Letter from Mattie to Sarah, November 9, 1874
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Mattie to Sarah, November 9, 1874
Subject
Future life; Ellinwood, Frank F. (Frank Field), 1826-1908; Christian education of people with disabilities; Faith and reason--Christianity
Description
Mattie writes to her sister Sarah about the position Sarah is taking up at the Deaf & Dumb Institute again and sends her well wishes to her roommate. Martha includes updates on what the rest of the family is doing in Canton. With Harriet leaving soon, Martha has spent more time studying Chinese. She is very pleased with the school, has a strong faith in God, and awaits the days when the family is united in Heaven.
Creator
Kerr, Noyes Martha
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #3
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1874-11-09
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English); chi (b) (Chinese)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_744
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China
Nov. 9th /74
Dear Sarah
Here it is mail again
and no letters for America yet
Well letters written in such a
hurry are not worth much but
perhaps it will be better than
nothing Here it is the middle
of Nov. almost and Hattie is
going about with a thin Victoria
Lawn {white} dress on which is
just the thing for the state of
the weather. I suppose you
are again safe at work in the
Deaf & Dumb Inst. at C. How I wish
I might see you for a few min-
utes do not believe I would an-
swer for a deaf & dumb pupil
very well. I got such a nice
letter from Carrie Yeasley,
by the last mail. Please thank
her for it and tell her I will
try and answer it soon.
She tells me the old corps of
teachers or rather the corps of old
[Written vertically on the second page]
have had a hard time getting into their chong {bed} on a certain
night there in the house on the hill. I will tell you right
here that cousin Henry is sending us the Harpers Weekly and
we take consiterable pleasure in the pictures if we are
missionaries. I see the ladies occupy less space generally
speaking than when I left America. Hattie is writing
to you at this present minute and from the looks of her
min man {face} I imagine you will find something
funny in the letter. I am very glad that Clara and Mary
can be in Wooster this Winter and I can not but confess I
am glad Em did not become Assistant in that Grammar
school. It seems as if now she has an education it would
be better for her to use it if she teaches at all. I do want the
girls to be comfortable at W, and use what is necessary
to make them so. Em's performance is grand isn't it?
I really feel very rich in my sisters each one especially
near in some especial way. The girls in the school are
just now having prayers and it is so pleasant to hear them
as they sing Jesus lover of my Soul. More than half of all who
have as yet been connected with the school are christians and
I think many of our schools at home might take lessons of
them in Christian deportment At our last Communion one
teachers whom I left are still in
the service I imagine you in
that front room with Miss Shrom
and do hope your work will be
so that you can have some
time for rest reading &c &c this
year. Sarah whatever else you
do do not fail to take exercise
I always feel reproved whenever
I think of the way you served for
me the summer I was there, if I
had know as much as I do now
these Chinese women some of them
would have had an opportunity
of doing some of that stitching
I am so glad you have such
a nice room mate and so very
much ashamed that I have never
written to her, but it is not that
I have forgotten her. Hattie's
going home has a sort of pushing
effect upon us in the study of the
language I know and we can not
bear to use any time we can give
to that to other purposes. If there
was any spot on Earth where the
gift of tongues was to be received
I think I should be there to beg
for a portion of the blessing.
The study is pleasant only it will
take so much time before one can
do much. We are daily expecting
Henry who left Shanghai for Canton
last Wednesday. He may stop in
Hong Kong and wait for Dr Ellin-
wood who comes down two days
later in which case he will not be
here before next Thursday. His
throat is better though not yet well
but I think the trip will be a great
benefit to him. We anticipate
much pleasure from seeing Dr and
Mrs Ellinwood. While they are here
we hope to have all the missionaries
at our house to meet them.
