Letter from Mattie to Sarah, December 1, 1876
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Mattie to Sarah, December 1, 1876
Subject
Death; Drowning; Tuberculosis; Health
Description
Mattie writes to Sarah about her friend Becca Hower and the death of her little girl. Another friend, Miss Whilden lost her brother. He was swept overboard when his vessel encountered a storm along the Atlantic coast. She reflects on death and her younger brother Frank. She tells her sister how to avoid consumption and informs her of the health of other missionaries.
Creator
Kerr, Martha Noyes
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #5
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1876-12-01
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_497
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China
Dec. 1st /76
My darling Sarah
How long has it been
since I have written to you,
so long I cannot tell when I
sent you a letter and the
same is the case with Em.
I suppose this will find you
at home and I am rejoiced you
are to devote at least part of a
year to vacation for you must
need it sadly. I wish I could
write to Columbus by this mail
but if I send a letter to any
one outside the family circle
it must be to Becca Hower
Did you know she had lost
her dear little girl the baby it
died the last of August and she
seems almost heart broken about
it. They are about leaving Cleveland
going to a place called Parkers
Landing in Penn and Mr Hower
will be engaged in the oil bus-
iness. I do feel so sorry for my dear
friend, but it is but another lesson
upon the shortness of life.
Our dear Miss Whilden you have
heard Hattie speak of her no doubt
has just received the sad news of
the death of her only brother by drown-
ing. He was going down the Atlan-
tic coast when the vessel encoun-
tered a sudden storm or gale rather
and he ran up on deck to assist
the captain but almost at once
was washed overboard. I think
afterwards there were others who
also lost their lives do not know
whether the ship was saved or not
Mrs Williams her only sister with
her family have just left for the
United States on account of her
health so dear Miss W seems
quite alone. I feel as if I could
sympathize with her in a measure
although our dear precious Frank
did not leave us so suddenly.
Only think he has been almost
a year in heaven and our band
will continue to lessen on Earth
but only to unite in the better
land. I feel so differently since
I have been at the verge of the
grave. Death has been always been
a subject from which I shrank
with a sort of dread, it seemed as
if I could never follow the spirit in
its upward flight but always thought of
the dark grave, the body shut up in
its windowless house resigned to
decay but now it seems but a mo-
ment and we shall be there bow-
ing before the throne clad in the
white garments of the redeemed
Jesus having presented us to the Fath-
er without spot or wrinkle or any
such thing, saying for this soul
I have died, never think of me as
being unhappy or lonely the only
blessing I could wish for still is to
be with the dear ones I love so
much and it will not be long we
shall be parted. I feel glad when
I remember I shall not make
the home so desolate if called
away for you are now accustom
ed to my absence. Why do I write
thus God may spare me a long
time yet but we can not know
how it will be. It is a rainy damp
day but I have not felt any evil
effects from it, have a little fire
however. This morning Lucy
brought me a little piece of
Herllitope and I have been
enjoying its fragrance all the
forenoon. Just now the [?Ammah?]
wanted to know if it was "good to
smell" and I said oh yes, gave it
to her and she tried it returning
it said, "like bed bugs just the
same" I had a good hearty laugh
at her opinion.
Later- Have just had a call
from Mrs Chandler and enjoyed
it so much. She seems like an
earnest Christian and gave me
a little account of her experience
as is now wealthy but has lost
a husband and only child also all
her husbands property but has now
married again and is independent
They have been away from home
since May last and expect
to spend another year abroad
But I would not change pla-
ces with her and if she is as
happy as I am I rejoice with
her. The Ammah has just
brought my chuk in so I sup-
pose my next duty is to eat
Shall I tell you how much
meat I consume in a day.
