Narok, Masai Reserve, Kenya
Colony, Africa.
Feb. 10, 1922.
Dear folks: Robins,
and-so-forth:
I guess Cora Beth will be the and-so-forth,
for I must write her now that her package has come, so I’ll do
the bunch in one go. You never did see my equal when it comes
to saving work. Then too there have been so many happenings
that to tell it over many times gets monotonous - so here goes
three deep, I mean four for one goes to Monroe.
We went to the Kikuyu Conference and to the
Kijabe one and had Council meetings between times so that John
was about done out and really has done nothing since we are
home. You would expect him to be sick with “brain fag” but his
trouble seems to be his stomach so I am not sure I can blame
it onto the Conferences.
This is Friday and we got back last Sat.
night about 7 - tired enough to drop. We “dropped” into the
bath tub first and then into bed and intended to stay there
the most of Sunday as no one knew we were home but about 11
oclock there was a rap at the door and it was Mr. and Mrs.
Macintosh on their way to Kijabe. Can you imagine what my
first thot was? We had been away over two weeks and Mr.
Herdman had been living on what I had left baked up and there
wasn’t anything baked here at all so the first thing
was some baking powder biscuits. Their wagons staid til Monday
morning and of course they did too - but they were real sports
and didn’t seem to mind. They are the people that have been
helping Rainbows but they got tired of it or something and are
leaving, and by what Mrs. Rainbow said they can do without
them very well now.
The next excitement was a sale at Narok of
all the things and the building of an Indian trader, DeSouza
by name. Mr. Rainbow was auctioneer and when we got over
there, for of course we went, he asked Mr. Herdman to be
clerk. There was very little that was worth while mostly junk
but they didn’t get done and we staid the night and all the
next day but John and I came home about nine oclock. Mr
Herdman came yesterday.
John has been in bed all day today and part
of yesterday. First his stomach was upset by something he had
eaten and then yesterday he took the treatment again for his
old trouble (tape worm) which keeps appearing. We hope this
will finish it.
But really I must go back to the beginning
of things.
We left here Jan. 19 and got to Kijabe on
the 21. Found the boys all hunky-dory and tickled to see daddy
and mamma again. We went in our buckboard and team of mules
and it did seem nice to be our own boss. The old mule that
John took in exchange for mine was nearly done out and kept
lying down whenever we stopped but made the mission alright
and as there was good grass there he soon was alright again.
The next Monday we went to Nairobi, the
boys too, where we got helmets and other necessary things for
all around - but no shoes as I thot those from Wards would be
along soon, but your letter says they are coming by freight so
will hardly do by the time they get here, but others can wear
them, and we will get them some next time some one goes in.
The boys went all the way back to Kijabe and we got off at
Kikuyu, the first station on the way. At Kikuyu our tents were
pitched around the football square - all facing the center.
Married people had one end and single men on one side and
ladies on the other. Our tent was on the corner for it really
belonged to the married row but Mr. McKenrick had nowhere to
stay so I went into the general ladies tent and let him in
with John.
It was a strenuous week for some of us - we
couldn’t approve of all the things that were done and yet had
no power to withdraw from the Alliance. (pg. 2) If I can get a
copy of the paper I will send you the report, mama and you can
send to Lora. [written in: “Can’t get any. Mrs. Rainbow
destroyed hers.’] The daily program was: tea at the tents brot
by our “boy” at 6:30, breakfast at 8, first meeting at 9, and
second meeting at 10:30. The first meeting was always Bible
reading. The second was to be devotional too but there was
such a lot to be talked over concerning church union and two
days there was regular business meetings at this time. Lunch
at 12:30 and meeting at two again - discussions on work for
the native women and other phases of work and two days
business meeting. Tea at 4 and then many played tennis and
others went for walks til dinner at 6:45 and evening preaching
at 7:30. Some of the time our Council members had Council
meetings between times which with all the meetings made it
very tiring for John. Then too he has such a hard time to
understand in a large room and so every session was rather
tiring because of listening hard. Many of the addresses I
didn’t get at all and some speakers I could understand better
than he, but I find my ears are getting more dull all the
time.
