Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1897-06-24 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.135Context
[Box 219, Athens, OH, to Miss Bertha Lambert, Box 344, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.”]
Box 219 Athens, Ohio
June 24, 1897.
Miss Lambert
Westerville, Ohio.
Darling Bertha: Your message came to hand last evening and proved quite a solace to me. I expected to write last night, but honestly I never before was so nearly fagged out as last night.
The weather was hot, the water strange, and the work hard so I crawled off to my room and lay there all evening, but I was ready for work again this morning and stood today very nicely. Perhaps I should not have mentioned this, but you must not worry at all.
I am glad for the work and trust it may continue all summer. I could not help thinking last night though of what effect your hand would have on my burning brow. You would scarcely know your Joe now, he is getting so burnt and brown. You ought to see me. I wear white trousers with bib, white cotton hat.
I room in third story on west side of the house so my room is intensely warm and ill furnished.
Board is not so good as it was in the club.
My fingers wore through to bleeding the first half day I worked. I have at least three tradelasts for you. There is an excursion to Col. Sunday 'round trip $1. When do you start for Geneva. I believe I like Westerville better than I thought. I hardly realized what a difference there is in the sentiments of the people. I studied two evenings this wk. and when I get more accustomed to the work I shall improve my time better. One of the college graduates here put off his gown last wk. and is wheeling brick on the college at $1.25 per day. They are putting up quite a large building.
I saw Laura Monday. She seems quite cheerful.
I don't know when I shall go home. This brick man has a job at Logan and is figuring on another, so I may get a little nearer you. Carlos had a room-mate so I am alone.
The days seem very long indeed. We work from 6:30 to 5:30 with fifty min. noon.
I hope you have had a nice time today with commencement. I should have enjoyed being with you, but under the circumstances perhaps in one sense I am better contented here as you have already heard me express my thought in this regard. I trust the time may come when I may have the opportunity of looking at such things differently.
I am so pleased to hear of your eyes doing so nicely but please do not make that an excuse for going to work.
By all means act the lady this summer and think that you owe it to your work to do so even though it is difficult to do. Somehow I can't write much tonight, but will sum up by saying that I love you and nothing else would afford me so much pleasure as to spend the evening with you.
Your Devoted Lover
J. H. Harris
