Narok,
Masai Reserve, Kenya Colony
East
Africa. Apr. 19. 1932
Dear
Girls: [written in: “Aaron return this to Cora”]
It
hasn’t been so long since I wrote you but I suddenly
awoke
to the fact that I hadn’t written Cora for her birthday. Such
neglect is unthinkable and I can only put it down to the fact
that
tomorrow I’ll be 51.! Does that excuse me?
Last
week we had such a “ripping” mail as the English say. 2
letters from the boys, one enclosing Aunt Lorene’s and one
from
Lora & such a chatty one from Cora. It made me feel good
all
over. We were out on the road still but came in a couple of
days
later and haven’t been out again.
Two
weeks ago today there was a terrible storm here. Jno heard the
roar
but tho we were only 4 miles from [piece missing] we got
scarcely a
sprinkle but an awful cold wind. We had to put on our coats
&
then shivered.
Next
day we got word the dam had given way - and later we found
that there
had been a terrible hail storm. So much fell that it chilled
the
water of the pond so much that most of the fish died.
Literally
thousands were scattered on the bank - for the water had gone
over
the dam before one end finally gave way. Mr. Clarke got home
the day
after it happened & fixed up the dam a bit hoping that
some fish
would still be in. We came home on Sat. and Major Dawson came
over
and wanted to clean up the pond right before the dam is put
back. So
we let the water out again & he has sent over men &
oxen &
scrapers & they are cleaning out the stumps and silt that
washed
in. & digging away the bank in one place so there will be
a
larger volume of water. Mr Clarke & Major Dawson both went
on
safari so Jno is overseeing it and the road will be finished
another
time. We had expected to put another week on it. I was glad to
stay
home. Camp life is enjoyable for awhile but I like very well
to stay
right here.
Shaffers
will be back a week from Fri. and may bring Miss Moody and
Miss
Holman along for the month. They both work so hard that I’m
hoping
they come for a real rest. The Dalziel family (2 childs) will
be out
for 2 wks. but I guess will stay at Shaffers mostly;
especially if
the ladies are here.
O
I forgot to say on close examination it was found that at the
two
places where quite a quantity of warm water comes out of the
rocks
there are quite a lot of small fish. These being right in
the
springs didn’t get the cold like those out in the pond and the
pond
will soon be stocked again. It was sad really to see such a
lot of
dead fish scattered about. You remember Mr. Clarke had brot
them
from Lake Naivasha about 2 yrs. ago. They don’t get very large
but
weigh 2 lbs or so. and haven’t many bones. & do best in
warm
water - don’t live in the cold steams at all, like trout.
That
storm was 2 wks ago and we hadn’t had a bit since then &
this
is rainy season. but yesterday it showered a bit & today
we had
quite a down pour - it is still sprinkling a bit. John is
digging in
the garden - couldn’t hoe, the weeds were too large. I
wish
it were planted for we’ve got very little agoing for the big
growing season.
(pg.
2) One more week of school after this then vacation for May.
I’ve
not been tied down very hard. but go over every day and help
&
suggest. We have about finished going over the translations -
correcting them - even the songs, hoping money will come in
for
printing as soon as all is ready. We have Genesis ready &
Psalms
almost and Ruth, Esther, Jonah, Malachi & Micah about
ready. We’d like Isiah done too. but no one has tackled that
yet. They
are constantly doing new songs & that takes a lot of time
for I
type them and paste them into the present song book. I type 9
copies
at once but there are so many who want them that it keeps me
agoing. I typed 8 new ones this P.M. and there are about 8
more to be done. Then I must find [piece missing] tunes and
put into the note book for
playing in church - and so the PM’s are taken up & I some
how
don’t accomplish much. Tomorrow is sewing. I’m going to teach
them to knit or crochet with 4 pins in a spool and then slip
the
stitches over the pins - remember? It makes a round sort of
cord. They are so fond of belts or ties for the waist and that
doesn’t
take much thread at all & is very simple. tho very slow -
which
doesn’t bother them at all! Lois, Mulungits girl partly made
herself a dress last week but was in need of it so asked me to
finish
it for Sun. so I did. Another girl has made one & tomorrow
I
shall give her some colored thread and she can work a little
design
on it. They love just anything to make it pretty.
Had
such a nice letter from Guithers yesterday. Guess Lois is
enjoying
her work at Moodys. Lora, you did it when you set me
corresponding
with Marcelle Fulton of Jewell, Kan. She
sticks like a
leech and tells me all her troubles. I enjoy her letters &
sometimes feel like a “Mother Ruth” of the S.S. Times. I don’t
feel the responsibility of any correspondent like I do of her
- but
if I can be of any help to her I’m very glad. First she waited
til
I answered. then wrote. Then I sent her some books and so she
wrote
out of turn and now its getting oftener & oftener. Say,
please
do this for me. Some time get the book “Under His Wings” by
Zenobia Bird and send it to her (address above). It is such a
good
book for young women. and a story which I’m sure she will read
&
enjoy. Other books I sent she wrote are being circulated She
thinks
she must go to business College this Fall but I wish she’d go
to
Moody’s. She needs something to steady her. I believe she is a
good girl & wants to do what is right. She’ll be 20 May
24. so
I can’t write her in time for her birthday any way. but want
to
write this week. I’ll tell her she’ll be getting the book
pretty
soon, may I? There’s no hurry about it, you know.
Now
Cora I meant to say Happy Birthday first thing but because
this will
be late I’m not so enthusiastic. I know you’ll have it. with
such a thotful family around you. Bed time - More later.
(pg.
