Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Congo (139) Luebo, Congo 3/1/1926 [BMS] [DCS]

Luebo, Mar. 1, 1926

Dear Folks:

We mailed one letter to you yesterday, of Dorothy's, as the plane came in and we wanted to be sure the letter got off and not get left like it did recently. Your letter of Jan. 11th came yesterday evening. Both planes came in yesterday, one about 1:00 p.m., and the other just as we were getting out of our English service, about 5:45 p.m. As Dorothy wrote you yesterday and wanted to write some other letters today she left me to do the writing.

The bundle of music came O.K. today; Dorothy says she is glad to get the music and especially the other pieces you sent.

There isn't anything exciting going on around here just now. The Hobsons, Shives and ourselves are pretty “thick" these days, and often have a meal together. We all ate at the Shives last night. Nearly every Sunday night we all eat at one place, each family bringing their left-overs from dinner.

Our pigeons are doing right well so far, and are beginning to nest. It takes them several weeks to get used to a new place, and as we started getting them only in January, they have just about had time to start building nests and just now are beginning to get real busy. We are both taking quite a bit of interest in them, and enjoy watching them. I built a pen of chicken wire, 25 ft. x 25 ft., and 10ft. high for flying space, and then their house where are the nests and roosts. We are hoping to have plenty of squabs in a few months. Stegall and Hobson are raising rabbits for meat, and are doing right well at it. I think we will begin to try some rabbits before long, as the meat problem here is beginning to be rather acute. The last part of our last term a fair sized chicken cost from 3 to 4 francs (15 to 20 cents), and now they are 10, 11, and 12 francs (from 50 to 60 cents) each. And in addition, they are hard to get.

You wrote that Houston's trial was to come off soon. I presume he will not have much defense to make, and the sentence will rest largely on the mercy of the court. It certainly was a shock to us to hear about Jimmy.

Max is doing as well as we could possibly expect, happy and cheerful and no ailments. We hope to have some films, or negatives to send you by next mail. It is hard to realize that we were in New York with him just a year ago getting ready to sail on the "Olympic." This makes almost a year for us on the field now. Just now every member of the Luebo station is out here, but by this time next year there will begin an exodus, not counting any emergencies. The Stixruds and Savels are planning to go early next year.

Mr. Crane has had a rather trying time of it at home this furlough. He went home with the sleeping sickness, and then had a number of teeth taken out. Suppose they will be leaving this coming summer some time. The McKees and Longeneckers are perhaps leaving this month, March. .

In your last letter you mentioned that both Daddy and yourself had been sick, and that you had missed a few days from school. We trust that you soon recovered. As you didn't say what the trouble was we just presume it was the grippe, colds, or something of that nature that generally comes in mid-winter.

With love to you all, from us all, including Aunt Nennie (although she has no doubt returned to Terrell by the time you receive this).

Dot, B. M., Max & Co.

P. S. I don't remember just now whether or not we wrote you in last mail about the "Enterprise". You state the Postmaster says that postage will be so high. We suggest that Nettie continue to send as she has been recently, say for a couple or three months and see how the postage runs. If it doesn't amount to more than 10 or 15 cents for three weeks, we might try it for six months, as Dorothy is very anxious to get it. I hardly think it could amount to more than $2, or $3 at the very most for a year. Anyway, let's try it for a few months as she had been sending it and see what it amounts to. There probably isn't so much to you in the "Enterprise" there, but not hearing all the news and gossip that you folks have the privilege??? of doing there Dot thinks it would be worth a great deal to her.

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