Letter from Hattie to Sarah, circa 1871
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Hattie to Sarah, circa 1871
Subject
Aging; Death; Missionaries; Friendship; Music
Description
Harriet writes to her sister Sarah to thank her for wishing her well on her 27th birthday and lets her know that she is thinking of her family in the US often. In Canton, the Vrooman family lost a young daughter who Harriet helped to bury. She talks about a family who was not well suited to mission work being sent home. Harriet also says she has grown closer to Lillie Happer lately. She asks Sarah to send her a roll of blank sheet music if it is convenient.
Creator
Noyes, Harriet Newell
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #1
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
circa 1871
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_071
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China
My dear Sade,
Your letter of March 5th
came by last steamer. Thank you
for remembering the birthday that
made me 27. I can remember when
I would have thought that very old.
But every birth-day brings us one year
nearer [u]home[/u]. I cannot [u]feel[/u] that I
am any older but when I think how
the rest of you are [u]"growing up"[/u]
"little Mary" a lady of eighteen
it enables me to appreciate it a little.
I like to think of you in Columbus
I am sure you must be happy
there with so many new friends
and the pleasure of doing good.
From the way in which you
wrote of the little one you lost from
your number I think you
must become very much attached
to your pupils and I am sure
it would be natural they must
seem more dependent + helpless
than speaking children.
Last week a little child of Mr
Vrooman's died here and I went
over as soon as I heard it and
staid until after the funeral It is
the first time I ever helped dress any
one for the long sleep. I helped
Mr Vrooman line its little coffin
with white and then we laid her
in it and put white flowers all
around her She looked very pretty
and poor little thing I could not
help feeling that it was well with
her and better for her to go home
to heaven. Mrs Vrooman seemed
to feel very badly it was her only
daughter. You remember Mr Vrooman
married a Chinese woman who
was brought up by a missionary
lady, and of course the family is
just what would naturally be expected.
We have just had a visit from Mrs
House a missionary lady from Siam
and [u]such a nice one[/u]. I think she
will visit our home how much I wish
that you could see her. I wonder
if you have seen the Marcelluss We
were [u]not sorry[/u] to have them [u]leave[/u] the
only regret was that they ever came
out. It was a most unfortunate mistake
on the part of the Board + they did not
want to send them after they were
appointed but they insisted on coming
I doubt if anybody less fitted to be a
missionary was ever sent out by any
Board. Their [?course?] with the trouble
in Dr Happers family about Lucy's
marriage . has made the past year
a sad one for our mission so
different from what we anticipated
when we welcomed our "new missionaries".
Dear sister how I wish I could see
you to-night and sit in your
lap as I used to sometimes. I often
hold Lillie Happer + Mrs McChesney
and almost always think of you
when I do so. Lillie and I have
grown very intimate lately . she told
me the other night it took her nearly
a year to make up her mind
whether she was going to like me or
not. It was a long time before we
felt very much acquainted with
each other . She is a [u]very nice[/u]
girl. Now shall I tell you something
I would like you to get for me if you
can. + send out by mail. I will
tell you but if it is not convenient
you must not get it. I shall know
that you would like to all the
same. What I wish is quite a large
roll of blank music paper. I want
some for my own use + then I want
bye + bye to make a music book for
the Chinese. By a large roll I mean
enough to make a book an inch or 1/2 an
inch thick I have seen a size a little
small than the regular sheet music
if you can get that I would like part
that size. But you must not get it unless
it is quite convenient.
[Note: Letter concludes vertically on 1st page]
I dont feel as if I have written you any news but you
know I have to write them home and it seems so
dull to write the same thing over and over again.
