At
home. Last day of Feb. [28] ‘35
Dear
Cora:
There’s
a chance to send you a note & I can’t let it slip. When
you
get this just please realize how I envy you. To think you’ll
see
my new daughter before we do! but that’s the way it goes in
this
world of topsy-turvy-ness! I’m mighty glad you have the chance
for
I know from experience there’s nothing like personal
contact
to inspire prayer. Since our last years trip to Congo I feel I
can
really pray for those folks - even tho some we only saw for a
few
hours.
Well,
since yesterdays deluge (see Raymond’s letter) we feel all
washed
up & ready to start over again. The boys have come to
school but
one of them says his garden is all gone - even the potatoes
are
washed away & corn & elephant ear - they eat that
root. but
the sun is shining as tho nothing had happened. John crossed
the
stream this morning and found about 20 good sized - & fair
sized
fish on the far bank in the rubbish that washed down; &
there are
lots of smaller ones he says. So some body will have a good
feed. Many of the natives have learned to eat them - so there
wont be many
going to waste but all will go “behind the waist”.
Say
your letter, received last Thurs., was a sight for sore eyes,
and an
encouragement to heavy hearts and a boon to dwindling
wardrobes and a
relief to empty pocket books and good news in general to every
one
and every thing. Between you & the Lord & the bargain
sale -
looks like we needn’t go without clothes for awhile yet. If I
can’t wear the dresses you send perhaps I can wear the
trousers!!! O joy what an unpacking that will be - we shall
have far more fun
than you do in packing it. Wish you could be here. I’ve not
said
a word to any natives about things. James’s mother was at the
door
this morning for it is pay day for milk. She’s a bit
discouraged
for such a lot of her garden has been washed out. and she does
work
hard. I’m helping some of them with a few seed potatoes - but
we
have very little seed of their kind.
I
haven’t your letter here - but will review it later - and then
send
it on to Claudon. I’ll be so glad to have him with us for
awhile. I guess he hasn’t been very lonely here to fore for
tho he was in
the forest by himself yet he knew there was always a welcome
home for
him at Agnes’s - but now they are gone he feels much more
alone.
Yes,
how sad the killing of the Stams in China. You gave more
detail than
any we had had. Harry Stam in Congo is much thot of by the
workers. Then too it is hard to understand why Mr. Wahl was
taken. If we
didn’t know the Lord and that He never makes a mistake ‘twould
be
hard to go on & urge others to give themselves for the
work.
Just
ever so many thanks for those shirts you are sending. Jno
still has
some of those others you sent but 3 or 4 have had the collars
turned
& after that they don’t last long. They have been such a
comfort. He always looks neat & dressed up in them. and as
they
get worn he uses them to work in.
I
imagine you looked, when you came from that sale, like you did
in San
Anselmo that time you went to that Red Cross sale, ‘Member?
I’ve
thot of that many times. I still wear waists made after the
pattern
of those you bot & gave me. And, by the way, I want to
make 2.
and I have the muslin. Lo sent it long ago. I used half but
have
the rest. but I need wide elastic. If you could get ½ yd. 4 to
6
in. wide - I would be glad. Also a yd. of hooks & eyes on
tape -
or else some “zip” tape. about 14 or 16 in. for one waist. I
doubt if I could get these things here at all. I always got
them
from Wards before. but overlookt them this time.
Sorry
about your back. I get a bit once in awhile but I never did
have it
as bad as you & Al do. Say, if John can wear those
trousers it
will be great. He still has his dark blue ones but wont wear
them
they are so tight & skinny. Men’s styles don’t change much.
but these are so small at ankles tho they were in
style in
1924! I think his waist size is about 44 but I’ll measure him
so
we’ll know for sure. My, how interesting to see if the dresses
will go on or if they are too slender for me. I still have the
red
Lora sent me. I keep it kinda nice. The green-purple is about
done -
except ‘twill be used for rug. I hope Ray’s car isn’t tin
but rubber! Hesses has such a lot of nice dresses
&
middies & she said they picked ‘em up at bargain sales.
&
they seem quite fast color.
This
is Fri. morn & the mail just came so haven’t been able to
open
it but as there’s a roll of magazines it is likely the rug
guide
too. Hurra. I’ll get some nice rugs now. I’ve so many
stockings that I think I can make a whole rug. --- We’re doing
G.C.D. and L.C.M. in the class this morning & of course
makes me
think of school days & how Lora always arranged L.C.M.
---- I
think I’d still like the hook for I have a design worked out
for
one rug. & I couldn’t use this long affair for it. but
only if
you are sure you wont use yours.
So
glad both Stacy & Milton are busy. I’m sure Stacy will be
better out there. and Milton too may “buck up” when he gets
away
from old pals. I’m going to type extracts from
Claudons
last two letters & will send it soon.
Reading
of the awful things our workers in China are enduring makes us
feel
we aren’t doing anything here. It’s so hard to realize the
“line
upon line” “precept upon precept” is doing anything. Tho we
have just had 16 stand in meeting & profess Christ - yes,
really
18 - but two are from Narok & must be taught in Swahili.
I’ll
send your letter on to Claudon right away. Sometimes I write
him
every week when there are letters to enclose tho I know the
mail
crosses the Lake only every 2 wks. & then he doesn’t get
it
that often when he is in the forest. But when I get 30¢
worth I send it.
Finish
after opening the roll.
Evening: Mr Clarke has been here to supper
& says he’s going to Narok
in the morning so I must get this off then. Say, there’s about
everthing
in that roll - even a German paper! That takes me back 40 yrs!
first
I’ve seen for years. And the rug arrangement looks very
interesting & I have an idea ‘twill be great fun. & go
very
quick too.
A
letter from Albert told that the Martins were giving an
illustrated
lecture at Claremont so that magazine links up with that. Mr.
Clarke
knows them quite well. Wont I have a good time going over all
those
papers? I think I’ll not drive to Narok Sun. It’s raining hard
tonight - & it isn’t as tho there would be no meeting
there -
the boys walk over & have the mtgs any way.
I’m
writing Mary Brown that Raymonds are there. I know they’d like
to
see them & might
drive down if R’s don’t go up there.
I
wanted to sow a lot of flower seeds in the morning but guess I
can’t
now. it’s too wet. Had 2 letters from Bertha Simpson today
&
enclosures.
Thanks
again for all you’ve gotten - don’t buy yourself poor
- but how we will appreciate all. John is 46! Waist over his
coat & all! Perhaps I can let those trousers out
a bit - at waist. Very very much love to you all.
Flo
S.
[margins] Thanks Faylon for that picture
& poem - that tickled Jno down to
his toes - he’s showing it to everybody.
Say,
get a pair of tan or darkish gloves at the 10¢
store for me for driving car.
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