Narok,
Masai Reserve, Kenya Col.
East
Africa, Feb. 25, 1933.
Dear
Ones in Kan. and Calif:
I’m
just dreading to get your next letters for fear they will be
full of
plans for us when we get to U.S.A. My letter to you telling of
our
changed plans has been on its way for some time so you’ll soon
know
- but a letter from Lo & one from Cora came the other day
saying
they had just received the one saying we were thinking of
home. When
I think of seeing you all again & the very nice times we’d
have
together I feel a real keen disappointment because our plans
have
changed. But when I remember how well we are (and we’re very
thankful) and how there seems no one who can be spared for the
work
here and then that awful ocean - 2 of ‘em to cross - why then
I
feel some little compensation for not seeing you all. We’ve
written to different places & are trying to get a line up
on our
friends & acquaintances - as well as places of interest in
S.A. We aren’t very excited about it yet. We are not planning
on
leaving til July.
Mr.
Scudder wrote in his last letter that their Field Council were
recommending to the home Committee that they let the 2 couples
get
married in July instead of making them wait til Nov. We have
always
told Mr. Scudder that if he couldn’t start work in Samburu
country
now that he should come here while we are away. They have gone
to
find out about the possibility of getting in now so we will
soon
know.
We’ve
been going on quite peacefully since I last wrote. Regular
class
work & school work etc - just such as I like. Mr. Clarke
came up
several times & our trips to Narok on Sun. P.M. holding
meetings
made plenty of digression to suit me. Then last Thurs. we had
a card
from Mrs Shaffer saying they were coming to Nairobi to attend
&
help at the wedding of Mr. Senff & Miss Welty, & they
needed
to get away awhile & would be out here on Tues for a
couple of
weeks. We waited supper on Tues night til late but they didn’t
come & so we waited again on Wed. & no Shaffers.
Thurs. eve
we had supper real early & then they came. So now our
regularities have broken up some what. but they don’t count
much -
too much like the family but next Tues. the bride & groom
are
coming too - on their way to Congo. then we’ll be 9 around the
table. They will likely stay only a few days. and we are glad
to
have them with us. She has been in girls work at Kijabe &
he is
just returning from furlo. They bot a truck and are driving
thro to
their station in Congo. Mr. Shaffer was his best man & Mrs
Shaffer played the violin with the organ. Then they staid an
extra
day in Nairobi to help the newly weds with shopping. So that
made
the late in coming out here.
[pg.
2] We & they are so enjoying the Americans, Lora. That
last
bunch are here with the Xmas cards enclosed. Thanks also for
all
pictures & pretty Xmas card. Also the Readers Digests. Now
that
we aren’t leaving til July we hope you wont stop sending the
Ams.
yet. And if someone is here the 6 mos. we are away - they will
keep
them for us. I hate to miss any numbers because of continued
stories. They are so much enjoyed by our guests.
Then
thanks too for the calendars. I paste ‘em onto pretty cards
and
give them as prizes.
Did
I ever tell you Lora, that I received “Streams in the Desert”
&
as it was late I didn’t give it to Mr. Scudder and now this
newly
married couple sent us an invitation to their wedding so I
gave them
the book. When they come I shall find out if they have one
like it
I’ll take it back & give them some thing else & keep
it for
some one else. perhaps when Scudders are married. I’m awfully
glad
you sent it and shall be very glad for the Gribble book when
it comes
- but very glad you sent it to the boys for they will be very
interested.
I’m
so glad you have the Stauffacher glass dish. Hang onto it for
me. Some day I may be settled for awhile then I’ll claim it.
Use it if
you need it, of course.
Lora,
you tell of the death of Mrs. Doescher - and how you wouldn’t
care
to live alone. I agree with you. I’ve always said the same.
I’d
never cook for myself. I’ve so often thot of Miss Slater &
I
told her once - I’d be no good as an old maid. She isn’t alone
just so much of the time but more than I’d want to be.
Did
I tell you thanks for all the clippings, Hooppole news, &
election or political news. Our weekly told of the attack on
Mr.
Roosevelts life. & the threat on the Lindberg baby. Again
thanks
for the funnies. & the colored papers & Faylon’s
letter. He does write well, & after all you got the turkey
& they
didn’t.
Hope
Mary liked “Under His Wings”. I do think it such a good book
for
young girls. You know I got it for Marcelle Fulton the girl in
Kan.
that I write to. She said she read it all one Sun. P.M. &
cried
hard when she realized how far below those girls she was. She
has a
hard time to be good.
Glad
for the news about the Rillings; I’ve so often thot about
Mabel
these days. 50 and teaching in Gym! but Mabel never will get
old.
Thanks
for the hair nets & cap. Sometimes they last so long &
then
again they go so quickly. The one I have on now has lasted
well. The cap I can wear on boat to S. Af. tho we hope to go
mostly by
train on way down. & back by boat.
[pg.
3] Your pattern for Lucile Andersen will be very welcome for
she is
not going to school til June. Mrs. A. does dread it so. They
were
all to Conf. Mr. A. is much better but may not stand on his
feet
yet. The girls had such a good time with the other children -
and
I’m sure it’s going to be the making of them to go to school.
