Letter from Mattie to Clara, February 2, 1891

Letter from Mattie to Clara, February 2, 1891

Christian communities--United States; Influenza; Cold (Disease); Children--Death; Children--Death--Religious aspects

In this letter to her sister Clara, Martha goes through acquaintances and friends from Ohio with Clara, telling her how she feels about the updates she's been given. She also tells Clara she hopes she heals from the cold she has and that influenza has spread in Canton. Morris Henry died, a five-year-old who everyone thought would recover. The funeral services for him were lovely and Mr. and Mrs. Henry are very affected. The last section of the letter talks about having company.

Kerr, Martha Noyes

The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #5

Unpublished

1891-02-02

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

PDF

eng (English)

Text

noyes_c_cor_508

Feb 2nd 1891

My dear Clara
Monday more and
the letters go to day. Ours
came last [?Friday?] bring
ing the news of the death
of dear Aunt Mason.
It seems nice she is safe
at home. Mother did not
wait long for the others
It seems as though she
would give an especial
welcome to Aunt M. Elmira
has her father and Mother
now if Henry were only a
Christian what a blessed thing
it would be. so Mary
M and Mary K R - are about
to be married. If they get

good husbands they will
both be nice little wives
I should judge and do
their past all right. It
does seem strange that El
miras daughter is old enough
to get married. How I would
like to see Cousin Gilbert
and family. Mary misses
Bessie. It seems strange
that Adelia is at home and
Bessie away. Can not help
wishing it were the other
way .It is hard for Mary to
have it so I am sure.
Your last letter made me
anxious about you. Those
dreadful colds ought not to
be They are sure to do a
damage to the system.
We are suffering considerably
from Influenza here in Canton
especially among the Children
last eve our service was
so small, less than we have

ever had since my return
to China. yet All were here
that were able to come .Last
week dear little Morris Henry
died .He was taken ill two
weeks before but the Dr did
not feel anxious about him
until Monday and he died
on Wednesday. He was a
[u]beautiful[/u] child full of life
and vigor five years of age
and had never been ill a
day in his life. Jamie and
Helen were taken first and
he said if he was sick he
would not have the Dr nor
take any medicine Poor little
man he did not suffer
very long. From the first
he refused food and drink
took absolutely nothing except
under great pressure and then
only a mouth full or two at a
time . Dr Kerr was over there

almost all the time the last [?2?]
days. Monday eve he was seized
with Hemorhage from the
nose and died Wednes. at 6 PM.
Mr Henry had left for the
country Monday afternoon.
Dr Kerr sent a messenger
after him leaving here at 10
P.M. and he got back Tues
morn at 6 1/2 A.M. The funeral
service was here conducted
by Mr Wisner. The coffin
was covered and lived here
in Miss Pattersons room -
and Miss Butler and I
arranged the flowers. Every
thing was lonely - and I was
so glad for Mr & Mrs Henry
are so [--asthet--] asthetic in their
tastes. It is a sad blow
to them. He was such a
perfect child in body I mean
Julias eyes have failed so
she must always wear glasses
which is such a trial to Mrs H

[Note: Letter concludes sideways on page one]
have company. There go our guests off to [illegible] and
we shall not
see them
again until
5 oclock. Am
[u]exceedingly[/u]
[u]resigned[/u] to
the sit-
uation.
Miss Butler
goes away I
am going to
ask to go over
there and spend
the day all
alone.
With love M Kerr {Mattie} You see I myself forget




1891 年 2 月 2 日，
我亲爱的克拉拉，
星期一又来了，
今天来信了。
我们上周五来了，
带来了亲爱的梅森姨妈去世的消息。
看来她在家很安全。
母亲没等其他人等多久 似乎她会特别欢迎 M 姨妈。
埃尔米拉现在有了她的父亲和母亲，
如果亨利只是一个基督徒，
那将是多么幸福的事情。
所以玛丽 M 和玛丽 K R - 即将结婚。
如果他们有好丈夫，
他们都会是好小妻子，
我应该判断并做好他们的过去。
埃尔米拉斯的女儿大到可以结婚了，
这似乎很奇怪。
我多么想见到表弟吉尔伯特和家人。
玛丽想念贝西。
Adelia在家而Bessie不在，
这似乎很奇怪。
不禁希望它是另一种方式。
玛丽很难拥有它，
所以我敢肯定。
你的上一封信让我很担心你。
那些可怕的感冒不应该是他们肯定会对系统造成损害。
我们在广州深受流感之苦，
尤其是在儿童中，
前一天我们的服务如此之少，
比我回国后从未有过的少。
然而所有能够来的人都在这里。
上周亲爱的小莫里斯亨利去世了。
两周前他生病了，
但直到星期一，
医生才对他感到焦虑，
他于星期三去世。
五岁的他，
是一个充满生机和活力的漂亮孩子，
一生中从未生病过一天。
杰米和海伦先被带走了，
他说如果他生病了，
他就不会去看医生，
也不会吃任何药。
可怜的小家伙，
他并没有忍受太久。
从一开始他就拒绝食物和饮料，
除了在巨大的压力下，
他什么都不吃，
然后一次只吃一两口。
在过去的两天里，
克尔医生几乎一直都在那儿。
周一前夕，
他因鼻子上的出血而被抓住，
并于周三去世。
下午 6 点。
亨利先生星期一下午去了乡下。
科尔博士在晚上 10 点离开这里后派了一个信使。
他在周二早上 6 点 1/2 点回来。
葬礼由威斯纳先生主持。
棺材被盖好，
住在帕特森小姐的房间里——巴特勒小姐和我布置了鲜花。
每件事都是孤独的——我很高兴亨利先生和夫人的品味如此美。
这对他们来说是一个可悲的打击。
他是一个完美的孩子，
我的意思是朱莉娅的眼睛已经坏了，
所以她必须总是戴眼镜，
这对 H 夫人来说是一种考验 [注：信在第一页横向结束] 有陪伴。
我们的客人去 [无法辨认]，
我们要到 5 点才能再见到他们。
我非常屈服于这种情况。
巴特勒小姐走了带着爱
M Kerr {马蒂}
你看我自己忘记了

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