Letter from Hattie to Father, February 5, 1879
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Hattie to Father, February 5, 1879
Subject
Second Advent; Moving, Household; Gifts; Cemeteries; Burial; Revelation--Christianity
Description
In this letter to her father, Harriet recounts how fellow missionaries reacted to their moving. The Happers and Henrys all had mixed feelings. They have received a few gifts and boxes lately and they are very grateful. Harriet tells the family in Ohio that she is glad they bought plots at a cemetery for them to all be buried next to each other. She asks her father's opinion on the millenium and premillenarian views.
Creator
Noyes, Harriet Newell
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #2
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1879-02-05
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_193
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton Feby 5th '79
My dear Father
I have just written a
sheet to you but I got on to
such a subject that I did not
care to write about anything else
in the same letter. One of the
girls asked in one of the recent
letters what Dr H said about our
moving down here so I think you
may perhaps be interested in
seeing the correspondence that
passed between us. It was just
when I was poisoned & my face
was so swollen that I had a
good excuse for writing instead of
going over to see him about it.
I always feel like [u]"chuckling"[/u]
when I think how quickly
it was all managed. Beside
these notes nothing was ever
said about it except to Lillie & Mrs
Happer. They felt so badly about
our leaving and we regretted being
separated from them [u]so much[/u]
that that part of it was very sad.
As Mrs Happer said she did not
think whether it was right or not
or best for the school or not she
only knew she did not want us
to go. Mr Henry never to this
day has exchanged a word
with Dr Happer about it at all
so the [u]men[/u] were not [u]bothered[/u]
much with our deciding. For
a little while the Dr seemed
a little crusty but he is all over
it now. I think that he really
[u]knows[/u] that it is better for the
school here. There is one
lesson that I have learned
very fully on a Mission field,
and that is to go right ahead
quietly and [u]do[/u] what one
wants to do without [u]talking[/u]
about it, and in that way
it is easy to do as one pleases
& every one thinks it all right.
We shall begin to look soon
for the answer to our Last
application to the Board. I told
you did I not that the NY Ave
Church Washington will send
their $400.00 to us this year
direct to use as we please,
and Mattie had by last
mail $50.00 from her
Bloomfield ladies. We received
by last mail a little parcel of
such pretty cards from that Lady
that sent a Christmas present of
$12.00 to M & I when I was
at home. We have had a
great deal of pleasure over the
things that came in the nice
box Henry brought us from
home. The little pen knives
you sent we shall keep
very carefully, and prize them
very much. Tell Mary I
still use the one she gave me,
and it often brings her
to mind.
I went on board the Oceanic when
I was in Hongkong and thought how
it would seem to be going [u]home[/u].
I like to think that it may be possible
that I may come home again and
find you in the dear old home.
The last letters from home
told us of the purchase of a lot in
the cemetery. I wish that I had
known when I was at home that
that would be the lot you would get.
I am very glad you have secured it
I presume that girls will have told you
what I have always thought I would like
to have, one large monument large
enough so that [u]all[/u] our names could
be put on it. I used to feel before I went
home that I would prefer to be buried here
in China, but now I feel that I would [u]so
much rather[/u], if it may be, be laid to rest
at [u]home[/u] in sight of the dear old home.
I am sure I shall never think of
any other place on earth as [u]home[/u]
I am so glad you could get the
lots adjoining Frank's. I wonder how
many of us will be laid there
for our long sleep, and rise
[u]together[/u], at the last day.
Please tell me when you write
& have time what are your views
with regard to the Millenium. Do
you agree with the premillenarian views.
[Note: The following is written vertically on first page]
I was much interested in reading about the convention held
some time since.
Mattie
wishes me to
tell you how
much she
thanks you
for the pretty
little knife &
that she will
write next
time. Tell
Mother I am
[u]so glad[/u] &
[u]thankful[/u] that
she is feeling
better. I will
hope to write
to her next
time & the
girls & Edward. I
have not half written
about the box Hope
Mattie has done
better Your aff daughter
Hattie.
