HEATH:  In the 1960s, one of Orburn Heath’s daughters did missionary work in India.  Occasionally, Marion Heath would send her aunts in Wardsville, Ontario letters recounting her adventures – the cover of one of her airmail letters is pictured above.  Dated at Ajmala on 13 October 1967, the contents are transcribed as follows:

The folks write that you are well!  I take after you in liking cats.  When the Colemans (other missionaries on this compound) are away, I look after their Siamese cat, Tammy.  This morning Ezekiel, 5 yr old, (the little horror) shoved a very wee, fat putty inside my door.  Did Tammy ever go for the poor thing!  I had a terrible time grabbing her away.  Finally, I pulled her off by her tail.  The pup was so frightened he just went to the bathroom all over the place.  Boy!  I was mad at Ezekiel!  Later he was looking in the go-down at Tammy & her kittens & going “Woof!  Woof!”

In Sept. I was working in Calcutta.  Because of the food shortage, people form queues for break.  Because the drainage system is poor, after an all day downpour the water is knee deep in the streets.  but the city is very interesting with some lively buildings.  in the botanical gardens, is the largest tree – a banyan tree which can seat 2,000 people under it.  in the zoo are some WHITE tigers – big massive creatures with black stripes on a white background – lovely as they pace pack and forth!  There’s a REAL cat for you, Aunt Greta.

In the Manoharpur, Bihar, I learned about rice.  the old variety when manured only grew more long stemmed and fell over in the heavy rains.  The new Japanese variety is short, [has a] short, stocky stem & grows longer heads of grain when manured.

Well, Aunt Erie, I am gradually going gray (but it is worth it and inevitable!).  After Paris, I  don’t know whether I will become used to mini-skirts or not!

I hope all is well with you and my cousins.  How is John getting on in the Masons?

With love,

Marion