and walked so fast he was
soon out of hearing. And all at once the drivers stopped and
unhitched in order to let the oxen eat awhile before it got
dark. John supposed they would go on to the usual stopping
place and went on; Tagi went after him when we stopped and
altho he went on to the third hill from us still he could not
see him and returned. Everybody ate supper but we could not as
John had the chop box keys in his pocket. The children got
pretty well filled up as the natives gave them of their
cornmeal mush which was so stiff that you eat it like bread
and then a few roasted potatoes, but I couldn’t any more than
taste them for they had no salt and were only half roasted.
Then along came a lot of pack donkeys and we asked the driver
if he had seen a white man and he said yes way back sitting
aside of the road. By this time it was getting dark and it is
an awful place for lions and there was no wood for fire so we
urged the men to hitch which they did altho it was quite dark
when they were ready to start, and just as we were passing
thro the first valley where there was a big tree I said to
Miss S - “now this is where I thot he would go and wait til we
come” and as we looked up there he was. Could just see him
dimly. Course he came to the wagon at once. He couldn’t think
where we were so he started to walk back to meet us and came
almost to where we stopped. Said he must have been 4 or 5
miles further on. Well we had gotten some blankets out of a
bag that couldn’t be locked and as we had quite a bit of room
we tried to get some sleep. The boys were not quite so long as
their dad so they fared better and slept like trojans til a
little after midnight when we were just below the hill from
Kijabe and there they camped and we had our supper and were
abed by 1:30 in the morning. Next morning we took our time to
getting up and after breakfast packed things up and left Tagi
to look after them and we went up the hill in time to get our
name in the kettle for dinner. We stopped at the Academy as we
passed and saw Barnetts whom we hadn’t seen for a good many
years and then went on to Downings - O yes Miss Slater made us
have some tea before we went. Now we must go to bed.
This is Friday night - Somehow it seems to
take me an age to get this done and this P.M. I said that no
one was to speak to me tonight as I was going to write all
evening and the first thing I did was to pull the cable loose
and have been working a good half hour to get it fixed and
feared I would not be able to do it myself but would have to
go to Nairobi but a jack knife or two and a little help from
John and a little from Harry have brot it all around alright.
Live and learn is a good motto for Corona users.
This is valentines day and Oneida’s
birthday and I suppose that Uncle Dick and Aunt Lorene are
especially thinking of her and I have been praying that they
might not grieve but rather feel the Father’s nearness. Then
tomorrow is the Papa’s 5th anniversary in heaven.
And what a 5 years the earth has seen surely no one
can wish he had been here instead of there.
(pg. 2) This is Sunday morning, Feb. 16,
and just past 8 oclock and an ideal morning, so I am going to
run the typewriter altho I usually think it sounds too much
like business to do it on Sun. The reason we are so early (for
we are usually eating at this time) is because John and Harry
went with the boys to the Boma to see how many want school and
also to see the Officer there about starting school there this
week and then I will have to go and help get things agoing. So
we had breakfast extra early and I like it altho it is hard to
get out and especially this morning because it was clear and
cold - first time in a week or more because when it rains or
is cloudy it is warmer. We had no rain yesterday and doesn’t
look now as tho we would today but we can’t tell for often it
works up just at sundown. This is an ideal Illinois day. Just
enough breeze to be bracing and still sunny and sort of damp
like a day in early June. How I wish you were all here for I
am rather on the depressed order this morning - seems like I
am always when John leaves, since we are back from Kijabe,
can’t be happy without the boys. Mrs. Downing wrote that
Raymond told Miss Slater that he thot he couldn’t be happy
this term at school, but she thot he was succeeding pretty
well. Men took their lunch so Miss S and I will be here alone
so I’d like a few of you to join us. We will have hash, Navy
beans and roast corn and tea, bread, and quince jam for
dessert. Mrs. Hurlburt gave us some when there.
And now I will go on from --- well, where I
left off.
We went to Downings for lunch and in P.M.
ran down to see Mrs. H- (we couldn’t go far as our boxes
hadn’t come so we had just our safari clothes) They came in
time to give the boys their bath before supper - we put up the
tent in the garden beside Downings house and put Four beds in
it and the four boys slept there. They thot that was lots of
fun and it cleared the boys room for another guest, so Mr.
Johnston staid there too. It is the Mr. J- from Machakos who
had come home and was married returning with the party I came
out with first. She was Kathryn Brown of Cleveland. Mrs.