There wasn’t any rain but a sprinkle so
everything went along alright. The Conference closed on Fri
night with a praise meeting conducted by the Bishop of
Mombasa, Heywood by name, and was followed by the Communion
service conducted according to the Church of Scotland which
allows all Christians to partake; the Church of England does not
and the old Bishop made an apology saying he had prayed much
about it but he didn’t think he ought to take the communion
but he would allow his clergy and his family to stay and it
wasn’t a matter that he felt he had a right to act on and
altho he would not be present in body he would be in spirit.
It was rather sad for the old Bishop is loved by everybody.
We couldn’t leave til Sat. P.M. because of
trains so the Council met all A.M. Rhoads were there in their
new car and were going on to Kijabe in it and left right after
lunch and you may know they went some for he is a hard driver
and black clouds were coming up. Just as they got on the plain
below Kijabe a terrible storm set in, rain and hail. We saw it
from the train and we also got some but nothing like they did.
They got to the railway station just before we did but as they
went on up to the mission they got stuck and of course the mud
spoiled the pretty shiny looks for awhile. I suppose they can
polish it up again.
That was Sat. and we had a fairly quiet
Sun. and Monday was Council meeting all A.M. I took the boys
to the station and had them measured for khaki suits. In P.M.
and evening was prayer meeting. Tues A.M. was Council and for
those not thus employed was a parents meeting about the school
terms and other things. I had charge of it and we made
recommendations to the Council. Prayer again P.M. and eve. We
expected to have a sort of a prayer conf. all week but Rhoads
said they had to leave on Thurs and Johnstons had to go on
Fri. etc etc so when the Council wound up their work on Thurs.
most everyone decided to go home. We left on Fri.
Claudon always has such a hard time to have
us go. The last few times they went away from here and we
staid and that seems easier for him. I had wanted to visit
school and didn’t get a chance til the last morning I had a
few minutes before recess so I just slipped in beside the door
and when Mr. Blaikie dismissed them Claudon couldn’t pass me
but threw his arms around my neck and sobbed so hard I have
about decided I’d never go over again and leave when they
aren’t returning with us. Mr. Blaikie is so sympathetic he
asked me, on the side, if we wanted him to go part way down
the road with us but that would take him out of school and
class and it wouldn’t make it any easier at all so I just
kissed him good by and told him he had to buck up. I knew he
would be all over it in a little while. They have such good
times and all the grown ups make it so pleasant for them that
they don’t miss us so much when they really get into the swing
of things.
(pg. 3) Now then you have our movements
pretty well for the last three weeks. I took your last letter
along to Kijabe Lora, to mail to you and then forgot it til we
came back from Kikuyu so I fear it will be a long time again
that you don’t hear from me.
I forgot to say that I had my tooth filled
and it didn’t hurt and I wasn’t in the chair over 20 minutes
and he charged only Rs. 7.50 or about $2.75. There has been
very little rain here and we weren’t worrying much about it as
it wasn’t hardly time yet, but Tues. night - when John and I
got home we were not yet in bed when it began to blow and then
to rain and we had a proper down pour. The next P.M. it came
still harder and yesterday even harder with quite a lot of big
hail. Today it has puttered around and now almost sunset it
has given us another cold wind and some rain not so much as
before. Everything is soaked and the water tank has been
running over for several days. The hill is already very green
- and all are rejoicing that the rains are really here. We
have had very little since a year ago. These are the regular
right rains and will no doubt continue til June at least, not
a heavy rain every day but usually rain for three days and
then none for three. It is going to be a rainy night and we
have a lovely fire in the grate which makes it nice and cosy
in here. All we need to make it ideal is the children and
perhaps they would need some popcorn but that is growing. Do
you remember, Father you sent us quite a lot of seed and today
we planted some of it so we may have some for Christmas. I
think we will plant more when the rains are about half over
with then it gets ripe as we get toward the hot season.
I ought to gather all your letters together
and answer them but I will try to get at it tomorrow - if I
don’t bake too much. But right here I want to say a big thank
you for all you sent to us. Your package of nuts, Cora Beth
and the cement [Duco cement] and seeds are all very acceptable
and I thank you for all. We have had a good taste of the nuts
and this morning some boys left for Kijabe and I made some
butter scotch for the children and so I sent them a few nuts
but the rest are to be kept for cakes. School will be out the
middle of April and perhaps the boys will be home for my
birthday and then we will have one and also that will
celebrate the moving into the new house. Just when they will
all be enjoyed I don’t know but that they will be enjoyed I am
very sure. And mama, your parcel came too and here is my thank
you for it and then your big newsy letter was here when we got
home and we had our breakfast in bed and read letters
afterward. I’ll put a private P.S. onto this about finances. I
don’t see why you paid so much postage on that small parcel.
