Letter from Hattie to Em, August 14, 1868
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Hattie to Em, August 14, 1868
Subject
Singing; House construction; Schools; Clothing;
Description
In this letter to her sister, Emily, Harriet continuously speaks fondly of her sisters. She remembers how they all used to sing together. She writes proudly of her sister, Sarah, and her teaching, and recounts a dream she had which featured the five sisters. Amongst these sisterly moments, Harriet also discusses the building of houses in Canton (Guangzhou) and other updates about life in China.
Creator
Noyes, Harriet Newell
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #1
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1868-08-14
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_013
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China
Aug 14th /68
My [u]own dear Em[/u]
have time this
morning to write one more letter
before the steamer and it shall be
to my dearest Em. WE received
your letters of June 12th on mothers
birthday Aug 6th so that they made
the trip in 55 days which I think
is the "best time" our letters have
ever made. I can hardly think
how it would seem for you + Mary
to be "all the girls" at home this
summer. You must be careful &
not try to do too much. I expect you
dont get any time at all to play on
the piano. Oh Em would I not
enjoy "[u]a sing together as we used to[/u]"
Do I [u]ever[/u] sit down to the instrument
without wishing that [u]Em was here
to sing the alto[/u]. Tell Clara that I
hope she will [u]sometime[/u] hear you & I
sing [u]together[/u]. "Shall we know each
other there" as we have in past days.
You must have quite a strong alto
when you & Sarah & Clara all sing
together. Tell Sarah when she gets
so that she can sing alto as well as
Em she must write + tell me -
You did not need to feel badly at
all about the box of paints you sent
me for I have not yet had a moments
time to use them if they had been
here but I hope I may sometime.
I sent for them a good deal because
Henry seemed so disappointed that
I did not bring anything but that
one little picture. WE expected to
have been building our house this
summer but the Board are so
in debt that ^[it] is indefinitely postponed.
The walls in this house are in the
Chinese style and there are not many
places for pictures but if we ever get
a house of our own I will be sure
to get time in some way to make
some pictures for the walls.
We talked some of going down into
Mr Folsom's house after they left but
Mrs Kerr concluded to take it.
They are building however and
will have their our house finished
in a few months. Hitherto our mission
has not had very good houses but
recently Mr Preston + Folsom have
built a large double house which
is in every way confortable and pleasant.
If Dr Happer comes back I suppose he
will of course want this house + perhaps
we may then go down to the other end. If Mr Condit should
come back I presume he would eventually have the house
that Mr Folsom built. If Dr H & Mr. C. should both come
back the mission would need another house here + we have
some hoped that we may yet build before very long. We
fully expected the Board would send us permission as they
authorized the building of four houses some time ago
only two of which are yet built. We had our plan all
drawn + had got every thing arranged just to suit us.
We heard from the Folsom's at Japan by the last mail.
Mrs Folsom was getting better + I have no doubt by the
time she reaches home her health will be pretty well
restored. Mrs Kerr has been quite poorly for the past few
weeks. It is such a pity she and Josie did not
stay in USA a year or so. The idea of spending
[u]six weeks[/u] in America after an absence of so many
years. It seems as though it would be very little satisfaction.
The Doctor was anxious to leave them there for a while
but she did not feel willing to stay. I am afraid
the benefit they desired from their trip will not be
permanent. Dr Kerr sends kind regards to you all.
I am glad Sarah is teaching where she can be at home mornings &
evenings. I imagine that I can think just exactly how she looks
starting off in the morning under her "broad-brim" which I
suppose she made to "keep school in". Do you remember how you
used to criticize that expression. I think your dresses are all very
pretty would enjoy [u]seeing you in them[/u]. I send a bit of one
I got in Hongkong last spring 60 cts a yd which I have worn
almost incessantly ever since when it has been cool enough.
Tell Clara I think she will [u]do[/u] for a school-maam. I did not
share any of her plans about the certificate. But tell her that
I dont like to hear of her having hard colds so often. Tell
her that I have come to the conclusion that it is'nt a good plan
at all + have given up the practice entirely since coming here.
