Letter from Mattie to her Mother, February 12, 1876
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Mattie to her Mother, February 12, 1876
Subject
Missionaries' spouses; Marriage service; Death; Grief; Family; Heaven; Future life
Description
This letter covers two big events in the Noyes family's lives: Henry's second marriage and the death of Frank. People thought because Harriet and Mattie came to China, Henry would not get married again. It was a happy surprise for Mattie. She asks her mother for more details about Franks's death and hopes the family can find some peace. She looks forward to them all meeting again in heaven.
Creator
Kerr, Martha Noyes
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #5
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1876-02-12
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_493
Coverage
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China
Feb 12th /76
My own dear Mother,
My heart longs for a
talk with you my precious mother
to night ere I sleep. It is the
Sabbath and we have sung our
Sabbath evening hymn and said
good night so I am alone.
The last week has been one
full of new cares and new expe-
riences it seems as if a year
had passed over my head since
last Monday eve. Tues eve
brought letters from Bankok
announcing Henry's marriage
I had so earnestly hoped after
the home letters arrived some
thing would occur to delay these
but Dr Happer came in Tues
eve saying "I have got them"
having of course not the least idea
what they contained. The commu-
nity here could not have been
more surprized, they can hardly
credit it even yet. I think the
people here after [u] our [/u] [u] arrival [/u] gave
up all idea of Henry's ever desiring
to marry. I have thought of all
our dear ones in the home almost
constantly during the week, but I
never never felt so alone with
Jesus. Oh Mother he can help in
whatever betides. You must miss
dear dear Frank so very very
much. I think of all Hannah's
things there and how every article
which belonged to our precious
Frank will bring him to mind
We can not have that feeling
here, our surroundings have no
such associations Do you remem-
ber how bright and cheerful he
was the day I was packing up to
come to China? Every thing about
that day in reference to him is a
happy recollection, and you know
it was my last. But oh Mother is
it not a comfort to you and Father
that God gave you a son to train
for him and now you have
returned the precious gift. You
were the parents of one who is
now a redeemed spirit and is it
not a blessed thought. When you
enter those golden gates he will
be there to welcome you. I love
to think of him as before the
throne, no more pain or sorrow
for the last [u] enemy [/u] has been
[u] overcome [/u]. It must have been
a shock that he at the last went
so suddenly. I see you all just
how it was. But Clara did not
speak of Edward and Father as
being in the room when Frank
died. Where were they? And oh I
am so anxious to know how
my mother was sustained amid so
much anxiety care and sorrow.
Are you feeling as well as usual
Please do tell me all about all [--the--] everything it is such a
comfort to know. I have felt afraid some of you might
be sick after it was all over. When this reaches you you
will be almost counting the days until Henry and Hattie
get home. Oh I am so happy you can have them they
will be a comfort and help. They have grown in a deep
Christian experience during their life here. The lessons of
the first two years have left their impress upon Henry
and they both say they do not feel as if any trial or change
now could take them unawares. I feel within my self
that I am changing, but dear Mother the last two years
have revealed my character to me in a light wholly unex-
pected. It is not necessary to recount my strugles with
my own heart, but I feel I am being lifted out of them now
and I hope [u] Self [/u] will never again have the dominion over
me it has all my life had. I did not know the pride and
weakness that lay concealed in my character, probably not
concealed to others but to a great extent hidden from me
But it is such a happiness that Jesus knows it all knows just
how much help we need from him. My dear brother is now
forever free from sin and we can not for a moment
wish him back. We have another tie to the heavenly land
and bye and bye we shall all be there.
[Continued vertically on the first page]
Do not think for a moment from anything I have said your
daughter is unhappy. God has been very good to me to let me
come here, and I have everything to make me happy. And
now I must say good
night, as it is late
Do take good care of
yourself and rest
when you feel tired
or worn out. May
the Lord comfort you
all in the hours of
sadness, and loneliness
that will come some-
times when you think
of the missing one.
"Only gone up higher"
let us think of that.
I often think of what
we said about my remain-
ing at home until the
missionaries came so
we could all be together
One link would have
been gone.