To morrow Miss Shaw leaves for
Japan and I presume she will be
gone several months. Her health is
very poor and we are afraid she
may have to go home for medical
treatment but hope not. I do not know
how we should get along without
dear good Miss Shaw. She is one
of the excellent of the Earth. Mary
writes you have had a nice time
at home this summer. I think
somebody on a certain night must
[written vertically on the first page]
of my Sabbath School class joined the church and another
is much interested. One of the women and another dear little
[--gir--] pupil also [wanted] besides 6 others [--mal--] persons making nine in
all. We are greatly
blessed in this school
and we can buy
rejoice everyday
that we are allowed
to be connected
with it. Our com-
munion service
occured on the
first of Nov just
one year from
the day we left
San Francisco and
I was so happy to
be able to welcome
one of my own
dear class as she
put on Christ.
I never saw any
one so evidently
taught of the
Spirit
[Written vertically on the next page]
Well must say good night. Do please give my love to Aunt
cousin & family the teachers matrons and pupils that I know
How nice it is that we are all employed in gathering souls
for the Master, and you know I feel you are just as much
a missionary as any of us, we are all laboring for those who
need to be taught the way to heaven. Will it not be a happy
time when we all get safely home to heaven with those
whom we trust God will give us as seals of our ministry.
Oh Sarah I often wonder that I am not more devoted to
Christ but my heart of sin is always leading my astray It is
a comfort to know God knows all our weakness just how
sinful we are and his grace can be sufficient to save us
Good night darling sister, may Jesus be very near you every
day to help you, is the prayer of one who loves you very
dearly.
Mattie
中国广东
11 月 9 日 /74
亲爱的莎拉
这里又是邮件
还没有给美国的信
写在这样的好信
快点不值钱，但是
也许会比
没有 这里是中间
十一月几乎和海蒂是
与瘦弱的维多利亚相处
白色连衣裙
只是状态的东西
天气。我想你
在工作中再次安全
C. Deaf & Dumb Institute at C. 我多么希望
我可能会见你几分钟不相信我会回答聋哑学生
很好。我有这么好的
嘉莉·耶斯利的来信，
通过最后一封邮件。请感谢
她为此并告诉她我会的
试着尽快回答。
她告诉我老兵团
老师或者更确切地说是旧的军团
[垂直写在第二页]
很难在某个特定时间上床睡觉
晚上在山上的房子里。我会告诉你正确的
亨利表弟在这里寄给我们哈珀斯周刊和
如果我们是，我们会对这些照片感到相当高兴
传教士。我看到女士们通常占用更少的空间
比我离开美国的时候说话。海蒂在写
此刻给你，从她的表情来看
min man {face} 我想你会找到一些东西
信中很有趣。我很高兴克拉拉和玛丽
今年冬天可以在伍斯特，我不得不承认我
很高兴 Em 没有成为那个语法的助手
学校。似乎现在她接受了教育
如果她教的话，最好让她使用它。我确实想要
女孩们在 W 感到舒适，并使用必要的东西
使他们如此。 Em的表演很精彩不是吗？
我真的觉得我的姐妹们都很有钱，尤其是
以某种特殊的方式靠近。学校里的女生是
刚刚祈祷，很高兴听到他们
当他们唱我灵魂的耶稣情人时。超过一半的人
与学校有联系的基督徒和
我认为我们国内的许多学校可能会学习
他们在我们的最后一次圣餐中的基督徒举止
我离开的老师还在
我想象中的服务
施罗姆小姐的前厅
并希望你的工作会
这样你就可以有一些
休息时间等等
年。莎拉随便你
不要不锻炼
每次我都觉得被责备
