Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-04-30
Letter from Miss 0lIs0n.
Nov. IS, 1897.

|
Dear Friends in the Homeland:
Would you care to know how the day
has been spent at Mt. sLilnda. East Africa
This morning, was up before o'clock
j at 6 30 the bell rings for prayers.
My family consists of three European
girls, little Reginald, nine years old, two
Zulu girls and a Zulu boy, a Matabele girl,
and two native boys, who work and go to
school.
After prayers, food must be given out
for the breakfast and dinner of the natives
Catherine must be told what we Europeans
are to have for our dinner. Amabele, a
native grain, and corn must be given to
the boy to be stamped. must see that
wood is cut, skim the milk and look after
Teenie's making the butter properly, in
spect her milk pans and pals and see that
the huts are in order. We breakfast at z.
School begins at $50 and until o'clock
l am busy dividing my time between two
school-rooms, Mr.. Wilder's old brick cot
tage and the school-house, Mrs. B comes
in and teaches sewing two hours during
the week, the only other assistance | have
is such as three pupil teachers can render.
These boys are beginning to understand
quite little English but are not as far
advanced in their studies as primary schol-
ars. There is quite enough work for two
teachers.
The Europeans have luncheon at recess
but l am too busy to stop for refreshment.
The hardest part OF the day is waiting for
dinner and often having to assist in the
preparation. Our stamp or amabele is put
on early in the morning and cooks while
we are at school. Teenie comes home
about noon and puts on the sweet potatoes
To-day our dinner was soup, potatoes,
poached eggs, and amabele. / try to have
| a pudding at least three times week.
The rinderpest has destroyed much of
the game and when heard that Mjadu had
shot three bucks this morning felt that l
must follow Mr.. B.'sgood example and Sc
cure one of them. Part OF it will be dried
to use the coming months.
The native fowls are small and it will be
two or three years before l can get suf-
icient number of large fowls to supply US
with eggs and for table use.
The buck was as large as a good sized
calf year old. 1t was brought down with
the head on and very roughly dressed.
With saw and knife and the aid of native
boy I attacked the beast and when we were
through felt that l should never want to
see or taste meat again.
From half past three to half past four the
boarding pupils study and usually assist
them for am anxious to have them gain
all they can. After study hours till six
o'clock spend out of doors. Directly
after supper read aloud from some inter
esting book half an hour, in this way have
read Water Babies, Little Miss Boston,
Black Beauty, Two Little Pilgrims Prog
ress, Alice in Wonderland and several
other books.
After this the English-speaking pupils
read the Testament; when they have gone
to bed the native boys come in for half an
hour and teach them English and Zulu.
They would be glad to stay three hours.
DO not think of me as in space feel
very much alive. To be sure life is not
altogether satisfactory it is so hard to live
up to ones ideals domestically, physically,
mentally or spiritually.
1t is very hard to have things clean. /
envy earlier pioneers in mission work who
had never heard of the germ theory.
| Thanksgiving we are to dine at Mr.. BIS.
November 70.
Mt. Lilinda has just been made a posta
station in Rhodesla. The postman reaches
here every Friday night and leaves thu
next morning. We shall not receive O.
send much mail this way because Rhodesis
is not in the postal union and the postagt
is eight cents instead of FIVE.
The railway was opened two weeks ago
Mr.. Rhodes is with DR.. Jameson looking
after the extension of the telegraph line
north of Rhodesia. H. M. Stanley came
out to be present at the opening and the
governor of the Cape went up.
DIR. T. has the walls of his house done
and the tiled roof on. 1t makes the whole
station look more as though people had
| come here to remain.
I will tell you in my next letter how
Christmas and birthdays are celebrated in
Africa.
To be concluded next week.