I dreamed night before last of seeing my five sisters + Cyrus Mary +
Alice just driving away in their buggy with two gray horses. It all
looks [u]so natural[/u]. Tell Mary I am [u]so glad[/u] that she can
drive Jennie because I know just [u]how nice[/u] it is. I am afraid
my saddle will forget how to be used. Tell Sarah I shall [u]never[/u]
forget one "[u]John Gilpin[/u] ride". I only hope we may have it over
again before we get too [u]old[/u] and [u]stiff[/u] to enjoy it. I measured this
morning to see if Mary is not as tall as I but find I am 5ft 4in.
so she will have to grow a little more if she wants to be as tall as I.
Out here they all think I am so [u]very tall[/u]. It seems quite strange.
It seems a long time since we have heard from Mattie I supposed she
is at home now. I would love to write to Frank but cannot.
[Note: Letter concludes vertically on page one]
I hope that Father is very careful
and dont
get [u]too tired[/u].
By the time
you get this
your summer
will be gone.
And now good-bye
dear [u]dear[/u]
[u]Emily[/u].
Do you know
the meaning of
your name
It is "[u]beloved[/u]"
I think it is so
nice and so
[u]appropriate[/u]. Tell
Clara if I ever
get within [u]reach[/u] of
her I will be sure to find
some way to make her
take back what she says
about my "[u]not liking to be kind[/u]",
She must ask Father if he thinks it is a true charge. Hattie
中国广州
1868 年 8 月 14 日
我亲爱的 Em
今天早上有时间在轮船前再写一封信，
写给我最亲爱的 Em。
我们在 8 月 6 日母亲生日那天收到了您 6 月 12 日的来信，
因此他们在 55 天内完成了这次旅行，
我认为这是我们信函中“最好的时间”。
我很难想象今年夏天你和玛丽在家里会是怎样的“所有女孩”。
你必须小心，
不要试图做太多。
我希望你根本没有时间弹钢琴。
哦，Em 我会不会喜欢“像我们以前一样一起唱歌”
我是否曾经坐在乐器旁而不希望 Em 在这里唱中音。
告诉克拉拉，
我希望她有一天能听到你和我一起唱歌。
就像我们在过去的日子里所说的那样，
“我们在那里认识吗”。
当你和莎拉和克拉拉一起唱歌时，
你一定有相当强的中音。
告诉莎拉当她得到这样她可以唱中音和Em她必须写并告诉我 -
你根本不需要对你寄给我的那盒颜料感到难过，
因为我还没有片刻时间使用如果他们曾经在这里，
但我希望我可能会在某个时候。
我给他们寄了很多东西，
因为亨利似乎很失望，
除了那张小照片我什么都没带。
我们预计今年夏天会建造我们的房子，
但董事会负债累累，
因此被无限期推迟。
这房子的墙壁是中国风格的，
没有很多地方可以拍照，
但如果我们有自己的房子，
我一定会抽出时间以某种方式为墙壁拍照。
我们谈了一些在他们离开后去福尔松先生家的事情，
但科尔夫人最终还是接受了。
然而，
他们正在建造，
并将在几个月内完成我们的房子。
迄今为止，
我们的任务还没有很好的房子，
但最近 Preston 先生和 Folsom 先生建造了一座大型双人房，
在各方面都非常舒适宜人。
如果哈珀医生回来，
我想他当然会想要这所房子，
也许我们可以走到另一端。
如果康迪特先生回来，
我想他最终会拥有福尔松先生建造的房子。
如果 H 医生和 C. 先生都回来了，
任务将需要在这里再建一所房子，
我们有些人希望我们可以在不久的将来建造。
我们完全期望董事会会向我们发出许可，
因为他们在不久前授权建造四栋房屋，
其中只有两栋尚未建成。
我们已经制定了所有计划，
并安排了所有适合我们的事情。
我们收到了来自日本福尔松的最后一封邮件。
福尔瑟姆夫人的病情正在好转，
我毫不怀疑当她回到家时，
她的健康状况会得到很好的恢复。
在过去的几周里，
克尔夫人一直很糟糕。
很遗憾她和乔西没有在美国呆一年左右。
离开这么多年后在美国度过六周的想法。
似乎它的满足感很少。
医生很想把他们留在那里一段时间，
但她不愿意留下来。
恐怕他们希望从旅行中获得的好处不会是永久性的。
克尔医生向大家致以亲切的问候。
我很高兴莎拉正在教她早晚在家的地方。
我想我可以确切地想到她早上开始时在她的“宽边”下的样子，
我想她是为了“继续上学”而做的。
你还记得你过去是如何批评那个表达的吗？我认为你的衣服都很漂亮，
