Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1897-08-08 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.149Context
[Box 219, Athens, OH, to Miss Bertha E. Lambert, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.;” stationery from Cameron House.]
Box 219
Athens, Ohio, Aug. 8, 1897
Darling Bertha: I arose at 7 this A.M., went to S.S., dinner is now over and I come to what is a sacred thing to me: viz write to my “Sweetheart.”
I am feeling well and have a good appetite. Your letter came to hand Friday and made me feel that you were surely very near in thought. I know that you have spent some lonely hrs in that sense. I sat down last evening after supper and just tried to imagine some of those Sat. evenings of last yr and I could scarcely keep still, how a smiling countenance always greeted me whether I smiled or not and how I knew that there was a soul that just filled what was lacking in my life. But I thought then of how God had prospered me this wk. and that this was just what we both had asked God to grant to us and somehow I said “all is well.” I knew that our love was true and pure and that you had my love and I had yours, and it certainly is blissful to feel and know that.
While I have loved you for so long, yet I know now in a sense I never did before what love really means and I am quite sure you realize it the same.
I commenced work here Tues. noon and got the balance of the wk. I am not quite a full hand but got $3 per day. My finger bothers me quite a good deal and may always be a little crooked. It does not pain any. Had it been on my left hand I don't think I could work any this fall at brick work.
I think we have about 10 days work on hand now. I have rather an elevated position as we are about 60 ft from the ground and will go higher perhaps 20 or 25 ft, but I am very careful and we have good scaffold.
I appreciate what you said concerning school and I know we are at a standstill in one sense but, all will come well in some way. You spoke of not feeling very spry, I hope you are all right by this time. I shall feel sorry indeed if your eyes will not permit you to enter school this yr., but whether you enter school or not or even if it is evident that you should be an invalid in that respect the remainder of life you are still my own true and loving sweetheart and I just want you to feel perfectly at ease in that respect and I believe you do. Anything of that kind only makes your life seem nearer and sweeter to me. But I believe you will become stronger and will be able to do the work intended for you. Your affliction is not a discouragement to me at all. I only want us to make use of our opportunities at present in such a manner that we will be prepared to meet any emergency. Yes I would like to have the chance to see you by waiting an hr (and I wouldn't growl about it neither). I often think of those few(?) moments after walking home with you. I don't believe we took too many such seasons. If in school this yr. I hope to arrange to spend more time with you than I did even last yr. I think it is very essential.
I had quite a talk with Dr. Harper today in which I got several ideas which we will want to consider when we meet. I don't know yet what arrangement I can make for school but will do my best to be in school of some kind this yr. I think I will be around before school time as there are some things that I think it is quite necessary to talk over before making a decision. Leonard is here now working for Carlos. I expected to have written before this time, but did not get at it. I don't believe I would enjoy the “jigger bites” very much. I presume you still view the medical work as you did.
The way seems brighter in that direction than it did and perhaps we can make it still brighter. Howard was here one day this wk. I don't know whether he was after his papers or not. I expect you are writing to me this afternoon. I wish I could slip in and look over your shoulder, probably I would over then, perhaps we might be too fast in marrying this fall when we consider everything carefully, and if we are in school together I think we will not notice it so much, but I dread this separation business. I don't want much of it. Life is too short for us to be spending so much time away from each other, but I am willing to do anything that will be the will of God and simply want to be passive in His hands in everything.
I thank you for being so cheerful, it has been a blessing to me. I don't need to say “write soon” as I know you want to say something to me. May the Master continue to help you in your undertakings.
Your Lover,
J. H. Harris.
