Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1895-11-14 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.66Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss Bertha Lambert, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.,” on Ohio Normal University stationery.]
Ada, Ohio. Nov. 14, 1895.
Miss Lambert,
Westerville, Ohio.
My Dear Sweetheart: Once more this grand opportunity comes with its pleasurable thoughts and sentiments. One more wk of the intervening time has fled and we are brought one wk nearer our desired goal and also one wk. nearer eternity, that too is a pleasant thought to the Christian who daily performs his work and is looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. How much nicer it would be if we could only be studying the same lessons together. How inspiring to feel and know myself in the very presence of a part of my own life and that the sweetest and noblest.
I long to pour out my thoughts to you and better still to hear your voice as it utters sentiments and thoughts that seem to pierce my very soul with fondest accent. You are looking forward with a degree of hopefulness and patience that certainly exemplifies the true idea of your life. May it please heaven to reward such a character. I sometimes get so really lonesome to see you that six wks looks like a long time. We have nice ladies in our club and I sit by a highly cultured and pretty lady in rhetoric class, but it isn't my Bertha in any sense whatever. I can see clearly why you have no desire to have a point there at W.
I find it just so here and I know I could not be happy to take one of the ladies here.
I guess they think it is a foregone conclusion with me and I am perfectly willing that they should think so. I don't like to have to talk with the pen as there is no opportunity for intervening demonstrations.
I suppose I looked a little forlorn at not finding your letter Tuesday morning, but our relation is such now that although I felt so lost and forlorn yet I knew if anything unusual happens I would be among the first to find it out and so, simply waited patiently.
Were I at W. this morning I might attach a severe penalty which I think you might endure however, for I should use no other weapon than my arms.
I was glad to know that you had such a nice visit. I will wait a day every time you get such an opportunity.
We are now engaged in the wk. of prayer and are having a very large attendance and some stir outside. Thus far two have come out and there seems to be a good opening for work. Will you remember us in your prayer?
You will find your Greek more interesting when you get to reading. I think Homer is very fine indeed. The boys seem to think there will be no more democratic rallies until next yr., but I tell them they are mistaken. You say Xmas is coming. Joe is coming too and that is what makes us both smile. The boys are trying to bewitch me. They asked a witch writing board the name of my “girl” and to my surprise it did seem to know for it wrote “bertha” quite distinctly. I then put my hand on it and it did the same. I couldn't doubt the truthfulness of its statements. I am feeling well and can study early and late.
Have you thought as to what time you prefer we have our visit, during the wk. or first or second Sunday of vacation?
I shall write to Alice soon. There are so many things I should like to ask you about, but guess they will have to accumulate until a more inspiring moment. When I come again I will be decided to stay longer than 9 o'clock. What think you of the Herald's midnight-oil cartoon? I am not acquainted with that position. I will say good-morning to you now and will continue daily to offer a prayer in behalf of you and our plans.
If you do nothing more naughty than visit on Sunday I will call you a good little girl. Of course you retire early now.
Devotedly,
J. H. Harris.