中国广州
1879 年 2 月
亲爱的父亲，
我刚刚给您写了一张纸，
但我谈到了这样一个主题，
以至于我不想在同一封信中写下任何其他内容。
其中一位女孩在最近的一封信中询问了 H 医生对我们搬到这里的看法，
所以我想您可能有兴趣查看我们之间的通信。
就在我中毒的时候，
我的脸肿得很厉害，
所以我有一个很好的借口来写作，
而不是去看他。
当我想到一切都处理得如此之快时，
我总是感到“轻笑”。
除了这些笔记之外，
除了对莉莉和哈珀夫人之外，
没有人提及它。
他们对我们的离开感到非常难过，
我们非常后悔与他们分开，
以至于那部分非常悲伤。
正如哈珀夫人所说，
她不认为这对学校是否正确或最好，
她只知道她不想让我们去。
直到今天，
亨利先生从未与哈珀医生就此事交换过一句话，
所以这些人对我们的决定并不在意。
有一段时间，
医生似乎有点硬，
但他现在已经结束了。
我想他真的知道这里对学校更好。
我在宣教领域学到了一个非常充分的教训，
那就是安静地继续前进，
做自己想做的事，
而不用谈论它，
这样就很容易随心所欲地做每一个人认为这一切都好。
我们将很快开始寻找我们最后一次向董事会提出的申请的答案。
我告诉过你，
我不是说华盛顿纽约大街教堂今年将直接寄给我们 400.00 美元，
供我们随意使用，
而玛蒂在上次邮寄时从她的布卢姆菲尔德女士那里收到了 50.00 美元。
我们在上次邮件中收到了那位女士寄来的一小包如此漂亮的卡片，
当我在家时，
她给马蒂和我送了 12.00 美元的圣诞礼物。
我们对亨利从家里给我们带来的漂亮盒子里的东西感到非常高兴。
您送来的小笔刀，
我们会非常小心保管，
非常珍惜。
告诉玛丽，
我仍然使用她给我的那个，
这经常让她想起。
当我在香港时，
我登上了 Oceanic 船，
并认为它似乎会回家。
我喜欢认为我有可能再次回家，
在亲爱的老房子里找到你。
家里的最后一封信告诉我们在墓地购买了很多东西。
我希望我在家时就知道那将是你会得到的很多。
我很高兴你得到了它，
我想女孩们会告诉你我一直认为我想拥有的东西，
一座大到足以让我们所有的名字都写在上面的纪念碑。
以前我回家之前觉得我宁愿被埋葬在中国这里，
但现在我觉得如果可以的话，
我宁愿在家里安息，
看到亲爱的老家。
我敢肯定，
我永远不会认为地球上的任何其他地方都是家。
我很高兴你能买到毗邻弗兰克家的地段。
我不知道我们当中有多少人会躺在那里长眠，
并在最后一天一起起床。
请在您写作并有时间时告诉我您对千禧年的看法。
你同意千禧年前的观点吗？
[注：以下内容垂直写在第一页]
我很感兴趣阅读从那以后举行的大会。
玛蒂希望我告诉你，
她多么感谢你送来的那把漂亮的小刀，
她下次会写信的。
告诉妈妈我很高兴也很感激她感觉好多了。
我希望下次能写信给她和女孩们和爱德华。
我还没有写到一半希望玛蒂做得更好。
你的女儿，
海蒂。
My dear Father
I have just written a
sheet to you but I got on to
such a subject that I did not
care to write about anything else
in the same letter. One of the
girls asked in one of the recent
letters what Dr H said about our
moving down here so I think you
may perhaps be interested in
seeing the correspondence that
passed between us. It was just
when I was poisoned & my face
was so swollen that I had a
good excuse for writing instead of
going over to see him about it.
I always feel like [u]"chuckling"[/u]
when I think how quickly
it was all managed. Beside
these notes nothing was ever
said about it except to Lillie & Mrs
Happer. They felt so badly about
our leaving and we regretted being
separated from them [u]so much[/u]
that that part of it was very sad.
As Mrs Happer said she did not
think whether it was right or not
or best for the school or not she
only knew she did not want us
to go. Mr Henry never to this
day has exchanged a word
with Dr Happer about it at all
so the [u]men[/u] were not [u]bothered[/u]
much with our deciding. For
a little while the Dr seemed
a little crusty but he is all over
it now. I think that he really
[u]knows[/u] that it is better for the
school here. There is one
lesson that I have learned
very fully on a Mission field,
and that is to go right ahead
quietly and [u]do[/u] what one
wants to do without [u]talking[/u]
about it, and in that way
it is easy to do as one pleases
& every one thinks it all right.
We shall begin to look soon
for the answer to our Last
application to the Board. I told
you did I not that the NY Ave
Church Washington will send
their $400.00 to us this year
direct to use as we please,
and Mattie had by last
mail $50.00 from her
Bloomfield ladies. We received
by last mail a little parcel of
such pretty cards from that Lady
that sent a Christmas present of
$12.00 to M & I when I was
at home. We have had a
great deal of pleasure over the
things that came in the nice
box Henry brought us from
home. The little pen knives
you sent we shall keep
very carefully, and prize them
very much. Tell Mary I
still use the one she gave me,
and it often brings her
to mind.
I went on board the Oceanic when
I was in Hongkong and thought how
it would seem to be going [u]home[/u].
I like to think that it may be possible
that I may come home again and
find you in the dear old home.