我想到了你服务的方式
我在那里的那个夏天，如果我
我知道的和我现在一样多
这些中国女人中的一些
本来有机会的
做一些缝合
我很高兴你有这样的
一个很好的室友，非常
很惭愧我从来没有
写给她，但事实并非如此
我已经忘记了她。海蒂的
回家有一种推动力
对我们研究的影响
我知道的语言，我们不能
我们可以给予的任何时间都可以使用
到其他目的。如果有
是地球上的任何一个地方
要接受方言的恩赐
我想我应该在那里乞求
为祝福的一部分。
学习是愉快的，只有它会
花了这么多时间才可以
做很多。我们每天都在期待
亨利离开上海前往广州
上周三。他可能会停下来
香港，等待两天下来的埃林伍德医生
以后在这种情况下，他不会
下周四之前到这里。他的
喉咙好些了，虽然还不是很好
但我认为这次旅行会很棒
给他带来好处。我们预计
很高兴见到博士和
艾林伍德夫人。当他们在这里
我们希望有所有的传教士
在我们家见他们。
明天肖小姐动身去
日本，我想她会
走了几个月。她的健康是
很穷，我们害怕她
可能不得不回家就医
治疗但希望不要。我不知道
我们应该如何相处
亲爱的肖小姐。她是一个
地球上的优秀。玛丽
写道你玩得很开心
今年夏天在家。我认为
某个晚上的某个人必须
[第一页竖着写]
我的安息日学班的一名学生加入了教会，另外一名
很感兴趣。一个女人和另一个可爱的小宝贝
除了 6 个人之外，学生还想要 9 人
全部。我们非常
在这所学校有幸
我们可以买
天天开心
我们被允许
要连接
用它。我们的圣餐服务
发生在
十一月初一
一年从
我们离开的那天
旧金山和
我很高兴
能够欢迎
我自己的一个
像她一样亲爱的班级
穿上基督。
我从来没见过
一个如此明显
教的
精神
[在下一页垂直书写]
好吧，必须说晚安。请把我的爱献给阿姨
表妹和家人我认识的老师和学生
我们都被用来聚集灵魂真是太好了
为了大师，你知道我觉得你也一样
作为我们任何人的传教士，我们都在为那些
需要教导通往天堂的道路。会不会很幸福
当我们都和那些人一起安全回到天堂的时候
我们相信上帝会赐给我们作为我们事工的印记。
哦，莎拉，我经常想知道我没有更专注于基督，
但我的罪恶之心总是使我误入歧途
知道上帝知道我们所有的弱点如何
我们是有罪的，他的恩典足以拯救我们
晚安亲爱的姐妹，愿耶稣在你身边
帮助你的一天，是一个非常爱你的人的祈祷
亲爱的。
马蒂
Nov. 9th /74
Dear Sarah
Here it is mail again
and no letters for America yet
Well letters written in such a
hurry are not worth much but
perhaps it will be better than
nothing Here it is the middle
of Nov. almost and Hattie is
going about with a thin Victoria
Lawn {white} dress on which is
just the thing for the state of
the weather. I suppose you
are again safe at work in the
Deaf & Dumb Inst. at C. How I wish
I might see you for a few min-
utes do not believe I would an-
swer for a deaf & dumb pupil
very well. I got such a nice
letter from Carrie Yeasley,
by the last mail. Please thank
her for it and tell her I will
try and answer it soon.
She tells me the old corps of
teachers or rather the corps of old
[Written vertically on the second page]
have had a hard time getting into their chong {bed} on a certain
night there in the house on the hill. I will tell you right
here that cousin Henry is sending us the Harpers Weekly and
we take consiterable pleasure in the pictures if we are
missionaries. I see the ladies occupy less space generally
speaking than when I left America. Hattie is writing
to you at this present minute and from the looks of her
min man {face} I imagine you will find something
funny in the letter. I am very glad that Clara and Mary
can be in Wooster this Winter and I can not but confess I
am glad Em did not become Assistant in that Grammar
school. It seems as if now she has an education it would
be better for her to use it if she teaches at all. I do want the
girls to be comfortable at W, and use what is necessary
to make them so. Em's performance is grand isn't it?