1 1/3 lbs just think of it I ought
to get strong. Now Sarah a word
to you you must take care
of that throat or it will lead
you straight into Consumption
As far as I am concerned I
do not feel the best of care
would have saved my health
very long for the Dierhea was
the effect of the climate and
could only have been warded
off in a measure. It was this
that took Miss Sellers and Mr
Mateer from the field from its
effects Mr Capp died and the
seed of lung disease were sown
[--when--] by a cold I took when
crossing the Rocky Mts. which expo
sure I could not under
[Continued vertically on the first page]
the circumstances well avoid, so you see I do not
reflect upon myself very much after all. Clara
too must not allow her
self to suffer from those
colds she speaks of, they
will injure her in the
end. I am anxious to
hear further from Hannah
Leitzell am so glad Clara
could go down and keep
house for her a few days
It is not a blessing
that Frank has taken
the step he has. I can
scarcely believe the
good news must say
good night darling sis-
ter. That "the Lord God
may aways be your
refuge and under-
neath you the ever-
lasting arms" is the
prayer of your loving
sister Mattie
中国广州
1876 年 12 月 1 日
我亲爱的莎拉
有多久没给你写信了，
太久了，
我不知道什么时候给你写了一封信，
埃姆也是如此。
我想这会找到你在家里，
我很高兴你至少可以花一年的时间去度假，
因为你一定很需要它。
我希望我能通过这封邮件给哥伦布写信，
但是如果我给家庭圈子以外的任何人写信，
那一定是给 Becca Hower 你知道她失去了她亲爱的小女孩，
这个孩子在八月的最后一天去世了，
她似乎几乎心碎了。
他们即将离开克利夫兰，
前往宾夕法尼亚州帕克斯登陆的地方，
而豪尔先生将从事石油业务。
我确实为我亲爱的朋友感到难过，
但这只是对生命短暂的另一个教训。
我们亲爱的惠尔登小姐，
您已经听过海蒂谈到她，
毫无疑问，
她刚刚收到了她唯一的兄弟溺水身亡的悲惨消息。
当船遇到突如其来的风暴或大风时，
他正沿着大西洋沿岸航行，
他跑到甲板上帮助船长，
但几乎立刻就被冲到了船外。
我想后来还有其他人也失去了生命，
不知道这艘船是否得救了威廉姆斯夫人，
她唯一的妹妹和她的家人刚刚离开美国，
因为她的健康，
所以亲爱的 W 小姐似乎很孤单。
我觉得我可以在一定程度上同情她，
尽管我们亲爱的弗兰克并没有这么突然离开我们。
只认为他在天堂已经快一年了，
我们的乐队将在地球上继续减少，
但只会在更好的土地上团结起来。
自从我在坟墓的边缘，
我的感觉如此不同。
死亡一直是我畏惧的话题，
似乎我永远无法追随精神向上飞翔，
但总是想起黑暗的坟墓，
尸体关在没有窗户的房子里，
任凭腐烂但现在似乎只是片刻，
我们将在宝座前鞠躬，
身着被救赎的耶稣的白衣，
将我们呈现给父，
没有斑点或皱纹或任何类似的东西，
说我为这个灵魂死了，
不要想对于不快乐或孤独的我来说，
我唯一希望的祝福仍然是和我深爱的人在一起，
我们很快就会分开。
当我想起我不会让家里变得如此荒凉时，
我感到很高兴，
因为你现在已经习惯了我的缺席。
为什么我这样写，
上帝可能会饶恕我很长时间，
但我们不知道它会如何。
这是一个下雨潮湿的日子，
但我没有感觉到任何不良影响，
但是有一点火。
今天早上，
露西给我带来了一小块黑芥菜，
我整个上午都在享受它的香味。
刚才 Ammah 想知道它是否“好闻”，
我说哦，
是的，
给了她，
她尝试归还它说，
“就像臭虫一样”我对她的意见大笑.后来——刚刚接到钱德勒夫人的电话，
非常享受。
她看起来像一个虔诚的基督徒，
向我讲述了她现在富有但失去了丈夫和独生子以及她丈夫的所有财产但现在再次结婚并独立的经历。
他们自去年五月以来一直远离家乡，
希望在国外再呆一年但我不会和她换地方，
如果她像我一样快乐，
我很高兴和她在一起。
Ammah 刚把我的粥送进来，
所以我想我的下一个职责是吃饭，
我告诉你我一天吃多少肉。
1 1/3 磅只是想想我应该变得强壮。
现在莎拉对你说一句话，
你必须照顾好那个喉咙，
否则它会导致你直接进入消耗状态就我而言，
我认为最好的照顾不会让我的健康保持很长时间，
因为 Dierhea 的效果是气候，
只能在一定程度上避免。
正是这种情况导致塞勒斯小姐和马特尔先生因卡普先生去世而离开了现场，
而我在穿越落基山时患的感冒也播下了肺病的种子。
哪次曝光肯定是我不能在[第一页垂直续]的情况下很好避免的，
所以你看我毕竟不是很反省自己。
克拉拉也不能让自己遭受她所说的那些感冒，
他们最终会伤害她。
我很想听听 Hannah Leitzell 的进一步消息，
我很高兴 Clara 能下楼为她管家几天我简直不敢相信这个好消息必须说晚安亲爱的妹妹。
愿“主神远离你，
成为你的避难所，
在你身下是永恒的臂膀”是你慈爱的妹妹玛蒂的祈祷
Dec. 1st /76
My darling Sarah
How long has it been
since I have written to you,
so long I cannot tell when I
sent you a letter and the
same is the case with Em.
