[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Tura, Assam, India. March 14, 1919.
Dear Miss Turner,
Many times has Eleanor written of you and your many kindnesses and your helpfulness to her, and as often have I wished I could write you a long letter.
Life is strenuous for all who really live and accomplish, and I have not been able to do all that my heart prompted. Eleanor's last letter, Jan. 18-26, speaks particularly of her indispositions after the pneumonia, and of your care for her, helping her to set matters right. We thank you with all our hearts for all you have been to her and done for her. At this side we are trying to do all possible for the help of the people, spiritually, mentally, physically, so we are all working hand in hand for the same ends, and we hope Eleanor will not disappoint you in her life work, but pass on to others all that you do for her. How inspiring it must be to you to feel that through your pupils you are living and working all over the world! Sometimes I stop to think of my own pupils scattered over the world doing many things to make the world better, and again of our own children adding to the joy and the good of life, and it is satisfying. Our hearts go out in deep gratitude to all you who have helped and inspired our children to better life.
It has been a matter of much satisfaction that Eleanor has been so happy at Holyoke. As a young girl she was shy, retiring, and we could but wonder how she would get on alone away at college. All that we have learned has made our hearts glad. She has seemed so very happy in her work and friends, especially in some of you who have been her teachers. The matter of health has been ever a care to me. Fear of break down. Not from legitimate work but from the many things which are allowed to come in to sap vitality. If she comes through as strong as she went in I shall be very glad indeed. Seemingly she has reached a crisis in Jan. and we shall await eagerly the next word from her. Her decision to study medicine has pleased us, and how we should love to be at home to have the girls all with us during those years of preparation for their life work.
This last term we have been but a little over three years yet, and my husband is doing a great work in translating the Old Testament into Garo, a work which no one else can do, (Dr. Phillips in N.Y., is at the same work, but he is very feeble, has no Garo helper and can not be depended upon for much, and as long as he keeps so well and able to work it seems we ought not to leave. It is a most strenuous task. The Garo language is very meager, and it is most difficult often to express things in it. Then when the Hebrew is not clear, many Eng. translations differ and commentators disagree, how shall one say it in Garo? But Mr. Mason greatly enjoys the work.Only those who have done translations, proof-reading, editing and publishing, can appreciate what it means. Only the best, the most nearly correct possible will satisfy my husband. It matters not how long and how much strength it takes to accomplish it, it must be as nearly right as man can make it.
The heat has swooped down upon us with unusual severity and speed. A week ago I still was wearing the heaviest combination I ever wore in the States, altho it was getting a bit uncomfortable, and we were sleeping under 1 or 2 blankets. We like to hold on to the winter clothing as long as possible for it gives more change when it does get hot. But now for three days if we consulted our animal feelings alone we should be glad to wear no more dress than the Garos do in their native wilds!! While for two nights we have lain on top the bed, fanned all night more or less, and longed for morning. The sky is so blue, the sun so bright, the air filled with dust and the fine sand which the sirocco winds bring up from the plains of Bengal. Added to this is the cinders from the burning for cultivation. The Garos cut the forest, jungle &c, burn it at night and fill the country with smoke and floating black particles. At times it seems as though the world were on fire all about us. Often the fire gets away and spreads, doing great damage, as when in 1908 it climbed our Mt. here and after strenuous fighting for days finally burned the Mission cottage while Mr. Mason and I were stopping up there.
Again thanking you and wishing we might know you,
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. M. C. [Marcus Clark] Mason