Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1896-09-13 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.125Context
[Waverly, OH, to Miss Bertha E. Lambert, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.”]
Waverly, O. Sep. 13, 1896.
Miss Lambert,
Westerville, Ohio.
My Darling Berfy: I am seated at the window, using the sill as a desk. Just across the St. is a nice little park which borders on the canal and makes quite a pleasant little view.
Your much appreciated letter came to hand yesterday noon. I left Piketon Friday morning, did not do much work there, but did fairly well here as I sold 8 Fri. and 10 Sat. making 44 in all last wk. (I did not get to work Mon.).
I shall leave here early in the morning for Chillicothe. I think that place has been worked some but do not know how much so I may not stay there long. I may decide to quit there and enter school, but I rather expect to work on a short time yet.
I enjoy the work more now than when I commenced and think it will be of no small help to me in life. Times are very close, yet I have no reason to complain. Last Friday the thermometer registered within 2 of the highest of this yr at this place so it was pretty warm for book agts. The Co. want me to work all winter but I can't lose the time.
I read the book I Cor. this morning and went to church, did not go to S.S. Mr. Cross of Toledo spoke on S.S. work and will address a meeting of men only, this P.M.
You had not mentioned the marriage of those parties, but it seems to me you said they became quite devoted in a short time. If all the rest of the Cleio marry you can have all the honor to yourself, —but perhaps you want to go on the same excursion too—I won't object if you do, just so I have half interest in the affair. Of course we are to blame and it is too bad that so many of the innocent and fair sex are thus decoyed from their homes against their will(?) and have to even change their names for such naughtiness.
But so is life. I don't feel much condemned for stealing? the heart of a Cleio. One is all I want, but I must have one and think sometimes it will be impossible to wait much longer to claim the prize, but of course there are several Greek lessons to be learned before we are prepared for our work. I wish to be submissive to the Master's will in all things, so if we can better accomplish the work given us by remaining as we are I know you want to adopt that plan. Perhaps when we are together more we will be better content. My trunk is already packed at Athens and ready to ship at any time.
I think we will stand a pretty fair show with five nights per. wk. at our disposal. The kitchen is good enough place for us anyway if they run us out, but for eight yrs I have had rather a home feeling in the surroundings of your home parlor and somehow that feeling grows deeper all the time and if Fred finds as much comfort there as I have it would seem almost cruel to deny him two nights per wk. (of course Carrie thinks so too).
I think if you as true in heart as you are in writing no complaint could be made but I know you are true in every sense of the word and surely no one could be more loving, considerate and patient than you my “Love.” You have overlooked my imperfections and shortcomings in a way that binds me to you with love's strongest ties and I so often feel my unworthiness but trust that by giving myself entirely to the Master He may use me to glorify Him.
You have been so very helpful to me and the more I confide in you and enter into your life the more I feel that molding and refining influence in my life and it seems to me that when we shall become one this influence will be much more powerful and lasting. We have superhuman work to do and must have superhuman power in order to accomplish it and if by denying self and the world we can draw nearer to God, how much better it will be when we enter the eternal kingdom which so soon shall come.
I am pleased to know that you are enjoying your work. I don't believe I could conjugate “seem” now as I have not read any Latin since March.
This is quite a nice little town but like most places Satan seems to be on the throne. I met one of the Ada boys here last evening, Mr Daily. I heard a Republican speech last night.
I don't know yet how to vote this Fall. I get so weary of hearing ignorant men prating about on all questions that I really would like to stay in school several yrs yet.
I will quit now to attend the lecture at the Court House so you can think of what I have said until my return, bye-bye.
Here I am again, heard a good lecture, and whom should I see but C. H. McCormick. I had only a few moments to talk with him. He is still afflicted. He advises me to stay with school. He asked if I was married and asked several questions about your folks and of course I bit at once.
This is such a lovely evening I think I shall take a short walk.
As my stay at Chillicothe is uncertain perhaps if you have time you might write pretty soon to Chillicothe, but if you are too busy to write the first of the wk. perhaps you had better wait until I write again. It seems too bad to have you miss your Greek but it did me lots of good. Let us continue to look up. Pray for me “Dear” and may God watch over us and keep us safe.
Your devoted Joe.
Two canal boats are passing each drawn by two horses. Bed time. I heard three excellent addresses today. Goodnight, Love.
J. H. Harris
