Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1895-10-23 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.63Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss Bertha Lambert, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.”]
Ada, O. Oct. 23, 1895
Miss Lambert,
Westerville O.
My Darling Bertha: Your message came to hand at the usual time, and let me say that you surely never wrote a sweeter letter in your life than that. You seemed just to put yourself into the letter filling it with so much love and genuine affection that for the time I seemed to be in your real presence. I see that you are the same “Loving Bertha” only you seem dearer to me than ever. I can heartily agree with you in saying that your life seems to be united and one with mine. I surely realize now in some measure what it means to love and to be loved. No pen can describe the satisfaction and bliss that comes by thus being related to you and by having the prospect and assurance of being united with you in living communion through all time yea eternity. Surely it is a great plan of the Creator. One thought concerning this that always seemed beautiful to me is that God instituted the marriage altar before sin entered the world while all was bliss and every environment perfect. I thank God for having given you to me to be loved cherished and made happy and the question comes every day “how may I act and use my power to prepare myself for this great privilege and blessing God has given me,” and I realize that the same thought weighs with divine importance on your mind. I can see in your every act and word already that your overmastering desire and purpose is devotion and thoughtfulness.
You make me smile in speaking of spoiling you. All I have ever given you would not amount to as much money as many young men spend in one single evening of debauch and carousing. I wish I might be able to show my appreciation of you but since that is impossible at present I can only say that I love you devotedly and that your welfare is my own. I don't know whether we can put off our visit until holidays or not? What think you?
I pleases me to know that you enjoy your work and that alone you feel that you are only a part of yourself. I am glad you feel that way for that is my feeling everyday. I surely think that together we are one.
I was much moved by the quotation from your father's letter. It reveals what it always seemed to me lay in his life and character. Yes I trust that we may be very submissive in all things.
I scarcely know what subject to assign you for an oration unless you give a eulogy on your? favorite Bible character. I would love to continue this and tell you more that is in my heart, but Schooney wants me to read to him now “de Senectute” so perhaps I had better go to class. “May God bless my sweetheart in all her work and keep her safe while we are separated” is the prayer of her devoted Lover.
J. H. Harris.
