Letter from Hattie to Frank, May 31, 1872
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Hattie to Frank, May 31, 1872
Subject
Letter writing; Names, Personal; Health
Description
Harriet writes to Francis about catching up on letter writing and denying an invitation to the Happer's to do so. She then discusses their friends the Leyenberger's naming their son after Henry, expressing fondness for Mrs. Leyenberger and comparing her to Harriet's sister Emily (but noting that Mrs. Leyenberger is not as good in essentially every meaningful way). She jokes about looking forty years older since coming to China, and notes that Mrs. Happer is in declining health and should probably go home to recover.
Creator
Noyes, Harriet Newell
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #1
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1872-05-31
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_082
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China.
May 31st 72.
My dear Frank,
The return of the last
day of May reminds me that
you have reached another of the
milestones on Life's path. If you
were here to-night we would have a
good talk and I should not be all
alone as I now am. Henry went
away on Monday morning and
I am expecting him back to-morrow
{Saturday Evening} so he will have
made out the week this time.
I had to be almost rude to decline
the Happer's invitation to spend the
evening with them but I wanted it
so much for writing. The good
friends here pity me very much when
he is away and want to help me
pass away the time they dont appreciate
that I want to improve every moment
in getting "done up" so as to enjoy his
[u]visit[/u] while he is at home. I have
now before me on the table fourteen
letters from friends on this side of the
[Note: Written sideways over page two and three]
world that I would like to answer before the Home mail
comes in which is due in Hongkong to-morrow, do you
think I will be likely to accomplish it? I am such
a miserable procrastinator that I let them accumulate in
this style and then when it wont do to wait any longer I
"set to" and write up. We had a letter a short time since
from Mrs LeyEnbarger. They have another little son
and have named him for our brother Henry and
Mrs LeyEnbarger expressed the wish that he might "grow
up to be so good a man as the one he was named for".
I teased Henry a little about her making such a [u]very
modest[/u] wish for the little fellow. Of course I feel it a
duty to counteract the flattery he receives from others.
and you may be sure that he will take care that
I shall not be in any danger of getting spoiled.
You know I had a little curiosity for several reasons
to meet the wife of Mr LeyEnbarger She is just a real
good nice [?body?]. She made us both think some of
"Our Em". she is [u]good[/u] like her but not quite so good
looking, talented, well-Educated, intelligent, accomplished
+c +c +c Hush! dont for the world let Em hear, for I have
just obtained ^[forgiveness] for a similar [--sin--] [u]offence[/u] in the past
upon condition that I would "[u]never[/u] do so again".
When Mr Corbett was here last year he said that
he never heard Mrs Leyenbarger say an ill word of
any one but once and then he told her that he
was delighted to find that it was possible for her
to do so. Mr LeyEnbarger is just the Leyenbarger of [?Haysmith?]
notoriety precisely. I could almost imagine I was
fourteen years younger myself, but instead of that
I presume I look more like forty years older than I did
then, although Mr Butler said that he could not
see that the four years in China had changed
me a particle but however "love is blind" you know.
We still remember our trip last fall with [u]intense[/u]
delight and shall as long as we live I presume.
We found so many dear friends and "[u]learned to love[/u]" such
a [u]quantity[/u] of good people.
It is raining very hard to-night
has been pouring by fits and starts
all day. Since our return from our
trip into the country Mrs Happer
has been very ill and although she
now seems a little better is still very
ill. The Doctor says the trip did her a
great deal of good + gave her a little
strength for this illness which she would
have had anyway. She has been
going down rapidly lately and in
fact has been going down Ever since
she left San Francisco. If she could
only get strong Enough I would be so
glad to see her take the children + go
home for I dont believe any one has any
hope of her ultimate recovery here
Her work here is to [u]Educate the children[/u]
+ it seems as though she could do that better
at home + would probably be happier + stronger
there + perhaps after a time her health
might be restored and she be able to
come back again . Of course she never
expects to do anything with the language
as she has neither time nor strength
to devote to it. She is just one of the
Excellent of the Earth. as good as she
can be. I am afraid the hot
summer months that are coming will
be very trying for her.
[Note: Written sideways in the left margin of page four]
Well I have filled a sheet without saying much but if it is "below par"
I am sure you will make due allowance & Believe me Ever
Your loving sister
Hattie.