Downing always has her breakfast in bed just coffee and bread
and butter and then gets up later, she finds the day long
enough anyway and Lucile is larger than her mother and can
manage the household very well, in fact better, only that she
isn’t quite responsible enough yet. So after breakfast I went
into Mrs. D-s room and we got started, and before we knew it
it was time to get dinner. While we were talking Mrs. H- came
and we three had a time together - the only time we three were
alone. Then Mrs H- wanted to know when we were coming there,
and we made out we would the next day all day, even for
breakfast. That evening was the fellowship meeting and we all
had a nice time together. Those from away not of our number I
have written on the back of the program. Mr. And Mrs. Conover
were such nice people. Made me think a little of you and
Albert, Lora. both pretty good sized and had voices like yours
only not cultivated at all and evidently not used very much to
public singing, yet the duet they sang was called for again
and every one spoke of how helpful it was and Mr. and Mrs.
Woodley who have cultivated voices (he led the singing) and
are really very good singers, weren’t appreciated near so
much. Suppose it was the fault of the audience,
uncultivated!!!!
Wed. as before mentioned was spent with
Mrs. H- but she had not been well during the night and so
couldn’t go to all the meetings. But we had a nice time there
anyway. Wed. evening Dr. Henderson led the regular weekly
prayermeeting. That was so good too but Dr. studies so hard
and gives so much in one talk that you feel as tho you were a
snake and had just swallowed a frog and needed to go away and
digest it. Thur. A.M. we again had Dr. H and that was good and
John’s was real helpful too. Were at Hetzes for supper and
afterwards the men went to Council meeting and we women
talked. They lost their little Lewis in Sept. you remember and
every one wrote about how nicely Mrs. Hetz took it but when
she had the “flu” it seemed to weaken her so physically that
she could not control her mind either and since then she has
mourned awfully and seems very - almost rebellious - about not
only that but other things. Mr. H- wants them in Congo and I
think Mr. Hetz would like to go but she wont. We hope she will
forget some of the grievances now that school has begun again
and she teaches the high school pupils. She is a very nice
woman and every one likes her as a neighbor but she was very
discouraged and all seemed wrong. They entertained Dr. H-s
during conference. (pg. 3) It is past time for their furlough
and they will likely go home soon for a rest. They certainly
have earned it.
Fridays meetings were very good too.
Between times I washed and helped Mrs. D- but she had such
good kitchen help that she was rather free and I was so glad
that she could enjoy the meetings too. She is much better than
a year ago. But they too may go home too any time as Lucile
needs other schooling than she can get here now unless there
is some one who will help that has had highschool work and
then it can’t be as thorough as it would be at home. Then too
she is anxious to get more music. So they may pick up and go
most anytime. And I must tell you what I did, Lora. Do you
remember that white brilliantine dress with a pink carnation
worked in the front? well I never had a chance to wear it so I
thot perhaps Mrs. D would dye it and let Lucile wear it but
Lucile said not much she wants it left as it is and it almost
fits her as it is, and she is pleased with it too. So you see
where your generosity has reached to.
Sat. morning as I have indicated I lay down
most all A.M. with sickheadache the first in months. Some
natives brot some ground cherries and we bot them and I made
about 3 pints of jam and Mrs. H sent some little yellow
tomatoes and I jammed them too, and Mrs. K- had figs of which
she gave me about a quart of jam besides the quince that Mrs.
H gave me so of course making all that took some time with
plenty of talking mixed in and it is no wonder I miss folks
when every minute was so pleasant. And the boys were having
such a good time every day. Sunday - 3 weeks ago today was
very nice too. Mr. Ford’s talk in the morning and communion
service in the P.M. and the fellowship meeting in the evening,
which last was very good. All around it was one of the nicest
conferences ever attended and every one said so too. And now
that we are back again hard at it we have such pleasant things
to think about. We hadn’t attended any for 6 years so of
course we knew how to appreciate this one. Now I have all
sorts of letters here to answer but it is a quarter of ten and
time to call for the morning service which is usually in the
form of Sunday School but there are Swahili visitors today so
Mulungit will give a Gospel message in, well perhaps three
languages: Kikuyu, Masai and Swahili. And I will talk to you
again after dinner.