With warmest love for Aunt + Cozs + my own dear sister
from her loving [u]Hattie[/u]
中国广州
我亲爱的萨德，
你 3 月 5 日的来信是末班车来的。
谢谢你记得让我 27 岁的生日。
我记得我什么时候会认为自己很老了。
但是每个生日都会让我们离家更近一年。
我感觉不到我老了，
但是当我想到你们其他人是如何“长大”“小玛丽”一个十八岁的女士时，
这让我有点感激。
我喜欢在哥伦布想起你，
我相信你一定很高兴有这么多新朋友，
也很高兴能做好事。
从你写的关于你失去的孩子的方式来看，
我认为你必须非常依赖你的学生，
我相信他们一定看起来比说话的孩子更依赖和无助是很自然的。
上周弗鲁曼先生的一个小孩在这里去世了，
我一听到就走了过去，
一直呆到葬礼结束。
这是我第一次帮任何人穿长睡的衣服。
我帮弗鲁曼先生把它的小棺材排成白色，
然后我们把她放在里面，
把白色的花放在她周围到天堂。
弗鲁曼夫人似乎对这是她唯一的女儿感到非常难过。
你记得弗鲁曼先生娶了一个由传教士抚养长大的中国女人，
当然，
这个家庭是理所当然的。
我们刚刚拜访了来自暹罗的一位传教士女士，
一位非常好的女士。
我想她会访问我们的家，
我多么希望你能见到她。
我想知道你是否看过马塞勒斯 我们并不后悔让他们离开，
唯一的遗憾是他们曾经出来过。
这是董事会的一个最不幸的错误，
他们不想在他们被任命后派遣他们，
但他们坚持要来。
我怀疑是否有任何不适合传教士的人被任何董事会派出去。
他们在哈珀斯医生家里处理露西的婚姻问题。
过去的一年对我们的宣教来说是一个悲伤的一年，
这与我们欢迎“新传教士”时的预期大相径庭。
亲爱的姐妹，
我多么希望今晚能见到你，
像以前一样坐在你的腿上。
我经常抱着莉莉·哈珀和麦克切斯尼夫人，
当我这样做的时候几乎总是会想起你。
莉莉和我最近变得非常亲密。
那天晚上，
她告诉我，
她花了将近一年的时间才决定是否要喜欢我。
过了很长时间，
我们才觉得彼此非常熟悉。
她是一个非常好的女孩。
现在我要告诉你一些事情，
如果你可以的话，
我希望你帮我弄来。
并通过邮件发送。
我会告诉你，
但如果不方便，
你一定不要得到它。
我知道你也一样。
我想要的是一大卷空白音乐纸。
我想要一些自己用，
然后我想再见，
为中国人制作一本音乐书。
所谓大卷，
我的意思是足以制作一英寸或 1/2 英寸厚的书。
但是除非非常方便，
否则你一定不要得到它。
[注意：信在第一页垂直结束]我不觉得我给你写了任何消息，
但你知道我必须把它们写回家，
一遍又一遍地写同样的东西似乎很无聊。
为阿姨和表兄弟以及我自己亲爱的姐姐送去最温暖的爱。
来自，
海蒂
My dear Sade,
Your letter of March 5th
came by last steamer. Thank you
for remembering the birthday that
made me 27. I can remember when
I would have thought that very old.
But every birth-day brings us one year
nearer [u]home[/u]. I cannot [u]feel[/u] that I
am any older but when I think how
the rest of you are [u]"growing up"[/u]
"little Mary" a lady of eighteen
it enables me to appreciate it a little.
I like to think of you in Columbus
I am sure you must be happy
there with so many new friends
and the pleasure of doing good.
From the way in which you
wrote of the little one you lost from
your number I think you
must become very much attached
to your pupils and I am sure
it would be natural they must
seem more dependent + helpless
than speaking children.
Last week a little child of Mr
Vrooman's died here and I went
over as soon as I heard it and
staid until after the funeral It is
the first time I ever helped dress any
one for the long sleep. I helped
Mr Vrooman line its little coffin
with white and then we laid her
in it and put white flowers all
around her She looked very pretty
and poor little thing I could not
help feeling that it was well with
her and better for her to go home
to heaven. Mrs Vrooman seemed
to feel very badly it was her only
daughter. You remember Mr Vrooman
married a Chinese woman who
was brought up by a missionary
lady, and of course the family is
just what would naturally be expected.
We have just had a visit from Mrs
House a missionary lady from Siam
and [u]such a nice one[/u]. I think she
will visit our home how much I wish
that you could see her. I wonder
if you have seen the Marcelluss We
were [u]not sorry[/u] to have them [u]leave[/u] the
only regret was that they ever came
out. It was a most unfortunate mistake
on the part of the Board + they did not
want to send them after they were
appointed but they insisted on coming
I doubt if anybody less fitted to be a
missionary was ever sent out by any
Board. Their [?course?] with the trouble
in Dr Happers family about Lucy's
marriage . has made the past year
a sad one for our mission so
different from what we anticipated
when we welcomed our "new missionaries".
