Letter from Hattie to Sarah, October 12, 1868
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Hattie to Sarah, October 12, 1868
Subject
Women missionaries; Sick; Grief; Death; Care of the sick
Description
Harriet writes this letter to her sister Sarah. In this letter, Harriet expresses her wish to visit her family as well as her grief at the loss of her sister and sister-in-law. She also describes a visit made by some of her fellow missionaries to Macao, during which they helped care for her ill brother; however, this letter concludes with Harriet's positive report of her current circumstances. This letter also includes an excerpt from the poem "The New Mirror," by N.P. Willis.
Creator
Noyes, Harriet Newell
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #1
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1868-10-12
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_015
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China.
My [u]own dear[/u] Sarah, Oct 12th /68.
It seems as though
it had been an age since I have
written to you & I presume it seems
as long to you as it does to me. I wonder
what you are doing now this very minute
How I would love to be with you &
sit in your lap as I used to if it
was early in the morning with all the
work to do. I think I could persuade
you to let it go a little while.
If we were together now I know that
we would talk of those sad hours of
a year ago. My heart is aching
with the memory of those days of
anxiety and I [--though--] know that
though we are so widely separated
we are both thinking about our
angel sister in heaven. Three years
ago ^[to-day] we first claimed our precious
Cynthia as a sister, the next year
our darling Hannah was with us
you remember it was the evening
that Father & Mother came home
from their visit East and last year.
As I look back upon those days it
seems almost like a dreadful dream.
"That hour when fell on us
The shadows all have known who
from their hearts,
Have released friends to heaven. The parting soul
spreads wing betwixt the mourners and the sky.
As if its path lay from the tie last broken
Straight through the cheering gateway of the sun.
And to the eye strained after tis a cloud
That bars the light from all things."
And yet it is not all sad. It is so
pleasant to feel and know that they
are enjoying such perfect happiness
and to think that thay are
waiting for us there.
Tuesday morning. Last night
Mr Whitehead & Mr Selby a new missionary
came in and when they went away
it was too late to write any more. Mr
Whitehead spoke last night about his
going to Macao last year. You remember
he took care of Henry while he was sick.
He had only been here a month or two &
went with Mr Rogers to Macao as Mr R was
too feeble to go alone. He had only met
Henry once or twice but as he did not know
anything about Macau or how to find his
way he had written to Henry asking him if
he would not meet them at the steamer.
[Note: Whole page is written vertically]
Not finding him there however they wandered around a
while as Mr W then could not speak Chinese at all & finally
came across old Akam our servant who can talk a little
English & he took them to where Henry & Cynthia were. They
hesitated about going knowing that Cynthia was sick &
when they got there they found Cynthia so feeble & Henry
so very sick & unconscious of everything. Mr Folsom was
with them then. Mr Whitehead said he never should
forget how distressing it seemed to him said he could
not help thinking of their friends at home and then
I told him about how we were situated when the letter
came telling us of Henry's sickness. You will not remember
it but Father & Mother & Em & the rest will remember that
sad Saturday night. Ah those were dark days. I
never recall them without a feeling of relief that
they are [u]past[/u]. I remember that Saturday night
Hannah & Frank came up in the evening and
I know Hannah told me then that it seemed
providential that I was still at home. I would
have been [u]so glad[/u] to have seen our darling Cynthia
once more in life if it might have been but I have
always felt [u]thankful[/u] that I was at home last fall
and with our beloved Hannah to the last.
And then Clara & Mary's sickness after I came away.
I can never think how you managed to ^[take] care of them.
Truly we have so much to be thankful for that
brighter days have come. I often wish that you
could see just how Henry & I are situated here.
We are very comfortable and happy & have many
dear friends. We have both been so well all summer
that we have been able to study [--all the time--] Every day
for which we feel very thankful. Dear Miss
Radcliffe of whom I have written before
continues poorly & I very much fear will be
obliged to go home. I shall be so grieved if she
is compelled to leave us for although I am not
much acquainted with her I love her very much
and if she goes away I will be the only single
lady in Canton unless Mrs Doremnns concludes
to send some here. Mr Rogers goes home very
soon on account of his health. And now I must
say good-bye, closing as I began that I would [u]so
love to have just a little talk[/u] with you. You see that
I began this sheet wrong but I'm sure you will excuse mistakes of
Your [u]own[/u] loving Hattie.