Yes thanks, I’ve had enough. Or perhaps
it’s like Cora Beth used to say “Hap gessa und bin sat, Het
mer gessa, het mer kat”. Do you make it out? Its worse than
any native language I ever tried. I was going to go at your
letters but I have a few things to say before I give you a
chance. O my how I wish I were talking to you instead of
writing. I didn’t tell you how we go home and about our trip
to Nairobi. Well Sunday night after the service John would
hurry home so as to get the biggest sleep possible til three
the next morning when we were to get up for the early train. I
had arranged with Mrs. D for the alarm clock and waited quite
awhile til she got home and then she said she didn’t know how
to set it but Mr. D would soon be along. By this time John was
well on the road getting his good sleep and I waited and
waited. It was almost midnight when I ventured out into the
hall again and then Mrs. D said Mr. Johnston had it and would
call us. Then I was so wide awake that I didn’t sleep til
around two and at three Mr. J called and we got ready. There
were many others going down from our company as well as others
by the looks of the train when it pulled in. Altho we had
ordered compartments yet we were ten in a compartment for six.
Others all went to sleep when we got started but I couldn’t.
We just leaned against one another for pillows so there wasn’t
much inducement even after a three mile walk to the station.
(((I had taken cold at my usual time and was three weeks late,
and was making up for lost time so you know how comfortable I
was)))
When we pulled into Nairobi we were ready
for that breakfast that we ordered two stations before we got
there. 4 hours on the train jiggling around had made us hungry
for anything. Miss Zimmerman, the one from Meadows, Ill, and
the girl that helps her, Miss Wharton, were with us and we did
justice to everything they brot. Then we tried shopping. I say
tried for I never worked at anything any harder with less
success. We had some to do for ourselves as well as for
others. I tried to get a pair of ordinary stockings, white,
for Mrs. Propst and could get nothing for less than a dollar
and most everything was $1.50- I need a corset but they had
nothing for less than $5.00 and that was like cheesecloth. I
brot extra ones out but Wards made a mistake and sent them too
large and as they were in the freight I didn’t see til I got
out and as they just fit Mrs. D I gave (pg. 4) them to her for
a Christmas present. Mine may hold out til we get an order
from Wards for they have sent us a catalogue and I hope we can
soon get a small order from there. Well, some things we got
and some we didn’t, mostly because they cost too much. I got
half a dozen plates for Rupees 5:75 which was not so bad tho
at home I think I could have gotten them at the ten cent
store. If ever you send any freight put in a few of those
common plates that every house hold has a supply of. Have
wished for those I left at Dutch Heights. Also the cake and
bread tins - couldn’t get anything along that line. Perhaps by
the next time we go to town they will be better stocked. We
went to the train at 2:30 and were home or at the station by 6
and as Mr. D had their horse down I had a ride home which was
better than walking up the hill after a days shopping. When we
got there we found the boys had moved their beds into the
house for there had been a leopard just outside the tent
during the night, and the brave Wandorobo and Masai (thats
what they called themselves for they were making and using
bows and arrows) thot wisest to sleep back of brick walls
instead of canvass.
Tues noon while at the dinner table a note
came from Mr. Smith of the transport company that his wagons
were not leaving til Sat. but if we wanted one we could have
it the next P.M. Well, much as I dreaded the time of leaving,
especially the boys still it couldn’t be bettered by delaying
so we wrote for the wagon on Wed. I was very busy then getting
the boys things taken over to school and the little last odds
and ends done. Mrs. D asked them to stay until Sat. which made
the leaving them so much easier for they were so happy to be
at Ds. I washed too as I wanted to leave them with clean
things. If it had been John and I alone we would have waited
and let the wagons go and we would have gone thro on Thur. and
not camped on the way, but Miss S and Harry couldn’t do that,
so we all went along and it wasn’t quite so hard having Harry
along, but somehow it never was so hard before and even tho
Harry is here I can’t seem to get over thinking of and longing
for them every minute I am not at some work. I help with the
school work every A.M. Have a boy for helping in the kitchen,
a real helpful fellow too so that leaves me more time for
other things. Just now preparing lessons for some of the
pupils takes a good deal of time, but I have written an order
for books from the C.M.S. at Mombasa so hope to get books for
our pupils. There is such a craze among the natives here to
learn and to possess a book that if we had on hand all that
are wanted it would take quite a stock. We have always wanted
them to have a desire to learn and now that they have it we
can’t supply the demand. It isn’t so much among Masai as among
those of all tribes that one finds at a Boma. All school
supplies in Swahili are printed in England and that is why
there is such a shortage now. We have ordered about 100
testaments and 50 song books and some readers so I hope we can
go on without any longer delay. If they can’t supply us with
charts I will get the muslin and with a printing outfit that I
have I will make what we need. Well, it takes a long time to
get started on our way home. Quite the contrary it did NOT
take long to say goodby to the boys and to get out of sight. I
knew that they would be happy in a few minutes after we were
gone. Claudon was having trouble with a festered jigger toe
and Mrs D was taking care of it and I knew she would mother
him. She is an awful good “mother” even tho her nerves have
been in a state of rebellion for awhile so she gets out of
patience.