Mr. Herdman gets lots of parcels from Wards and he says with
insurance and all it comes to about 25 cents a pound, and you
had 84 cents postage or more on that little parcel - I can’t
help but think that some of those rural post masters don’t
know how to charge. I am taking the “Parmint” and am hoping it
will help my catarrhal trouble. If it does seem to I may want
more sent out. The kerchiefs are so pretty. Thanks Alice for
yours too and for the candy and also the pencils. They are so
handy and only the other day I was wishing for one.
O yes one thing I forgot to mention. When
we got home as we came onto the veranda I saw that a piece of
the roof was off and Mr. Herdman told us that the Wed. before
there had been a whirl wind of unusual strength hit the house
and took several sheets of iron from the high roof and some of
the urelite from the sides and some iron from the back veranda
and the piece of urelite from the front. He put things back
but some of the side he put on wrong so that when it rained
the other night the rain all ran into the house. Nothing much
was damaged and before the next rain came the boy and I fixed
it up. John feels much better this evening and thinks he can
fix up the veranda tomorrow.
Father, your letter telling of Florences
death came just before we went away. We were very much
surprised. I had just written her a birthday letter.
(pg. 4) What do you think we did this trip.
Well, John went to the carpenter shop of the industrial
department to see about something and there he spied some
dandy little writing desks. He didn’t say anything for awhile
to me but later on he said “Come here, and see these things
here”. Course I wanted one - they were just the size I wanted.
Mr. Clarke has a small roll top that he has always said he
would will to me and Mr. Herdman has a huge table thing that
we never wanted brot over here but he would have it and tried
to console us by saying that when he went we were to have it -
but Mr. Clarke doesn’t die and Mr. Herdman wont go home so we
just decided we would have one of those and as Mr. Woodley
wanted to use our tent we left it so that made the load light
enough that we could bring it right along and that is the
other part of that money you sent last, Cora. We used part for
a donkey and now part for this and it is just fine, and so I
again say thankyou. Mr. Leasure wants the donkey but I don’t
know just what bargain we will make since we have the
buckboard we don’t use donkeys much. Perhaps he can make us a
chest of drawers sometime for the boys room at school. They
have only a very small bureau. I haven’t arranged myself yet
in my desk but will get at it one of these days. We don’t know
when Mr. H- will be leaving but no doubt soon and then his
desk will come in very handy for John’s den. When we get the
upstairs partitioned off there is to be a small room for John
and his “junk”.
I didn’t tell you the big thing about Rift
Valley Academy. You know for some time the walls have been
defective - cracks which seem of late to be spreading. It was
fixed over a few years ago but the same thing is happening
again, due some say to weak foundations. So word was sent home
about it and a cable has come saying not to repair but to
rebuild and that there are $2,000 for it. I wonder if you can
imagine what it means to plan and build those buildings to
suit everybody. There were just about as many different plans
and ideas as there were persons at Kijabe last week when may
of us were there. Mr. Gabbott has fine plans but they will
take such a lot more money than we have now. And some say go
on and do what we can and enlarge later on but others say not
so but pray for the amount to do the whole thing right away.
There will eventually be a school room and work shop and class
rooms in one building and no doubt on the spot where the
present building now stands but the dormitories and dining
room will be back against the hill more in order to get out of
the wind, as the wind is awful there nights. This term they
are sleeping around the hill in two buildings that are empty -
all but Miss Slater and Mr. and Mrs. Blaikie. Its fun to see
them all in line marching around from one end of the station
to the other. Often they whistle or sing as they go along. A
native girl carries baby Josephine and little Edgar is wheeled
in a cart by his father and in the rear comes the little black
and white puppy. The six big boys sleep in the smaller house
and the girls at one end and the little boys at the other and
Mr. and Mrs. Gabbott and babies between, of the larger house.