中国广州。
5 月 31 日 72。
我亲爱的弗兰克，
五月最后一天的回归提醒我，
你已经达到了人生道路上的另一个里程碑。
如果你今晚在这里，
我们会好好谈谈，
我不应该像现在这样孤单。
亨利星期一早上走了，
我期待他明天{星期六晚上}回来，
所以这次他会度过一周的时光。
我不得不几乎粗鲁地拒绝了哈珀与他们共度夜晚的邀请，
但我非常想要它来写作。
他不在的时候，
这里的好朋友很同情我，
想帮我打发他们不欣赏的时间，
我想在“完成”的每一刻都提高，
以便在他在家的时候享受他的访问。
我现在摆在我面前的桌子上有十四封来自
[注：写在第二页和第三页]
世界这边的朋友的来信，
我想在明天在香港收到的家庭邮件到来之前回复它们，
你认为我有可能完成它吗？我是一个可悲的拖延者，
以至于我让他们以这种方式积累，
然后当它不再等待时，
我“开始”并写下来。
不久之后，
我们收到了莱恩巴格夫人的来信。
他们还有一个小儿子，
并以我们的兄弟亨利命名他，
莱恩巴格夫人表达了希望他“长大后成为一个像他被命名的人一样优秀的人”的愿望。
我取笑亨利，
说她为这个小家伙做了一个非常谦虚的愿望。
当然，
我觉得有责任抵制他从别人那里得到的奉承。
你可以肯定，
他会注意我不会有被宠坏的危险。
你知道我有几个原因去见 LeyEnbarger 先生的妻子。
她是一个真正的好人。
她让我们都想起了“我们的 Em”。
她和她一样好，
但不太好。
长相、有才华、受过良好教育、聪明、有成就 嘘！不要让世界听到，
因为我刚刚因过去类似的罪行获得了宽恕，
条件是我“再也不会这样做”。
去年 Corbett 先生在这里时，
他说他从未听 Leyenbarger 夫人说过任何人的坏话，
但有一次他告诉她，
他很高兴发现她有可能这样做。
LeyEnbarger 先生正是 Haysmith 声名狼藉的 Leyenbarger。
我几乎可以想象我自己年轻了十四岁，
但我认为我看起来比那时更像四十岁，
虽然巴特勒先生说他看不出在中国的四年改变了我一个小数，
但但是“爱是盲目的”你知道的。
我们仍然非常高兴地记得我们去年秋天的旅行，
我想只要我们还活着。
我们找到了这么多亲爱的朋友，
“学会了爱”这么多好人。
今晚雨下得很大，
整天都断断续续地倾盆大雨。
自从我们从乡下回来后，
哈珀夫人病得很重，
虽然她现在看起来好一点了，
但仍然病得很重。
医生说这次旅行对她有很大好处，
也给了她一点力量来应对她本来会患上的这种疾病。
她最近一直在迅速下降，
事实上，
自从她离开旧金山以来，
她一直在下降。
如果她能变得足够强壮，
我会很高兴看到她带着孩子回家，
因为我相信没有人对她在这里最终康复有任何希望她在这里的工作是教育孩子，
似乎她可以在家里做得更好和在那里可能会更快乐、更强壮也许一段时间后她的健康可能会恢复并且她能够再次回来。
当然，
她从没想过要用这种语言做任何事情，
因为她没有时间也没有精力投入到它上面。
她只是地球上的极品之一。
尽她所能。
恐怕即将到来的炎热夏季对她来说会很煎熬。
[注：写在第四页的左边] 好吧，
我已经填了一张纸，
没有多说，
但如果它是“低于标准”，
我相信你会给予应有的补偿，
相信我。
你亲爱的妹妹，
海蒂。
May 31st 72.
My dear Frank,
The return of the last
day of May reminds me that
you have reached another of the
milestones on Life's path. If you
were here to-night we would have a
good talk and I should not be all
alone as I now am. Henry went
away on Monday morning and
I am expecting him back to-morrow
{Saturday Evening} so he will have
made out the week this time.
I had to be almost rude to decline
the Happer's invitation to spend the
evening with them but I wanted it
so much for writing. The good
friends here pity me very much when
he is away and want to help me
pass away the time they dont appreciate
that I want to improve every moment
in getting "done up" so as to enjoy his
[u]visit[/u] while he is at home. I have
now before me on the table fourteen
letters from friends on this side of the
[Note: Written sideways over page two and three]
world that I would like to answer before the Home mail
comes in which is due in Hongkong to-morrow, do you
think I will be likely to accomplish it? I am such
a miserable procrastinator that I let them accumulate in
this style and then when it wont do to wait any longer I
"set to" and write up. We had a letter a short time since
from Mrs LeyEnbarger. They have another little son
and have named him for our brother Henry and
Mrs LeyEnbarger expressed the wish that he might "grow
up to be so good a man as the one he was named for".
I teased Henry a little about her making such a [u]very
modest[/u] wish for the little fellow. Of course I feel it a
duty to counteract the flattery he receives from others.
and you may be sure that he will take care that
I shall not be in any danger of getting spoiled.
You know I had a little curiosity for several reasons
to meet the wife of Mr LeyEnbarger She is just a real
good nice [?body?]. She made us both think some of
"Our Em". she is [u]good[/u] like her but not quite so good
looking, talented, well-Educated, intelligent, accomplished
+c +c +c Hush! dont for the world let Em hear, for I have
just obtained ^[forgiveness] for a similar [--sin--] [u]offence[/u] in the past
upon condition that I would "[u]never[/u] do so again".
When Mr Corbett was here last year he said that
he never heard Mrs Leyenbarger say an ill word of
any one but once and then he told her that he
was delighted to find that it was possible for her
to do so. Mr LeyEnbarger is just the Leyenbarger of [?Haysmith?]
notoriety precisely. I could almost imagine I was
fourteen years younger myself, but instead of that
I presume I look more like forty years older than I did
then, although Mr Butler said that he could not
see that the four years in China had changed
me a particle but however "love is blind" you know.