Lucile is much like we were - all stomach - and she dresses
them so
oldfashioned. She knows it but can’t seem to do any better.
How
we enjoyed Faylons picture of the man in the boat fishing and
the
fish in the water. The girls go fishing and we have 3 kinds
they
catch. Talapia are very good. few bones and lovely meat
especially
when they catch ‘em about 4 to 8 oz. Then there are the
“shenzis”
- they are the native fish that we found in these streams -
they
never get very large - & are very boney - and then the mud
fish
or eel like fish that get larger than either of the others but
we use
them only for cooking for the chickens. So the girls had fun
naming
Faylon’s fish.
Yes,
I think we are wise to stay in Africa among the heathen where
we are
safe!
So
glad you told Hurlburts address. I’m going to write her. tho
it’s
her turn. Just heard recently from Agnes. she said Harry &
wife
hope to come out this spring. Seems so strange to think of
Harry
married, but we are all very glad.
Say,
what do you want for the bouquet you threw at me? “Beth looked
so
much like you - - - she did look very sweet!”
How
very disappointing your Xmas was - but you were quite a party
by
yourselves. & I’ll venture you’ll remember Xmas 1932 much
longer than if you had all been together. So glad you were all
so
well recovered when you wrote and hope by this time even Lois
&
Beth have stopt coughing.
I’ve
been at this several days. this is Tues. night the 28th.
Grace S. has been in bed all day. and we got the Indian
Dispenser
from Narok to have a look at her. Mrs. S. fears pneumonia -
but the
Dr. called it bronchitis. They are upstairs over our room now
for we
are expecting Mr. & Mrs. Senff any day.
Yes,
how fine if Aunt Rene & Uncle Dick could visit you. I’m
sure
they’d enjoy it & think harder than ever of staying there.
Don’t
worry about traveling clothes. The girls have such nice kahki
long
coats. I’m going to have one made. We will cut it out &
let an
Indian tailor sew it. Mrs. Shaffer still has my jacket suit
that
Mother sent me in ‘24 & I wore thro Europe. Then Mrs. S.
wore
it home & has brot it back again. & says I may have it
if I
ned it for this trip. Your suggestion of a knitted dress or
suit
sounds interesting but I could get on without - and will
unless
you’ve already sent it. I’m making up the green Korean silk -
&
shall make up that orange voile you sent. What I’d like is
some of
that run resistant underwear. [pg. 4] its so cheap at home but
I may
find some out here that’s not too expensive and a gown of
crepe or
something. saw one lately that was beautiful. the girls said
it was
nun’s veiling - but ‘twas like very fine all wool. but thin.
Then I need a dressing gown too. Have a heavy corded bath robe
but
I’ll not take it. Too much packing. We don’t expect to do much
visiting. so don’t need many house dresses. mostly something
to
travel in. May get a pongee blouse or something of that sort.
Have
sort of a silky sweater - boughten - that Mrs S. brot back but
its
faded so am coloring it red. That will go alright with most
any
skirt - even kahki. So don’t put yourselves out much to send
things. And please don’t send letters that are full of plans -
or
I may weaken & go on around the Cape straight to America!
Miss
Glover knits a pretty little cap - so even if you can’t find
something like that to send. I may be able to knit one. My
ambition
now is to knit Jno a bathing suit! One of the girls has one -
and
it’s quite the style so I’m hoping to get one made for him.
his
suit - I made it - is almost dropping off him. & one can’t
buy
any thing that will any where near cover him.
The
girls have brot some patterns - good for house dresses or
others.
just sort of general outlines & one can have variety by
putting
on a yoke or doing the neck differently. They are both quite
clever
with the needle & Miss Glovers things especially are very
neat. Miss Grindley is nearer my size & not so easily
fitted tho
her things are neat too.
Every
one has gone to bed so I must too. Mr. S. is sitting here
reading a
bit. He has been playing “Rigoletto” on the phono. I can hear
Grace coughing. She slept very little last night so I hope she
gets
on better tonight. Mrs. S. is so glad they are here nearer
medical
help - they are far from any Dr. down there at their station.
We
just got Wards latest Cat. and O my the tempting things in it.
but
postage & customs on top of the price makes it – not so
economical after all.
I’ll
be posting the Annual one of these days. Guess I’ll post it to
you
Chas. & you can look it thro & send to the others.
It’s
so dry now. hasn’t rained for 3 wks & things are drying
up. &
Jno is still working at the water from the spring - for, he
thinks
now we can have a pump and pump the water to the house. That
may be
alright. I’m not sure.
Hope
you are all well. as well as we are. for just now we’re fine.
Much
love to you all
Flo
[from
margins] Later. Grace is still pretty sick - hard to breathe
&
fever. not bright today - very drowsy. You remember the
lavendar
crepe dressing gown of Mother’s the girls say I should color
it
rose & it will be alright. So there! Sh 1/- for dye &
I’ve
a dressing gown. Latest, Grace coughs awful but is better
otherwise. Cora, I’ll soon return your description
& pictures.
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