很高兴看到你穿着它们。
我寄了一点我去年春天在香港买的，
每码 60 克拉，
自从天气足够凉爽以来，
我几乎一直戴着它。
告诉克拉拉，
我认为她会为学校的妈妈做。
我没有分享她关于证书的任何计划。
但是告诉她，
我不喜欢听到她经常感冒。
告诉她，
我已经得出结论，
这根本不是一个好的计划，
并且自从来到这里后就完全放弃了练习。
前天晚上，
我梦见我的五个姐妹、赛勒斯·玛丽和爱丽丝骑着他们的马车开着两匹灰色的马离开。
这一切看起来都是那么自然。
告诉玛丽我很高兴她能开车送珍妮，
因为我知道这有多好。
我怕我的马鞍会忘记如何使用。
告诉莎拉，
我永远不会忘记一次“约翰·吉尔平骑行”。
我只希望在我们变得太老太僵硬而无法享受它之前，
我们可以重新拥有它。
今天早上我测量了玛丽是否没有我那么高，
但发现我有 5 英尺 4 英寸。
所以如果她想和我一样高，
她就必须再长一点。
在这里，
他们都认为我很高。
这似乎很奇怪。
我们似乎很久没有收到玛蒂的消息了，
我想她现在在家。
我很想给弗兰克写信，
但不能。
[注：信在第一页垂直结束]希望父亲非常小心，
不要太累。
当你得到这个时，
你的夏天就会过去。
现在再见了亲爱的艾米丽。
你知道你名字的意思吗它是“亲爱的”我想它是我太好了，
太合适了。
告诉克拉拉，
如果我能接触到她，
我一定会想办法让她收回她所说的我“不喜欢善良”的话，
她必须问父亲是否认为这是一个真正的指控。
海蒂
Aug 14th /68
My [u]own dear Em[/u]
have time this
morning to write one more letter
before the steamer and it shall be
to my dearest Em. WE received
your letters of June 12th on mothers
birthday Aug 6th so that they made
the trip in 55 days which I think
is the "best time" our letters have
ever made. I can hardly think
how it would seem for you + Mary
to be "all the girls" at home this
summer. You must be careful &
not try to do too much. I expect you
dont get any time at all to play on
the piano. Oh Em would I not
enjoy "[u]a sing together as we used to[/u]"
Do I [u]ever[/u] sit down to the instrument
without wishing that [u]Em was here
to sing the alto[/u]. Tell Clara that I
hope she will [u]sometime[/u] hear you & I
sing [u]together[/u]. "Shall we know each
other there" as we have in past days.
You must have quite a strong alto
when you & Sarah & Clara all sing
together. Tell Sarah when she gets
so that she can sing alto as well as
Em she must write + tell me -
You did not need to feel badly at
all about the box of paints you sent
me for I have not yet had a moments
time to use them if they had been
here but I hope I may sometime.
I sent for them a good deal because
Henry seemed so disappointed that
I did not bring anything but that
one little picture. WE expected to
have been building our house this
summer but the Board are so
in debt that ^[it] is indefinitely postponed.
The walls in this house are in the
Chinese style and there are not many
places for pictures but if we ever get
a house of our own I will be sure
to get time in some way to make
some pictures for the walls.
We talked some of going down into
Mr Folsom's house after they left but
Mrs Kerr concluded to take it.
They are building however and
will have their our house finished
in a few months. Hitherto our mission
has not had very good houses but
recently Mr Preston + Folsom have
built a large double house which
is in every way confortable and pleasant.