I really feel very rich in my sisters each one especially
near in some especial way. The girls in the school are
just now having prayers and it is so pleasant to hear them
as they sing Jesus lover of my Soul. More than half of all who
have as yet been connected with the school are christians and
I think many of our schools at home might take lessons of
them in Christian deportment At our last Communion one
teachers whom I left are still in
the service I imagine you in
that front room with Miss Shrom
and do hope your work will be
so that you can have some
time for rest reading &c &c this
year. Sarah whatever else you
do do not fail to take exercise
I always feel reproved whenever
I think of the way you served for
me the summer I was there, if I
had know as much as I do now
these Chinese women some of them
would have had an opportunity
of doing some of that stitching
I am so glad you have such
a nice room mate and so very
much ashamed that I have never
written to her, but it is not that
I have forgotten her. Hattie's
going home has a sort of pushing
effect upon us in the study of the
language I know and we can not
bear to use any time we can give
to that to other purposes. If there
was any spot on Earth where the
gift of tongues was to be received
I think I should be there to beg
for a portion of the blessing.
The study is pleasant only it will
take so much time before one can
do much. We are daily expecting
Henry who left Shanghai for Canton
last Wednesday. He may stop in
Hong Kong and wait for Dr Ellin-
wood who comes down two days
later in which case he will not be
here before next Thursday. His
throat is better though not yet well
but I think the trip will be a great
benefit to him. We anticipate
much pleasure from seeing Dr and
Mrs Ellinwood. While they are here
we hope to have all the missionaries
at our house to meet them.
To morrow Miss Shaw leaves for
Japan and I presume she will be
gone several months. Her health is
very poor and we are afraid she
may have to go home for medical
treatment but hope not. I do not know
how we should get along without
dear good Miss Shaw. She is one
of the excellent of the Earth. Mary
writes you have had a nice time
at home this summer. I think
somebody on a certain night must
[written vertically on the first page]
of my Sabbath School class joined the church and another
is much interested. One of the women and another dear little
[--gir--] pupil also [wanted] besides 6 others [--mal--] persons making nine in
all. We are greatly
blessed in this school
and we can buy
rejoice everyday
that we are allowed
to be connected
with it. Our com-
munion service
occured on the
first of Nov just
one year from
the day we left
San Francisco and
I was so happy to
be able to welcome
one of my own
dear class as she
put on Christ.
I never saw any
one so evidently
taught of the
Spirit
[Written vertically on the next page]
Well must say good night. Do please give my love to Aunt
cousin & family the teachers matrons and pupils that I know
How nice it is that we are all employed in gathering souls
for the Master, and you know I feel you are just as much
a missionary as any of us, we are all laboring for those who
need to be taught the way to heaven. Will it not be a happy
time when we all get safely home to heaven with those
whom we trust God will give us as seals of our ministry.
Oh Sarah I often wonder that I am not more devoted to
Christ but my heart of sin is always leading my astray It is
a comfort to know God knows all our weakness just how
sinful we are and his grace can be sufficient to save us
Good night darling sister, may Jesus be very near you every
day to help you, is the prayer of one who loves you very
dearly.
