Letter from Hattie to Sara, June 2, 1882
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Hattie to Sara, June 2, 1882
Subject
Birthdays; Home; Family reunions; Clothing and dress--History--19th century; Prayer
Description
Harriet wishes Sarah a happy birthday. She recounts that Sara turned the age that Harriet was when she returned home. They all hardly recognized each other. Her memories of returning home in '76 are very clear, and she imagines that she would not look very different now, except that she is darker. Miss Butler is very fair and has a few very nice dresses. Harriet laments that her letter turned out to not be a very obvious birthday letter, but it is time for nightly prayers.
Creator
Noyes, Harriet Newell
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #3
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1882-06-02
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_286
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China
June 2nd 1882
My dear Sara
Here comes June 2nd
again bringing another birth-day
for you making you a
day older than were
yesterday. Thirty-two is a
much nicer age than thirty
[u]one[/u] dont you think so. You
are just the age now that I
was when I reached home
in 76. I wonder if you
remember just how Henry
and I looked that morning
in Cleveland as well as I
do how you and Clara
We were beginning to think
we were not going to find
any one in Cleveland that
we knew when we saw you
coming. I do not hardly
think I would have known
you if we had met you
say in Ceylon. Do you
think you would have guessed
who we were if you had not
been expecting us. You had
both grown and changed a
good deal I think But I
am sure now I should know
any of you if I should meet
you in China or anywhere else.
I wonder if you will come
to Cleveland to meet me again
before many more years have
passed. Do you remember
what you said that morning
You said "Oh you blessed people"
and Clara said "Come at last."
I always like to remember what
you both said I think they
were such [u]very nice[/u] words of
welcome. I dont think we
said anything unless it was
It is the girls. Then it seemed
so strange and nice for
you to take charge of us
and arrange to get us on
the train for [u]home[/u]. When
I think about it all it seems
almost "too good to be true" - I
am so very glad that everything
remains so distinctly in my memory
Em and Edward at the depot
and Father Mother and Mary
at home in the dooryard and
it seemed as if all the eight
years of absence were swept away
and I had not been away
an hour. I remember just
how old Ned looked and Fed
and Jennie. Em told me
afterwards that my teeth made
an impression on her at first sight.
she had forgotten that they
showed so plainly. I suppose
I must have [u]smiled[/u] very [u]broadly[/u]
when I first caught sight
of her. I do not think the
six years that have passed
since then have changed me
much unless I grow [u]darker[/u]
as I grow older every day.
Miss Butler is very fair I wonder
if she will remain so. She has just
been trying on two beautiful white
dresses. to decide which to wear to
Conference next Wednesday which
is to be at Mr Whites. The dresses
are both trimmed with very nice
lace that on one of them cost
$ 5.00 She did not bring a great
many clothes but has some quite
nice ones. She is not much of a
dressmaker. Miss Archibald was
very good at such things. Well
I have filled my letter almost
full and have not said
much about your birthday.
but you know "as how I love
you" and want you to have
a good time, and keep well,
and do all the good you
can and be as useful and
happy as possible during
the coming year and all
the years of you life.
The clock is just striking ten
[Note: Letter concludes vertically on page one]
so I suppose I had better finish off my letter and have
prayers It is
Miss Butler's
turn tonight, we
both feel just
the same about
it but we
feel that
we must
have [u]family
worship[/u] so
we take turns.
With much
love
Yr aff sister
Hattie
中国广州
1882 年 6 月 2 日
我亲爱的萨拉 6 月 2 日又来了，
为你带来了另一个生日，
让你比昨天大了一天。
三十二岁比三十一岁好得多，
你不这么认为。
你现在和我一样大在克利夫兰找到我们看到你来时认识的任何人。
如果我们在锡兰遇见你说，
我几乎不认为我会认识你。
如果您没有期待我们，
您认为您会猜到我们是谁吗？我想你已经成长和改变了很多，
但我现在确信，
如果我在中国或其他任何地方见到你，
我应该认识你们中的任何一个。
我想知道你是否会在多年过去之前再次来克利夫兰见我。
你还记得那天早上你说的话吗？你说“哦，
你们有福了”，
克拉拉说“终于来了”。
我总是喜欢记住你们俩所说的话，
我认为他们是非常好的欢迎词。
我不认为我们说了什么，
除非它是女孩。
然后，
您负责我们并安排我们上火车回家，
这似乎是一件很奇怪的事。
当我想到这一切时，
这一切似乎几乎是“好得令人难以置信”——我很高兴一切都清晰地留在我的记忆中，
艾姆和爱德华在车站，
父亲母亲和玛丽在家门口的院子里，
这似乎是如果所有八年的缺席都一扫而空，
而我还没有离开一个小时。
我记得内德看起来有多老，
还有美联储和珍妮。
艾姆事后告诉我，
我的牙齿第一眼就给她留下了深刻的印象。
她忘记了他们表现得如此清楚。
我想当我第一次看到她时，
我一定笑得很开心。
我不认为从那以后过去的六年对我有太大的改变，
除非我随着年龄的增长而变得越来越黑。
巴特勒小姐很公平，
我想知道她是否会保持这样。
她刚刚试穿了两件漂亮的白色连衣裙。
决定下周三在怀特先生的会议上穿哪件衣服。
这两件连衣裙都饰有非常漂亮的蕾丝，
其中一件售价 5.00 美元。
她没有带很多衣服，
但有一些相当不错的衣服。
她不是一个裁缝。
阿奇博尔德小姐很擅长这些事情。
好吧，
我的信几乎写满了，
关于你的生日并没有说太多。
但是你知道“我多么爱你”，
希望你过得愉快，
保持健康，
尽你所能，
在来年和你生命中的所有岁月里尽可能有用和快乐。
时钟刚刚敲响十点 [注：信在第一页垂直结束] 所以我想我最好写完信并祈祷今晚轮到巴特勒小姐，
我们都对此有同样的感觉，
但我们觉得我们必须有家庭崇拜，
所以我们轮流。
非常爱你的妹妹，
海蒂
June 2nd 1882
My dear Sara
Here comes June 2nd
again bringing another birth-day
for you making you a
day older than were
yesterday. Thirty-two is a
much nicer age than thirty
[u]one[/u] dont you think so. You
are just the age now that I
was when I reached home
in 76. I wonder if you
remember just how Henry
and I looked that morning
in Cleveland as well as I
do how you and Clara
We were beginning to think
we were not going to find
any one in Cleveland that
we knew when we saw you
coming. I do not hardly
think I would have known
you if we had met you
say in Ceylon. Do you
think you would have guessed
who we were if you had not
been expecting us. You had
both grown and changed a
good deal I think But I
am sure now I should know
any of you if I should meet
you in China or anywhere else.