John and I walked ahead but not so far but
that we could see if they stopped for supper any place. John
had had his lesson. We stopped at the foot of the hill and the
oxen grazed and we ate and then went on til midnight. And when
we stopped J- suddenly remembered he had no pegs for the tent
so he and Harry slept on the things on the wagon and Miss S
and I put up beds by the fire and used plenty of blankets.
They said they would leave at four in the morning so there was
not much time for sleep. However they didn’t start til
daylight and John and I walked in to Quarantine. Tagi had gone
the day before to get his oxen and come back to Quarantine
with them so we pitched the tent to wait til he came. All
along the say were things constantly reminding us of the other
time when the boys were with us. Mr. Taylor would have us come
in for a little lunch about 2 P.M. just before starting which
was very nice as we then packed up and helped Tagi get things
onto the wagon and then we went in and ate and he started on
for we go faster than the ox wagon. We camped at the foot of
the high hill over which we climb and then (pg. 5. I am going
on til I get done and if it does take double postage!!!!!) we
are out of sight of Kijabe. Up at 3:30 next morning and up the
hill before daylight. The heat was awful, so we found it much
better to go early or late and rest during the daytime. We got
to Ndulele about 9 A.M. and camped. Went to bed early and the
next morning we were on the road by 4 oclock. John and Harry
and I had thot of going on the day before as were only 12
miles from home but John lost his ambition when it got hot. We
carry a lantern as there was no moon and as we leave Ndulele
the road is fairly level for over a mile. Just before we left
we heard a hyena quite close to camp and as John was carrying
the lantern and we were walking along all at once he said
“There is a hyena” and here was one trotting along just beside
me in my shadow. We stopped for a minute and he ran into the
bushes, and when we went on he would come again and again
sometimes in the bushes and again in the road. He kept that up
for most a mile, then disappeared. There is not much danger
from them as they are pretty well fed as so many cattle die.
Harry coming behind with the wagon saw the tracks and how near
they were to ours thot he was following pretty closely. We got
home by 7:30 and altho you would think we had done quite a
days work to have walked 12 miles yet the fact that we were
home and the excitement of seeing how everything was made us
forget that we were tired and we went to the garden to see
things and found an animal had been in over the top of John’s
VERY secure fence and had eaten off everything again. Then we
came to the house and began to straighten up and arrange
ourselves and get breakfast so that by 9 when Tagi got here
with the loads we looked as tho we had always been here. We
put up the tent for Harry and he slept in it that first night
and the animals seemed to be welcoming us back and made such a
noise that the poor fellow didn’t sleep much from sheer
nervousness so we had him move his bed into here and he has
slept here ever since and sleeps well. Says he feels much
better than he has in a long time. And wants to go back home
but we are determined he must stay til the first of April at
any rate. His heart is bad since he had the “flu” [Spanish
influenza] and rest is what he needs and what he wont get at
home. My it is awfully windy today but dark clouds are working
up in the north and I hope they will bring us a shower
tonight. I have a little blank book in which I try to write
all the things I want to write about. Did I ever tell you that
the Normal Instructor Is coming and that I took the first
three copies to Miss Kolachny and how glad she is for them.
The children drew some out of them before they left and did
enjoy it so. And now just as Miss S got notice that her
Journal was stopping with the Nov. No. then mine begins. At
least one copy has come and I think you are the one who is
sending it Lora. Well thank you very much. Miss S gets the
Miss. Review, so we get entirely different papers and exchange
to read. But I never saw any one who reads like she does. well
she reads like she does everything else: nervous as she is she
hussles thro everything and when it is possible, has to be
done over again in a few days. She takes the Christian
Heralds, half a dozen sometimes come at once, and in 15 min.
she is thro with them. If for some reason she should lose the
use of her right hand so she couldn’t write letters she would
get desperate I believe. I am so glad that she has her
passport papers made out - just sends her picture yet and then
when they come back from home she can go, she has no business
out here in the nervous state she is in. Then if she returns I
do hope her mother will come along for she needs her very much
to look after her. Alice did I ever ask you for another
wedding picture? Perhaps I did, the one I had came from Congo
and is all spoiled. Sometimes one doesn’t give every one away.