I suppose this will find you
at home and I am rejoiced you
are to devote at least part of a
year to vacation for you must
need it sadly. I wish I could
write to Columbus by this mail
but if I send a letter to any
one outside the family circle
it must be to Becca Hower
Did you know she had lost
her dear little girl the baby it
died the last of August and she
seems almost heart broken about
it. They are about leaving Cleveland
going to a place called Parkers
Landing in Penn and Mr Hower
will be engaged in the oil bus-
iness. I do feel so sorry for my dear
friend, but it is but another lesson
upon the shortness of life.
Our dear Miss Whilden you have
heard Hattie speak of her no doubt
has just received the sad news of
the death of her only brother by drown-
ing. He was going down the Atlan-
tic coast when the vessel encoun-
tered a sudden storm or gale rather
and he ran up on deck to assist
the captain but almost at once
was washed overboard. I think
afterwards there were others who
also lost their lives do not know
whether the ship was saved or not
Mrs Williams her only sister with
her family have just left for the
United States on account of her
health so dear Miss W seems
quite alone. I feel as if I could
sympathize with her in a measure
although our dear precious Frank
did not leave us so suddenly.
Only think he has been almost
a year in heaven and our band
will continue to lessen on Earth
but only to unite in the better
land. I feel so differently since
I have been at the verge of the
grave. Death has been always been
a subject from which I shrank
with a sort of dread, it seemed as
if I could never follow the spirit in
its upward flight but always thought of
the dark grave, the body shut up in
its windowless house resigned to
decay but now it seems but a mo-
ment and we shall be there bow-
ing before the throne clad in the
white garments of the redeemed
Jesus having presented us to the Fath-
er without spot or wrinkle or any
such thing, saying for this soul
I have died, never think of me as
being unhappy or lonely the only
blessing I could wish for still is to
be with the dear ones I love so
much and it will not be long we
shall be parted. I feel glad when
I remember I shall not make
the home so desolate if called
away for you are now accustom
ed to my absence. Why do I write
thus God may spare me a long
time yet but we can not know
how it will be. It is a rainy damp
day but I have not felt any evil
effects from it, have a little fire
however. This morning Lucy
brought me a little piece of
Herllitope and I have been
enjoying its fragrance all the
forenoon. Just now the [?Ammah?]
wanted to know if it was "good to
smell" and I said oh yes, gave it
to her and she tried it returning
it said, "like bed bugs just the
same" I had a good hearty laugh
at her opinion.
Later- Have just had a call
from Mrs Chandler and enjoyed
it so much. She seems like an
earnest Christian and gave me
a little account of her experience
as is now wealthy but has lost
a husband and only child also all
her husbands property but has now
married again and is independent
They have been away from home
since May last and expect
to spend another year abroad
But I would not change pla-
ces with her and if she is as
happy as I am I rejoice with
her. The Ammah has just
brought my chuk in so I sup-
pose my next duty is to eat
Shall I tell you how much
meat I consume in a day.