Dear sister how I wish I could see
you to-night and sit in your
lap as I used to sometimes. I often
hold Lillie Happer + Mrs McChesney
and almost always think of you
when I do so. Lillie and I have
grown very intimate lately . she told
me the other night it took her nearly
a year to make up her mind
whether she was going to like me or
not. It was a long time before we
felt very much acquainted with
each other . She is a [u]very nice[/u]
girl. Now shall I tell you something
I would like you to get for me if you
can. + send out by mail. I will
tell you but if it is not convenient
you must not get it. I shall know
that you would like to all the
same. What I wish is quite a large
roll of blank music paper. I want
some for my own use + then I want
bye + bye to make a music book for
the Chinese. By a large roll I mean
enough to make a book an inch or 1/2 an
inch thick I have seen a size a little
small than the regular sheet music
if you can get that I would like part
that size. But you must not get it unless
it is quite convenient.
[Note: Letter concludes vertically on 1st page]
I dont feel as if I have written you any news but you
know I have to write them home and it seems so
dull to write the same thing over and over again.
With warmest love for Aunt + Cozs + my own dear sister
from her loving [u]Hattie[/u]
中国广州
我亲爱的萨德，
你 3 月 5 日的来信是末班车来的。
谢谢你记得让我 27 岁的生日。
我记得我什么时候会认为自己很老了。
但是每个生日都会让我们离家更近一年。
我感觉不到我老了，
但是当我想到你们其他人是如何“长大”“小玛丽”一个十八岁的女士时，
这让我有点感激。
我喜欢在哥伦布想起你，
我相信你一定很高兴有这么多新朋友，
也很高兴能做好事。
从你写的关于你失去的孩子的方式来看，
我认为你必须非常依赖你的学生，
我相信他们一定看起来比说话的孩子更依赖和无助是很自然的。
上周弗鲁曼先生的一个小孩在这里去世了，
我一听到就走了过去，
一直呆到葬礼结束。
这是我第一次帮任何人穿长睡的衣服。
我帮弗鲁曼先生把它的小棺材排成白色，
然后我们把她放在里面，
把白色的花放在她周围到天堂。
弗鲁曼夫人似乎对这是她唯一的女儿感到非常难过。
你记得弗鲁曼先生娶了一个由传教士抚养长大的中国女人，
当然，
这个家庭是理所当然的。
我们刚刚拜访了来自暹罗的一位传教士女士，
一位非常好的女士。
我想她会访问我们的家，
我多么希望你能见到她。
我想知道你是否看过马塞勒斯 我们并不后悔让他们离开，
唯一的遗憾是他们曾经出来过。
这是董事会的一个最不幸的错误，
他们不想在他们被任命后派遣他们，
但他们坚持要来。
我怀疑是否有任何不适合传教士的人被任何董事会派出去。
他们在哈珀斯医生家里处理露西的婚姻问题。
过去的一年对我们的宣教来说是一个悲伤的一年，
这与我们欢迎“新传教士”时的预期大相径庭。
亲爱的姐妹，
我多么希望今晚能见到你，
像以前一样坐在你的腿上。
我经常抱着莉莉·哈珀和麦克切斯尼夫人，
当我这样做的时候几乎总是会想起你。
莉莉和我最近变得非常亲密。
那天晚上，
她告诉我，
她花了将近一年的时间才决定是否要喜欢我。
过了很长时间，
我们才觉得彼此非常熟悉。
她是一个非常好的女孩。
现在我要告诉你一些事情，
如果你可以的话，
我希望你帮我弄来。
并通过邮件发送。
我会告诉你，
但如果不方便，
你一定不要得到它。
我知道你也一样。
我想要的是一大卷空白音乐纸。
我想要一些自己用，
然后我想再见，
为中国人制作一本音乐书。
所谓大卷，
我的意思是足以制作一英寸或 1/2 英寸厚的书。
但是除非非常方便，
否则你一定不要得到它。
[注意：信在第一页垂直结束]我不觉得我给你写了任何消息，
但你知道我必须把它们写回家，
一遍又一遍地写同样的东西似乎很无聊。
为阿姨和表兄弟以及我自己亲爱的姐姐送去最温暖的爱。
来自，
海蒂
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Harriet Newell, “Letter from Hattie to Sarah, circa 1871,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 29, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/126.