Do you remember the buttons you sent to me just before leaving
Hatboro? How glad I have been for them, they come so handy for
the native garments. There are two little white petticoats
that were Claudons and came from Congo which I am going to put
sleeves into and give to Kariuki’s baby girl who came the day
after Alberts birthday Jan. 3, and I helped so I had to name
her and did so. “Ruth” which by the way, is very popular among
whites and blacks out here but which I didn’t know until we
were at Conference. How we laughed the other day when an old
Masai man came to school and just to amuse him I wrote the
figures on a slate and then wanted him to tell me what they
were and when I pointed to one and asked him to tell me what
it was he looked up so surprised and said “Don’t you know? You
wrote it.” It was so funny that it upset everyone for awhile.
Lora, was it you or Cora that used to send John the “Organ”?
Well he let Lucile have some and the Sun. of Conference she
played a voluntary out of one of them.
(pg. 6) Did I tell you how George wa
Mulungit fears the phono? I have been trying to get him used
to it by playing a little when he comes with his mother but he
cries every time and since Harry is here he plays the coronet
for us in chapel sometimes and George crawls under his mothers
shawl too quick. I got my glasses back in the last mail and
the other morning when I was wiping them they broke at the
little screw but I glued them and think they are good for 10
years now.
And so did the books and pictures come in
that mail and so many many thanks for all of them. I am going
to send them over to the boys by the first chance and then
tell them they should write to you instead of to me for one
week so you will know that they got them. I know they will be
awful pleased with their Bibles and Claudon will like the book
too. I think R- is going to be the bookworm tho of course
Claudon is too young yet to read anything. R- read at least
half a dozen books while here. Mostly children's books but
among them a simple Pilgrims Progress and a big Robinson
Crusoe. And what shall I say about the pictures. They are
fine. The wedding ones are great but I like the one where he
is sewing on his insignia best. How nice he looks in his
soldier clothes. What will happen to them now? Suppose he will
dare wear them anyway even if there is no more need of
soldiers. I am so eager to know what business he is going
into. I have prayed so much about it since I knew he would not
be in war work any more and do hope he will not make any
mistake. I don’t know just how much of a hand you had in
sending all those things but I do thank you all so much. The
kerchiefs with “J” on will be so nice for good as those he has
are all old and most are pretty yellow. And those Aunt Lorene
sent I want to crochet around and give to Lucile as they have
“L” in them and I had wanted so much to give her some as she
needs many because of going to school and mine are all either
“F” or “S” so was glad for these. And Lora, the pink tatted
one you sent me I want to send to Dr. Newberry. I have them
both now. The blue one sent last has come first, and the pink
one just came in last mail. But a letter of Fathers took the
prize for a long trip. Got it at Kijabe Jan. 21 and it was
mailed June 18. Some papers came in that mail too.
Lora, your pink kerchief letter with one
from Cora Beth enclosed and some white ribbon was open at both
ends but everything was still in it. Thanks so much for all. I
know I should write to Cora Beth, I never meant to neglect her
so but my stack of unanswered letters is so high that I
despair of ever getting thro with it. My vacation times are
usually when the boys are here and who could think of writing
extra letters then. There is always sewing and then picnics
and things that just can’t be missed. So please tell her the
next time you write her that I wish she had a letter every
time I think of her and she couldn’t answer them all. Glad to
know her Frank is better. She tells how little Mary sings and
the other day I was looking thro an old Journal that came down
from the Congo and saw where Claudon’s latest song was “Bin ka
Yesu, Grine the Glory” all in one breath. I remember well when
he sang it. How time flies!!! Prunes 5 cents a lb!! and
complaining at that. I bot some at Nairobi and paid about 75
cents a lb. I like them on hand so if needed in time of
sickness etc and they are in a sealed tin so will keep.
