The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-11-04
From South Africa.
Ed. Republican:

Ed. Republican: '
l am reminded of the TACT that when
this letter reaches you many of the read
ers of your worthy prper will be quoting
those words of Bryant,
1.-THE Melancholy days have come the
saddest of the year,
OF wailing winds and naked woods and
meadows brown and sere,"
and in imagination l see "heaped in the
hollows of the grove, the withered leaves
lie dead" while "they rustic to the ed
dying gust, and TO the rabbits tread"
For just a day or two we would enjoy to
"Roam the woods that crown
The upland, where the mingled splen-
doris glow,
Where the gay company of trees look
down
On the green fields below"
for all is 50 different here. True natures
manifestations are beautiful in this land
of gold but nothing can take the place
of 1.-THE scenes of our childhood when
fond recollections present them to yiew."
But while many a busy harvester at home
has been storing away the apples, russell,
golden and crimson and the loads of
"husk and grain," we are glad indeed
for the privilege Of helping to garner in
these golden sheaves of wheat to cast at
the Masters feet in the browning day
that's coming by and by.
Our winter is now over. For several
months not a drop of rain was seen and
the grass aud all other vegetation except
the trees (most of which remain green all
the year)was parched and sere, while the
winds howled, hurting the dust in every
direction till it would penetrate even the
cracks between the window sashes. The
weather was much.o of the time quite cold
sometimes freezing at night ice an eighth
of an inch thick on water standing out of
doors. We sat many times around the
fire enjoying its glowing flames. But
though cold the winters lacked the charm
of our Pennsylvania and snow
drifts, the chime of the sleigh bells and
the songs of the merry skaters. We
could not make the waves of yellow dust,
though they act much the same, take the
place Of the snow that 'drlving DER the
fields seems nowhere to alight' while''the
whited yellow here air hides hills and
woods, the river and the heavens and
wells the farmhouse at the garden gate.
While winter proper is oyer we are
looking forward anxiously to the time
when the rains begin. We had one nice
little shower two or three weeks ago but
the dust is nov as bad as ever. The
rainy season will not begin for perhaps a
month yet, though at night there is
enough moisture in the air to encourage
the grass and a few of the most brave
wild flowers to begin to clothe the fields
with green and colors.
The winters here are much different
than on the coast. The altitude here is
much greater and we do not have here
rains and heavy dews from the sea that
there make all seasons much more alike.
Consequently when there we did not APP
p~reciate the spring with all it brings as
we do here.
About the same kind of trees and veg
etables may be raised here in the Trans
vaal as at home, besides some semi-trop-
ical fruits, as the lemon and orange, tho
they are inferior TO those raised on the
coast, perhaps owing partly to the lateness
of the rains. AS soon as the wet wealth
er sets in Mr.. Smith wants to plant some
peach. plum and other similar fruit trees
and make a garden. While you are en-
joying your winter you may think of us
as eating vegetables raised here, sweating
beneath the scorcl,ing sur and drinking
rainwater warm enough almost for a bath
in the winter time. / hope TO tell you
later more about summer in the Trans
vaal.
God is with us in this work and we
count all the fare along the way as only
too good for us. If we may in Jesus
might be the means of leading some of
these dark souls to the light Of God our
hearts shall be abundautly satisfied.
Some have chosen Christ since we came
here and we believe there are more to
follow.
/ do not care to write merely to enter
tain but | do trust these friendly letters
may be the means of creating in your
hearts a deeper interest in these needy
people, and that if you cannot come per-
sonally, you will count it your highest
privilege to help with your prayers and
your means to send others. In so doing
you may share with the reapers the
''glory of the harvest home" and be Civ
en- some of the sheaves We have been per-
milted to gather for you.
Yours in the service of the King,
Rosa HUNTER SMITH.
Box 1873, Germiston, Transvaal, S. Africa.