Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1895-11-28 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.68Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss Bertha Lambert, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.”]
Lock 28, Ada, O
Nov. 28, 1895.
Miss Lambert,
Westerville, O.
My Darling Bertha: This hallowed hour comes once more and surely it is a great privilege to sit here thus and commune with those who are dear to us and much more do I esteem this privilege since I address the one who is dearer to me than all other things of earth, she who has condescended to bestow her affection so warm and pure upon me. I count her a treasure far above wealth, position or any other emolument that may be bestowed by man. And so this beautiful Thanksgiving morning (10 o'clock) finds me counting the mercies of the past yr. and my mind instinctively runs back to that memorable evening of last holidays when you by one word so lovingly spoken decided the great question of our future. That decision put a new song into my life and it becomes sweeter all the time.
Yes this has been an eventful year to both of us. Your experience has been varied and your lot cast in different places, yet all the time the note of your song has been submission and cheerfulness and I trust that there may never be a moment when you may have cause to doubt as to the propriety of having made the decision you have made. It always makes me happy to see you enjoying life and I trust that this year may so deepen our devotion to each other and may so clear the mist that may hang over the decision as to our life work that we may stand boldly and say “this one thing I do.”
We held our regular Thanksgiving service this morning in Chapel hall at 8 o'clock. The hall was 2/3 full and an excellent service was held. Services are being held at the M.E Church, but I shall not attend. We take dinner at 2 o'clock and then of course have no supper.
Of course I would rather talk with you any time than eat turkey, but I prefer talking and eating both. I hope to be able to take the Thanksgiving dinner with you in fifteen years.
Yes I keep looking forward to our proposed visit and as a consequence can not keep from talking about it. I feel sorry for D. I. I don't see how he can get along without a sweet-heart.
If I decided to go home my idea now is to leave here Thursday or Friday, spend an evening with you and then go on home and stop at W. again coming home (to Ada).
I think that will be just fine. What think you of that arrangement? School is supposed to close Friday Dec. 20, but there is likely to be very little done on Friday. What time do you get out? There will be a Cuban mass meeting held this afternoon in Literary Halls. Tell Carrie to cheer up as Mr. Bass was reinstated to his work.
I want to see about school work, both at W. and Athens during holidays and then perhaps I can be a little more definite in plans.
I suppose you are busy as a bee at something this morning. Do you read Cicero's orations this yr. If so I have an edition (Kelsey) which will save you buying if Ira has none.
I trust you may enjoy this day and as you study the subject “Holy Spirit” may your life become so imbued with Him that you may have that “perfect peace” which comes to the consecrated worker.
Your devoted Lover,
J. H. Harris.