Say please tell Warren’s that I got their
pictures and will write them as soon as I can. Yes, I got
mama’s letter telling of Oneida’s going. It did take long and
by this time you will know that it did finally come. I hope
things will soon get straight so mail will come by shortest
and surest route again. I am going to send a clipping from
this weeks paper telling about what they think now the
Influenza is. We are about 55 miles straight west of Kijabe.
No not near where the other reserve was, that was north of
Kijabe. Our permanent house is not yet begun and we are hoping
that the price of iron will go down so we can have an iron
roof. There have been such terrible forest fires north of us
and came pretty near so we felt a little nervous about them
and made us hope for an iron roof. We are fairly comfortable
but rather crowded in two rooms so I hope we may soon get at
the other one. The fires did such a lot of damage to the cedar
forests. John and Harry walked up to see where they burned and
the ground is bare as a floor and nothing left but charred
stumps. These heavy rains we had last Wed. put them out. It is
getting very cloudy and thundering. Hope it wont all go around
us tonight but I hope too that the men will get home before it
begins. Think I must go to the garden and get some corn for
supper. Yes, telegraph connection but no way to get there but
Shanks horses. But I could make it in two days quite easily if
necessary.
(Pg. 7. Number of completion in
Scriptures.) Now the corn is here and the men aren’t yet so I
will worry you some more. Mr. Lanning in Congo bot the writing
desk and the stove and the tools and a gun or two but of
course at very reduced prices as all had been used and John is
no Jew. But we got something anyway and the sewing machine is
still unsold. I am asking $20 for that. Miss Cable was going
to take it but I think she is going home now. John made a
phono table the other day. Not a fancy thing but does very
well. And we brot three chairs along from Kijabe that they
make in the Industrial dep’t. Folding ones and ordered three
regular dining room chairs but don’t know when we will get
them. I want a writing desk and think some time the folks will
send my machine altho the last I heard they thot it very
risky. It will soon be better now, tho.
You all speak of apples, yum, yum, yum! You
know how to appreciate them proper, Lora but the rest don’t.
Never mind about the doll. They may be going home soon as the
father has chronic appendicitis and needs an operation. I will
just send them some money and let them get one when they get
home. This Influ-business made me think of times when one of
the children was born, how I got everything ready and it would
seem so strange to be preparing things for a time when I would
be sick. We hadn’t the second room quite finished and John
worked so hard getting it done before anyone would be sick,
and every night we would say “Well wonder how we will wake
up.” And if Miss S did not appear just as prompt as she could
we’d think she was sick. But God was wonderfully good to us.
We have been so well all the time. Thanks for Mrs. Kletzings
letter. I let Bertha read it. Yours are all interesting and it
is nice to see what others are doing too. I was putting a
clean cloth on the table and happened to notice in a
Naperville Clarion the High School program - I put papers for
a pad - and in the class prophecy was Elva Schutte’s name
mentioned as a wonderful singer so I judged she was doing
something along that line. Now then I must go at mama’s. It is
five and no men yet.
Oct. 24 first. and came Jan. 15. So very
glad for the seed enclosures. I shall plant the salvia right
away as I do like them so. Some asters that I sowed in sort of
a hot bed are up and some other things too --- Here are the
men.
Supper is over and not time for meeting and
John wants to rest so I will continue. First, I wanted to tell
you Lora, that that kerchief that you hemstitched and mama
tatted for in L.A. is wearing out and I am going to take the
tatting off and put it onto another. Wasn’t that one of the
first dresses I made? that blue and white sample that you
sent; you had been wearing for a night dress. I am going to
keep it til I open that trunk that has my dress book in and
then see about it. You tell of so many doing different things
that I can’t remember all but I do like to hear about them
anyway. Poor Will Smith! I suppose none of us can live for
always but it seems sad to have to see others suffer so. O how
may times I have been thankful that papa could go. I wonder
that Will doesn’t make a definite decision, knowing that he
can’t live long; but they were always rather proud and morally
good was good enough. But how mistaken they are. And in one of
your last letters you said that Stacy Smith had gone. And now
only Ruby is left, and where is she? You asked if I knew we
could can our sauerkraut in fruit jars, Well the animals can
all mine and I don’t bother. If I did want to I have only one
one quart jar. Isn’t that a business tho that you can’t sell
the farm if you want to. Is that Clint’s fault? Cora your
letters certainly are conspicuous by their absence. Have had
none since the one written Oct. 14 or so. Mama you speak of
footing Darwin a pair of stocks and how I wish I knew, this
minute how to heel and I would have lots of work to do and how
I like to do it too. Can’t you tell me how in a simple way so
I can understand? I raveled some for John to see how it was
done but they were factory knit so it didn’t help me any and
the home knit ones are all good yet. Harry wears the golf
stockings and has some here that need new feet and I would
like to do it for him but hardly want to experiment on him.
