Letter from Hattie to Mattie, June 1, 1873

Letter from Hattie to Mattie, June 1, 1873

Birthdays; School buildings; Weather; Language transfer (Language learning); Women missionaries; Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.--Clergy

Harriet writes to her sister Martha on her birthday and says that the next birthday Mattie celebrates will be with her sister and brother in China. Last year on Mattie's birthday, they dedicated the new schoolhouse with a prayer group. Harriet and Henry are very excited for Mattie to join them, although she remarks it must be sad to leave home and be separated from some of her family, even as she joins the rest. Harriet urges her not to rush herself but to leave when she is ready. She also gives her advice on what to wear for the long journey.

Noyes, Harriet Newell

The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #1

Unpublished

1873-06-01

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

PDF

eng (English)

Text

noyes_c_cor_099

Canton China
June 1st 1873
My dear Mattie,
[u]Six times[/u] the 1st day
of June has come and gone since
we parted but I expect the [u]seventh[/u]
will find us [u]together[/u], will it not?
This is the Sabbath, last week it
rained so we were not able to go down
to the service and it seemed to-night
as though it would be the same thing
over again, but we did not want to
lose another eve so we robed ourselves
in waterproofs and armed with
umbrellas defied the storm. I remember
well your birthday a year ago. I set
apart that day to dedicate our new school-house.
Henry had told me that when the
Western Theological Sem, was built, Dr
Patterson I think it was, went all over
the house and kneeling in Each room
asked for God's blessing upon it. It seemed
to me such a happy thought and I felt
that I would like to do it in this school-house
and I chose your birth-day for it. I was
[u]very glad[/u] to learn some time afterward
that Henry had done the same thing
some time before. Then Lillie & I
{Mrs Happer & Miss Shaw were sick then} had
a kind of dedicating service with the
women and girls on the 18th of June.

and the Mission met in it on the 19th
and the school was fairly opened on
the 20th of June. So you see we
had four dedications. You cant think
how I am longing to have you come
and get to work in this school for I
know it will just suit you [u]Exactly[/u]. I
know you will be delighted with it.
Then we are so fortunate in having a
Chinese teacher who can speak English
as well as any of us and that will
make it very pleasant for you at the
beginning. I commenced this letter
last Sabbath so that you might have
positive proof that I was thinking of you
on your birthday. Ten days later
I "take up my pen" to "continue
the subject. Since I commenced
this we have your letter of April
14th and also an official letter
from the Mission Rooms corroborating
the statements you make therein.
Miss Crouch from what I see
in the papers I suppose is the
"adoptee" if I may manufacture
a word of the Orange Church [?NJ?].
The Bloomfield Church which
Mrs [?Grier?] wrote me once she
intended for you I see
has adopted a lady who goes

to Africa. I cant tell you how
delighted we are to think that you
are really coming after all. We think
of it all the time that we have to
spare for the subject Every time we
sit down to the table we contrast
the present situation with what
it will be when "Matt and Miss
Crouch come". The only sad thought
is that it involves seperation but we
shall be together here you know and
it dont seem as though we ought
to mind being separated a few
years in this life for Jesus' sake
when he gives us the promise of
an Eternity together. I forgot to
tell you when I wrote last that
Dr Happer wanted me to tell you
how glad he was to hear that you
are coming and said he would
like to write himself but was so
busy. The rest of the family are
all delighted with the prospect of
having some more such [u]nice[/u] neighbors
and fellow workers. It seems as
though you are coming at such
a nice time the work seems really
to have taken start. I expect
our new Chapel will be well under
way when you get here.
Dr Happer told me the other

day to write to you to "come on as soon
as possible" but I told him "No I was
going to write not to let any one
not even the Board hurry you
away a minute before you felt [u]ready[/u]
to come". So he said write that for
myself but write the other for him &
I told him I would but you
must take [u]my[/u] advice. From
what we hear I presume the other
new missionaries will come Earlier perhaps
leaving USA in August or September
but there is no occasion for you to
come sooner than you want to for
the sake of company for you will be
sure of good company whenever you
come and you would find no
difficulty in making the trip alone.
I have just been writing to Mrs [?Famliare?]
of Shanghai and spoke of you
coming out to her. They come out
sometime next fall. You say you
have the State to fall back upon in
Columbus here it is "our dear Board"
that we look to. I hav'nt much room
to write "advice". Dont burden yourself
nor take up your time in making under
clothing we can get it made so cheaply
and Easily here. [?you?] will value a good
stock of dresses. [?Dont?] get [u]dark[/u] calico ^[--dresses--], more
than one or two dresses, light colored ones
are very nice a dozen or so white waists
you will find use for. Stocking, shoes + kid
gloves we get much cheaper here than at
home. For the voyage you will want a

[Note: Written sideways in the margin of page four]
waterproof and the Easiest way to dress which is a very common way is
to have one good walking suit black alpaca is very nice for the purpose + wear
it all the way.