We still remember our trip last fall with [u]intense[/u]
delight and shall as long as we live I presume.
We found so many dear friends and "[u]learned to love[/u]" such
a [u]quantity[/u] of good people.
It is raining very hard to-night
has been pouring by fits and starts
all day. Since our return from our
trip into the country Mrs Happer
has been very ill and although she
now seems a little better is still very
ill. The Doctor says the trip did her a
great deal of good + gave her a little
strength for this illness which she would
have had anyway. She has been
going down rapidly lately and in
fact has been going down Ever since
she left San Francisco. If she could
only get strong Enough I would be so
glad to see her take the children + go
home for I dont believe any one has any
hope of her ultimate recovery here
Her work here is to [u]Educate the children[/u]
+ it seems as though she could do that better
at home + would probably be happier + stronger
there + perhaps after a time her health
might be restored and she be able to
come back again . Of course she never
expects to do anything with the language
as she has neither time nor strength
to devote to it. She is just one of the
Excellent of the Earth. as good as she
can be. I am afraid the hot
summer months that are coming will
be very trying for her.
[Note: Written sideways in the left margin of page four]
Well I have filled a sheet without saying much but if it is "below par"
I am sure you will make due allowance & Believe me Ever
Your loving sister
Hattie.
中国广州。
5 月 31 日 72。
我亲爱的弗兰克，
五月最后一天的回归提醒我，
你已经达到了人生道路上的另一个里程碑。
如果你今晚在这里，
我们会好好谈谈，
我不应该像现在这样孤单。
亨利星期一早上走了，
我期待他明天{星期六晚上}回来，
所以这次他会度过一周的时光。
我不得不几乎粗鲁地拒绝了哈珀与他们共度夜晚的邀请，
但我非常想要它来写作。
他不在的时候，
这里的好朋友很同情我，
想帮我打发他们不欣赏的时间，
我想在“完成”的每一刻都提高，
以便在他在家的时候享受他的访问。
我现在摆在我面前的桌子上有十四封来自
[注：写在第二页和第三页]
世界这边的朋友的来信，
我想在明天在香港收到的家庭邮件到来之前回复它们，
你认为我有可能完成它吗？我是一个可悲的拖延者，
以至于我让他们以这种方式积累，
然后当它不再等待时，
我“开始”并写下来。
不久之后，
我们收到了莱恩巴格夫人的来信。
他们还有一个小儿子，
并以我们的兄弟亨利命名他，
莱恩巴格夫人表达了希望他“长大后成为一个像他被命名的人一样优秀的人”的愿望。
我取笑亨利，
说她为这个小家伙做了一个非常谦虚的愿望。
当然，
我觉得有责任抵制他从别人那里得到的奉承。
你可以肯定，
他会注意我不会有被宠坏的危险。
你知道我有几个原因去见 LeyEnbarger 先生的妻子。
她是一个真正的好人。
她让我们都想起了“我们的 Em”。
她和她一样好，
但不太好。
长相、有才华、受过良好教育、聪明、有成就 嘘！不要让世界听到，
因为我刚刚因过去类似的罪行获得了宽恕，
条件是我“再也不会这样做”。
去年 Corbett 先生在这里时，
他说他从未听 Leyenbarger 夫人说过任何人的坏话，
但有一次他告诉她，
他很高兴发现她有可能这样做。
LeyEnbarger 先生正是 Haysmith 声名狼藉的 Leyenbarger。
我几乎可以想象我自己年轻了十四岁，
但我认为我看起来比那时更像四十岁，
虽然巴特勒先生说他看不出在中国的四年改变了我一个小数，
但但是“爱是盲目的”你知道的。
我们仍然非常高兴地记得我们去年秋天的旅行，
我想只要我们还活着。
我们找到了这么多亲爱的朋友，
“学会了爱”这么多好人。
今晚雨下得很大，
整天都断断续续地倾盆大雨。
自从我们从乡下回来后，
哈珀夫人病得很重，
虽然她现在看起来好一点了，
但仍然病得很重。
医生说这次旅行对她有很大好处，
也给了她一点力量来应对她本来会患上的这种疾病。
她最近一直在迅速下降，
事实上，
自从她离开旧金山以来，
她一直在下降。
如果她能变得足够强壮，
我会很高兴看到她带着孩子回家，
因为我相信没有人对她在这里最终康复有任何希望她在这里的工作是教育孩子，
似乎她可以在家里做得更好和在那里可能会更快乐、更强壮也许一段时间后她的健康可能会恢复并且她能够再次回来。
当然，
她从没想过要用这种语言做任何事情，
因为她没有时间也没有精力投入到它上面。
她只是地球上的极品之一。
尽她所能。
恐怕即将到来的炎热夏季对她来说会很煎熬。
[注：写在第四页的左边] 好吧，
我已经填了一张纸，
没有多说，
但如果它是“低于标准”，
我相信你会给予应有的补偿，
相信我。
你亲爱的妹妹，
海蒂。
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Harriet Newell, “Letter from Hattie to Frank, May 31, 1872,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed May 15, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/139.