Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1895-04-14 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.28Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss Bertha Lambert, Bartlett, Ohio, “Washington Co.” Enclosure: Pennsylvania Program given by the Philo Society, April 12, 1895, 7:30.]
Box 479, Ada, O. April 14, 95.
Miss Lambert,
Bartlett, O.
Dear Bertha: — This Easter evening finds me at my accustomed place after another busy day's work. I have been in places where I would wonder Sab. morning how I should put in the long hrs., but now here I wonder how I shall get time to do all that is laid out to do.
This has been a busy wk. as you may know by my having been at Oberlin. We could not get home Mon. so we had to stay all night at Forest. When we got back I found myself confronted with the task of writing out four Latin lessons three Greek, beside making up the work in Mental Science and German, but that does not concern our meeting this evening. I am well and certainly feel grateful for the same. I did not tell you much about Oberlin and as time is limited will leave the many incidents and inspiring thoughts until we meet under more favorable circumstances.
Leonard and I have just been discussing Mt. Hermon, Foreign Missions etc, etc. He goes home tomorrow so I shall have all my troubles to myself except what you share, and you are so far away. I do not doubt but that those coming five wks appear long to you, but your cheerful disposition will carry you through without a murmur. I send the books with Leonard. He smiles at the prospect of making a call when he gets home and I guess you can entertain him all right, but somehow I should like to take that place myself. When I called on Prof. Smith to get the book he said he could let me have a book for $.15 but to others it would be $5. I didn't tell him it was for you or I presume he would have given me one that was not scuffed.
I hardly feel settled yet as to the definite plans for the summer, but shall try to attend the Summer School. In fact they said at the Conference that I had to do so. I wish I might have been at the carpet-rag sewing. I think they might have given you the letter to read. They did not know that you wanted to read it so bad. I am sorry you had to sit up alone when at the same time I was sitting up alone until near midnight, thinking — yes my heart panting in the thought of you.
What! You vote! You old enough to vote! In this state you have to be twentyone. I don't believe you are 21 now. I never have voted yet, so let us wait until I am old enough and we will cast our first ballot together.
Well it is now after 10 O'clock as Leonard and I have spent the last hour and three quarters in talking on religious questions. I don't know what to say I have tried time and again to press him to the point of accepting Christ, but he still refuses perhaps I am at fault, but I shall try again in the morning I don't want him to leave here without making that decision.
You spoke of visiting Hannah and of forming a chorus class, but did not state where that would be. If I knew I have forgotten where they live.
You spoke of when I should see you. Well this evening would have suited me first rate, but of course will have to give it up now.
May I ask what time you will leave Hermon. Also may I ask which plan would suit you the better, to visit you while at Hermon or wait until you make a change. We have five wks. of this term yet. I suppose you will hardly be apt to leave Hermon the same wk. your school closes will you? Of course it would be a little save in time for me to visit you after the change, but what I look at is to not allow the element of time or anything else to predominate, but that we may look forward to the sweetest and best visit we shall have experienced in our lives.
When you are at W. I think we could have a pretty good visit with but the loss of one day, and I presume we shall take advantage of the same next year.
Will you please be perfectly free to express your ideas or plans and then we can come to a conclusion. Be free to express your preference, as to place and date and if I can not arrange for that, I shall be free to speak of it. As it is late I will throw in a [kiss and say good-night love.
With love's token,
J. H. Harris.