Your loving daughter
Mattie
中国广州
1876年 2 月12 日
日我亲爱的母亲，
我的心渴望在我入睡前与我亲爱的母亲彻夜交谈。
今天是安息日，
我们唱了安息日晚会赞美诗并说晚安，
所以我一个人。
过去的一周充满了新的关怀和新的经历，
从上周一晚上开始，
我似乎已经过了一年。
周二前夕带来了来自班克的信件，
宣布亨利的结婚，
我非常希望在家庭信件到达后会发生一些事情来推迟这些，
但哈珀医生在周二前夕进来说“我收到了”当然不知道里面有什么.这里的社区非常惊讶，
他们甚至还不能相信它。
我想我们到达后这里的人都打消了亨利想要结婚的念头。
在这一周里，
我几乎时时刻刻都在想家中所有亲爱的人，
但我从未感到与耶稣如此孤独。
哦，
妈妈，
他可以在任何事情上提供帮助。
你一定非常非常非常想念亲爱的弗兰克。
我想起了汉娜那里的所有东西，
以及我们珍贵的弗兰克的每一篇文章都会如何让他想起我们这里不能有那种感觉，
我们的环境没有这样的联想你还记得我收拾行李那天他是多么的开朗和快乐来中国？那天关于他的每一件事都是令人愉快的回忆，
你知道那是我的最后一次。
但是哦，
母亲，
上帝给了你一个儿子为他训练，
这对你和父亲来说不是一种安慰，
现在你已经归还了珍贵的礼物。
你是一个现在被救赎的灵魂的父母，
这不是一个有福的思想吗？当你进入那些金色的大门时，
他会在那里欢迎你。
我喜欢把他想象成王位前的他，
不再为最后一个敌人被战胜而痛苦或悲伤。
他最后走得这么突然，
一定很震惊。
我看到你们都是这样的。
但弗兰克去世时，
克拉拉并没有说爱德华和父亲在房间里。
他们在哪里？哦，
我很想知道我的母亲是如何在如此多的焦虑和悲伤中度过的。
你感觉和往常一样好吗？请告诉我所有的一切，
让我感到很欣慰。
我一直担心你们中的一些人在这一切结束后可能会生病。
当这件事传到你手上时，
你几乎要数着亨利和海蒂回家的日子了。
哦，
我很高兴你能拥有它们，
它们将是一种安慰和帮助。
他们在这里的生活中，
在深厚的基督教经验中成长。
前两年的教训给亨利留下了深刻的印象，
他们都说他们不觉得现在有任何考验或改变会让他们措手不及。
我觉得我自己正在改变，
但亲爱的母亲在过去的两年里以一种完全出乎意料的方式向我展示了我的性格。
没有必要用我自己的心来讲述我的挣扎，
但我觉得我现在正在摆脱它们，
我希望自我永远不再拥有我一生所拥有的统治权。
我不知道隐藏在我性格中的骄傲和弱点，
可能没有向别人隐藏，
但在很大程度上对我隐藏了但这是一种幸福，
耶稣知道它知道我们需要他多少帮助。
我亲爱的兄弟现在永远摆脱了罪恶，
我们一刻也不能希望他回来。
我们与天堂土地有另一个联系，
再见，
再见，
我们都会在那里。
[第一页垂直续] 我说你女儿不高兴了，
别想了。
上帝对我很好，
让我来到这里，
我拥有让我快乐的一切。
现在我必须说晚安，
因为已经很晚了。
当你感到疲倦或疲惫时，
请好好照顾自己并休息。
愿主在悲伤和孤独的时刻安慰你们所有人，
当您想到失踪的人时，
有时会感到孤独。
“只会更高”让我们想到这一点。
我经常想起我们所说的关于我在传教士到来之前留在家中这样我们就可以在一起了 一个链接会消失的。
你亲爱的女儿玛蒂
Feb 12th /76
My own dear Mother,
My heart longs for a
talk with you my precious mother
to night ere I sleep. It is the
Sabbath and we have sung our
Sabbath evening hymn and said
good night so I am alone.
The last week has been one
full of new cares and new expe-
riences it seems as if a year
had passed over my head since
last Monday eve. Tues eve
brought letters from Bankok
announcing Henry's marriage
I had so earnestly hoped after
the home letters arrived some
thing would occur to delay these
but Dr Happer came in Tues
eve saying "I have got them"
having of course not the least idea
what they contained. The commu-
nity here could not have been
more surprized, they can hardly
credit it even yet. I think the
people here after [u] our [/u] [u] arrival [/u] gave
up all idea of Henry's ever desiring
to marry. I have thought of all
our dear ones in the home almost
constantly during the week, but I
never never felt so alone with
Jesus. Oh Mother he can help in
whatever betides. You must miss
dear dear Frank so very very
much. I think of all Hannah's
things there and how every article
which belonged to our precious
Frank will bring him to mind
We can not have that feeling
here, our surroundings have no
such associations Do you remem-
ber how bright and cheerful he
was the day I was packing up to
come to China? Every thing about
that day in reference to him is a
happy recollection, and you know
it was my last. But oh Mother is
it not a comfort to you and Father
that God gave you a son to train
for him and now you have
returned the precious gift. You
were the parents of one who is
now a redeemed spirit and is it
not a blessed thought. When you
enter those golden gates he will
be there to welcome you. I love
to think of him as before the
throne, no more pain or sorrow
for the last [u] enemy [/u] has been
[u] overcome [/u]. It must have been
a shock that he at the last went
so suddenly. I see you all just
how it was. But Clara did not
speak of Edward and Father as
being in the room when Frank
died. Where were they? And oh I
am so anxious to know how
my mother was sustained amid so
much anxiety care and sorrow.
