The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1903-03-20


to the hyenas; most dreadful custom
We have service at $50 in the morn
ing; at l O'Clock hospital service with
the sick; at sis evening service: two
evening in the week Bible readings
with our help. Our medical work is
growing and promises much. Then we
are getting ready to take a number of
boys to train. Some of the chief men
have offered to send their sons to rs
TO educate. 1t only costs SIS wear to
feed and clothe boy. This we count
as one of the most important features
OF the work. 1t is no trouble to get
Che people TO come to service when
they are Christians. One man not only
attends all the native services hut
comes to our English Sunday service.
lie Sits all through although he cannot
understand. When it cones time for
prayer, we pray in English he in his
own tongue. Strange people they are.
Yesterday l was doing the washing.
An old man came up just as I was
putting the clothes into the boiler
Peering over in he said: "Does your
husband eat boiled cloth?" When l
explained that l was washing the cloth
he said: "What for? 1t is white now?u
Another strange thing is when they
begin to get few English words
gave the cooks wife some food left
from our table. Her husband said:
when the white lady gives you food
you should say: 'Thank you.'" She
said, II cannot" Rather disguised at
her lack, he said: "Well, if you can
not say thank you, say splendid. !"
A short time ago the war yell was
raised one evening at the village
where our cattle are kept. My hus-
band felt that he should 90, and as
the doctor Was away did not like to
Stay alone, so went with Mr. Knapp
The village is half mile away.
through heavy bush country, which
has plenty of leopard, wild dog and
hyenas. For this reason he took his
rifle and l took his revolver. When
we came near the village the old chief
ana his sons came out to see us and
TOLD US their trouble. He noticed the
rifle and turning to me said: "Where
is your gun? 1 produced the little
revolver. With a look of disgust he
said: "But your gun is so small it
would DO no hurt,and you are woman
and cannot shoot" So l turned and
fired toward the forest. They all
dropped as if l had shot them. We
then finished our talk and as we were
leaving he said: "a strange woman.
She goes to war in the night with
gun and knows how to use it. If the
NASSAU ever attack my people 1 shall
send for her." Poor old man, he
thought l was brave. He did not
know l went because 1 was afraid to
to stay at home. How one longs to see
them turn from sin to serve the living
God! Our life here is busy one, and
If not much success should crown our
labor we have tried with our God
given powers to turn them to the
Lamb of God who taketh away the
sin of the world. We see some fruit
and trust the Lord of the Harvest for
much more. l am forcibly reminded
OF home as occasionally friend sends
asbundle of New Milford Gazettes and
NEwTOwN BEES. We read ADVERTISE
ments and all. Mr. Knapp is just now
leaving for NairObi to see if our box
from home has arrived. 1t is one of
the biggest days in our lives here when
a box from home arrives. Our missions
have two shipments or SO year, when
our friends usually send US box
Mail days are also great days. For al
though contented with being here in
the God-given work, we think of home
with great longing sometimes. l will
enclose picture with best wishes for
the New Year. Sincerely,-[Myrtle
|. Knapp.