中国广州。
我自己亲爱的莎拉，
1868 年 10 月 12 日。
自从我给你写信以来，
似乎已经过了一个时代，
我想它对你和我一样长。
我想知道你此刻在做什么我多么想和你在一起，
像以前一样坐在你的腿上，
如果它是一大早，
所有的工作都要做。
我想我可以说服你放手一会儿。
如果我们现在在一起，
我知道我们会谈论一年前的那些悲伤时光。
想起那些焦虑的日子，
我的心在痛，
我知道，
尽管我们相距甚远，
但我们都在想着我们在天堂里的天使姐姐。
三年前的今天，
我们第一次认领了我们珍贵的辛西娅作为姐姐，
第二年我们亲爱的汉娜和我们在一起，
你记得那是父亲和母亲去年和他们访问东部回家的那个晚上。
当我回首那些日子时，
它几乎就像一个可怕的梦。
“降临在我们身上的那个时刻，
阴影都知道谁从他们的内心深处，
将朋友释放到天堂。
离别的灵魂在哀悼者和天空之间展开翅膀。
仿佛它的路径从最后一次断裂的领带直通欢呼的门户“然而，
这并不全是悲伤的。
感觉并知道他们正在享受如此完美的幸福，
并认为他们在那里等着我们，
真是令人愉快。
周二早上。
昨晚怀特黑德先生和塞尔比先生来了一位新的传教士，
当他们离开时，
已经太晚了，
不能再写了。
怀特黑德先生昨晚谈到了他去年去澳门的事。
你记得他在亨利生病的时候照顾他。
他来这里才一两个月，
就和罗杰斯先生一起去了澳门，
因为 R 先生太虚弱了，
不能一个人去。
他只见过亨利一两次，
但由于他对澳门一无所知，
也不知道如何找到自己的路，
所以他写信给亨利，
问他是否不会在轮船上见到他们。
[注：整页垂直书写] 没有找到他，
但是他们在那里徘徊了一段时间，
因为 W 先生当时根本不会说中文，
最后遇到了会说一点英语的老阿卡姆我们的仆人，
他带他们去了亨利的地方&辛西娅。
他们犹豫要不要去知道辛西娅病了，
当他们到达那里时，
他们发现辛西娅很虚弱，
亨利病得很重，
对一切都失去了知觉。
那时福尔松先生和他们在一起。
怀特黑德先生说他永远不应该忘记在他看来是多么痛苦，
他说他不禁想起他们在家里的朋友，
然后我告诉他当那封信告诉我们亨利生病时我们的处境如何。
你不会记得它，
但父亲、母亲和他们以及其他人会记得那个悲伤的星期六晚上。
啊，
那是黑暗的日子。
我每次回忆起他们时都会感到松了一口气，
因为他们已经过去了。
我记得星期六晚上汉娜和弗兰克晚上来了，
我知道汉娜当时告诉我，
我仍然在家似乎是天意。
如果可以的话，
我会很高兴在生活中再次见到我们亲爱的辛西娅，
但我一直很感激去年秋天我在家，
最后和我们心爱的汉娜在一起。
然后是我离开后克拉拉和玛丽的病。
我永远无法想象你是如何照顾他们的。
真的，
我们非常感谢光明的日子已经到来。
我经常希望你能看到亨利和我是如何坐在这里的。
我们很舒服，
很开心，
有很多亲爱的朋友。
整个暑假我们都过得很好，
可以学习了。
每一天，
我们都感到非常感谢。
亲爱的拉德克利夫小姐，
我之前写过的她的情况一直很糟糕，
我非常担心不得不回家。
如果她被迫离开我们，
我会很难过，
因为虽然我对她不太熟悉，
但我非常爱她，
如果她离开，
我将成为广州唯一的单身女士，
除非多伦恩斯夫人决定送一些来这里。
罗杰斯先生因身体健康很快就回家了。
现在我必须说再见了，
在我开始的时候结束，
我很想和你谈谈。
你看我在这张纸上的开头是错误的，
但我相信你会原谅你的错误，
海蒂。
My [u]own dear[/u] Sarah, Oct 12th /68.