Are you feeling as well as usual
Please do tell me all about all [--the--] everything it is such a
comfort to know. I have felt afraid some of you might
be sick after it was all over. When this reaches you you
will be almost counting the days until Henry and Hattie
get home. Oh I am so happy you can have them they
will be a comfort and help. They have grown in a deep
Christian experience during their life here. The lessons of
the first two years have left their impress upon Henry
and they both say they do not feel as if any trial or change
now could take them unawares. I feel within my self
that I am changing, but dear Mother the last two years
have revealed my character to me in a light wholly unex-
pected. It is not necessary to recount my strugles with
my own heart, but I feel I am being lifted out of them now
and I hope [u] Self [/u] will never again have the dominion over
me it has all my life had. I did not know the pride and
weakness that lay concealed in my character, probably not
concealed to others but to a great extent hidden from me
But it is such a happiness that Jesus knows it all knows just
how much help we need from him. My dear brother is now
forever free from sin and we can not for a moment
wish him back. We have another tie to the heavenly land
and bye and bye we shall all be there.
[Continued vertically on the first page]
Do not think for a moment from anything I have said your
daughter is unhappy. God has been very good to me to let me
come here, and I have everything to make me happy. And
now I must say good
night, as it is late
Do take good care of
yourself and rest
when you feel tired
or worn out. May
the Lord comfort you
all in the hours of
sadness, and loneliness
that will come some-
times when you think
of the missing one.
"Only gone up higher"
let us think of that.
I often think of what
we said about my remain-
ing at home until the
missionaries came so
we could all be together
One link would have
been gone.
Your loving daughter
Mattie
中国广州
1876年 2 月12 日
日我亲爱的母亲，
我的心渴望在我入睡前与我亲爱的母亲彻夜交谈。
今天是安息日，
我们唱了安息日晚会赞美诗并说晚安，
所以我一个人。
过去的一周充满了新的关怀和新的经历，
从上周一晚上开始，
我似乎已经过了一年。
周二前夕带来了来自班克的信件，
宣布亨利的结婚，
我非常希望在家庭信件到达后会发生一些事情来推迟这些，
但哈珀医生在周二前夕进来说“我收到了”当然不知道里面有什么.这里的社区非常惊讶，
他们甚至还不能相信它。
我想我们到达后这里的人都打消了亨利想要结婚的念头。
在这一周里，
我几乎时时刻刻都在想家中所有亲爱的人，
但我从未感到与耶稣如此孤独。
哦，
妈妈，
他可以在任何事情上提供帮助。
你一定非常非常非常想念亲爱的弗兰克。
我想起了汉娜那里的所有东西，
以及我们珍贵的弗兰克的每一篇文章都会如何让他想起我们这里不能有那种感觉，
我们的环境没有这样的联想你还记得我收拾行李那天他是多么的开朗和快乐来中国？那天关于他的每一件事都是令人愉快的回忆，
你知道那是我的最后一次。
但是哦，
母亲，
上帝给了你一个儿子为他训练，
这对你和父亲来说不是一种安慰，
现在你已经归还了珍贵的礼物。
你是一个现在被救赎的灵魂的父母，
这不是一个有福的思想吗？当你进入那些金色的大门时，
他会在那里欢迎你。
我喜欢把他想象成王位前的他，
不再为最后一个敌人被战胜而痛苦或悲伤。
他最后走得这么突然，
一定很震惊。
我看到你们都是这样的。
但弗兰克去世时，
克拉拉并没有说爱德华和父亲在房间里。
他们在哪里？哦，
我很想知道我的母亲是如何在如此多的焦虑和悲伤中度过的。
你感觉和往常一样好吗？请告诉我所有的一切，
让我感到很欣慰。
我一直担心你们中的一些人在这一切结束后可能会生病。
当这件事传到你手上时，
你几乎要数着亨利和海蒂回家的日子了。
哦，
我很高兴你能拥有它们，
它们将是一种安慰和帮助。
他们在这里的生活中，
在深厚的基督教经验中成长。
前两年的教训给亨利留下了深刻的印象，
他们都说他们不觉得现在有任何考验或改变会让他们措手不及。
我觉得我自己正在改变，
但亲爱的母亲在过去的两年里以一种完全出乎意料的方式向我展示了我的性格。
没有必要用我自己的心来讲述我的挣扎，
但我觉得我现在正在摆脱它们，
我希望自我永远不再拥有我一生所拥有的统治权。
我不知道隐藏在我性格中的骄傲和弱点，
可能没有向别人隐藏，
但在很大程度上对我隐藏了但这是一种幸福，
耶稣知道它知道我们需要他多少帮助。
我亲爱的兄弟现在永远摆脱了罪恶，
我们一刻也不能希望他回来。
我们与天堂土地有另一个联系，
再见，
再见，
我们都会在那里。
[第一页垂直续] 我说你女儿不高兴了，
别想了。
上帝对我很好，
让我来到这里，
我拥有让我快乐的一切。
现在我必须说晚安，
因为已经很晚了。
当你感到疲倦或疲惫时，
请好好照顾自己并休息。
愿主在悲伤和孤独的时刻安慰你们所有人，
当您想到失踪的人时，
有时会感到孤独。
“只会更高”让我们想到这一点。
我经常想起我们所说的关于我在传教士到来之前留在家中这样我们就可以在一起了 一个链接会消失的。
你亲爱的女儿玛蒂
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Kerr, Martha Noyes, “Letter from Mattie to her Mother, February 12, 1876,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 26, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/548.