Claudon sleeps with the big boys tho he can’t be a scout
proper yet as he is not the right age but Mr. Gabbott makes
him responsible for the smaller division of the boys and it
has made him so much more responsible. He stands up before his
division and makes them mark time and march straight and
proper. Mr. Gabbott says the little fellows do so much better
since he put Claudon in command instead of one of the big
boys. But the morning I left, tho he marched with them he was
a pretty tearful leader. Yes mama you shall have another
picture of our house for I have some sunlight paper now and
will print whenever there is any sunlight. This is vacation
month and I have heaps of things on my mind and picture making
is one of them. I wonder if you have the family group yet that
I told Miss Cable to send you. Hope so. I’ll also get one of
the big fish printed for you. The film looks pretty good. That
one of the family is such a good one of the plaid dress that I
want Aunt Annie to have one.
(pg. 5) Saw in this weeks paper of the
awful accident in Washington where the roof caved in during a
picture show or theatrical, because of heavy snow. It is
raining a steady downpour - not heavy but just keeps at it. It
is almost 8 oclock and I expect to hear the summons for bed
most any minute. John slept so much and so hard today and he
seems to feel much better this evening so I am glad if he
keeps at it a while yet.
I found such a sweet smelling flowering
tree today that I brot some up and now our room smells like
the woods where there might be wild crabs, only a little
heavier odor, blooming. O I forgot to say there are three
hyacinths open all alike, pink - and all still very near the
ground really the blossoms are just above the ground a bit.
Why is that? too much light? On some the buds are hardly
showing yet and I have a mind to take them up into tins and
keep them in the house and see if they will come up better. I
remember once when you wanted one to grow taller, mama, and
you put a paper cone around it and when you took the paper
away the leaves and all fell over - it was rotted off. Tulips
are growing and the narcissus too and the crocuses but no
others are blooming yet. The fresias look so rich and thrifty
and I know they bloom. Some one sent Mrs. Woodley what we
decided was Chinese Sacred lilly and forthwith put the bulbs
into water. She gave me two and I have them in a glass dish
with stones in and yesterday Mr. Clarke told me the next thing
I’d be having a breeding place for mosquitoes but I don’t
believe it here for we almost never see any.
Today he sent up three Avocado pears and I
am going to plant the seeds. He has some growing from seed. I
like them so well. John doesn’t care much for them. Thanks so
much for the last seeds you sent Lora, especially the
persimmons. and the lillies too for we were talking about what
to put for a border along the walk. I wanted sisal-like
century plant, only more up and not so much wide out. But John
doesn’t like that as it has such sharp thorns. Now the call
has come, Goodnight. See You Later.
Sat. Evening 5 oclock, We are going down to
Mr. Clarkes for dinner tonight so I can’t write much now but
there is a bit of time and as we are having company tomorrow
for lunch I think I better run this off and shut the machine
away for it gets so dusty if left out.
Cora Beth do you remember the picture of
the woman pulling teeth you cut from a paper and asked if that
was a relative of ours? They had her Mrs. J.C. Stauffacher but
they meant Mrs. C.J. and that’s who it is. I have never met
her myself but all who know her say she is very fine - even
other workers in Africa who know them both speak highly of
her. And C.J. is Charles, and is getting very well known and
is very well liked. We met many who knew them as we were
coming out this last time and stopped in Durban, Natal, S.
Africa.
You asked what I did on Nov. 6, and told
what a pleasant and helpful day you had had. Well, you’d guess
awhile before you’d guess what all I did. We try not to travel
on Sunday but sometimes because there is no water for such a
long ways we must but we never start a trip on Sunday - but
this time McKenricks were here and they didn’t know trains had
changed time and when they found out it was too late to change
plans and they had to go on Sunday. So that morning we were up
at 4 oclock and they were off before 6 - so you see we had a
very long Sunday and as John wasn’t here I had my hands full
with S.S. at 10 and when I got home from that a Mr. Sutherland
was here and staid to lunch and P.M. so there wasn’t much rest
and at night one of the native Christians took the meeting but
I went. That is how the day went. The children were here so I
wasn’t so lonely but O my, how empty things were even so, for
we all missed little Flora so much. Claudon was petting the
kitty & Mr. Herdman made some remark about it & C.
said “Well, if I can’t have Flora to play with I’ll take it
out on the kitty” & that’s about the way we all felt.
