Kijabe E.A.P. Sept. 16 04                                                                                                  Index

My dear Florence
        Your last letter came some time ago. It was the one you wrote from my home. How glad I was to hear that you were there, and that you were having a good time. Of course I should have been glad to have been there with you. You know it often makes me feel bad to think that you and I, in a short time will be married if all goes well, and yet it has not been our privilege to spend a single day together alone. I often think how much nicer it would be if we could have spent some time together all alone, and talked over all our plans before I left home. I suppose however that our waiting and yearning to see one another, will make our meeting all the more joyful. Mr. Hurlburt told me some time ago that the Council at Phila. had received your recommendations, and that they were very much pleased with them. So there is no doubt but what you will be sent out. I suppose the reason why you were obliged to wait so long before you heard from the Council, was because your recommendations had to be sent to Mr. Hurlburt first. I hope by time you get this letter things will be quite definitely settled. I got a letter from father yesterday, and of course he told about your visit. I felt so happy I almost cried when he told me how well pleased they were with you. He said that mother said she believed you were just made for me. I am glad you know how my folks feel about my being out here, because you can tell me all about it and it will help me in writing my letters home.

        I think I wrote in my last letter about the Masai going sixty miles north of here, and also told you that Mr. Hurlburt and myself were going on a trip to that country. We did not go when we expected because Mr. Hurlburt was called to Kangundo. So we started last Tuesday. We went first to Naivasha about 20 miles from here, and there had a long talk with the government officials. As a result of the talk we came back the next day, but we learned a few things which made me quite happy. We understood before that the Masai were to go to this new country for several years until a definite reserve was fixed. I was ready to do the Lords will no matter what it was, but it was a very severe trial for me to feel perfectly satisfied to think that perhaps for two or three years it would be impossible for me to have anything like a home, for it would have been useless to build a house or buy land anywhere with things so unsettled. The Commissioner at Naivasha however told us that the matter of making a fixed reserve was now before the Officials in England, and in a month or two we will know for all time where the Masai will be located. More over there is hope that the Naivasha district (which includes the large plain right in front of Kijabe) will finally be made the Masai reserve, in which case we would remain at Kijabe and could then carry out all my old plans. But where ever we go I am very glad that it will be permanent, so we can build a good house and have large gardens and orchards. But now Florence how will I dare to plan for our permanent home in Africa (and I hope you expect it to be for life) without your advice, and how can I make it comfortable and cozy without your hands taking part in the work (and now let me make a little confession because I am afraid I would blush all over to tell you all when you get here). Do you remember when we took out that old carpet in Laco and washed the windows. The fact is I was mad in love with you then, and as I watched you wash, and by the way I was doing that most of the time, I thought how pleasant house cleaning would be if I could do it with you. If I had only known then how quick you would jump at the offer of what I felt myself to be, an awkward old country Jake those old Laco days might have been quite different with us. Is’nt it peculiar after all how funny matters turned out. I thought a great deal of you until I heard that you had become a Student Volunteer, and then I almost entirely forgot you, because at that time although it was a secret with myself, I was working day and night to become a successful lawyer. Finally my time came and with an awful struggle I gave up all my old plans and since I was sure Africa was my field I supposed it was almost impossible for me to get any one to go with me to such a country, and I almost decided to go alone, when suddenly it came upon me why not if you were going to a mission field ask you to go with me. The Lord was obliged to do a great deal of twisting and breaking up of plans to get things just right but I believe that finally you and I will be comfortably settled down in a beautiful little mission home in the Dark Continent, and with one years experience back of me I know that no where else in the world can we be as happy as here. But now let me explain what these funny things are that I am sending you. They are hairs from an elephants tail which I happened to help in the killing. I wrote you about an old American traveler Mr. Gulich who died here. He was traveling through this country with Mr. Alexander and his daughter. On their return they stopped for a week at Kijabe. Miss Alexander was trying to get a rhinoceros skeleton for the University of California and since I knew the where about of several rhinoceroses near here, they asked me to guide them about the country. The second day we were out we followed a rhino. track nearly all day, but finally got discouraged and were going home, when suddenly we ran onto very fresh elephant tracks. We followed them just a few minutes when we heard them crashing through the brush. They were very anxious to get an elephant, and planned to attack them. Of course I could not stand it to play the coward, so I went with them, but we did’nt have far to go, for the elephants were coming toward us. Like good soldiers we made our stand. There was a low tree with a crooked trunk near so we all got behind it and waited. You can hardly imagine the awful feeling when one hears trees and brush crashing down like so many dry sticks. I was quite sure Miss Alexander would scream, but she didn’t even flinch. Soon one big fellow came in sight, and we discovered that we were right in their line so all we could do was to trust our rifles to turn them off. We all three fired, and the elephants in the lead stopped, but those behind were coming so fast that they crowded those in front and on they came. Those in front turned to the left, and the others came straight on. We fired as fast as we could, but could not stop them, until we were fairly surrounded. About fifteen monsters crowded right up to the tree under which we were standing. After they got control of themselves they broke away, and ran off. One big old fellow however got on his knees and finally rolled over and was dead. He dropped within 20 feet of us so you can see how near they were. I picked out one and fired at his head. Mr. and Miss Alexander both say they fired at the one that fell, and there was two bullet holes through his head. One in the herd that ran off left blood all along, and was found dead two days later by some natives, so there is no doubt but that it is the one I shot, which gives me credit, with all my other illustrious deeds with killing an elephant. The experience was very thrilling, and since it is over I would not have missed it for anything, but please excuse me from another similar experience. I was frightened almost to death. Mr. Alexander is a very fine old gentleman having given 1000 acres of land to the Kijabe Mission for an Industrial training school. He expects to return in a year or two, and has asked me to go up to lake Victoria with him, and go by boat down across the lake to the country South of it, agreeing to pay all my expenses. What a glorious trip that would be. But so much for stories. You say they sound too much like story books so to save myself from the disgrace of being called a liar I will change the subject. Now say Florence when are you coming out. This poor old man of yours is getting worse off every day, and unless he has some one to take care of him soon it is hard telling what it will all come to. While you are looking around for things to bring along let me suggest that you keep your eyes wide open for all kinds of seeds. Bring along a lot of cherry and plum pits. Also apple seeds peaches, pears, apricots and anything you can get hold of. All fruit trees grow well here and I should like to get as large a variety as possible. Of course I want also as many flowers and vegetables as possible. Also nuts. If you ever get to Chicago you can no doubt buy all kinds of fruit even in winter. Oranges and lemons we have plenty but that is all. Now hoping to hear soon of that glorious day when you shall start for Africa, and praying for Gods richest blessings upon you while you tarry in the homeland

        I am ever yours

        John.