Mattie
中国广东
11 月 9 日 /74
亲爱的莎拉
这里又是邮件
还没有给美国的信
写在这样的好信
快点不值钱，但是
也许会比
没有 这里是中间
十一月几乎和海蒂是
与瘦弱的维多利亚相处
白色连衣裙
只是状态的东西
天气。我想你
在工作中再次安全
C. Deaf & Dumb Institute at C. 我多么希望
我可能会见你几分钟不相信我会回答聋哑学生
很好。我有这么好的
嘉莉·耶斯利的来信，
通过最后一封邮件。请感谢
她为此并告诉她我会的
试着尽快回答。
她告诉我老兵团
老师或者更确切地说是旧的军团
[垂直写在第二页]
很难在某个特定时间上床睡觉
晚上在山上的房子里。我会告诉你正确的
亨利表弟在这里寄给我们哈珀斯周刊和
如果我们是，我们会对这些照片感到相当高兴
传教士。我看到女士们通常占用更少的空间
比我离开美国的时候说话。海蒂在写
此刻给你，从她的表情来看
min man {face} 我想你会找到一些东西
信中很有趣。我很高兴克拉拉和玛丽
今年冬天可以在伍斯特，我不得不承认我
很高兴 Em 没有成为那个语法的助手
学校。似乎现在她接受了教育
如果她教的话，最好让她使用它。我确实想要
女孩们在 W 感到舒适，并使用必要的东西
使他们如此。 Em的表演很精彩不是吗？
我真的觉得我的姐妹们都很有钱，尤其是
以某种特殊的方式靠近。学校里的女生是
刚刚祈祷，很高兴听到他们
当他们唱我灵魂的耶稣情人时。超过一半的人
与学校有联系的基督徒和
我认为我们国内的许多学校可能会学习
他们在我们的最后一次圣餐中的基督徒举止
我离开的老师还在
我想象中的服务
施罗姆小姐的前厅
并希望你的工作会
这样你就可以有一些
休息时间等等
年。莎拉随便你
不要不锻炼
每次我都觉得被责备
我想到了你服务的方式
我在那里的那个夏天，如果我
我知道的和我现在一样多
这些中国女人中的一些
本来有机会的
做一些缝合
我很高兴你有这样的
一个很好的室友，非常
很惭愧我从来没有
写给她，但事实并非如此
我已经忘记了她。海蒂的
回家有一种推动力
对我们研究的影响
我知道的语言，我们不能
我们可以给予的任何时间都可以使用
到其他目的。如果有
是地球上的任何一个地方
要接受方言的恩赐
我想我应该在那里乞求
为祝福的一部分。
学习是愉快的，只有它会
花了这么多时间才可以
做很多。我们每天都在期待
亨利离开上海前往广州
上周三。他可能会停下来
香港，等待两天下来的埃林伍德医生
以后在这种情况下，他不会
下周四之前到这里。他的
喉咙好些了，虽然还不是很好
但我认为这次旅行会很棒
给他带来好处。我们预计
很高兴见到博士和
艾林伍德夫人。当他们在这里
我们希望有所有的传教士
在我们家见他们。
明天肖小姐动身去
日本，我想她会
走了几个月。她的健康是
很穷，我们害怕她
可能不得不回家就医
治疗但希望不要。我不知道
我们应该如何相处
亲爱的肖小姐。她是一个
地球上的优秀。玛丽
写道你玩得很开心
今年夏天在家。我认为
某个晚上的某个人必须
[第一页竖着写]
我的安息日学班的一名学生加入了教会，另外一名
很感兴趣。一个女人和另一个可爱的小宝贝
除了 6 个人之外，学生还想要 9 人
全部。我们非常
在这所学校有幸
我们可以买
天天开心
我们被允许
要连接
用它。我们的圣餐服务
发生在
十一月初一
一年从
我们离开的那天
旧金山和
我很高兴
能够欢迎
我自己的一个
像她一样亲爱的班级
穿上基督。
我从来没见过
一个如此明显
教的
精神
[在下一页垂直书写]
好吧，必须说晚安。请把我的爱献给阿姨
表妹和家人我认识的老师和学生
我们都被用来聚集灵魂真是太好了
为了大师，你知道我觉得你也一样
作为我们任何人的传教士，我们都在为那些
需要教导通往天堂的道路。会不会很幸福
当我们都和那些人一起安全回到天堂的时候
我们相信上帝会赐给我们作为我们事工的印记。
哦，莎拉，我经常想知道我没有更专注于基督，
但我的罪恶之心总是使我误入歧途
知道上帝知道我们所有的弱点如何
我们是有罪的，他的恩典足以拯救我们
晚安亲爱的姐妹，愿耶稣在你身边
帮助你的一天，是一个非常爱你的人的祈祷
亲爱的。
马蒂
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Kerr, Noyes Martha, “Letter from Mattie to Sarah, November 9, 1874,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 19, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/814.