Narok.
Masai Reserve, Kenya Colony,
East
Africa. May 10, 1933
Dear
Ones:
Guess
I’ll send this to Chas first as I have something for him -
then he
can send it on. but I do want you two to know I received the
parcels.
both in the same mail and what do you suppose? In that same
mail
came one from Miss Moody in Canada - a dress! Not at all like
any of
those you sent. but very nice - and just fits. It’s a brown
silk
crepe-y material. She got it when she first got home for she
had so
much speaking to do. And as she wore it a lot, it got dirty
& as
she says “too stingy to send it to the dry cleaners” so she
washed it in water & it shrunk so she couldn’t possibly
wear it
so she sent it to me to see what I could do about it. It is
very
nice & fits me so fine. Its like this [sketch] sort of
wrap
around with a wide ruffle thing on each side. but one side is
hidden
neath the other. ‘Twill make me a nice dress &
I’ll
not make up my green now. Miss Glover says it’s pretty enuf to
wear to her wedding! Tho I don’t have any idea I’ll be there.
She had a wire last week that they have permission to be
married in
July. They haven’t heard yet when they are to leave nor where
they
are to go for June. for we are going to Shaffers. He brings
the
children to school & takes us back.
And
now what shall I say about your 2 parcels. I’ll begin with
yours,
Cora. The 2 dresses for Lucile I posted today to Mrs.
Andersen. School begins June so she’ll be very glad of them
I’m sure. I
had some sort of silky stuff a dead match to the light blue
voile,
that I sent along for her to use in some way to put short
sleeves
into it. I don’t think she’d like it so well without sleeves.
Thanks so much for them both.
Then
yesterday morning I had such fun getting all of the dresses
pressed &
hung up. and in the P.M. I tried ‘em all on. Jno was lying
down -
so I’d fix myself all straight before the glass then parade
where
he could see me and then came out where the girls were working
at
making some marrow jam and paraded for them. The jacket suit
is such
a nice thing. Just a bit on the tight side but I can wear it
&
will make good use of it. and just the thing if we should get
a long
trip soon. The red sweater I’ll be able to wear with the
jersey
skirt or a khaki skirt. I just finished sewing a long khaki
coat. Then the yellow dress you said “make to fit”. & the
girls say
it’s fine just as it is. I thot ‘twould be long waisted but it
doesn’t seem to be. Course it’s longer than my petticoats but
the girls say that’s the way that sort of dress should be. I’m
glad for the pieces tho as I like short sleeves. so when I do
that
I’ll have a nice dress for Conf. That’s the time when our good
dresses are used to advantage.
[pg.
2] The stockings go so fine with those nice black shoes that
Lora
sent. Then thanks too for the patterns - just the thing. The
girls
said right away that style would suit me well. I have that old
brown
voile of Alice’s I want to make over. I have it ripped &
perhaps I can use this pattern on it. It’s good to have a dark
wash dress sometimes. Mine are all quite light.
You
people sure see that we’re properly clothed. My, how grateful
I am
for those shirts of Johns. They are so big & comfy -
sleeves are
a bit short but he never goes without a coat so it doesn’t
matter.
This
is really prayermeeting night but John isn’t feeling very well
&
has been lying down most of the day & finally went to bed.
so
we’ll have our meeting tomorrow eve.
Now
it’s next night. Jno spent the entire day in bed. He had a
horrid
painful boil in a bad location making it hard to sit down. and
tho it
opened yesterday morning it is still discharging a lot &
is so
painful. He is brighter tonight and says he is more
comfortable so
perhaps he’ll be up tomorrow.
We
sent for the mail today but none came - so we will send again
tomorrow. The girls are disappointed that they must wait til
tomorrow for each week they expect to hear when they move on.
They
had their exam two weeks ago in order to be ready to move
quickly if
necessary. They’ve been making some marmalade and pickles of
all
sorts. Have a doz. qt. jars filled and 8 or 10 smaller bottles
of
all shapes & descriptions. They even made what they call
marrow
jam but made it from a squash that grew in spite of the dry
weather. It’s very much like our water melon preserves.
Now
Lora, to your parcel. I don’t know about your memory. I fear
it’s
failing. I did make a grand plunge into that Fountain of Youth
(Calif.), in 1926 but if I was rather youthful there
I’ve
gotten quite matronly in these last years. So the jumper dress
is
too snug. I tried to make the girls think that it was just as
I like
my dresses. but they thot I could find some one whom it would
fit. I
think it would fit Miss Glover in width but ‘twould be short -
but
Miss Grindley is nearer my size. I’m going to send it to Miss
Holman at Kijabe. She teaches in R.V.A. and likes to change
dresses
often & this will help out. She’s much smaller than I am.
It’s such a cute pattern or style - so different from anything
I
have that I’m loathe to give it up. but I really can’t wear
it.
[pg.