(pg. 6) Mon. Eve. We are off to Mr. Clarkes
again for supper and I have just wound up the other two
letters so I will continue to you two (mama & Lora) for a
while and answer your questions etc. It has been raining very
hard again this P.M. but is clearing most all around now and
the men have gone to the woods for awhile cutting a cedar log
to split for over the windows at school. Tomorrow they will
again lay stone and this time will no doubt finish it up and
if there is no interruption we may be able to have school
there next term.
Three letters
of yours Lora are here. One of Cora and one of mama. I’ll
settle with you first, Lora. You must have had a comfy feeling
when you got done with all that cleaning business. I don’t
know where we would move to if we painted and plastered - O
into a tent I suppose. It will be a year since we moved into
this house - and there has been very little done at getting it
finished. We find that is the way it goes if a thing isn’t
finished right up it is pretty apt to hang around. But we have
been busy with the school building and now we will soon have
the use of that and I am sure that was the best plan for now
John can get at the house again and finish things up one at a
time. And how one does appreciate what one has had to wait for
a long time. Your plan with your yeast is my scheme too and I
sometimes take some of the liquid when real active and mix
stiff with some cornmeal and dry in a hurry and then that does
if my liquid gets sour. I had a hard time keeping it good
during the hot weather and used a lot of the dry so that I
have very little left and now I can’t dry any for a few
months. What a treat to see a real wedding. Our people too
have some customs but not so elaborate I think as yours. Those descriptions are so interesting that I often use
them as a means of entertainment reading them to others.
Lora, I think
you must know by this time that I DID get that parcel of
Messengers and the writing paper - and I am sure I said so but
perhaps that letter was lost. I wish you would send me a small
parcel of cross stitch work and send mama the price and she
and I will settle then. I don’t believe any parcel that you
have ever sent me has been lost but that’s not saying it never
will and I like things like that for gifts as many of our
people don’t get time for doing such things and often we want
to show our appreciation for something or other and it is so
easily done with such things.
I have no place just now to keep the Corona
open but when I get “set up” in my new desk I may be able to
do so, more at least than I do now.
Say did I ever
ask you to send me a small piece of fine linen? Mrs. McKenrick
had such a lovely doily pattern of tatting and it needed a
small center of linen and she asked if I thot I could get some
from China, so if you send a small parcel of worked things
then put in a bit of fine linen -
say 12 by 24 inches or some such size even smaller would be
alright, I think. I think a square 10 inches big would do for
one. Then let me know what you can do about pillow cases.
Perhaps that is out of your line now and if so never mind
about it at all as I can soon sew up some plain ones for now
and perhaps later on I will get time to do some.
Guess Lora, if you only got to social
gatherings once or twice a year and you were asked to make
jokes and do stunts you would find it rather hard. Sometimes
when we go to Kijabe we happen to hit some festal time of some
sort and are asked to do stunts or perform in some way and it
“gets” John awfully, so that he just hates to attend anything
of that sort. Course he never has, even in College, liked to
take part except in debates or something of that sort; but I
tell him it does him a lot of good anyway, just to laugh at
others pranks. Talk about hats. Cora you know the silk dress
you sent partly made - there was a piece of the goods left and
when we were (pg. 7) getting ready to go to the Conference I
used some and made a new cover for my helmet, so I considered
it was as good as a new hat - I’m not sure but there is enough
for another and then that will be another new hat. I just sent
Mrs. Woodley two skins of the bush guinea fowl with the blue
feathers; they are planning to go home soon and she is
certainly collecting a lot of “junk” to take home. But it is
their first furlough and so is excusable I suppose.
Who are the publishers, Lora, of “With the
Tibetans in tent and temple”? I do like to read books that are
written by some one we know as it makes them so much more
real.
I suppose a
bank account would not be a bad stunt but we usually have so
little extra that it hardly pays and I keep thinking there
wont be anything more that I need from there but as long as
prices are so fabulous in Nairobi I think there will be some
things we will have to get from Am. Then too there are may
things we can’t get here at all. Childrens underwear is one
thing - flimsy little shirts that amount to next to nothing
and cost all the way from $2- and up for each. I may get some
material and make them underwear. I am tempted to get suiting
of some kind and see what sort of a job the tailor will do
making Raymond a good suit. If he has his old
one to go by he may get it alright. He makes their khaki suits
for school.
Yes the boys seem alright since their go of
measles tho I thot Claudon looked very bad when we were over
there and spoke to John about it, but to no one else as he
seemed to think I was over anxious. He so easily gets spells
of bowel trouble and that may have been the cause just at that
time.
