Letter from Hattie to Miss Mary Noyes DD, April 12, 1886

Letter from Hattie to Miss Mary Noyes DD, April 12, 1886

Deaf--Institutional care; Children with disabilities; Children with disabilities--Care--Study and teaching; Discrimination against people with disabilities; Conversion; Home; Missionaries

In this letter to her sister Mary, Harriet congratulates her on her new position at an institution for the Deaf & Dumb. Harriet has heard that children at these institutions are heathens and in need of evangelism. She writes about how much she had loved spending time in Pittsburgh in the past. The Noyes family has acquaintances in Pittsburgh, the Shrum's. Harriet is still waiting to hear from the Board about returning to the US in a year.

Noyes, Harriet Newell

The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #3

Unpublished

1886-04-12

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

PDF

eng (English)

Text

noyes_c_cor_386

Canton China
April 12th 1886.
Miss Mary Noyes DD -
My dear Mary -
I must write and
congratulate you on your
promotion for such I suppose
it is from the little "deestrict
school." to the Deaf + Dumb
Institute of Pennsylvania.
I did not dream that we
were going to have another
DD in our family. but I
hope that time will show that
you have choses a good work.
I think it is far preferable
to teach in such an Institution
that in one of the speaking
schools, it seems so much
more like missionary work.
I often think of what
Gilbert said that the
children when they came to

the Institution were just as
much heathen as the Chinese
wholly destitute of religious
ideas. I am glad there
is as you say such a good
religious influence in the
Institution It always seems
as though the most earnest
efforts should be made for
the Conversion of the scholars
while they are in the Institution
as it seems that there is so
much better opportunity to
reach them and labor for
them then than there ever
can be again. I hope you
will be very happy and
useful. You must try and
take good care of your health
and not work too hard
I am sure if our family is
not doing its duty for the
rising generation I do not
know who could be ---

I hope that Mrs [?Shrum?] will go
to Pittsburgh and make a
nice home for you all, and
if Sarah should go too it
would be very pleasant for
you both. Pittsburgh is a good
old city despite the smoke
and dirt. In these latter
days of quick and easy
travel it is not far from
home. You can exchange
letters in such a short time
that you cannot feel very
far away. I remember when
I first went to Camp Reynolds
at Braddocks Field just out
of Pittsburg I never grew tired of
looking at the beautiful hills
I had never seen any
such scenery before and I
do not think I have ever
seen any since that I
have enjoyed more that
I did that Dr Swan's home
is only about forty miles from

Pittsburg and I have promised
to go there when I go home
so if you will give me an
invitation perhaps I may
come and see you too.
Give very much love to Jennie
Shrum from me. I wonder
if she remembers the dear
little book she gave me
"The fourth watch." Tell her
I have worn it threadbare
reading it so much.
I wonder if we really shall
spend part of our [u]next[/u]
vacation together in the dear
old home on the hill.
I have not received an
answer from the Board to
my request for permission to
go this year but hope that
I soon may. And now
with much love and every
good wish for your health
happiness succes and
usefulness in your new work from
[Note: Written sideways in the right hand margin]
Your aff sister Hattie -

中国广东
1886年4月12日
Mary Noyes 小姐，

我亲爱的Mary，
我必须给你写一封信
祝贺你从
你的小学校晋升到
宾夕法尼亚州聋哑学院。
/
/
没想到我们家又多了一个聋哑老师，
/
但我相信你选择了一个好的职业。
/
/
我认为在聋哑学校教书比在普通学校教书好，
因为更像当传教士。
/
/
我同意Gilbert所说的：
来到聋哑学校的学生和中国人一样异教徒，
因为

他们都没有听过神的话。
/
/
我很高兴你能在学校成为一个很好的宗教影响者，
/
/
在我看来，
最好在人们还是学生的时候就向他们介绍宗教，
因为学生更容易受到影响，
所以现在是接触他们的最佳时机。
/
/
/
/
/
我希望你会快乐和有用，
一定要注意身体健康，
不要太辛苦。
我们家有这么多老师和传教士，
我们一定会对下一代产生很大的影响。
/
/
/
/

我希望「Shrum」太太能去匹兹堡，
为大家营造一个温馨的家，
如果Sarah也能去，
那对你们俩都有好处。
尽管有烟尘，
匹兹堡是一座不错的老城。
/
因为我们现在交通这么快，
匹兹堡离家不远，
你可以寄信如此之快，
以至于你根本不会感到遥远。
/
/
我记得我第一次去Braddock的球场的Reynolds营地时，
就在匹兹堡郊外，
我看不厌的美丽的山丘，
我以前或以后从未见过如此美丽的风景，以后可能也没有机会看到。
/
/
/
/
/
/
Swan 医生，
他家离匹兹堡只有 40 英里，

我答应回家探望他，
如果你邀请我，
我也来看你。
/
将我的爱献给 Jennie Shrum，
不知道她是否还记得她给我的那本书叫做
《第四次看管》。
/
/
告诉她我读了这么多，
它很破旧。
/
我想知道我们是否真的能在山上的老房子里见面。
/
/
/
今年我还没有得到传教组织的允许回家，
但我希望我能尽快收到他们的来信。
/
/
我向您致以我所有的爱和最美好的祝愿，
祝您事业成功，
身体健康，
你亲爱的姐姐，
【纵向书写】
Hattie

Letter