3] I sort o’ feel I owe Miss Holman some thing as she’d take
nothing for my stay with her at Conf. and then too Miss Moody
said
if I couldn’t wear her dress that she sent me I was to send it
to
Holman but I can wear it so I’m keeping it. & will be glad
to
send her this.
Thanks
much for the nice stockings. No, thanks I really don’t need
any
shoes now. The tan Erma Jetticks are still quite nice &
the
black ones are really nice and Miss Glover had a pair of
walking
shoes that she said she just couldn’t wear with comfort and
while
they are a bit long they are alright otherwise. especially
good when
I’m running the car. I can reach the accelerator better. And
the
other day Miss Grindley came around rather sheepishly and
asked if I
could wear a pair of hers. She had them soled and they are too
tight
for her. I can wear them nicely. They too are a bit long. but
as
they’ve been worn they aren’t good for real nice but will last
me
well for school & at home here. I’m getting a bit fussy in
my
feet - for if I’m working in the kitchen the whole A.M. about
11 I
get such a funny cramp in my right foot. I usually go change
my
shoes. & if I have a few minutes I lie or sit down with my
feet
up. It’s overwith in 10 or 15 minutes & I never feel it
again. A peculiarity of “old age” I suppose.
By
the way, this is Aunt Anna’s 73 birthday. I can’t recall
whether
I wrote her a letter or not. I’ve been so negligent this year.
But
to go on with the contents of the parcel. Part of the rubber
is
already used. ‘Twas just the width I needed yesterday for
something so used it. The envelopes are just a bit larger than
my
reg’lar ones so will have a very special work to do when these
are
too small.
I
do like the red dress. It gives me such a “slim” look. I’m
not just stuck on the color and I’m not asking any one else’s
opinion. I think it’s going to be the hit of the season in the
eyes of our locality. The girls thot the green one the very
top of
the lot. Say, it’s big enough. I could take a smaller size but
if
I wear a belt it will be just right. Miss Grindley does like
those
Chinese collars. She has two sisters in China but they have
never
sent her such practical collars - more fancy ones.
I
have one worked in yellow on my lavendar dress. & it just
puts
the finish on it. There’s a bit of yellow among the lavendar.
Both of these dresses will go to Shaffers with me. I may wear
the
green a bit & launder it before we go. The gum - or some
if it
will go too. They are so fond of it.
[pg.
4] I do thank you all for everything. and how we will think of
you
again & again. I noticed you both paid the same postage
tho
Cora’s parcel was larger. And now when you hear we aren’t
going
to So. Af. even, I wonder what you will think. & whether
you will
be sorry you sent them. It seems like pretty high postage but
the
things you sent are all so valuable it was worth it to me.
even if I
sent you the postage. Lora, the Am & Digest have come too.
I’m
going to take ‘em to Shaffers to read.
Your
letter of Mar. 18 is here, Lora. Thanks for that nice picture
of you
3. Your glasses all make shadows which spoils your faces or
makes it
look like old age wrinkles under your eyes. I have one
exposure yet
on the roll in my camera & I wanted one of John & me
on our
wedding day - last Mon - but he wasn’t up very much of the
time &
the sun was behind clouds most all day. You’ll get some when
those
are developed.
You
didn’t mention Harrys - or how they fared but we know they
must be
alright or you’d have said something. Bertha Simpson sent a
copy
of her cousins letter - age 13 - which gave more details of it
for
they lived in Long Beach. Then the last S.S. Times which we’ve
received gave an account by some one living in Los Angeles.
Poor
Floyd must have had quite a shock. Haven’t received Cora’s
letter yet. and there’s no home mail til next Thurs.
Suppose
Aunt Lorene is having a nice time. I just know how she’ll love
it. Wish Uncle Richard would join her there. I believe he’d
fall
harder for Calif. than she will.
The
Japan folks having to shift off furlo are like some folks out
here. The Hoyts, who were with us last Sept. - he got the lion
- were to go
home this mo. but had word none of the Friends Missionaries
could
come home this year. & perhaps not next.
Dr.
Davis sailed Apr. 29. Aunt Lorene’s wedding day. and
Farnsworths
hope to leave soon. Kemptners are at Kijabe from Congo. She
&
Mrs McKenrick are sisters - but haven’t the money as yet to go
on.
One
of my jobs for this month is to put the many snap shots that
have
accumulated, into albums & the girls are fussing because
I’m
not at it. I told them I was going at it next Mon. for I’ve
crossed off several items this week. & the snaps are next
important. One, the oldest & most responsible, boy left
suddenly
on Tues. morning. His father called to have him help with
taking a
herd of sheep to Nairobi & selling them. So we’re getting
on
with one only. but expect another in any day.
Must
stop this now. We’ll send our letters tomorrow tho they wont
go
til Sat. but we may not need to send on Sat. if we post our
letters
tomorrow.
I’ll
write again while at Shaffers. That will be more interesting.
Heaps
of love to all of you’uns. Chas send this to one of the girls.
Lovingly,
Flo.
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