If Dr Happer comes back I suppose he
will of course want this house + perhaps
we may then go down to the other end. If Mr Condit should
come back I presume he would eventually have the house
that Mr Folsom built. If Dr H & Mr. C. should both come
back the mission would need another house here + we have
some hoped that we may yet build before very long. We
fully expected the Board would send us permission as they
authorized the building of four houses some time ago
only two of which are yet built. We had our plan all
drawn + had got every thing arranged just to suit us.
We heard from the Folsom's at Japan by the last mail.
Mrs Folsom was getting better + I have no doubt by the
time she reaches home her health will be pretty well
restored. Mrs Kerr has been quite poorly for the past few
weeks. It is such a pity she and Josie did not
stay in USA a year or so. The idea of spending
[u]six weeks[/u] in America after an absence of so many
years. It seems as though it would be very little satisfaction.
The Doctor was anxious to leave them there for a while
but she did not feel willing to stay. I am afraid
the benefit they desired from their trip will not be
permanent. Dr Kerr sends kind regards to you all.
I am glad Sarah is teaching where she can be at home mornings &
evenings. I imagine that I can think just exactly how she looks
starting off in the morning under her "broad-brim" which I
suppose she made to "keep school in". Do you remember how you
used to criticize that expression. I think your dresses are all very
pretty would enjoy [u]seeing you in them[/u]. I send a bit of one
I got in Hongkong last spring 60 cts a yd which I have worn
almost incessantly ever since when it has been cool enough.
Tell Clara I think she will [u]do[/u] for a school-maam. I did not
share any of her plans about the certificate. But tell her that
I dont like to hear of her having hard colds so often. Tell
her that I have come to the conclusion that it is'nt a good plan
at all + have given up the practice entirely since coming here.
I dreamed night before last of seeing my five sisters + Cyrus Mary +
Alice just driving away in their buggy with two gray horses. It all
looks [u]so natural[/u]. Tell Mary I am [u]so glad[/u] that she can
drive Jennie because I know just [u]how nice[/u] it is. I am afraid
my saddle will forget how to be used. Tell Sarah I shall [u]never[/u]
forget one "[u]John Gilpin[/u] ride". I only hope we may have it over
again before we get too [u]old[/u] and [u]stiff[/u] to enjoy it. I measured this
morning to see if Mary is not as tall as I but find I am 5ft 4in.
so she will have to grow a little more if she wants to be as tall as I.
Out here they all think I am so [u]very tall[/u]. It seems quite strange.
