Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2443

Letter of January 18, 1956, from F.A. Harper, The Foundation for Economic Education, Inc., Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, to The Franklin J. Matchette Foundation, 20 East 66^th Street, New York City, with response to Harper from Heath, February 20, 1956, to whom the letter was forwarded, and then a response of February 22 from Harper to Heath.

 

 

 

 

My Friends:

 

My respect for Mr. Spencer Heath makes it a double honor to be present at the reception on January 29^th. I hope nothing will interfere with my being there.

 

 Whenever appropriate, I hope you will transmit to Mr. Heath the enclosed token of an additional reason for this date being an occasion of note for me. On the day he was 60 years old, there arrived in the Harper family our second child, Harriet, who has been a constant joy to us these twenty years.

 

 This poem, written by her five years ago, will surely reveal to Mr. Heath why we feel this way.

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/ F.A. Harper

 

FAH:rpm

Enclosure

 

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The Epitaph of Laura

 

When I was young, I discovered the miracle of nature.

I made a second home in the fragrant woods

And had for my friends and companions the animals.

I shared my sorrow with the trees,

and they softly whispered their consolation.

I shared my joys with the singing birds,

And they joined in my exuberance.

On the soft moss, beneath the great elms and oaks,

I would look up at the sky —

Sometimes clear blue with fleecy white clouds,

Sometimes black velvet studded with silver stars.

People said that it was sad that I wasted all my time

in those “frightful woods.”

But I pity the people who cannot see

The beauty that lies around them.

Although I left the earth when I was still young,

I know that I have received more from life

than most people ever do.

The quality of simple beauty is understood by few,

But those who know how to enjoy it have lived a life worth living.

 

By: Harriet M. Harper

Address: 30 S. Broadway

                                     Irvington-on-Hudson

                                     New York

 

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Dear Dr. Harper:                       February 20, 1956

 

My good friend Bill Matchette has kindly sent to me your cordial letter of January 18^th in which you enclosed an anniversary poem written by your daughter, Harriet, when she was fifteen. I love the Wordsworthian spirit of this poem, beginning “When I was young …” It takes me back to my own spirit at that age, which was so intense then and still continues with me. I have read her poem with pleasure and will do so again. I wonder if she has written others and if she is acquainted with the poems of our very wonderful friend, E. Merrill Root, whose latest volume I only yesterday ordered through the mail.

 

 My grandson and I have a mission in Westchester County before very long and are looking forward to stopping in at the Foundation, hoping to see you and Dr. Opitz and your other associates who were so cordial to us when we were there before.

 

Cordially yours,

 

SH/m

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Dear Mr. Heath:                       February 22, 1956

 

Yes, our daughter Harriet is familiar with the poems of Merrill Root. And he tried to get her to matriculate at Earlham. She went out to look over the College when a HS senior, and Merrill served as host. She decided to go elsewhere, but in spite of the attraction of Merrill Root.

 

 A couple more bits from her pen are enclosed, and they seem to us to show a sort of poetic character. “A World of Wishes” was written when a freshman in HS. The “Annual Report” (Christmas message to our friends) when a college freshman.

 

 Also, when in the sixth grade she wrote the little poem I put in my book on “Liberty — A path to its recovery”, page 14.

 Pardon the parental pride, please.

Sincerely,

       /s/ F.A. Harper