I wonder if you will come
to Cleveland to meet me again
before many more years have
passed. Do you remember
what you said that morning
You said "Oh you blessed people"
and Clara said "Come at last."
I always like to remember what
you both said I think they
were such [u]very nice[/u] words of
welcome. I dont think we
said anything unless it was
It is the girls. Then it seemed
so strange and nice for
you to take charge of us
and arrange to get us on
the train for [u]home[/u]. When
I think about it all it seems
almost "too good to be true" - I
am so very glad that everything
remains so distinctly in my memory
Em and Edward at the depot
and Father Mother and Mary
at home in the dooryard and
it seemed as if all the eight
years of absence were swept away
and I had not been away
an hour. I remember just
how old Ned looked and Fed
and Jennie. Em told me
afterwards that my teeth made
an impression on her at first sight.
she had forgotten that they
showed so plainly. I suppose
I must have [u]smiled[/u] very [u]broadly[/u]
when I first caught sight
of her. I do not think the
six years that have passed
since then have changed me
much unless I grow [u]darker[/u]
as I grow older every day.
Miss Butler is very fair I wonder
if she will remain so. She has just
been trying on two beautiful white
dresses. to decide which to wear to
Conference next Wednesday which
is to be at Mr Whites. The dresses
are both trimmed with very nice
lace that on one of them cost
$ 5.00 She did not bring a great
many clothes but has some quite
nice ones. She is not much of a
dressmaker. Miss Archibald was
very good at such things. Well
I have filled my letter almost
full and have not said
much about your birthday.
but you know "as how I love
you" and want you to have
a good time, and keep well,
and do all the good you
can and be as useful and
happy as possible during
the coming year and all
the years of you life.
The clock is just striking ten
[Note: Letter concludes vertically on page one]
so I suppose I had better finish off my letter and have
prayers It is
Miss Butler's
turn tonight, we
both feel just
the same about
it but we
feel that
we must
have [u]family
worship[/u] so
we take turns.
With much
love
Yr aff sister
Hattie
中国广州
1882 年 6 月 2 日
我亲爱的萨拉 6 月 2 日又来了，
为你带来了另一个生日，
让你比昨天大了一天。
三十二岁比三十一岁好得多，
你不这么认为。
你现在和我一样大在克利夫兰找到我们看到你来时认识的任何人。
如果我们在锡兰遇见你说，
我几乎不认为我会认识你。
如果您没有期待我们，
您认为您会猜到我们是谁吗？我想你已经成长和改变了很多，
但我现在确信，
如果我在中国或其他任何地方见到你，
我应该认识你们中的任何一个。
我想知道你是否会在多年过去之前再次来克利夫兰见我。
你还记得那天早上你说的话吗？你说“哦，
你们有福了”，
克拉拉说“终于来了”。
我总是喜欢记住你们俩所说的话，
我认为他们是非常好的欢迎词。
我不认为我们说了什么，
除非它是女孩。
然后，
您负责我们并安排我们上火车回家，
这似乎是一件很奇怪的事。
当我想到这一切时，
这一切似乎几乎是“好得令人难以置信”——我很高兴一切都清晰地留在我的记忆中，
艾姆和爱德华在车站，
父亲母亲和玛丽在家门口的院子里，
这似乎是如果所有八年的缺席都一扫而空，
而我还没有离开一个小时。
我记得内德看起来有多老，
还有美联储和珍妮。
艾姆事后告诉我，
我的牙齿第一眼就给她留下了深刻的印象。
她忘记了他们表现得如此清楚。
我想当我第一次看到她时，
我一定笑得很开心。
我不认为从那以后过去的六年对我有太大的改变，
除非我随着年龄的增长而变得越来越黑。
巴特勒小姐很公平，
我想知道她是否会保持这样。
她刚刚试穿了两件漂亮的白色连衣裙。
决定下周三在怀特先生的会议上穿哪件衣服。
这两件连衣裙都饰有非常漂亮的蕾丝，
其中一件售价 5.00 美元。
她没有带很多衣服，
但有一些相当不错的衣服。
她不是一个裁缝。
阿奇博尔德小姐很擅长这些事情。
好吧，
我的信几乎写满了，
关于你的生日并没有说太多。
但是你知道“我多么爱你”，
希望你过得愉快，
保持健康，
尽你所能，
在来年和你生命中的所有岁月里尽可能有用和快乐。
时钟刚刚敲响十点 [注：信在第一页垂直结束] 所以我想我最好写完信并祈祷今晚轮到巴特勒小姐，
我们都对此有同样的感觉，
但我们觉得我们必须有家庭崇拜，
所以我们轮流。
非常爱你的妹妹，
海蒂
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Harriet Newell, “Letter from Hattie to Sara, June 2, 1882,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed May 2, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/342.