Letter from Hattie to Em, August 9, 1872
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Hattie to Em, August 9, 1872
Subject
Steamboats; Widows; Fourth of July
Description
Harriet is thinking of home and how close San Francisco feels. She is discussing plans for the 4th of July for when she visits and what her family is up to. Emily is having some eye troubles and Harriet inquires. Mrs. McChesney, now a widow, may decide to go back to the United States.
Creator
Noyes, Harriet Newell
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1872-08-09
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_087
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China
Aug 9th 1872.
My dear Em,
It is past the time
for "honest folks to be in bed"
and Henry has just gone
as he said to the land of
"Nod" but I think I must
write a little more to send
home. And first I want
you to tell Father Mother
and all "the children" that
we think it was [u]very[/u] good
of you to begin writing twice
a month as soon as we
asked you to Even before
you had "official information"
that there were to be semi
monthly steamers. The letters
all came right through and
it does seem so nice to hear
from you once in two weeks.
I am[u]so glad[/u] too that China
is beginning to [u]seem[/u] nearer
to you. We do not feel as
though we are very far away.
San Francisco seems quite
near to us and I dont suppose
it seems very far from you.
If we come home and
make you a visit some
of these days it will be a
convincing proof that the
distance between us is not
impassible Tell Father I
[u]fully[/u] Expect to spend the
4th of July [u]1876[/u] in USA.
So many of my predictions
have "come true" that Henry
is beginning to heave considerable
faith in my prophecies.
If Matt does not decide to
come out here however I am
afraid his faith will be
considerable shaken. We
were [u]so disappointed[/u] not
to hear anything from her by
the last mail but still look
forward hopefully for the
next mail which ought to
come in a week from
tomorrow. I hope too to hear
that [u]Father[/u] Matt + Sarah have
gone East it would be so nice
for them to go together. As none
of you spoke of Mother's going
I suppose she had not thought
of it but I dont like to think
of her staying at home.
Occasionally some one
writes something about your
Eyes, but nothing very definite
Please tell us just how they
trouble you and to what
Extent [u]write fully[/u] do. Did the
scrupulous swelling you had
on your face leave a scar?
I thought perhaps so from
your picture. Please tell
us also how Frank's health is.
This last month has been a very
[u]sad[/u] one to us here Poor Mrs
McChesney is very sad. I dont know
whether she will decide to go home
or stay here and try to do Mission
work. Henry + I both send
copies of what we wrote about
Mr McChesney, as it will
probably be published in
the Presbyterian I suppose
you would not be likely
to see it. I wish I could
write some words sometime
for Edward to set to music
but I dont believe I can.
You must thank them
all for their letters to us and
make them believe that I
would like to answer them
all but cannot to-night. I
have written very little
for this mail. With much
love for all Your aff sister
Hattie
中国广州
1872 年 8 月 9 日。
我亲爱的 Em，
“老实人上床睡觉”的时间已经过去了，
亨利刚刚按照他所说的去了“点头”的土地，
但我想我必须再写一点发送家。
首先，
我想让你告诉爸爸妈妈和所有“孩子们”，
我们认为你在我们要求你后就开始每月写两次是非常好的，
甚至在你有“官方信息”之前半月蒸笼。
这些信都顺利通过，
两周一次收到你的来信真是太好了。
我也很高兴中国开始离你们越来越近。
我们不觉得我们离得很远。
旧金山似乎离我们很近，
我不认为它离你很远。
如果我们这些天回家拜访您，
这将是一个令人信服的证据，
证明我们之间的距离并非不可逾越 告诉父亲，
我完全期待 1876 年 7 月 4 日在美国度过。
我的许多预测都“成真”了，
以至于亨利开始对我的预言充满信心。
但是，
如果马特不决定来这里，
恐怕他的信念会受到很大的动摇。
在最后一封邮件中没有收到她的任何消息，
我们感到非常失望，
但仍然希望下一封邮件应该在明天的一周内收到。
我也希望听到父亲、马特和莎拉去了东方，
他们一起去真是太好了。
由于你们都没有提到妈妈要去，
我想她没有想到，
但我不喜欢想到她待在家里。
偶尔有人会写一些关于你的眼睛的文章，
但没有什么非常明确的。
请告诉我们他们是如何给你带来困扰的，
以及写作在多大程度上做了什么。
你脸上的痱子有没有留下疤痕？我从你的照片中可能是这样认为的。
请告诉我们弗兰克的健康状况如何。
上个月对我们来说是一个非常悲伤的月份，
可怜的麦克切斯尼夫人非常悲伤。
我不知道她会决定回家还是留在这里尝试做宣教工作。
亨利和我都寄来了我们写的关于麦克切斯尼先生的文章的副本，
因为它可能会在长老会出版，
我想你不太可能看到它。
我希望有一天我能写一些词让爱德华开始配乐，
但我不相信我能。
你必须感谢他们给我们的来信，
让他们相信我愿意在今晚回复他们，
但不能。
我为这封邮件写的很少。
对所有人充满爱。
你的妹妹，
海蒂
Aug 9th 1872.
