The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1872-05-23
Letters from the Old World.
BY MISS JENNIE A. NELSON.


March IL, 1872.
= Your anxiously looked-for letter
came last week, and I need not tell
. you how glad I was to hear from
you. You have no idea of the val
> ue of q letter from home. Writing
and getting letters has always been
1 so much a part of my life that l
hardly know how to understand
those who do not love to write. It
would afford me the greatest pleas
ure to write letter to each friend.
This would seriously interfere with
my duties connected with my work
here. have head, heart and hands
full, and have had such sweet en-.
couragement in my efforts that l
hope my coming here has not been
in vain. My surroundings are all
just as pleasant as possible. I have
the kindest friends, some of whom
are very congenial. My cup of
blessing and comfort runneth over,
goodness and mercy have followed
me-even to the ends of the earth.
You have no idea of the soft,
quiet beauty of this valley, and the
majestic grandeur of these old
mountains, which enclose it on
every side. The rose hedges are
now in full bloom, and it seems
about like our June. The early
mornings are perfectly charming.
have nice little milk>white pony,
and I take a ride before sun-up in
the morning and another in the
evening. This is necessary to keep
up the strength here. All the la
dies of this station ride a great deal,
and many of them ride well.
There is one phase of English
life that seems strange to me.
Young ladies and gentlemen are
never allowed to be in society alone,
that is, without older persons. A
young gentleman cannot es-
cort young lady even in walk,
a horseback or buggy ride. When
gentleman calls he never asks for
the young ladies, but for their par
ents, who, however, take care the
daughters are brought in. When a
gentleman proposes, he proposes
first to the ia ther and mother.
The English here have nothing to
do but amuse themselves, and they do
ft In very Juvenile ways,by all Kinds
of games. The aristocratic circle is
composed of officers of Government
and military officers. Many of them
are about as "codfshy" as upstarts
at home. I am somewhat disap>
pointed in the English society, hav-
ing had old Mr.. Sans as my ideal. |
Most of the English residents go
cup hilp' in hot weather, that is,
they all have houses on the top of
the mountain. They take houses
down here for the "cold weather."
They never speak of winter, spring |
and summer here: 1t is the hot |
weather, the rains and the cold
weather. The cold is very pene-
trating, and the houses are so open
and ceilings so high that I haveJ
suffered with cold, although I have
worn thicker clothes than I ever.did
at home. I would advise any one
coming to India to bring plenty of
hair, as they will lose all they
have, and hair is very expensive.
My hair has fallen out wonderfully
since 1 came. This is part of the
trials Of Missionary life, 1 suppose.
TUESDAY, March 12.-Got up
very early and ordered my horse be-
fore the sun was up, rode out to-
ward the race-course, intending to
canter around it, but met Mr.. Her
ron, who had already had his canter,
and he asked me to ride with him
up the canal, through an avenue of
Bamboo and other trees. Oh, the
morning air was delicious! Inever
felt anything so delightful, and my
horse cantered so nicely. We got
back little after the sun arose.
AS soon as 1 get breakfast 1 take
my lesson in Hindustani, and enjoy
it. Ny "Munshe" is a native
Christian, and very smart man.
1 think have described him in
former letter. He is reading En-
glish to me, and he says 1 "teach |
him much" He will not pass
verse in the Testament he does not
understand. So 1 have to be ready
to expound very often. He seems
so delighted with the beauty and
truths of the Bible. How strange
it seems to see any who have not
known the Scriptures from child,
hood! In my ride this morning I
met great many "Hill Men," or
Coolies" who carry people and
things Cup Hill" AT this time fami-
lies begin 10 return to the mountains
and these men were coming to move
them up.
l have become very much inter-
ested in some women in Zananas,
One of them is very bright and anx-
iOus to learn. 1 never saw any one
improve as she has since 1 first saw
her. She is only seventeen, but has
two children. Her husband is a
very handsome, intelligent man,
and is grateful to us for visiting his
wife and trying to teach her. He
helps her learn her English lessons.