Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1896-01-22 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.79Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss Bertha Lambert, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.”]
Ada, O.
Jan. 1896.
Miss Lambert,
Westerville, O.
My Darling Bertha: Another wk is now gone and it becomes my turn to talk with a slow pen. Your “sunshine”[?] came this morning. I had been feeling somewhat moody (perhaps because of loss of sleep last night) but I at once forgot that I had been abused[?] and my mind was taken with the thought of my “sweetheart” suffering from cold and to think that such a long distance separates her from her lover. I think I could get my ear very close and would soon soothe the troubled throat were I with you. I always feel very uneasy about you when I get such a letter, for I know your disposition is not to tell the worst, but I trust you may soon be out again as merry as a lark.
I fear you have again violated nature's laws and she is punishing you for the same. I trust she will teach my “Dear” to take excellent care of herself and make her strong in body and mind. The boys upstairs took a spell last night and arranged a bell so that it rang about every half hr. from midnight on, and as I did not go to bed until 11:30 I was awake almost all night.
It was Mattie's “Point.” He graduates in Pharmacy this term and she has bought and showed to Fisher and I a pair of solid gold cuff buttons and studs. I am sorry but, I don't believe he thinks anything of her at all scarcely, has never appeared with her in public and his personal character even from what I know of him is far below the best. I should not speak of this but it is such a good example of that nature of which we have spoken. If they both loved each other it would be quite different, but she so far has done most all of the courting, but what do you care for this now?
Rev. Brooks of Findlay addressed the Y.M.C.A. last Sunday to an audience of 400 young men on social purity. It was a stirring address and I have no doubt it pricked the conscience of many a slimy handed young man. I have thought much of the address since and it seems to me you stand out before my eyes in almost angelic purity. Your sweetness of soul penetrate my life far more than any other factor save the atoning blood. Of course I don't mean that you are bit tempted, not could I wish that you were not, but that your virtue makes you a conquering force. I am glad to know that you have such an active part in your society. I have thought many times that unless you expect to graduate it would pay you well to cultivate a taste for reading and do a great deal of literary work with somewhat lighter (fewer) studies and as you mentioned in your letter, I believe we want more soul culture with our work. I hope you do not allow yourself less than half an hr. daily for devotional work. So far as I am concerned I would much rather see you come out of O.U. with the secret of taking hold of God in faith and prayer than to use the same time in Greek etc.
I believe it is a fact that the majority of even our Christian College Professors have not learned that secret.
I am glad to know that you have this higher ideal in view and may God help us to attain to this ideal.
Meetings are in progress in three churches but as this term is thronged with Y.M.C.A. I am not attending them.
I presume Prof. Scott wanted to find out if I was worth looking after, so I may not hear of him again. I have always been impressed with the idea that there are some other institutions that are superior to O.U. in religious zeal.
I believe I told you that I am critic in our society now, two more nights will relieve me however.
This makes the eighth letter for yesterday and today and there are six more that must be answered this wk. I received a letter today from a young man asking for a recommendation, so you see what it is to be great. I may say for your comfort that you are the only lady in the list. I am not much afraid of W. boys even if they may part their hair in the middle. Now I trust that this may find you well, but if not, let me hear from you at once, please. I have enjoyed this hr. very much and trust you may find some comfort in it. May God bless you and restore you to your accustomed work.
With devoted love I am yours,
J. H. Harris.