Just happened to think. I wonder how many
of you knew that Miss Gamertsfelder is back again. I didn’t
know it as she isn’t out under the A.I.M. and hasn’t been for
a long time - but Dr. Hendersens were at the Conference and
said she had just come and they were so glad for her help. She
is of their mission. We haven’t any oranges yet but one lemon
tree has one wee tiny lemon coming. While at Kijabe we had
some partly ripe plums given to us and they were so green that
I brot them home just as they were and now I have made three
glasses of jelly and about two pints of butter and we had some
nice preserves too and nothing makes me think of home and
mother quite as much as that does. The birds were getting them
so badly that they had to be picked green.
Now Cora I’ll
try to get over your letter. You haven’t troubled me much with
your epistles of late. The one for the boys from your girls
came just in time to take it with us when we went over and
they were pleased with it and the pictures; thanks for all. O
Lora did I tell you that your lily seeds came in so handy and
I am going to put them in right away so we will have them to
line up the walks with.
You’re just
right Cora about Grandpas - they were FOLKS to be proud of and
not only that but to follow and pattern after. I just
sometimes have to stop and think “Why who is left” they are
getting so numerous over there that the majority will soon be
there. For those of us at least who are away from the
neighbors and new friends - our acquaintances are limited
more, and it will soon be the case that the relatives over
there out number those with us. My My how I wish it were
possible for you to come here for a holiday - it just does
seem too bad not to see anything of you for such a long time.
We do want mama to plan to come out here - John says “Yes and
tell her to come as soon as possible and go to Palestine with
us” but we must plan some way that she can come here and to
you too and not miss any of those going home.
(pg. 8) (Whew;)
I am truly sorry you
didn’t hear from me for so long but I am sure one letter must
have gone astray - I ought to write oftener and perhaps I can
since I have the new desk. Thanks for the letter from Warren
altho it is almost a year old now we enjoyed it. You just wait
Warren til we get home we are going to spend three whole days
with you at least. John keeps saying “I’m glad Warren is
sticking it out and hope he will stay there til we get home”.
So you see you are in for it, and if you don’t want us all you
need to do is to move to some hustling city and we will keep
clear.
And now mama I
am at your good newsy last one dated Nov. 22 and had James
Ehelmans obituary and the bunch of Colorado pictures enclosed.
We were so glad for all of them, Alice, I wondered if we would
get any sort of a report of the trip from you and this is very
acceptable, thanks. My letters to Am. and China must take
about the same time for you and Lora both wrote that you had
received the one telling of going to Kijabe to get the measly
boys. Just when did we have that kerchief shower for you mama.
I remember it but don’t know if it was when we were home the
first furlough, but I believe it was. That was in 1909 - 13
years ago. Guess we don’t know Elsie Otts Fred Schillinger,
least ways the name is not familiar.
The reason this
writing goes so good is because John is playing. We have an
evening at home for once. A hunting party is in Lord and Lady
Stanley and Mr. Clarke is with them. This noon Mr. C- was here
and while we were eating a stranger came to ask for Mr. C- and
then we asked him to come in and have lunch and he did. He is
the Guide for the party, a Mr. Anderson. I hadn’t touched my
piece of lemon pie so offered it to him and when he left Mr.
C- said “I was mighty glad I had begun at mine” and then
accused Mr. Herdman of going at his in a hurry so I wouldn’t
take it for the stranger. However he didn’t eat any as he was
in a hurry to go.
Mama don’t take
my remarks so seriously. I have to give Al a rub once in
awhile. I am very very glad not to have notes to
pay nor interest to make up tho you will be looking for some
soon if I don’t get the other order off to the office for the
next payment. I imagine that we will get the bills from Wards
in the next mail and then I will write at once to Brooklyn to
send the balance to you. The first hasn’t been deducted yet.
