(Previous installment)

Wed. Feb 26, 1919

Finished my letters to send to America on the “Katoa,” also sent a roll of vanilla beans to mother & a strand of beads to each of the girls.

Thurs. Feb 27, 1919

Elders Burton and Compton had arrived during the night from the Tuamotus, calling at Maheme, Takarava, Arakiki & Rarka & Apataki. they reported that the Spanish influenza had not broken out in any of the Tuamotu Islands. Martha came in for the evening.

Sat. March 1, 1919

Held priesthood meeting. The Stewart children and their aunt Louise came in to spend the evening, singing & chatting.

Sun. March 2, 1919

Meetings were very well attended. Had 16 children in my S.S. class. Stewarts attended afternoon meeting. Tecopi, my star music pupil has taken french leave for the Tuamotus, which is certainly discouraging to me, as she was beginning to play very well and now it seems that all of my work has been in vain in her behalf.

Mon. March 3, 1919

Visited Martha, Constance Stewart and I went shopping. The Elders are now working night and day shifts in the printing of “Two Thousand Gospel Quotations” by Judge Rolapp, which President Rossiter is translating into the Tahitian language. Elders Orton, Burton & Heslop are working the day shift, and Elders Compton, Stephens & Mack the night shift. With the Elders working both night & day I am kept in the kitchen all hours of the day and cannot accomplish much else. Most of the above named Elders will leave for home as soon as the printing of the book si completed so are naturally very anxious to get it done as soon as possible.

Tues to Sat. March 4 to 8

Cooking and music lessons have occupied all of my time. Sat Paloona left for America.

Fri. March 7, 1919

Toriki and Tepoheiva, two native missionaries, arrived with their families from Takaroa. They had been appointed to go to Tubuai to labor. In the evening we held a spirited himeneraa. The yard & street were filled with people who gathered to listen. To-day we received word that the Government steamer the Kusaint had gone on the rocks at Moorea, and it was feared the vessel would be lost. The “Paloona” which arrived to-day from New Zealand, also became fast on the “Zellie” (the vessel which was sunk in the Papeete Harbor when the Germans bombarded in 1914) but she was fortunate enough to free herself when the high tide came in.

Torikama had called at Tikabou on the way down the island where the Reorganite people live, those to whom we gave refuge in our house, the night of the high sea at Papeete. One old man told him that one night he was called upon to pray I meeting and in his prayer he asked the Lord to bless the Mormon Elders who had taken them in the night of the flood, whereupon, Mr Ellis the Reorganite jumped up and stopped him, telling him that they shouldn’t pray for the enemies, but the old native saint insisted that we weren’t his enemies but his friends, who had assisted him and his family when they were in trouble, and that he would ask the Lord to bless them. Mr. Ellis has also forbid the young native girls who wanted to study with me to come to our place anymore & has sent most of them away to their homes in the Tuamotus.

Sun. March 9, 1919

Had 60 people at church to-day, something unusual for Papeete. Took pictures of the crowd after church. Matopa, Touki’s little blind girl amused herself all afternoon fingering away on the organ. She said if it was only daytime she would be able to play.

Mon. March 10, 1919

Made a lot of pillow cases from the good parts of several old sheets and mended stockings. Visited Terai, Toae & Teuira and their families. Hunted for a wash woman to wash the mission linen, & succeeded in getting Hina a Rua to come. Gave one lesson.

Tues. March 11, 1919

Washed our clothes, mended some trousers for Elder Burton. Mrs Coles and Sherud called, Hei also came in later. Served them with ice cream which we had prepared for dinner. Hei talks continually of going home with me.

Wed. March 12, 1919

Ironed. Gave lesson to Teura. Gave two hand embroidered dresser scarfs to Lerava for her two daughters. Stella, a little girl who lives across the street came over and brought me a pretty shell hei, which she threw under a chair and ran home without saying a word. Himeneraa at night.

Thur. Mar 13th, 1919

The Moana arrived from America, & we went up on the mountain to watch it approach and to gather guavas. Received 2 letters from Sadie, but none from mother. Also a letter from Pheobe, Libbie, Elder Bulkley and a $1.00 bill from Irene and a song entitled “Mother of Mine” from Sadie besides the spring fashion book, two rolls of papers and several books of Salt Lake views.

Fri & Sat March 14 & 15th

Daily routine of work. Nothing unusual.

Sun. March 16, 1919

Attended and taught S.S. class. After dinner suffered a congestion and fainting spell and was not able to attend afternoon meeting. Little Sophie Stewart brought me up a bouquette of flowers.

Mon. March 17, 1919

Remained in my room all day Elders Compton and Stephens prepared a nice dinner and brought a tray of it up to me, consisted of sweet potatoes & cocoanut milk, cabbage, lettuce & cabbage slaw, & lemon pie.

Tues. & Wed. March 18 & 19, 1919

Spent most of day working on Mission History book.

Thurs. March 20, 1919

The princess sent us a nice turtle steak by one of the servants. Received letters from Elders Tillotson & Larson from Hao saying that the latter had been very ill with asthma & heart trouble, having been confined to his bed for 10 days. He was, however quite recovered at the time of writing, but Pres. wrote him to come to Papeete if he thought it advisable. Also received a letter from Rirava a Paea who had recently been appointed Pres of the Relief Society at Hao.

Fri. March 21, 1919

Made pictures. Visited 3 families of saints. Gave one music lesson.

Sat. March 22, 1919

Had Mr Gauthier take a picture of the mission home. Ern & I walked out to Tepairui. Gave one lesson.

Sun. March 23, 1919

Held regular Sunday services & song practice. Terai & Tuhiata remained to visit all afternoon while the men folks went out to visit Phillip Paroi an Adventist missionary. Called on Stuarts in the evening.

Mon. March 24, 1919

Washed at intervals all day, couldn’t work steadily on account of severe pain in my heart and side that I have had for more than a week past. Terai washed the mission house bed & table linen.

Tues. March 25, 1919

Besides other duties, I mended for the Elders.

Wed. March 26, 1919

Ironed & made pictures. Himeneraa at night.

Thurs. March 27, 1919

The Stewart girls and Mrs Moho, a Pitcairn woman who works for them, came over to learn some of our hymns.

Fri. March 28, 1919

Elder Stephens has the grippe, so I gave him a hot toddy, put his feet in hot mustard water & put him to bed. Mended some shirts & trousers for Elder Burton.

Sat, March 29, 1919

At Elders priesthood meetings the following Elders were released to return home Wm H. Orton after having spent 4 yr 1 month, John D. Monk, 3 yrs 8 months, Geo Compton 3 yrs 5 months, Alma Burton & Otha Stephens each 3 yrs 4 months in the missionary field. Pres. gave them good advice telling them to keep in the harness when they returned home. Laid particular stress on the observance of the laws of tithing and the Sabbath day, relating his own experiences in that regard.

Sun & Mon March 30 & 31, 1919

Pres remained in his room suffering from a general breakdown, having been translating almost incessantly night & day during the past month in order to keep up with the 6 Elders who are printing “Rolapps 2000 Gospel Quotations.”

Tues. Wed & Thurs, 1, 2, 3 of April

Remodeled two old dresses and mended for the elders besides my other work & music lessons.

(To be continued)