Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1895-09-12 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.55Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss Bertha Lambert, Westerville, Ohio.]
Ada, O. Sep. 12, 1895.
10: P.M.
Miss Lambert,
Westerville, O.
Dear Sweet-heart: Here I am in Mr. Kraft's room. He sat up a little while yesterday and today, but still needs care. Your message came to hand Tuesday noon and I have been seeking a favorable opportunity to answer, but as we have had one and two com. meetings per day this wk., there has been very little spare time, but while Mr. Kraft sleeps I write to my loved one.
Doubtless you are at your lessons or else preparing to go to dreamland. I rather imagine how you feel in school again. Your decision somewhat surprised me but I trust it was a wise choice, but will you promise to take good care of those peepers?
You have pretty hard work and I fear the temptation will be for you to stay too close with your work, but your health in general is worth far more than all a college course can confer upon you. I imagine how the Greek characters looked to you for one or two lessons.
Everything is moving along old style here. Many of the students are sick. I tried to get sick myself but mother Heller's toast-bread brought me out so that I never missed a recitation. Mother saw a letter in my vest pocket today and she asked if it were from you. I was caught in a shower of rain this evening as I passed the McClelland House and I simply rushed in and took shelter with Miss Chandler, thanking her for the shelter she replied that she hoped the showers would drive me in often when I told her there might be some dry weather showers.
Marvin brings your letters to me just the same even though I did look sour at him. I will try not to look that way any more, but who could blame me? I think it is right to fight sometimes. Marvin is all right.
Our Literary Societies have found a bone to chew now and they both want it. It is enough to worry Job himself to see how some of our Christian workers grovel along in vain and foolish things. They are afraid to trust each other in anything. C. B. Magill, Mr. Stockstill, Bob Jones and Geo. Spaulding are here now on very important business so much so that it took Stockstill till about 3 o'clock last night to get through and he continues tonight. He is staying with me the remainder of the night. Miss Betz asked what I would do under such circumstances? I told her quite likely I would do as the boys are doing.
I wish I might be in school with you. I scarcely know how to get along without you, but time will soon bring us together again. You might tell Miss Caroline that I hope to see W. during the Holidays when I suppose she will prepare another lunch for you.
I think you were pretty busy last week altogether. I never realized time going so swiftly as now. Why Bertha those sixteen years will soon pass away, but I have been trying to devise some plan whereby those years may be shortened by a considerable degree. I still think of closing my work here the Spring Term. It hardly seems necessary to take a diploma from here although it might be best to do so. Thirty-four wks will soon pass. I think it possible to sacrifice my beer and send you the Herald so if Ira does not care especially to take it, he may as well have it discontinued. What did the folks think of your excursion? Some little incidents keep creeping out most everyday concerning the accident.
Yes Bertha you are remembered every day and I trust that we may so place ourselves before God that it may please Him to show us just what our work shall be as we go through life. You are such an inspiration to me every day. I fear sometimes that I do not do quite right by you in not being more definite as to my plans. I do not want to impose on you in this respect. You deserve much and I trust that in the near future I may be more definite in these things.
I send kind regards to the family and trust that you may have a very successful year in your work. If in your lonely hr. anything worries you, just think of the one who would gladly join with you and lighten those hours. May angels guard you in your pathway.
Devotedly yours,
J. H. Harris.
P.S. I am going to get another style of envelopes soon. No. 6's would seem that I would write nothing but business affairs which surely is not the case. {J.H.H.}
