Narok, Masai Reserve, Kenya,
Africa.
Aug. 13, 1923
(Written in: “read & return. This was
here when I came home”.)
Dear Robins:
It is a long time since you heard a chirp
from here and I am disgusted with all my good resolutions
which have been so terribly “busted” but it does no good to
cry but better to get to work and make up for lost time. I
sent Aunt Lorene one last week which may get there before this
tho I was at writing that for over two weeks, I think. I
intended to get this off before Miss Rogers came but I got
swamped not so much with work as with callers or visitors,
mostly evenings and that put me back and then when we went to
meet Miss Rogers a terrible accident happened here that has
knocked the props out from under me and it has taken some time
to get into a sort of order again.
John and I left here to go to Quarantine to
meet Miss Rogers whom I think I told you before was coming to
spend Aug. with us. We met her there on Fri. and were
returning on Sat. when one of the boys from here met us and
gave us a note from one of the teachers telling us that Tagi
had had an accident and was dead and that we should hurry home
that they were keeping him til we got here. You may know we
did hurry - it was about noon when we met the man but we had
had nothing since breakfast, however we came on thro and got
here by 4 P.M.
Men and school boys were sitting around the
school building in groups and told us at once they had him in
the schoolroom so as soon as we had tea we went out. They had
him all nicely dressed and his clothes that he had had on were
there, for it was a shotgun accident and so they showed us
where the charge had gone in. His face looked so natural it
seemed impossible that he should be dead. The cemetery is some
ways from here and as I was very tired I only went to the
house and spoke to the wife and women there. John went up and
had prayer at the grave and had sort of funeral services the
next day (Sunday).
He (Tagi) had gone to the woods to cut some
sticks for building and had taken the gun on the chance of
seeing monkeys as they have been so troublesome lately. He set
the gun against a small tree and piled the sticks beside it
and it appears he was sorting them for a few had been carried
out of the thick bush where he was working into an open clear
space, the ones he was working with must have caught in some
way and in pulling them loose he struck the gun in such a way
as to settle it a bit and at the same time struck the trigger
enough to set it off and as he was in line it entered his
breast from the right side the charge going into the heart. He
may scarcely have known what happened. He lay as he fell.
Mulungit took us there and showed us just how they found
everything and it is all so evident. There could have been no
struggle for there was almost no blood on the ground. He
wasn’t missed til milking time when they began to look for him
but he was in such an out of the way place that they didn’t
find him til next morning about six oclock. It was very
surprising that no animals had touched him - we never find
anything if it is left out but without doubt the angels were
watching over him. His poor old mother thinks that God hates
her because He took Tagi, but we are praying that she will
receive real blessing from it all for we are sure that it was
permitted only for God’s glory. It seems hard to imagine how
there may be any glory out of such seeming disaster but His
ways are best and we know we can trust Him. He never makes a
mistake. At first everybody was just crushed and it was so
hard (pg. 2) to go to school on Monday morning for there was
his writing on the board and his work on every side. One of
the teachers was in for giving up and not trying to keep on
with the work. When I tried to explain how Satan would like to
break up the work and how we must keep on and fill Tagi’s
place in the work as well as in prayer, he was all discouraged
and complained that he couldn’t do anything - he didn’t know
anything etc etc, and everyone was sort of half crying and
talking in whispers and standing around as tho they didn’t
know what to do. I had to leave it all and come in and tell
John about it and had a good cry myself then I realized I
would have to go ahead if anything was to be done so I went
back and went at it and finished up the school work. And I
tell you I was relieved when that clock said noon. I had a
talk with Mulungit and he talked with the others and the next
morning all came back ready for anything, and when I went into
the small room to hear the english class and then return for
the Masai the complaining teacher announced to me that he had
heard their lesson. And that is the way these two weeks have
passed and everyone is doing all they can to help and we do
appreciate it too. I think there is a bit of laxness the last
few days in the schoolroom, perhaps because Tagi’s restraining
influence has been removed. But I will just need to be
watchful as well as prayerful and I think that soon the
teachers will feel the responsibility more and more. There is
no one now that can take the advanced work, and that ties me
down most then there is the translation that takes my time.
Mulungit does it first then the two teachers and I go over it
again and I give it a final copy so that the teacher can write
it on the board. That is the Geog. work and the hygiene. We
have three weeks with this one and that wont be long. Gabbotts
are coming over for Sept. We had intended to try mountain
climbing but they are too tired out and the first week in
Sept. is to be spent in prayer all thro the Mission - each on
their station or in groups, so we wouldn’t have had time for
the whole trip. The boys will be home too and they may bring
the Probst boys with them too so we will be a pretty good
crowd.
We were specially happy just before Tagi’s
death because Claudons last letter had said he had taken a
definite stand for God - he and Herman Probst and they were so
happy about it and they were praying for the others and now in
the last letter he says about all the boys have given their
hearts to God. We are all so glad for the last term some of
them have been very trying.
