Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1895-07-16 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.45Context
no envelope]
Lock Box 28, Ada, Ohio.
July 16, 1895.
Miss Lambert,
Iberia, Ohio.
My Loving Bertha: 9:30 this evening finds me at the private table instead of the banquet hall. Your letter just reread causes every love chord to vibrate. I would rather sit at your feet and gaze into those loving eyes and have the light of your endearing countenance shed its rays about me than to sit at a king's banquet, yes I would much rather sit here and express my love for you even in this crude manner than sit at our banquet without you at my side.
Your letter reached me this morning and strange to say it came from the west. I opened it while at the office, but seeing the contents, I felt almost overpowered and hastened to my room notwithstanding the morning exercises had already begun.
The coveted curl was first carefully noted. O my! how much it expressed. No present or souvenir however costly would have expressed half so much as the curl from my own Bertha's locks. I certainly thank you for such a remembrance “Yea love-token” and I shall cherish it as such while absent from you. It may seem strange, but I felt so moved that I think it would have required the stoutest heart to refrain from emotion. Yes Love I know you desired to send a token and wondered in your mind what it should be, but you did just what pleased me most. As I was appointed to meet some of the trains I met them all until I rec'd your letter. I thought I saw everybody get off but you. Of course it would have been much nicer with your presence here, yet I certainly admire your spirit in this matter. O no I could not impute selfish motives, for you have no motive of that nature in our relation. I think your reasons are valid and sensible ones, and while I miss the inspiration of your presence, I certainly love you all the more for exemplifying such far seeing principles as a rule of action. I think you have been busy in your work. I have been working at the banquet hall (Adelphian's new hall) yesterday and today hence have heard but little of exercises, but it was and is a nice and successful reunion. I felt so weary this evening that I preferred to spend the time with you.
I trust you will not censure me for not taking the banquet, but I would not have enjoyed it without you and I feel perfectly content to miss it.
Wed. noon? Committee work prevented sending this on the morning train so fearing 4¢ postage I close. Will give you more news in next issue, with love, J. Hastings Harris.