It seems a long time since we have heard from Mattie I supposed she
is at home now. I would love to write to Frank but cannot.
[Note: Letter concludes vertically on page one]
I hope that Father is very careful
and dont
get [u]too tired[/u].
By the time
you get this
your summer
will be gone.
And now good-bye
dear [u]dear[/u]
[u]Emily[/u].
Do you know
the meaning of
your name
It is "[u]beloved[/u]"
I think it is so
nice and so
[u]appropriate[/u]. Tell
Clara if I ever
get within [u]reach[/u] of
her I will be sure to find
some way to make her
take back what she says
about my "[u]not liking to be kind[/u]",
She must ask Father if he thinks it is a true charge. Hattie
中国广州
1868 年 8 月 14 日
我亲爱的 Em
今天早上有时间在轮船前再写一封信，
写给我最亲爱的 Em。
我们在 8 月 6 日母亲生日那天收到了您 6 月 12 日的来信，
因此他们在 55 天内完成了这次旅行，
我认为这是我们信函中“最好的时间”。
我很难想象今年夏天你和玛丽在家里会是怎样的“所有女孩”。
你必须小心，
不要试图做太多。
我希望你根本没有时间弹钢琴。
哦，Em 我会不会喜欢“像我们以前一样一起唱歌”
我是否曾经坐在乐器旁而不希望 Em 在这里唱中音。
告诉克拉拉，
我希望她有一天能听到你和我一起唱歌。
就像我们在过去的日子里所说的那样，
“我们在那里认识吗”。
当你和莎拉和克拉拉一起唱歌时，
你一定有相当强的中音。
告诉莎拉当她得到这样她可以唱中音和Em她必须写并告诉我 -
你根本不需要对你寄给我的那盒颜料感到难过，
因为我还没有片刻时间使用如果他们曾经在这里，
但我希望我可能会在某个时候。
我给他们寄了很多东西，
因为亨利似乎很失望，
除了那张小照片我什么都没带。
我们预计今年夏天会建造我们的房子，
但董事会负债累累，
因此被无限期推迟。
这房子的墙壁是中国风格的，
没有很多地方可以拍照，
但如果我们有自己的房子，
我一定会抽出时间以某种方式为墙壁拍照。
我们谈了一些在他们离开后去福尔松先生家的事情，
但科尔夫人最终还是接受了。
然而，
他们正在建造，
并将在几个月内完成我们的房子。
迄今为止，
我们的任务还没有很好的房子，
但最近 Preston 先生和 Folsom 先生建造了一座大型双人房，
在各方面都非常舒适宜人。
如果哈珀医生回来，
我想他当然会想要这所房子，
也许我们可以走到另一端。
如果康迪特先生回来，
我想他最终会拥有福尔松先生建造的房子。
如果 H 医生和 C. 先生都回来了，
任务将需要在这里再建一所房子，
我们有些人希望我们可以在不久的将来建造。
我们完全期望董事会会向我们发出许可，
因为他们在不久前授权建造四栋房屋，
其中只有两栋尚未建成。
我们已经制定了所有计划，
并安排了所有适合我们的事情。
我们收到了来自日本福尔松的最后一封邮件。
福尔瑟姆夫人的病情正在好转，
我毫不怀疑当她回到家时，
她的健康状况会得到很好的恢复。
在过去的几周里，
克尔夫人一直很糟糕。
很遗憾她和乔西没有在美国呆一年左右。
离开这么多年后在美国度过六周的想法。
似乎它的满足感很少。
医生很想把他们留在那里一段时间，
但她不愿意留下来。
恐怕他们希望从旅行中获得的好处不会是永久性的。
克尔医生向大家致以亲切的问候。
我很高兴莎拉正在教她早晚在家的地方。
我想我可以确切地想到她早上开始时在她的“宽边”下的样子，
我想她是为了“继续上学”而做的。
你还记得你过去是如何批评那个表达的吗？我认为你的衣服都很漂亮，
很高兴看到你穿着它们。
我寄了一点我去年春天在香港买的，
每码 60 克拉，
自从天气足够凉爽以来，
我几乎一直戴着它。
告诉克拉拉，
我认为她会为学校的妈妈做。
我没有分享她关于证书的任何计划。
但是告诉她，
我不喜欢听到她经常感冒。
告诉她，
我已经得出结论，
这根本不是一个好的计划，
并且自从来到这里后就完全放弃了练习。
前天晚上，
我梦见我的五个姐妹、赛勒斯·玛丽和爱丽丝骑着他们的马车开着两匹灰色的马离开。
这一切看起来都是那么自然。
告诉玛丽我很高兴她能开车送珍妮，
因为我知道这有多好。
我怕我的马鞍会忘记如何使用。
告诉莎拉，
我永远不会忘记一次“约翰·吉尔平骑行”。
我只希望在我们变得太老太僵硬而无法享受它之前，
我们可以重新拥有它。
今天早上我测量了玛丽是否没有我那么高，
但发现我有 5 英尺 4 英寸。
所以如果她想和我一样高，
她就必须再长一点。
在这里，
他们都认为我很高。
这似乎很奇怪。
我们似乎很久没有收到玛蒂的消息了，
我想她现在在家。
我很想给弗兰克写信，
但不能。
[注：信在第一页垂直结束]希望父亲非常小心，
不要太累。
当你得到这个时，
你的夏天就会过去。
现在再见了亲爱的艾米丽。
你知道你名字的意思吗它是“亲爱的”我想它是我太好了，
太合适了。
告诉克拉拉，
如果我能接触到她，
我一定会想办法让她收回她所说的我“不喜欢善良”的话，
她必须问父亲是否认为这是一个真正的指控。
海蒂
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Harriet Newell, “Letter from Hattie to Em, August 14, 1868,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 19, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/12.