It seems as though
it had been an age since I have
written to you & I presume it seems
as long to you as it does to me. I wonder
what you are doing now this very minute
How I would love to be with you &
sit in your lap as I used to if it
was early in the morning with all the
work to do. I think I could persuade
you to let it go a little while.
If we were together now I know that
we would talk of those sad hours of
a year ago. My heart is aching
with the memory of those days of
anxiety and I [--though--] know that
though we are so widely separated
we are both thinking about our
angel sister in heaven. Three years
ago ^[to-day] we first claimed our precious
Cynthia as a sister, the next year
our darling Hannah was with us
you remember it was the evening
that Father & Mother came home
from their visit East and last year.
As I look back upon those days it
seems almost like a dreadful dream.
"That hour when fell on us
The shadows all have known who
from their hearts,
Have released friends to heaven. The parting soul
spreads wing betwixt the mourners and the sky.
As if its path lay from the tie last broken
Straight through the cheering gateway of the sun.
And to the eye strained after tis a cloud
That bars the light from all things."
And yet it is not all sad. It is so
pleasant to feel and know that they
are enjoying such perfect happiness
and to think that thay are
waiting for us there.
Tuesday morning. Last night
Mr Whitehead & Mr Selby a new missionary
came in and when they went away
it was too late to write any more. Mr
Whitehead spoke last night about his
going to Macao last year. You remember
he took care of Henry while he was sick.
He had only been here a month or two &
went with Mr Rogers to Macao as Mr R was
too feeble to go alone. He had only met
Henry once or twice but as he did not know
anything about Macau or how to find his
way he had written to Henry asking him if
he would not meet them at the steamer.
[Note: Whole page is written vertically]
Not finding him there however they wandered around a
while as Mr W then could not speak Chinese at all & finally
came across old Akam our servant who can talk a little
English & he took them to where Henry & Cynthia were. They
hesitated about going knowing that Cynthia was sick &
when they got there they found Cynthia so feeble & Henry
so very sick & unconscious of everything. Mr Folsom was
with them then. Mr Whitehead said he never should
forget how distressing it seemed to him said he could
not help thinking of their friends at home and then
I told him about how we were situated when the letter
came telling us of Henry's sickness. You will not remember
it but Father & Mother & Em & the rest will remember that
sad Saturday night. Ah those were dark days. I
never recall them without a feeling of relief that
they are [u]past[/u]. I remember that Saturday night
Hannah & Frank came up in the evening and
I know Hannah told me then that it seemed
providential that I was still at home. I would
have been [u]so glad[/u] to have seen our darling Cynthia
once more in life if it might have been but I have
always felt [u]thankful[/u] that I was at home last fall
and with our beloved Hannah to the last.
And then Clara & Mary's sickness after I came away.
I can never think how you managed to ^[take] care of them.
Truly we have so much to be thankful for that
brighter days have come. I often wish that you
could see just how Henry & I are situated here.
We are very comfortable and happy & have many
dear friends. We have both been so well all summer
that we have been able to study [--all the time--] Every day
for which we feel very thankful. Dear Miss
Radcliffe of whom I have written before
continues poorly & I very much fear will be
obliged to go home. I shall be so grieved if she
is compelled to leave us for although I am not
much acquainted with her I love her very much
and if she goes away I will be the only single
lady in Canton unless Mrs Doremnns concludes
to send some here. Mr Rogers goes home very
soon on account of his health. And now I must
say good-bye, closing as I began that I would [u]so
love to have just a little talk[/u] with you. You see that
I began this sheet wrong but I'm sure you will excuse mistakes of
Your [u]own[/u] loving Hattie.
