Narok. Masai Reserve, Kenya Colony,

East Africa. Oct. 26, 1931

[with Christmas stamp]

Dear Chas and the rest:

        Yes we were glad for your letter, Chas. I know that the first 6 mo. of the year are very busy ones for you so I don’t get troubled when there’s no letter from you but I always expect you to hear from us tho I don’t think I’ve written direct to you for some time. And now this is a “share up” letter again. I’ve wanted to send it a month ago but have been waiting for pictures that Mr. Shaffer was to get & bring out - but he is not returning for so long so the letter must wait. for John’s account of our trip would not be interesting without the pictures, even tho some are very disappointing. Now we are expecting Shaffers home this week so I’m getting this written & when they come it can be sent at once. ‘Twill no more than just reach you by Xmas. I’m doing this in school. Next week we have the Gov’t Exam. after which I may feel like hiding my face if none of the boys pass. tho I’m sure some will.

        Lora yours written on Darwin’s present to you came in last mail together with Alice’s air mail that was written a week later. I don’t know what they mean by saying “insufficient postage”. Alice’s had that on too & we pay 35 cents - Af. cents - more than folks do that send to England only. Guess the trouble is there is no regular air mail service across the Atlantic. But the boys got theirs so quick - 17 days, so I had hopes we’d be able to do it in shorter time too.

        Alice I’ll take back all the things I said in my last to you about not writing. Elmer will get scared gray if he thinks he’s got to answer my letters. I know something ab’t how busy & irregular one is who lives in town & especially in Calif. Do you find it pays you to do your own baking when you pay gas? Course you have so many lunches to do. You must be used to thinking in therms of lunches rather than home eats. And how you feasted the boys! Raymond would appreciate the fruit. They seem to have thrived on it very well. They never say a word about anyone being sick. I wonder if they never are. I’m mighty glad the boys had that visit with you all. It’s so easy for them to class relatives with all other friends, when they don’t see any more of them than they have of you - they just don’t fully appreciate their blood relatives so I’m very glad they had that touch with all of you. I’m sure from their letters they fully enjoyed it and were proud of such liberal and generous relations as you were.

        I’m glad for what you say of R’s appreciating what you did, & saying so. I think he always appreciated things but didn’t think it was necessary to say so. He’s learned a few things by living with Mrs. W.

        Those are lovely air mail stamps, Alice. England doesn’t have any special stamps like that.

        xx Evening.  Shaffers came this P.M. & brot the pictures so I'll get this finished up.

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