The last letters from home
told us of the purchase of a lot in
the cemetery. I wish that I had
known when I was at home that
that would be the lot you would get.
I am very glad you have secured it
I presume that girls will have told you
what I have always thought I would like
to have, one large monument large
enough so that [u]all[/u] our names could
be put on it. I used to feel before I went
home that I would prefer to be buried here
in China, but now I feel that I would [u]so
much rather[/u], if it may be, be laid to rest
at [u]home[/u] in sight of the dear old home.
I am sure I shall never think of
any other place on earth as [u]home[/u]
I am so glad you could get the
lots adjoining Frank's. I wonder how
many of us will be laid there
for our long sleep, and rise
[u]together[/u], at the last day.
Please tell me when you write
& have time what are your views
with regard to the Millenium. Do
you agree with the premillenarian views.
[Note: The following is written vertically on first page]
I was much interested in reading about the convention held
some time since.
Mattie
wishes me to
tell you how
much she
thanks you
for the pretty
little knife &
that she will
write next
time. Tell
Mother I am
[u]so glad[/u] &
[u]thankful[/u] that
she is feeling
better. I will
hope to write
to her next
time & the
girls & Edward. I
have not half written
about the box Hope
Mattie has done
better Your aff daughter
Hattie.
中国广州
1879 年 2 月
亲爱的父亲，
我刚刚给您写了一张纸，
但我谈到了这样一个主题，
以至于我不想在同一封信中写下任何其他内容。
其中一位女孩在最近的一封信中询问了 H 医生对我们搬到这里的看法，
所以我想您可能有兴趣查看我们之间的通信。
就在我中毒的时候，
我的脸肿得很厉害，
所以我有一个很好的借口来写作，
而不是去看他。
当我想到一切都处理得如此之快时，
我总是感到“轻笑”。
除了这些笔记之外，
除了对莉莉和哈珀夫人之外，
没有人提及它。
他们对我们的离开感到非常难过，
我们非常后悔与他们分开，
以至于那部分非常悲伤。
正如哈珀夫人所说，
她不认为这对学校是否正确或最好，
她只知道她不想让我们去。
直到今天，
亨利先生从未与哈珀医生就此事交换过一句话，
所以这些人对我们的决定并不在意。
有一段时间，
医生似乎有点硬，
但他现在已经结束了。
我想他真的知道这里对学校更好。
我在宣教领域学到了一个非常充分的教训，
那就是安静地继续前进，
做自己想做的事，
而不用谈论它，
这样就很容易随心所欲地做每一个人认为这一切都好。
我们将很快开始寻找我们最后一次向董事会提出的申请的答案。
我告诉过你，
我不是说华盛顿纽约大街教堂今年将直接寄给我们 400.00 美元，
供我们随意使用，
而玛蒂在上次邮寄时从她的布卢姆菲尔德女士那里收到了 50.00 美元。
我们在上次邮件中收到了那位女士寄来的一小包如此漂亮的卡片，
当我在家时，
她给马蒂和我送了 12.00 美元的圣诞礼物。
我们对亨利从家里给我们带来的漂亮盒子里的东西感到非常高兴。
您送来的小笔刀，
我们会非常小心保管，
非常珍惜。
告诉玛丽，
我仍然使用她给我的那个，
这经常让她想起。
当我在香港时，
我登上了 Oceanic 船，
并认为它似乎会回家。
我喜欢认为我有可能再次回家，
在亲爱的老房子里找到你。
家里的最后一封信告诉我们在墓地购买了很多东西。
我希望我在家时就知道那将是你会得到的很多。
我很高兴你得到了它，
我想女孩们会告诉你我一直认为我想拥有的东西，
一座大到足以让我们所有的名字都写在上面的纪念碑。
以前我回家之前觉得我宁愿被埋葬在中国这里，
但现在我觉得如果可以的话，
我宁愿在家里安息，
看到亲爱的老家。
我敢肯定，
我永远不会认为地球上的任何其他地方都是家。
我很高兴你能买到毗邻弗兰克家的地段。
我不知道我们当中有多少人会躺在那里长眠，
并在最后一天一起起床。
请在您写作并有时间时告诉我您对千禧年的看法。
你同意千禧年前的观点吗？
[注：以下内容垂直写在第一页]
我很感兴趣阅读从那以后举行的大会。
玛蒂希望我告诉你，
她多么感谢你送来的那把漂亮的小刀，
她下次会写信的。
告诉妈妈我很高兴也很感激她感觉好多了。
我希望下次能写信给她和女孩们和爱德华。
我还没有写到一半希望玛蒂做得更好。
你的女儿，
海蒂。
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Harriet Newell, “Letter from Hattie to Father, February 5, 1879,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 29, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/249.