Now you may wonder what about the Rainbow
case. Well I had a letter from her on Sat. and she is in “The
Fort” Mombasa - the prison for Europeans. She takes it all as
a joke which makes it easier for the rest of us. She has only
a month and it is more than half up now.
Since I last wrote we have struck up some
new acquaintances. Mr. and Mrs. Brereton the people at the
head of the Gov’t school. They came here to put in this bridge
and brot half of the boys along to help and as they lived at
Clarkes we asked them up sometimes - I don’t mean the boys but
the Mr. and Mrs. They also asked us there and we have had very
pleasant times together.
Now tomorrow we are to go over there for
the day as they are closing school and Miss Rogers would like
to see the school etc. Mrs. B wont let me bring anything along
but says I must have a real holiday free from the thot of
eats. We want to get a real early stat so as to see the early
classes. John has gone to bed. He has been bum today but it is
nine oclock so I will finish later.
(pg. 3) Wed. Eve. You should see us - all
three are at it. Yes even John is writing some of the several
that he has to do. Jno wrote his mother for birthday Oct. 6.
This is prayermeeting night with some of you - ours is
tomorrow night. We went to Breretons yesterday and had a very
nice time - we went so early that I didn’t know that one of
the teachers was not able to do his work so that the one
teacher had to do it all with the help of the more advanced
pupil. They got on alright tho and he even seemed a bit proud
of the fact that he did it all.
Now I must get after your numerous letters.
Lora your last was written June 4 and we are wondering if the
next will be from Kuling. Cora yours of June 8 came in the
same mail. I have one from you mamma written June 4 but
received quite a while ago. Those from the girls are just your
last ones I have three from Cora and about 5 from Lora. My but
how glad we are for the last two telling that Albert was
gaining a bit.
Well, I forgot I also have your letter too,
Chas. so I have a lot to look over. Yours first Cora. Your
first was May 7 written in the dispensary and I am glad you
helpt there for a day or two at least long enough to get my
nice long letter written. We did enjoy it and you are doing so
much better than I am that I am really ashamed for not writing
for so very long. I think I have told you that I know the
yellow and white plaid that you did for Lora as I have
patterns from Korea and I too thot that very pretty and Mrs.
Kendall was intending to send for that and I wanted the
lavendar one but neither of us got them. They are at the coast
ready to go home whenever they can get off.
How nice for Wahls to have another baby and
a girl too. No, Floyds birthday is May 19. I always remember
it as that is Mrs Biebes and is also the date that John went
the first trip to the Congo when Claudon was on the way and I
got so lonely for John and he was so sick etc etc. Plenty of
things to remember it by. May 8 is our wedding day. Mothers
day is first Sunday in May, Not? Darwins birthday is June 9 I
think. Correct me mamma if I am wrong.
Sometimes it seems very sure that John will
need U.S.A. even before we want it for I don’t want to go til
the boys have all they can get here but if we have to go
anyway very soon I do want to make it while you are there. It
would be great if we could be there together. I think we would
have to go to Dutch Heights for a week or two just for old
times sake. Course the first thing we would have to do would
be to get settled someplace where the children would go to
school. I would like best if we could be at some College where
they could take Academy work rather than to finish High
School. It seems it would be so much easier than to get into
some High School and then start again at some College.
Your birthday paper is very nice and as you
used some on me I consider I must be “a millionaire” friend.
That was funny how they had to come so early to get ahead of
you. But you had a nice day anyway. I think we 4 would just
like a month by ourselves very much but Gabbotts think they
want to come here so we hope they will get all the rest they
want. And if they are here there might as well be others,
however I am not sure if the Probst boys are coming or not.
You say you had a “real lady guest”. I
don’t just know what you mean by that but we have a lady guest
too just now. She has so many things she wants to get done and
the time is going so fast that I tell her she is working
harder than she does at home. She likes sketching but (pg. 4)
there has been so little sunshine that she hasn’t done much
along that line but she brot mending and writing as well as
fixing up a harmony of the Gospels in Kikuyu - so she is very
busy. I see her at meal time and that is about all.
Had a letter from Lucile Downing today
written late in June in which she says that June was so
terribly hot - 6 to 10 deaths were reported daily. Before she
finished she said it was a bit cooler. It has been very raw
and cold here so that some days we had a good fire in the
grate all day. But today and yesterday it was somewhat sunny
so that this eve when I finished my P.M. womens meeting I
printed a few pictures. I got some pretty good ones of
Mulungits big corn and also one of Tagi and family just five
days before the accident. By this time you will have read Cora
of the affair with Fosdick. How the Pres.s had to ask him to
resign. We had heard that for some time he had been going more
and more wrong. So many are so surprised as some of his books
are so good and helpful but in such books there hasn’t come up
any question on whether the Bible is Gods word or not etc.
