Onesimos Nesib. Letter to EFS dated 28 July 1893
English translation
In addition to our ordinary (translation) work, Aster [Ganno] and I have written a small spelling book and reader. With her determination and fine memory, Aster has been able to retell a great number of indigenous riddles, fables, proverbs, parables, cradle-songs, and other songs. I selected the best of them for our little book. I also translated 25 of E. Maus’ 400 Christian stories in addition to some fables from the Swedish reader …
- Mau, Jens Christian Edvard Theodor. Fyrahundra christliga berättelser för ung och gammal. Malmö 1872. [View Danish version; HathiTrust]
- Hagerup, Eiler. Märkwärdiga Exempel af De Heliga Martyrer, deras swåra Lidande, segerrika Tro och Tålamod, i De tio stora Förföljelser, som Under den Hedniska Öfwerheten, i de tre första Århundraden efter Christi födelse, öfwergingo Christenheten, translated by C.O. Rosenius. Stockholm: Lundberg, 1848. [Archive.org]
We tried our best to apply an easy [Oromo]. I think we [p. 159] have succeeded. You can hardly believe that they are translations from a foreign language. I did not follow the letter but the meaning.
It is very important to have such a book. We have deplorable experiences from the use of the Bible as the only reader. The word of the Bible … seems to lose its flavor and its quickening balm when a student makes use of this gift of God from the very beginning (of his or her study) without a proper respect for its value. In order to forestall such carelessness and indifference in front of this gold mine, the Bible, I should be very happy if this book might be printed shortly after the New Testament …
- The primer was published with the Oromo title Jalqaba Barsiisaa in 1894.
Aster has also translated the Bible stories. She did it entirely on her own while I was at Imkullu and read the proofs … I have not found any mistakes except such as I might have made myself.
- The book was published with the Oromo title Si’a lama oduu shantamiilama Kakuu Moofaatii fi Kakuu Haaraatii in 1899.
Our dear brother [Nils] Hylander reads what up to now has been printed of the New Testament almost as well as anybody else among us. This makes me exceedingly happy.
Text based on P. Persson, ed. More than Hope: An Onesimos Nesib
Anthology. Addis Ababa: EECMY-DMT, 2024, p.158‒59 [online]
Swedish text
SEM Missions-Tidning 1893, p. 149‒50:
Courtesy EFS [aka SEM] historical archives