Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1896-08-16 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.119Context
[Portsmouth, OH, to Miss Bertha E. Lambert, Iberia, Ohio, “Morrow Co.”]
Portsmouth, Ohio.
Aug. 16, 1896.
Miss Lambert
Iberia, Ohio.
My Darling Bertha: Your message came to hand the evening after I had written to you at noon, and I think it had more than its usual effect.
I sold 6 Studies there that P.M. and remained over night. Taking the N. & W. train at 5 A.M. I came here yesterday. As it was early I spent some little time in watching Market St. as it was full of wagons and people arranging for two days living like the manna gatherers of old.
I went to the Y.M.C.A. building as soon as it was open. As I was going along whom should I see but Aunt Fanny Rardin standing at the door? She did not get a very good view of me and as it was early I did not look round because I knew she would hail me.
After a while I passed there again and saw Dr. in his office. I stopped a few minutes and Dr. introduced me to his wife and called Aunt Fanny in.
She seems like the same good woman as ever and longs to be in her old church home. I tramped all the P.M. and have gotten the lay of the town so I know nearly every St. I arranged dates for meeting some of the ministers Monday. Some were away from home etc. so I made no sales yesterday but expect to make things howl this wk.
I am located at 28 W 6 St. near P.O. and have a neat little front room 7 X 10. The folks are very kind. I pay $1 per. wk. for room and buy tickets for boarding 6 meals for $1, private family. They set a fine table, but the water is very bad here, no good drinking water in town and my purse forbids buying beer, although they have an abundance of it here. I have contracted cold in some way so I don't have much satisfaction in that respect. I attended the M.E. S.S. and church this morning. They received me very kindly and introduced me to several of the men.
Forty-eight were taken into the church and ten baptized. I went to the Y.M.C.A. meeting this P.M. 3:30 but it hardly seemed like old Ada. Yesterday one of the pastors tried to wean my mind from the thought of going to O.U. as he presented the “Puget Sound University” plan which connects 7000 miles travel with each yrs school work.
For $300 he said they would pay my way to Tacoma, Wash., furnish the usual advantages of 36 wks schooling including expenses of board, room, light, heat, tuition etc. and in addition to this, without further charge, the first yr. I would visit Alaska. On the same plan 2nd yr. I would visit old Mexico, 3rd Sandwich Is., 4th China & Japan.
The instruction in University is No. 1 and competent instructors are sent with the students in their travels. It is an M.E. plan, with Bishop Thoburn's son as Chancellor. I will visit you however and take you along if I go. What do you say?
I do not know yet what arrangements I shall make for school but trust you will not fail to start at the first of the term. This has been a very strange day to me as my mind has continuously been going back to the past. I see the spot where I was and hear the click of the horse's shoes as I looked back over my shoulder only to hear Carlos announce to my surprised ears mother's death. Perhaps I should not speak of this, but I suppose never a day passes, but that it comes to my mind and that was nine years ago this morning.
As I look back today those yrs seem very strange and bear with them in some way a kind of melancholy strain that I have never been able to account for. Accustomed to having to make myself at home wherever my hat is off for 8½ yrs, I can content myself if I have a room to myself and books or something with which to use the time. I am heartily welcomed at home, but you know I could not rest content very long as my work is not there, but I will not speak further of something which you cannot enter into fully.
I hope you may have a large crowd at your concert so your vacation may be profitable to you. Of course I don't know how long I shall stay here, but shall work the towns along the valley toward Col.
I feel more and more the burden of the Missionary Spirit and want to know more of the subject. I hope we may be able to study some in these lines together when we get into school. I wish I might sit in this evening's twilight with you, but as that is denied the thought that you are mine lifts me above whatever cares may come in the way.
You are a Dear, True, and Sweet girl and may the dear Master lead us safely in His own way.
Your True One,
J. H. Harris.
