Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1895-06-11 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.37Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss Bertha Lambert, Westerville, Ohio]
Box 479, Ada, O. June 11, 1895.
Miss Lambert,
Westerville, O.
My Loving Bertha: After the labors of the day are over, although somewhat sleepy and weary yet I find it a pleasant task to talk with the one in whom my hopes rest and my mind constantly follows. Were I with you I would not think of being sleepy so I just imagine and go ahead. The Lord has been very good to me indeed and His promises seem to say more to me than ever before. I want to be equipped by the Holy Spirit for service. The Y.W.C.A. held there lawn fete Sat. evening and a nice time was had. Of course I was there and enjoyed it as well as could be expected in your absence.
I must say that my mind wandered somewhat although I feasted with one of the very finest ladies of the Institution. Most of the day Sunday was spent in service. I have not been outside the town (except on train) but once since last Nov.
Sunday afternoon the Association voted $25 toward my expenses at Northfield. I shall send my name and registration fee tomorrow, so it begins to look like I mean to go. The $25 I think will pay my carfare and tuition.
Board and room will cost $12, so I think it too grand an opportunity to miss and surely I feel under great obligations to the Association for such a favor. I know what it means. It means that next yr. I must spend many long hours in committee work and every other plan that may be suggested, thus taking time most students refuse to give, but I feel like making the step trustingly. Going to Northfield will throw me out of school somewhat, but I am trying to work but the four studies. I am reading Tacitus in Latin outside of class, will finish it tomorrow and take exam Thursday, so that will leave the three which I hope to about complete before going away.
One or two of the boys will go to Geneva. I go East alone via New York and then by Steamer up the Sound.
Wish you might go with me. I leave here two wks from tomorrow June 26.
There is talk of a radical change here among the teachers. Prof. Smith leaves at the end of this term (for good). Schoonover will not know until the first of July. I hope he does not leave for if he does an inexperienced man is likely to take his place, if so I shall feel like leaving because I want the drill in the languages.
We surely have the better right to the parlor and doubtless there would be trouble were we both there. Nothing would please me more than to grant your wish, but I suppose we must keep on sacrificing and working away hoping on. I feel willing to sacrifice most anything now that we may be able to better enjoy the future. Indeed I anticipate a few yrs of self sacrifice ere coming to the real enjoyment of possession. However if we could only be together a few moments each day it would be a source of great inspiration in my work. I trust the time may not be long until we shall meet again. This is a grand opportunity but does not satisfy me. You have my fondest hopes for your success in your new departure and it seems to me you need not think of anything other than a high degree of success. You always succeed in whatever you undertake and it seems to me your equipment for this work is better than you have had for some other lines of work. I shall breathe a prayer every day for your success.
The weather is very warm and it makes work rather irksome.
Many thanks for the programs. The boys think it about time for me to make another business trip to Columbus.
Well Bertha it is midnight once more and we must say? good-night. While you perhaps are resting in sweet slumber upon your pillow, my love seems to commune with you and may angels protect and guard you is the earnest petition of your Lover,
J. H. Harris.