We are going to make a kick or rather a plea for a branch
treasury here in Kenya for it takes so very long thro Aba
Congo. We are asking that Hetz be sent back for that work and
he wants to come so we hope things will be done a little more
promptly. I am glad we don’t have notes to pay but I am also
glad for those who are wiling to work and earn in order that
we and others can be at this work. We are still on General
Fund altho we heard sometime ago that a church in St. Paul was
going to support us. General
Fund has staid up pretty well all last year. We hear all
societies are having a hard time to keep up
and no wonder when the whole world is having hard times. We
haven’t suffered and aren’t in desperate need for anything now
- the next thing must be underclothes. We have never before
been so near the finished place with our clothing as we are
now. Trunks have never been so empty. I have always been able
to keep supplies ahead but letting things go so long before I
ordered and now if they are coming by freight I fear I can’t
make the childrens hold out til the others get here. But when
they come we will have a good supply for awhile.
Guess I did
tell you mama how tickled the boys were over their pens. I
intended to pay for them and I don’t want you to go and get
things like that when I ask for things I want to pay for them.
I wish I knew the price of Postum. The thing is this: it isn’t
to be had here and so many wold like some and yet no one takes
the time or the trouble to order any and many (pg. 9, damaged)
haven’t the money to advance for it would mean some months
before it would be gotten back.
And then too I want to know if it is a very expensive drink -
I tried to measure it out and it seemed to me it was very
reasonable if I did it right. The thing I wanted was for you
to order an 11 lb. parcel of it from Wards - that ought to be
about 20 of the large-size tins and have it sent by parcel and
see how expensive it would come. I can always sell it here if
it isn’t outlandish in price and it can’t possibly be what it
was when we first came back we could get it in small tins at
almost $1 a tin - small one too. Surely that wouldn’t pay. I
don’t see how it is that the things I wanted by parcel should
be so high. Mr. Herdman gets all his
stuff from there by parcel - sheets
and towels underwear socks and pyjamas - in fact everything
almost. He says he can get three pair of pyjamas from Wards
pay all postage and customs for what I pay here for one pair.
And most things are about like that. Very ordinary low shoes
are selling at a sale for $5 and at other stores for $8 to $10
and even higher. And thats
slippers.
Bells we can’t
get here at all. Everybody that has any get them from home.
Thank you Elmer “oling” (very much) for the bell it will be
such a help here. The men worked at the walls today again. I
set out some little seedling flowers that Mr C- gave me and we
don’t know what all are so it will be interesting to watch
them. No rain today. This is Oneidas 22 birthday and Florences
18.
You see the
thing about freight is that there is much more expense at this
end - agents fee and clearing and shipping from Coast as well
as the customs. In parcel post we have customs only and then
it is at our door. I wish you would try to get some postum for
me and have sent by parcel. Or if you think 11 lbs is risking
too much make a smaller parcel but it seems as tho the larger
the parcel the better it would pay. But get any size you think
best, when you get around to it and let us know if we can
afford it sometimes. When John is indisposed he always wants
it. We almost never drink coffee. Doesn’t seem to agree with
either one of us. Some one has sent Mr. Herdman a Corona and
it is waiting to come out with someone and we hear Mr. Downing
may come back soon so perhaps he can
bring the camera. They asked me about it when we were at
Kijabe.
Yes I think
John does need glasses. His father sent him some but they were
cracked when they got here. When he is well they don’t
trouble him much but when he gets knocked out his eyes seem to
feel it too.
We haul the stones for all buildings with a
wheelbarrow. Didn’t I send you the picture of Mr. Woodley
wheeling a load of children? That is the barrow. Mr. Herdman wheels them from around on the hill here to the place
they are wanted. If he wasn’t helping the natives would carry
them, but he has to have something to do and is willing to do
that tho I don’t think it is wise for a white man to work in
that way. But he has helped a lot as it was rather hard to get
help at first.
We have only the very brown or native sugar
here so I don’t think I can make that caramel but will put it
into my book.
Now I think I have about answered all your
questions and made remarks on all remarkable things. Mama,
here is a tip. Take your type ribbon spool off and run a bit
of 3 in 1 oil over the ribbon and let it soak and absorb all
it will and it will be like new. John says it is time to stop
and I think so too. Thank you for all your trouble in ordering
our things. I am glad you use your judgment in things for it
seems I haven’t much at all when it comes to some things. I’m
sure the things will come thro soon for a freight order from
England was here in about 5 months, so it shouldn’t take so
very long from Am. Goodnight and may this find you well as it
leaves us.
Alice you can
see that altitude makes a difference in walking so it’s easier
to hike out here at 6,000 than in
Illinois.
Lots & lots of love from us all
John and Florence
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