My dear Em,
It is past the time
for "honest folks to be in bed"
and Henry has just gone
as he said to the land of
"Nod" but I think I must
write a little more to send
home. And first I want
you to tell Father Mother
and all "the children" that
we think it was [u]very[/u] good
of you to begin writing twice
a month as soon as we
asked you to Even before
you had "official information"
that there were to be semi
monthly steamers. The letters
all came right through and
it does seem so nice to hear
from you once in two weeks.
I am[u]so glad[/u] too that China
is beginning to [u]seem[/u] nearer
to you. We do not feel as
though we are very far away.
San Francisco seems quite
near to us and I dont suppose
it seems very far from you.
If we come home and
make you a visit some
of these days it will be a
convincing proof that the
distance between us is not
impassible Tell Father I
[u]fully[/u] Expect to spend the
4th of July [u]1876[/u] in USA.
So many of my predictions
have "come true" that Henry
is beginning to heave considerable
faith in my prophecies.
If Matt does not decide to
come out here however I am
afraid his faith will be
considerable shaken. We
were [u]so disappointed[/u] not
to hear anything from her by
the last mail but still look
forward hopefully for the
next mail which ought to
come in a week from
tomorrow. I hope too to hear
that [u]Father[/u] Matt + Sarah have
gone East it would be so nice
for them to go together. As none
of you spoke of Mother's going
I suppose she had not thought
of it but I dont like to think
of her staying at home.
Occasionally some one
writes something about your
Eyes, but nothing very definite
Please tell us just how they
trouble you and to what
Extent [u]write fully[/u] do. Did the
scrupulous swelling you had
on your face leave a scar?
I thought perhaps so from
your picture. Please tell
us also how Frank's health is.
This last month has been a very
[u]sad[/u] one to us here Poor Mrs
McChesney is very sad. I dont know
whether she will decide to go home
or stay here and try to do Mission
work. Henry + I both send
copies of what we wrote about
Mr McChesney, as it will
probably be published in
the Presbyterian I suppose
you would not be likely
to see it. I wish I could
write some words sometime
for Edward to set to music
but I dont believe I can.
You must thank them
all for their letters to us and
make them believe that I
would like to answer them
all but cannot to-night. I
have written very little
for this mail. With much
love for all Your aff sister
Hattie
中国广州
1872 年 8 月 9 日。
我亲爱的 Em，
“老实人上床睡觉”的时间已经过去了，
亨利刚刚按照他所说的去了“点头”的土地，
但我想我必须再写一点发送家。
首先，
我想让你告诉爸爸妈妈和所有“孩子们”，
我们认为你在我们要求你后就开始每月写两次是非常好的，
甚至在你有“官方信息”之前半月蒸笼。
这些信都顺利通过，
两周一次收到你的来信真是太好了。
我也很高兴中国开始离你们越来越近。
我们不觉得我们离得很远。
旧金山似乎离我们很近，
我不认为它离你很远。
如果我们这些天回家拜访您，
这将是一个令人信服的证据，
证明我们之间的距离并非不可逾越 告诉父亲，
我完全期待 1876 年 7 月 4 日在美国度过。
我的许多预测都“成真”了，
以至于亨利开始对我的预言充满信心。
但是，
如果马特不决定来这里，
恐怕他的信念会受到很大的动摇。
在最后一封邮件中没有收到她的任何消息，
我们感到非常失望，
但仍然希望下一封邮件应该在明天的一周内收到。
我也希望听到父亲、马特和莎拉去了东方，
他们一起去真是太好了。
由于你们都没有提到妈妈要去，
我想她没有想到，
但我不喜欢想到她待在家里。
偶尔有人会写一些关于你的眼睛的文章，
但没有什么非常明确的。
请告诉我们他们是如何给你带来困扰的，
以及写作在多大程度上做了什么。
你脸上的痱子有没有留下疤痕？我从你的照片中可能是这样认为的。
请告诉我们弗兰克的健康状况如何。
上个月对我们来说是一个非常悲伤的月份，
可怜的麦克切斯尼夫人非常悲伤。
我不知道她会决定回家还是留在这里尝试做宣教工作。
亨利和我都寄来了我们写的关于麦克切斯尼先生的文章的副本，
因为它可能会在长老会出版，
我想你不太可能看到它。
我希望有一天我能写一些词让爱德华开始配乐，
但我不相信我能。
你必须感谢他们给我们的来信，
让他们相信我愿意在今晚回复他们，
但不能。
我为这封邮件写的很少。
对所有人充满爱。
你的妹妹，
海蒂
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Harriet Newell, “Letter from Hattie to Em, August 9, 1872,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 29, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/146.