[Notes: Letter concludes sideways in the margin of page one]
I will write more fully by next mail must say goodnight now
Your loving sister
[u]Hattie[/u]

中国广州
1873年6月1日
亲爱的Mattie，
自从我们分开两地，
6月1日已经来来往往6次了，
但是，我希望第七次的时候
我们可以相聚，对不对？
今天是安息日，
上周下雨了，
所以我们没能去做礼拜，
可能今晚还是那样，
但是我们不想错过今天的礼拜，
所以我们穿上雨衣，
带上雨伞，
冒着雨去做了礼拜。
我记得去年你的生日。
我去了新的校舍献堂。
Henry告诉我
西方神学院建好以后，
Patterson医生走遍了所有的房间，
在每一个房间都跪了一遍，
去寻求上帝的保佑。
对我来说我很开心，
我感觉我会很喜欢这样做，
而且我还选择了你的生日。
我很高兴时不时了解到
之前，Henry做着同样的事。
然后，Lillie、我、Happer太太和Shaw小姐
在6月18日，
都投身于和女人还有女孩们一起献堂。
/

然后组织19日开会，
然后学校6月20日开放。
所以你可以看到我们有四场典礼。
你永远想不到，
我多希望你能来，
为学校工作，
因为我知道这一定适合你。
我知道你会很高兴。
然后我们很幸运，
有一位英语说得和我们一样好的中国老师，
/
这给了我们一个很好的开头。
我上个安息日开始写了这封信，
以至于可以向你证明，
我记得你的生日。
10天以后，
我继续写。
自从我开始，
我们4月14日收到你的信
还有组织的信告诉我们，
你已经加入了。
/
从报纸上看，
橙色教堂支持了Crouch小姐。
/
/
Grier太太写给我的Bloomfield教堂
确实支持了一个女传教士去非常。
/
/

我们无以言表对你的到来的高兴。
/
/
我们一直在想，
我们不得不停下来，
交流一下现在的状况，
/
当Matt和Crouch小姐来的时候会发生什么。
唯一一个悲伤的方面是我们分开，
/
但是你知道我们很快就要重聚，
不像我们想的那样，
分开好几年，
当耶稣向我们保证，
我们会再一次相聚。
我忘了告诉你，
当我写最后一封信的时候，
Happer医生想让我告诉你
他也为你的到来而高兴，
他还说他会写下来
但是他太忙了。
其他人也很高兴，
/
因为他们有很好的邻居和同事了。
看起来，
你来的正是时候，
我们的工作刚刚开始。
我希望我们的小教堂
在你来的时候建好。
/
Happer医生告诉我，

让我给你写信，
跟你说“尽快来”，
但是我对他说
我会欢迎你，但是不会催促你，
你可以准备好了再来。
所以他说，
我写这个给我自己，
我会给他写其它东西，
但是必须采纳我的意见。
我觉得其他传教士会早一点来，
/
可能八月九月离开美国，
但是你不用这么早，
想什么时候来都行，
/
确保你来的时候没有困难。
/
/
我刚刚给驻上海的Famliare太太写信，
告诉她你要去她那。
她们明年夏天出去。
你说你秋天回哥伦布，
/
这里是我们的家。
我没有空间给你写建议了。
不要带太重的行李，
也不要带太多衣服，
我们可以在这里买到很便宜的衣服。
你要是有很多的话，
带上一两条浅色裙子，
不要带深色衣服，
你可能会帮到我们。
连裤袜、鞋子还有小手套不用，
我们可以在这里买到比美国更便宜的。
为这次旅行，

【第四页空白处书写】
你需要带上防水好穿的裙子，
一件羊驼毛大衣也是很好的，
你可能随时穿。

【第一页空白处书写】
我写一封信会写更多，但是现在必须说再见了。
爱你的姐姐
Hattie

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