Luebo, March 27, 1927
Dear Folks:
It has been a couple of mails since I have written you, and now we have word that the next plane is due in a few days. With the planes coming regularly every 18 days, these mail days slip up on us before we are aware they are due. It takes us a few days to read and digest a mail, and then we think, by habit, that the next mail is· still a long ways off, and we are caught.
We are considerably less in numbers at Luebo now, 17 grown folks, whereas we were 24 only a few months ago. I suppose you have heard of Mr. Martin's sudden departure. He was planning to go about August or September of this year, but had word in the last mail that his mother was very low and might not last long and they urged him to come home immediately, which he did. His mother has T. B. As you have no doubt heard, this has been quite prevalent in their family. He had a brother to die from this, and Mr. Martin was threatened along this line himself some time back. This sudden exit has made it rather hard for the Evangelistic Department, as they have not had sufficient time to get things in order.
A little seven month's old baby died across the river last week; a child of one of the state officials, and who happens to be a Protestant, or rather his wife. So they asked the Mission to conduct the funeral. Several of us attended the burial, both Dot and myself. The baby was taken sick about 3:00 A.M. with a high fever and died at 1:00 the same day. Mrs. Shive said it could have been fever of the brain, as the temperature of that runs very high, and this child's fever went up to over 107. I should have said malaria fever of the brain. This same family lost a child 8 months old a couple of years ago. Mortality among children seems no higher here now than at home, although I remember when I first came out here it was rather high (I mean among white people), and an alarming percent of the first children of our missionaries died here. But now, with such a large number of children, we have much to be thankful for in the matter of their health. Of course, people have learned how to take care of them; two things that I believe have contributed a great deal are quinine and proper food.
Our squab plant has now gotten to a profitable stage, and we are having about all the squabs we care to eat. We have about 38 pairs of mated pigeons, and they are doing fine. Besides the profit, we both derive considerable pleasure from raising them. Besides squabs to eat, we also raise some to increase our flock or to replace some not so profitable. They are hardworking little creatures, and very interesting. It takes regular and careful attention to keep them in good condition, but only a little time each day its needed.
March 28, 1927
Dorothy mentioned the fact that another boat had been added to the service from Belgium to the Congo. However, this is not a first class passenger boat and the officials state it will not carry mail. It is a boat that will carry only cargo and second-class passengers for the Congo, but no mail, at least so they report. There are quite a number of people coming to the Congo in second class; a large number of state officials, according to rank, are required to come second class. The names of the four boats coming are as follows: THYSVILLE (the one we came out on this time), Anversville (the one we went home on last time), ELIZABETHVILLE; these are the three first class passenger boats; then the STANLEYVILLE, is a new boat just put in service, and which I refer to above as the one carrying only second class passengers. This last named is smaller, and above as the one carrying only second class passengers. This last named is smaller, and takes 22 days for the trip, whereas the others only take 18 days. I doubt if we can count on mail coming more frequently at this time. We will let you know if we hear further.
I note what you say about Max's rupture, and hope you have not been worrying about it, for he has suffered very little (practically none as far as we can tell) from it. And now it seems to have almost disappeared. Dr. Cousar says that it is not something to worry over unless it gets to an enlarged stage, for he claims that over half the men have this trouble or have had it as children. He has had quite a bit of experience at Johns Hopkins, which as you know, is no mean hospital. Mrs. Stegall's little baby had it too, but it was about like Max's and Dr. Stixrud did not consider it serious. So I believe you will be safe in scratching this off your list of worries.
One of the government officials is living here in our village now collecting taxes and information among the natives. They are quite pleasant; the Madame speaks right good English, and he speaks some. She is here visiting Dorothy this morning.
We had a birthday party at the Longeneckers Sat. evening in honor of little Dorothy; she is about five, I believe. Max enjoyed it tremendously as well as the rest of us.
It's time to quit, as I have lots of other things to do. Trust this finds everybody well, and with love to all.
As ever,
B.M.
P. S. Please excuse my writing on both sides, but our letter is getting heavy.
We have just had word that the Allens hope to start back to the Congo in July. They expect to have their medical exam about May. Of course, it all depends on this report. She had dormant or inactive for a long time previous to this, Personally I doubt if they will be permitted to return so soon; but that's humanly speaking. If the Lord wants them back now, it isn't with the doctors? ?
Dorothy
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