Wednesday Dee. 22 ~ 97.

Mrs. C. much better - Our Father has kept watch over her.
Mrs. Wooding better ~ Mrs. Graham sick. This seems to be
rather a sickly time. Baron De Rosen commisiaire In dis+
trict very ill. I killed a pigeon today and had it
roasted at the Dutch House. Mrs. C. & Mrs. G. both en-
joyed it and ate heartily.

Thursday Dec. 23 ~ 1897.

Mrs. C. still improving and getting strong. We are to
have a concert tonight. No, Imean a lecture on Dr. Living
stone's travels in Africa. Later - We have had it. Mr.
Graham delivered the lecture and accompanied it with a
magic lantern it was very good and a goodly number was

out to hear it - about the wind up it began to rain = We
have not been able to commence keeping house regularly
yet, but probably will on Monday next.

Friday Dec. 24 - 1897.

Mrs. C. stills improves - she is waking around sitting up
and gaining strength rapidly. One of the good things
about the Congo fever is that after it is over you gain
strength so rapidly and in a short time one does not feel
as though they had been sick at all. Tomorrow is Xmas
day and it is my birthday - and I am to preach a sermon
at 10 o'clock. Wonderful is not it? My anniversary and
I am to preach a Xmas sermon. I shall close now and wish
you all a merry Xmas & happy new year. We are to give the
boys on the different stations a big feast tomorrow some
of the party who went with Dr. 8. & Mr. J. have returned
bringing good news. Yours in Christ Stephen & Sophie

Saturday Dec. 25 - 1897

A Merry Xmas. Today has been a day of Joy and light
evento us here in this dark and benighted land. I preach-
ed this asm. to the Accra & Sierra Leone's and told them
the same old blessed story of the birth of Our Saviour and
his precious love. A gocdly no. was present and all
seemed to be much interested. After dinner At Mr. Graham!
(B.M.S.) their diningroom was turned over to the boys of
that station and mine (A.F.C.M.) and we killed a pig and
gave it to them to cook and eat. You should have seen
with what delight and gladness they all sat down to the
long table - 25 in all ~ with my head man NKaku and Depoka