1 1/3 lbs just think of it I ought
to get strong. Now Sarah a word
to you you must take care
of that throat or it will lead
you straight into Consumption
As far as I am concerned I
do not feel the best of care
would have saved my health
very long for the Dierhea was
the effect of the climate and
could only have been warded
off in a measure. It was this
that took Miss Sellers and Mr
Mateer from the field from its
effects Mr Capp died and the
seed of lung disease were sown
[--when--] by a cold I took when
crossing the Rocky Mts. which expo
sure I could not under
[Continued vertically on the first page]
the circumstances well avoid, so you see I do not
reflect upon myself very much after all. Clara
too must not allow her
self to suffer from those
colds she speaks of, they
will injure her in the
end. I am anxious to
hear further from Hannah
Leitzell am so glad Clara
could go down and keep
house for her a few days
It is not a blessing
that Frank has taken
the step he has. I can
scarcely believe the
good news must say
good night darling sis-
ter. That "the Lord God
may aways be your
refuge and under-
neath you the ever-
lasting arms" is the
prayer of your loving
sister Mattie
中国广州
1876 年 12 月 1 日
我亲爱的莎拉
有多久没给你写信了，
太久了，
我不知道什么时候给你写了一封信，
埃姆也是如此。
我想这会找到你在家里，
我很高兴你至少可以花一年的时间去度假，
因为你一定很需要它。
我希望我能通过这封邮件给哥伦布写信，
但是如果我给家庭圈子以外的任何人写信，
那一定是给 Becca Hower 你知道她失去了她亲爱的小女孩，
这个孩子在八月的最后一天去世了，
她似乎几乎心碎了。
他们即将离开克利夫兰，
前往宾夕法尼亚州帕克斯登陆的地方，
而豪尔先生将从事石油业务。
我确实为我亲爱的朋友感到难过，
但这只是对生命短暂的另一个教训。
我们亲爱的惠尔登小姐，
您已经听过海蒂谈到她，
毫无疑问，
她刚刚收到了她唯一的兄弟溺水身亡的悲惨消息。
当船遇到突如其来的风暴或大风时，
他正沿着大西洋沿岸航行，
他跑到甲板上帮助船长，
但几乎立刻就被冲到了船外。
我想后来还有其他人也失去了生命，
不知道这艘船是否得救了威廉姆斯夫人，
她唯一的妹妹和她的家人刚刚离开美国，
因为她的健康，
所以亲爱的 W 小姐似乎很孤单。
我觉得我可以在一定程度上同情她，
尽管我们亲爱的弗兰克并没有这么突然离开我们。
只认为他在天堂已经快一年了，
我们的乐队将在地球上继续减少，
但只会在更好的土地上团结起来。
自从我在坟墓的边缘，
我的感觉如此不同。
死亡一直是我畏惧的话题，
似乎我永远无法追随精神向上飞翔，
但总是想起黑暗的坟墓，
尸体关在没有窗户的房子里，
任凭腐烂但现在似乎只是片刻，
我们将在宝座前鞠躬，
身着被救赎的耶稣的白衣，
将我们呈现给父，
没有斑点或皱纹或任何类似的东西，
说我为这个灵魂死了，
不要想对于不快乐或孤独的我来说，
我唯一希望的祝福仍然是和我深爱的人在一起，
我们很快就会分开。
当我想起我不会让家里变得如此荒凉时，
我感到很高兴，
因为你现在已经习惯了我的缺席。
为什么我这样写，
上帝可能会饶恕我很长时间，
但我们不知道它会如何。
这是一个下雨潮湿的日子，
但我没有感觉到任何不良影响，
但是有一点火。
今天早上，
露西给我带来了一小块黑芥菜，
我整个上午都在享受它的香味。
刚才 Ammah 想知道它是否“好闻”，
我说哦，
是的，
给了她，
她尝试归还它说，
“就像臭虫一样”我对她的意见大笑.后来——刚刚接到钱德勒夫人的电话，
非常享受。
她看起来像一个虔诚的基督徒，
向我讲述了她现在富有但失去了丈夫和独生子以及她丈夫的所有财产但现在再次结婚并独立的经历。
他们自去年五月以来一直远离家乡，
希望在国外再呆一年但我不会和她换地方，
如果她像我一样快乐，
我很高兴和她在一起。
Ammah 刚把我的粥送进来，
所以我想我的下一个职责是吃饭，
我告诉你我一天吃多少肉。
1 1/3 磅只是想想我应该变得强壮。
现在莎拉对你说一句话，
你必须照顾好那个喉咙，
否则它会导致你直接进入消耗状态就我而言，
我认为最好的照顾不会让我的健康保持很长时间，
因为 Dierhea 的效果是气候，
只能在一定程度上避免。
正是这种情况导致塞勒斯小姐和马特尔先生因卡普先生去世而离开了现场，
而我在穿越落基山时患的感冒也播下了肺病的种子。
哪次曝光肯定是我不能在[第一页垂直续]的情况下很好避免的，
所以你看我毕竟不是很反省自己。
克拉拉也不能让自己遭受她所说的那些感冒，
他们最终会伤害她。
我很想听听 Hannah Leitzell 的进一步消息，
我很高兴 Clara 能下楼为她管家几天我简直不敢相信这个好消息必须说晚安亲爱的妹妹。
愿“主神远离你，
成为你的避难所，
在你身下是永恒的臂膀”是你慈爱的妹妹玛蒂的祈祷
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Kerr, Martha Noyes, “Letter from Mattie to Sarah, December 1, 1876,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 26, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/553.