No John did not do the New Testament but
Tagi did it and John just went over it and corrected it and
has had to proof read it several times. It is a beautiful
monument to Tagi and his faithfulness. No white person could
have done it so well. I have never seen a more consistent
Christian than Tagi was. Now you will say that sounds strong.
It is not too strong. He never wavered in his fidelity to God
and man and was as willing to do one thing as another when it
was necessary.
You will know ere this that Merle’s baby
did live and Soph was taking care of it. We haven’t heard from
there in a long time. I do hope you mama will tell us how they
are when you write as I suppose Della is very busy. Was so
glad for that very latest short letter and also glad that in
the same mail was one from Lora saying Albert was so much
stronger. We are very grateful that he was spared to the work
as well as to us and hope he may still do a great deal toward
making God known in China. Thanks for all the stamps.
John has written his mother a birthday
letter and now he has gone to bed. We got a number of
interesting books from Mrs. Breretons library yesterday and he
is at one tho it is about time to sleep. I haven’t written so
much but it takes time to look over the letters. But my head
and eyes and back are tired and I’ve a pain somewhere inside
so I think I better be getting “in” too. More later.
Fri Night. Last night was prayermeeting and
then as Mrs. Brereton had brot some of her records for the
phono we had to try them. I asked the teachers today what they
would think if I went away for two or three days next week.
The boy who was most broken up about Tagi’s death and said he
couldn’t do anything etc, said at once they could manage very
well. The other teacher has been sick for the most of this
week but I think he will be ready for work again next week.
Some of the classes are reviewing and as we take english only
three days of the week anyway they will study other languages
while I am away and then we will take english steady when I
come back. Breretons are camping at the next stream now and he
wants John to go with him to look over a bit of road that they
want to lay out if it is a great improvement and John thinks
it will be so we are going out with them (pg. 5) also Miss
Rogers for we haven’t been anywhere with her. We had planned a
little trip during the first week of her visit but Tagi’s
death made that impossible. Mrs. B- says I must not trouble
about anything at all. She wants me to have a real rest and a
change. She thinks I work very hard - perhaps I do compared to
her for she hardly any more than dresses herself. I will take
bread and cookies and meat and a fruit cake but she has her
cook there and he does very well so there will be no need for
me to do much over the fire. I will KNIT. I have one stocking
almost done for Raymond. They are olive khaki with blue bands
for the pretties. They will be about ready for him by the time
his suit comes, that Aunt Annie has offered to send.
Now Lora to you. My we are so glad for
every letter telling of Berts improvement. We do hope Kuling
will do all for him that you hope for. God has had some
purpose in healing him and we pray he may be even more blest
in the work than ever before. Thanks for the blotters. They
always come handy. A few mails ago when some letters came from
you girls there was a little girl calling here with her mother
a Mrs. Percival - her husband takes out hunting parties. She
spied the stamps and whispered to her mother to ask me for
them as she was collecting. So I gave her those and since then
Mrs. Brereton and Miss Rogers have gobbled all the rest and
Raymond says “send me all the extra stamps as I am trading
with boys thro the American Boy” so there are not many China
stamps going to waste. Thanks for Violas and Mrs. Kletzings
letters. I shall try to remember and send Mrs. K- a Christmas
card just to add to her collection. I may write to Viola too
if I ever get caught up with my other waiting letters. I know
something about when some one is reading or talking and there
is so much pain that one can’t listen. Not that I know
anything about what Albert suffered - for I know it was
terribly severe - but when I had my infected hand one of the
days when it was worst some mail came and I just couldn’t be
interested in anything but pacing the room or the yard, John
thot surely letters would help so he said he would open them
and read them and I remember later when answering them I would
have declared I never saw them for I remembered almost nothing
just occasionally a bit of news it seemed I had dreamed about
- but nothing was at all distinct. The serviette you sent in
the letter is the first of the kind as I have none here like
it. Do as you think best about sending them and if there is so
much unrest perhaps it would be better if Cora took them home
and mama would keep them for me. It was nice that Miss Roloff
could come to you for at such a time it is nice to have some
one who knows. It must have been very hard for you with all
strangers around. But now that it is over you may be able to
find real blessing will come from even that hard time. What an
experience that Mr. Pinger had, and his poor wife too not
knowing what would become of him. I hope you too will enjoy
Kuling and get really rested for the strain has been hard on
you no doubt. How we all wish we could help at such times -
perhaps we do by prayer, it seems to help us when we think
that we can do something in that way and I know at hard times
I have been helpt with the thot that others are praying.
Now mama I do want to talk to you awhile
but John has already gone to bed and I want to wash my hair so
I guess I better try to finish tomorrow. We want to leave on
Mon so I must get this off.
[Rest of letter missing.]
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