October 1894: “Our Monthly Budget” (Part 1 of 3, New Letter from Belgium)
There are a few tiny quirks in this enthusiastic young French fella’s Jargon, but let’s just read & enjoy his letter!
[Our Monthly Budget]
< New Letter from Belgium. >
Chi wixt chako ukuk pipa kopa saia ilihi:
‘Just now there’s also come this letter from abroad:’L ShK it MI Liish Bilshom < 29 > Shulai < ’94 >1
‘Laudetur Jesus Christus et Maria Immaculata! Liège, Belgium, 29 July ’94.’Naika tlus tilikom kopa Kamlups,
‘My good friends at Kamloops,’Wixt naika chako wawa klaxawiam kopa msaika, pi tanas
‘Again I’m coming to say hello to you folks, and to chat’wawa Chinuk kanamokst msaika. <X> Ilo lili ankati msaika nanich
‘a little in Chinook with you. X Not long ago you folks saw’kopa Kamlups, taii liplit Pir Sulii, nsaika aias taii pi
‘at Kamloops the chief priest Père Soullier, who is our main leader and’nsaika tlus papa iaka. Naika tomtom msaika yutl tomtom kopa
‘our good father. I suppose you folks were delighted by’iaka. Pir Sulii aias tiki kanawi msaika, pi kanawi
‘him. Père Soullier loves all of you, and all of’tilikom kopa British Kolombia ilihi. < X > Naika tomtom liiam alta
‘the people in the province of British Columbia. X I think the Devil right now’chako sik iaka tomtom, iaka saliks alta kopa msaika.
‘is getting upset, (and) he’s angry now at you folks.’ST alki hilp msaika, pi alki msaika styuil, pi alki
‘God will help you, and you’ll pray, and’msaika ihi kopa liiam.
‘you’ll laugh at the Devil.’Naika tlus tilikom, iakwa kopa Liish, Bilshom, nsaika tiki
‘My good friends, here at Liège, Belgium, we want’pus msaika mamuk cim kopa nsaika. Kakwa alki nsaika yutl tom=
‘for you folks to write to us. That way I’ll be happy’tom kopa msaika. Tlus msaika mamuk pipa kopa Liish … aiak!!
‘with you. You folks should write to Liège … right away!!’Klahawiam kanawi taii pi kanawi tilikom kopa British
‘Goodbye, all the chiefs and all the people in British’Kolombia ilihi. Tlus msaika kwanisim tiki styuil, pi lishapli
‘Columbia. You should keep loving prayer, and the rosary’pi msaika liplit.
‘and your priest.’Tlus msaika mamuk styuil pus Pir Lshyun iaka aw; iaka
‘You folks should pray for Père Le Jeune’s brother; he’aias tiki msaika,
‘loves you,’iaka nim. Iv Lshyun O.Im.Ai.
‘his name is Yves Le Jeune O.M.I.’< Address:
Rev. Yves Le Jeune O.M.I.
Rue Basse Vez2
Liège. -Belgium. >
1 L ShK it MI: abbreviation for the customary Oblate greeting, ‘Laudetur Jesus Christus / et Maria Immaculata’ (praised be Jesus Christ / and Mary Immaculate).
2 Rue Basse Vez: i.e. the Rue Basse Wez.
— Kamloops Wawa #121 (October 1894), page 167
