Karungu E.A.P. May 21st.
1910.
My
dearest Bibi [“wife” in Swahili]
Well
we are somewhat on our way but every mile we go seems to be
pulling
somewhere inside of me which gives me a feeling I can’t
describe. I wonder if you think it was easy for me to leave
you and Raymond. Several times when I saw Raymond playing in
the gravel while we were
waiting for the train at the station I thought I just could’nt
keep
from breaking right down and I could’nt even bear to look at
you. I think it was the hardest tussle I ever had. Poor
Raymond! I am
afraid when his daddy sees him again he will not be the old
Raymond
his daddy left but quite a new boy. I hope he wont forget his
old
daddy.
This
is Sat. afternoon we are at a place called Karungu just north
of the
German boundary. We stop tonight at Shirati and reach Mwansa
tomorrow. Dont think though I am altogether unhappy because I
am
leaving you for awhile. The very thought of being actually
started
seems to make me feel more like myself than I have for a good
many
months. I feel like sitting down and crying every once in a
while
yet I haven’t laughed so much for months as I have since I
left
Kijabe. Everything seems to make me giggle. Gribble and Miss
Simpson act so funny. They are just like two children. Gribble
is
in everything so I almost feel as though I need to watch him
so he
dont get hurt. Miss Simpson in first class and we second. The
two
decks are on the same floor and I have watched and we never
went up
yet to our deck but the minute she sees us up she gets and
with
her funny little grin she comes straight to our deck and never
leaves
until we go away. It makes me think of a magnet and a piece of
iron
they are sure to meet. My but I never saw her dress so
terribly. She looks like an old woman. Imagine then how I feel
when she tags
me everywhere and Gribble keeps saying every where so that
everybody
hears him “Well praise the Lord we are on the way to the Niam
Niam”. I think I will be able to write something like Huck
Finn
before I get back.
Our
trip is exceedingly pleasant. So different from the other
time. It
is very nice and cool and I have’nt seen a mosquito yet. We
didn’t
even use nets last night and tonight our last night will I
think be
the same. Second class is so much better than I expected. We
have
exactly the same food as first class even served in courses.
Gribble
and I are alone in a nice large cabin much cleaner and nicer
than 3rd
in the German boat.
Now
dont feel bad even if I am to be away for a long time. I am
now in
the ambition of my whole life. Every thing is beginning to
seem
brighter and more pleasant to me and I think when I come back
you
will find me a better and more pleasant man to be with. Bibi
you
will never know the struggles I have passed through all I
believe
because the devil was trying to hinder me from this trip. I
can
never thank you enough for being so patient with me and I am
going to
try to pay you back by being a better and more agreeable man.
I want
you to feel you are taking as large a part in this work as I
am and
then we can well stand a few unpleasant things and in the end
we will
be pleased better for having had it as we did. I know the time
is
going to be much shorter for me than for you but you can just
be sure
there will be few hours except when I sleep that my thoughts
will not
go back to you and imagine just the shape you are in. I hope
it will
be as real to you as though I was really there. I am in the
best of
health and just feel as though I could not get sick. I am
trying to
be exceedingly careful what I eat. I only hope you are feeling
as
good as I am. I have been thinking so much how Raymond is
growing up
and getting to be a big boy that I wish your suck stomach
spells
would mean something so I could have a little fellow when I
come back
again but I am afraid it dont mean anything. Raymond has been
one of
the bright spots in my life and has helped me more than any
one can
realize. But we are getting ready to start again so I must go
up on
deck and see the sights. Now be a good girl. Dont let the
children
worry you too much and try to sing once in a while and we’ll
all
feel gay when Johnny comes marching home. We’ve seen happy
days in
the past but none like that day will be and I want you to
think of it
every time you get the blues. I am keeping up my Bible reading
and
wont disappoint you by missing a single day. I will finish
this and
mail at Mwansa
Yours
John
Reached
Mwansa this afternoon Sunday. Found a steam launch waiting but
they
want 90 Rs. so we are going to walk. Will start early tomorrow
morning. Allidina Visram is getting porters for us at 1 ½ Rs.
per
man for the trip so it will not cost us very much. I am
frightfully
sleepy so will close for this time and write soon again. Be
sure you
keep back plenty of money to pay all your bills. We will get
along
somehow. I am feeling fine
Yours.
John.
|