Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1896-01-29 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.81Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss E. Bertha Lambert, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.”]
Ada, O. Jan. 29, 1896.
Miss Lambert,
Westerville, Ohio.
My Darling Bertha: A feeling of inspiration comes over me every time I hear or see the name “Bertha” and this evening as I take the pen there is that same deep longing and desire not only to see and hear the name, but to be incarcerated in the influence of the real and loving personality which the name represents.
I find myself more and more dwelling with you in spirit, but that does not answer for the eye feasting upon those love glances and expressions which you fain would conceal sometimes, but are not able to do so, when they are viewed by the lover's eye. I hope you are at your usual work again and are passing the time pleasantly.
This makes half of our term. I can scarcely believe it. Only fifteen wks more, when quite likely I shall say farewell to Ada. Somehow I look to the future and wonder what another yr. will find me doing. Perhaps I am too anxious, but somehow I shall not rest content until I am again located in some kind of school training.
I hope to be able to be with you. I can not help thinking that we ought to be more together, sharing each others society and inspiration and knowing more each other's daily life, habits, disposition, trend of thought, likes and dislikes. I think best now not to make further arrangements as to what school I shall attend until I find out where my lot will be cast this summer. I do not wish to be eccentric not do I want to do that which will in any way mar our mutual arrangements; much less would I think of so separating myself from my “loved one” as to cause her sadness, but as yet I do not feel like acceding to their requirements at O.U. I think I would be willing to take the opinions and judgements of Dr. Harper (in preference to a whole faculty of some Universities) as to the requirements and kind of training a student needs. I don't want to be sarcastic, but I happen to find somewhat of a history of the Alumnorum ?(is that what I want to say?) of two or three institutions and was a little surprised at the result.
Were I in school there, doubtless some of these ideas would vanish. If they don't want our mathematics there must be something wrong someway if they accept some of the other work, for some of our hard work here is very inferior to our mathematics both as to instructors and texts, but of course they are under no obligations to me nor I to them. If I should decide to go there of course I expect to do just as they plan for me without saying a word, but I expect to know how they intend to plan before they get me.
I will quit now if you will cheer me. Do not be alarmed by this sudden outburst. Ada is renowned for having students who don't know how to do any thing else.
As tomorrow is the day of prayer, we have no school after 8:30. We have a program arranged for all day tomorrow so I expect to be very busy in that line. I shall answer Mr. Brodnax's letter and I scarcely know what to say. I feel sometimes that I am just groping around in the dark in my Christian experience, here and there getting a glimpse of the light sufficient to hold me from the way of sin.
If ever in my Christian experiences the quotation “Man's extremity is God's opportunity” was applicable, it is now. Not that I have lost faith in God and humanity (the promises never seemed brighter), but that I stand on the pinnacle of opportunity, with a crying need about me, and myself only an untrained unprepared mortal to take my part in the work.
I have our Personal-work class now in our room at 8:30 Sunday morning. This is the sixth term I have led the class and have found it a great blessing to me. Prof. Fess addressed us last Sunday. Even part of the aisles were blocked with people.
I am reading the Detroit Reports now. I send your note book and I trust that you may preserve all your Bible work in the same way. I thank you very much for the work and find it just what I have wanted for sometime.
Happy dreams to my loved one.
Your Lover
J. H. Harris.
