Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1896-03-18 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.89Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss Bertha E. Lambert, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.”]
Ada, O. March 18, 1896.
Miss Lambert,
Westerville, Ohio.
My Loving Bertha: Your anxiously awaited letter came in due time. I did not even wait to go to my room ere reading, but read it at the office. Time and space forbids entering into a general discussion of the thought contained. From one of your sentences viz: (“I would rather not say it, but if it must be said I presume I may as well pen it tonight”), I thought perhaps I had urged you to this declaration, which even we had spoken very little of while together, but doubtless you had no reference to that, but referred to obedience to the call. No I have not had in mind that you thought God was displeased with our plans, for I think if you had thought so, you would have at once made an effort to free yourself from our plan. What I thought you had reference to was that we had decided our love affairs without referring to the other first. I wish to thank you for the very frank and sensible manner in which you presented your thoughts you seemed to keep back nothing in any way. I need not go to fiction to find something pathetic. Little did I think at that time that at so early an age God was calling one of His children through an affliction which although so severe yet never had any influence in detracting her true worth as it seemed to me. O how wonderfully God does lead! Ere this time you have read my thoughts. I almost wish I might read your thoughts before I finish this letter. I wish I might have been able to present my thoughts as clearly as you did, but however I am very glad we wrote as we did.
I know exactly where you stand and I could not, I will not place a word in the way of your going on in the blessed work which I surely believe God has in unmistaken tones called you. Nay rather I feel like saying for the glory of God that I will encourage the thought in view. I know now that the first proposition presented means our separation. The second, we never talked of and of course for aught I know, it may be inconsistent with your plans so I stand on the promise of God and await His decision. Perhaps I speak foolishly for I still feel that all is well and that our plans are going to work out all right and that God will be honored.
I must say that your letter (whatever I may have said above) gave me a light heart, for I had left it all with God. And now “dear girl” only one wk. intervenes our visit so let us consider the field carefully and I believe we will in some way become the same in mind. I wish we might consider how long we wish to remain in school and any other thought that may come up.
I suppose you are decided concerning that med. work if that is inconsistent. I must say that we have a strange question to grapple with, although as you say I never have heard an audible voice calling in any direction perhaps after considering and learning more of the nature and needs of the field another field might seem as important perhaps more so. So, “My Love,” if you have wondered or doubted as to the results let us not worry longer, but look forward with prayerful hearts to our visit. There are many things in this connection that space forbids speaking of so I may as well defer them until I shall be at your side and abide in the presence of a warm gush of love.
It seems almost too good to be true that so soon we shall meet. I would scarcely know how to act if I could be where I could see you every day, but we will hope on and look forward to better days.
I had intended not to say anything about our letters until our visit and then I knew I was very anxious to know what you thought and thus supposed you would be very anxious also to hear my prattle so I have said what seemed to be foremost in my mind. Again I wish to thank you for having been so kind as to open your heart in such a manner and let me say that I have not a word against the thought of your message. My heart goes out to you with fondest affection and I find myself gazing with deeper interest than ever before into recesses of your heart that I have before been too blind to see; recesses of hidden treasures to those who have not the key to unlock those doors. I thank God that it has pleased Him to place that key even in my hand, and I could not ask a greater boon.
May He lead us and keep us safe making us one in Him as well as in His work. We are moving about as usual here and my stay is rapidly drawing to a close.
Would you believe it? I was in the choral society last night and sang(?) too. I shall expect Ira to be pretty nicely trained by next wk. I am glad you have no horrid exams. Can you think of some reading work you would like to do, perhaps we might spend some time very profitably in that way.
Hoping this may find my Sweetheart with light heart and smiling face I say good-day.
Your True Lover,
J. H. Harris.
