THE rKING’S: BUSINESS
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Mr. and Mrs. Probst and three children live with her and also Miss Stumpf, Mr. Hurl- burt’s secretary.' Miss Messenger is a middle-aged, capable woman who came out :when the Hurlburt family first came. She has a girls’ home— has about twenty-seven native girls and babies in the home, and it goes without say ing that she is carrying on a very wonderful work. [Since Mrs. Allen’s letter came to hand Miss Messenger has been ruthlessly torn from her chosen life-work by the British authorities, after many years of devotion and success, and deported to India. She is the lady referred to'by Dr. Torrey in an editorial in this issue.] Mr. Downing is director of the work in British East Africa and his house comes next. You all would be pleased to see what a lovely homelike place it is. They have grape vines and strawberries! And the most beautiful place it is, with the most beauti ful roses you can imagine. It was here that Hugh Wallace died. As time goes on it seems that we all miss Hugh more and more. It seems that he surely must be com ing in some of these days. His work lives in the hearts of the natives who knew him well, as in those who worked with him.- Miss Harland, who worked in the Congo, had a very severe sickness a few months ago and came down here to regain her strength before she returns. She is staying at Down ing’s now, as they have all the lovely eggs and butter and milk she can use. Next comes another stone house, set away up oh the side hill, where Mr. and Mrs. Westervelt and their little son live. Then close to them are Mr. Ellson (his wife died last year) and his three children. I forgot to tell you Downings have three children, too. Lucile, about 13, is very musical and plays beautifully; also plays'the violin and speaks French, beside English and Kikuyu. Next on the way is a small house where Mrs, Hannay lives. She has her little place fixed up like a corner at home with her books and pictures and piano. She has a little yellow dog called “Scotch Presbyte-
ing school and so there have been only two little girls, who live no.t far away, staying here, beside the regular resident mission aries’ children. Mr. and Mrs. McKendrick are in charge here. Four or five native Christian boys work in the kitchen and laundry and since there is plenty of room in this big house, “the extras,” that is, those who have no other home, or who are here for a short time only, stay here, So we have a long tableful usually and it is a very lively place. McKendricks have three little girls; then the two little girls who go to school; Mr. Brolin, carpenter and blacksmith; Miss Simpson, a language shark, who is translat ing the Bible into the Masai language; Miss Martin, who came out with us and expects to go to the Congo soon; Miss Henton, who is a trained nurse and a particular friend to Miss Martin and also expects to go to the Congo. Mrs. Hannay comes here for many of her meals and just now Mr. Herdman is here; he also hopes to go to the Congo be fore very long, • The hospital is being built now. It is in two parts—for black -and white patients; a modern operating room with complete and faultless equipment; quarters for the doc tor’s family in the European section. Mr. Hurlburt wants Ken to live there and carry on the medical work. We both long to have an out-station or go to the Congo, as the need seems so much more urgent in other places, but of course we want to go and do whatever will be the will of God and the plan of persons in charge of the Mission. HAPPY AMERICAN HOMES Mrs. Myers, as I have told you before, is an old lady—mother of Mrs. Probst—who came out many years ago when her daugh ter first came. She is a widow and has another daughter in India. So. when this younger daughter came to Africa, she came, too; sold her property at home and built a home here. It is such a pretty place, set up very high with a most beautiful view from the front veranda. The house is built of stone and is very comfortable and “homey.”
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