3) Next night: It’s lightening & very black clouds are
blowing up but it’s gotten windy & cold so perhaps we’ll
get
no rain. Well, I don’t feel any older than I did yesterday or
even
10 yrs. ago. I cut some roses just before dark. Usually I do
that
first thing in the morning but these mornings are full it
seems. I
cut 20 from one bush all nice long stems. & could have
easily cut
30 more. Al. do you remember the green glass vase of mothers
with a
flare at the top & scalloped? and also that straight white
one
with brown on & large flowers (roses)? both those are full
of
roses. The green has delicate pink ones & the white one
has dark
pink then there are 3 other small jars of roses and the center
piece
on the table is one pure white lily - a new variety for us.
&
this is the first one to open. Then Claudons 2 bud vases each
have a
rose in them - one on either side of the old red clock. So you
see
I’ve had a pretty rosey birthday - Hope yours will be
as
pleasant, Cora.
Lora,
thanks for the Orange show pictures - we could just imagine
how
pretty it was.
I
thot perhaps while you were so near to Alice for awhile you’d
give
her a punch & get her to write - haven’t had a scratch for
a
long time.
Glad
you had such a nice visit in San B. I fear that will
always
seem like our Calif. home. The boys mentioned it too last
summer -
that they had such a “home” feeling as they drove thro Cajon
Pass
& into San B.
I
hadn’t heard that Uncle Frank died. Now its our generation for
it.
so perhaps I am 51 after all.
Yes,
I remember where the Court House was when we went to see Rhoda
S. on
some technicality about signing something. So I know about
where
Roberts lived. Where are Rhoda’s Aunts now. back at Highlands?
I
suppose you saw Mrs. Cook. She always writes a Xmas letter
&
sends a card & this year she enclosed a one dollar bill.
So
glad to hear about Gretchen F. Always thot her a nice girl
&
hoped she’d get a nice husband. I hope they will be happy.
What a
strange idea not allowing relatives to work in the same store.
I
can’t think why not.
Too
bad for poor Mildred Schwab. Her parents write too about Xmas
time. I do appreciate all these nice thotfulnesses from them
all. Let me
know if Mildred gets worse or better. I think I owe Schwabs a
letter
now. I usually try to write to different San B. people a few
months
apart & let all read each one. I don’t know when I wrote
Mrs.
Roberts but I know she owes me.
Thanks
Cora for your pretty card. What man is shaking hands with me.
perhaps it’s Edward. Alright. Thanks too for the paper napkin
all
pictured up so pretty. And the clipping about Hurlburt. Also
the
school program. It must have been most interesting. Your boys
are
after all “real boys” when they love to shoot animals.
(pg.
4) Mrs. Shaffer was quite excited some time ago when I told
her Lois
was playing the double bass viol. She had a picture one day -
a
group of people playing & Harry Daniel asked what you call
that
big instrument & she was informing him it was a
double
bass viol - just as I stept into the room & then I said
that’s
what Lois is playing - & she was quite elated. I know you
wont
mind if I read parts of your letter to her. She thinks you are
wonderful. as a mother and it does her good when she hears
some of
the things you are doing and how you meet difficulties too.
Her
children would not be hard at all to control if she controlled
them,
but she doesn’t and then the vacation month is just about all
she
can stand. by the [piece missing] week she is all in &
then she
usually does all the sewing & fixing during that week.
& so
much must be done that I usually turn to & help.
40 or
more pairs of stockings to look after & sweaters to darn
&
dresses to lengthen. She brot such a horde of clothes along
out for
all of them so she isn’t making much new. It would be easier
in
many ways to keep the boys in khaki & let the Indian
tailor do
it. They look nicer too. Dad just stuck his head out the door
&
said “it’s raining”. but the grate fire is burning bright so
we
are comfy.
My,
what would our Mother have thot she had come to if she’d have
been
able to take her sewing & turn on the radio & get a
musical
education - the same as her children were getting at school.
That’s
almost perfection.
We’ve
been following the war activities as well as the report on the
Lindberg baby case. Each week I grab the paper and read about
the
baby first. Last paper told how he had paid but hadn’t gotten
the
baby. My, that poor mother! I hope ere this they have him
back. What an organization those gangsters must be. to so
thoroly hide a
child from every one who would tell on them.
Why
did you cut down your orange tree? vegetable gardens of
radishes,
lettuce & nasturtiums? What sort of veg. is the last. They
grow
wild here. We have a picnic place down river about ½ mile
&
there’s a huge climbing nasturtium there. Guess some bird
carried
the seed. It goes up the rocks for 25 ft. ordinary red blooms.
It’s
very pretty but they are so common we hardly ever pick ‘em -
tho I
like ‘em around just because they make me think so much of
Mother. She was so fond of them. Mr Clarke is going to have bushels
of avocadoes. Tell me all the ways you can use them. We know
only
to put salt on & eat with bread & butter or spread
sandwiches. Is there any way to preserve them or any other way
to
prepare them. We like ‘em but we get tired of them awfully
quick. That vine has a notched leaf - like moon vine - not
plain like
morning glory [drawing of star-shaped leaf] something like
that. I
hope it grows for you - for it is pretty. I have none
growing
just now. If I want to put stamps in here I better quit with
this
sheet. I always save stamps. Send them to the boys mostly.
I’ll
send you some - so you can give away. Hope you all stay well.
We
are fine. Jno got very tired on the road but is rested again.
Very
much love to all
Flo
[From
margins] Thanks for the parcel sent via the boys. I hope
Raymond
can deliver it!!! Claudon must look swanky in bright green!
Just
put things together & send them another for me.
Lora,
the shoes are very comfy. I can wear them all day without any
trouble. I hope you didn’t make a mistake & send yours
instead
of mine for they seem the size of your black ones I have.
Yesterday
morning while combing my [piece missing] broke my white
comb. Please get me one at the 5 & 10 white.
I’ll have to
pay several shillings [piece missing] here. Just put in with
the
other things for Barnetts to bring.
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