Tell me just what you do when you start the heel and about how
many to cast on and knit off etc etc. I think I would be able
to follow directions. Cora, can’t you make the boats travel
faster when we are all so anxious to hear? It seems to take so
much longer than when at Nanking. I know you are inland
further and that makes a big difference. Mrs. H- almost came
along over with us too as she thot Harry might stay longer if
she did. I wish she had now that it is raining and things will
soon be green. It is certainly interesting to watch the little
ferns in the woods. When there were showers they would uncurl
a little and then dry all up again but this time they have
come out nice and big and fresh. Now I will finish on the
backs of these [typed pages] with lead pencil and yours Cora
I’ll write extra.
(pg. 8) Mon. eve & it’s raining nice
& quiet - most every drop will soak in. We haven’t had a
rain for 3 days so it was getting a little dry again for the
things with only little roots. The hill & all around the
grass was entirely dry & in many places didn’t seem as tho
there were any roots left and two days after the first rain
there was quite a coloring of green showing.
Now Harry is going to run the phono while
we write. Jno is at his Masai vocabulary. The Gov’t Officials
didn’t encourage our doing school work at the Boma [Narok] as
they have school for the soldiers. They want us to confine our
work to the Masai people so we had planned last night after
meeting, to make a trip about 4 days from here to look over
part of the country where we think there’d be chance for
gardens & for the people to collect in sort of a colony.
But it looks like the plains are swampy so we may not go. And
one of Tagi’s oxen that he drives has just died & another
is sick with pleuro-pneumonia. You know what that is don’t
you, mama.
He has put on the phono “Whispering Hope”
and if you ever get a phono get that record; it is a beauty.
McQuilkins had it. That’s where we heard it. (pg. 9) Thanks,
Mama, for the clippings about Geddes & Lipton - Very
interesting.
Have just been looking over more letters. I
just hate to destroy your good letters but so much accumulates
I have to go thro some of our boxes as it is & clear up.
Lots of stuff came down from Congo that needs sorting.
Am keeping your description of when peace was declared.
Did you know McQuilkins are in the party
that’s supposed to be somewhere on the way. We’ve heard
nothing of them except that money has come for them - so we
suppose they will land some time.
McQ’s had a baby boy in
Sept, so it will be rather hard on her but he is a good help.
When we were at Kijabe we saw a Chicago
Daily of Nov. 11, telling of the crazy things folks did there.
It was awful.
(pg. 10) There are some people at home who
wold like stamps would you mind saving all yours. Just put
them into an envelope and when you have enough to make it
worth while address it to Rev. and Mrs. Geo. Johnson, 1136
East 2nd St, Brooklyn, N.Y. They came out in that
party we were to come with in March 1917 but staid only a
short time as he had tubercular trouble. So now they are home
again and want stamps. African or other countries. & I
thot you wouldn’t mind doing that little if it helps them. I
used to save them up & got good prices in London but not
since the war.
Guess this is all now - You’ll have to take
a week off to read it. One week from Thur. is your birthday.
Wish we could all say (pg. 11) how happy we hope it will be.
You may know we’ll all be thinking of you. When I look at the
moon I wonder what he saw a few hours before when he passed
Hooppole. Doesn’t seem possible that he sees you every day. It
is so bright mornings just now that I can scarcely tell
whether its moon light or getting day light at 5:30.
How many times I’ve wished you were here
Mama to help with nice jobs like pasting kodak pictures in
albums & carding wool & O ever so many such things.
Hope Mrs H. can come for a month or two sometime. We’d do it
then.
After the Masai Council meeting on Mar. 1
when they say whether or not we can stay here, we will think a
little more about getting at another house. Seems rather
unsettled now.
(pg. 12) Then the next thing will be to
have the land surveyed - we will be allowed 25 acres, I think.
But I must stop & finish
Cora’s. Lots of love. & God give you many more happy
birthdays. Perhaps some may be spent in Africa. Four years ago
on your birthday we sent you the telegram from New York that
we had landed. God has been good to us for we little thot then
we’d get back to Africa again.
Lots & lots of love
John and Florence.
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