中国广州。
我自己亲爱的莎拉，
1868 年 10 月 12 日。
自从我给你写信以来，
似乎已经过了一个时代，
我想它对你和我一样长。
我想知道你此刻在做什么我多么想和你在一起，
像以前一样坐在你的腿上，
如果它是一大早，
所有的工作都要做。
我想我可以说服你放手一会儿。
如果我们现在在一起，
我知道我们会谈论一年前的那些悲伤时光。
想起那些焦虑的日子，
我的心在痛，
我知道，
尽管我们相距甚远，
但我们都在想着我们在天堂里的天使姐姐。
三年前的今天，
我们第一次认领了我们珍贵的辛西娅作为姐姐，
第二年我们亲爱的汉娜和我们在一起，
你记得那是父亲和母亲去年和他们访问东部回家的那个晚上。
当我回首那些日子时，
它几乎就像一个可怕的梦。
“降临在我们身上的那个时刻，
阴影都知道谁从他们的内心深处，
将朋友释放到天堂。
离别的灵魂在哀悼者和天空之间展开翅膀。
仿佛它的路径从最后一次断裂的领带直通欢呼的门户“然而，
这并不全是悲伤的。
感觉并知道他们正在享受如此完美的幸福，
并认为他们在那里等着我们，
真是令人愉快。
周二早上。
昨晚怀特黑德先生和塞尔比先生来了一位新的传教士，
当他们离开时，
已经太晚了，
不能再写了。
怀特黑德先生昨晚谈到了他去年去澳门的事。
你记得他在亨利生病的时候照顾他。
他来这里才一两个月，
就和罗杰斯先生一起去了澳门，
因为 R 先生太虚弱了，
不能一个人去。
他只见过亨利一两次，
但由于他对澳门一无所知，
也不知道如何找到自己的路，
所以他写信给亨利，
问他是否不会在轮船上见到他们。
[注：整页垂直书写] 没有找到他，
但是他们在那里徘徊了一段时间，
因为 W 先生当时根本不会说中文，
最后遇到了会说一点英语的老阿卡姆我们的仆人，
他带他们去了亨利的地方&辛西娅。
他们犹豫要不要去知道辛西娅病了，
当他们到达那里时，
他们发现辛西娅很虚弱，
亨利病得很重，
对一切都失去了知觉。
那时福尔松先生和他们在一起。
怀特黑德先生说他永远不应该忘记在他看来是多么痛苦，
他说他不禁想起他们在家里的朋友，
然后我告诉他当那封信告诉我们亨利生病时我们的处境如何。
你不会记得它，
但父亲、母亲和他们以及其他人会记得那个悲伤的星期六晚上。
啊，
那是黑暗的日子。
我每次回忆起他们时都会感到松了一口气，
因为他们已经过去了。
我记得星期六晚上汉娜和弗兰克晚上来了，
我知道汉娜当时告诉我，
我仍然在家似乎是天意。
如果可以的话，
我会很高兴在生活中再次见到我们亲爱的辛西娅，
但我一直很感激去年秋天我在家，
最后和我们心爱的汉娜在一起。
然后是我离开后克拉拉和玛丽的病。
我永远无法想象你是如何照顾他们的。
真的，
我们非常感谢光明的日子已经到来。
我经常希望你能看到亨利和我是如何坐在这里的。
我们很舒服，
很开心，
有很多亲爱的朋友。
整个暑假我们都过得很好，
可以学习了。
每一天，
我们都感到非常感谢。
亲爱的拉德克利夫小姐，
我之前写过的她的情况一直很糟糕，
我非常担心不得不回家。
如果她被迫离开我们，
我会很难过，
因为虽然我对她不太熟悉，
但我非常爱她，
如果她离开，
我将成为广州唯一的单身女士，
除非多伦恩斯夫人决定送一些来这里。
罗杰斯先生因身体健康很快就回家了。
现在我必须说再见了，
在我开始的时候结束，
我很想和你谈谈。
你看我在这张纸上的开头是错误的，
但我相信你会原谅你的错误，
海蒂。
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Harriet Newell, “Letter from Hattie to Sarah, October 12, 1868,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 19, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/16.