"Hot Toast"
By Chelsea Risley, Berry College
March 2012
While scanning Martha Berry’s letters every day, sometimes a phrase or word will grab my attention because it’s so odd or funny or important. Some time ago, I read a letter from a twelve year old girl who had sent a little bit of money to the school. She signed her letter with her name and a post script to Miss Berry that said “I hope our friendship spreads like butter on hot toast.” For some reason, that phrase has stuck with me and it makes me laugh just thinking about it. Martha Berry wrote a sweet note back to this little girl expressing her desire to continue their friendship as well.
What struck me about the whole exchange was just how personal Miss Berry was in her affairs and how approachable and friendly she must have been to have so many people write to her. I know I’ve said it before, but it still amazes me because so few people are like that. She took time to write many people that donated money personal thank you letters and even more received form letters, which must have consumed a lot of her time. I think she recognized how important it was to have personal relationships with the people she worked with and how important it was to show gratitude to her friends. I imagine that girl was pretty pleased to receive a letter from Martha Berry herself. It’s funny to think of all the little impacts we can make in people’s lives with our simple acts of kindness.
