| Title: | Andrew [Greenlees?] [Ottawa?], [USA?] to "Dear Brother" |
|---|---|
| ID | 1241 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Greenlees, Andrew/12(3) |
| Year | 1864 |
| Sender | Greenlees, Andrew |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Ottawa, Illinois, USA |
| Destination | Magheramore, Co. Wicklow, Ireland |
| Recipient | Greenlees, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | D3561/A/26: The Papers of Prof. E.R.R. Green Deposited by Dr. P.R. Green. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9902052 |
| Date | 05/06/1864 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 10:02:99. |
| Word Count | 1246 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Ottawa June 5th 64 Sabbath, Midnight, Dear Brother I received a letter from Father last night which reminds me that I owe you one and as it will tend to keep me awake I will write to night or rather this morning. our children are all sick, Johnny was taken down with the measles about two weeks ago he had them very severe, and was getting over them when he caught a slight cold which brought him down with lung fever from which he has not recovered at this writing. Mary & Charles also have the measles and has them pretty tough though I am in hope that the worst is past with them. yet I assure you that three sick children all at once and all wanting Father or mother to hold them, for their little backs get sore, laying in bed this warm weather. keeps us very busy night and day tending to their wants we are both pretty well worn out for we have not had our regular rest for two weeks and you know this want of sleep is very wearing. oh how our hearts yearn over the little ones in their sickness what a beautiful thought like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him I think it would have conveyed the meaning in stronger terms to have been rendered, Mother, we know from experience a Mother's love knoweth no bounds Johnny's fever is somewhat abated the Doctor was here a few hours ago he thinks his symptons are more favourable and that the disease is at last checked three days ago he had no hope of his recovery Poor chid he is very patient not a word of discontent has crossed his lips since he was taken s [sick?] : all afflictions at present seemeth not joyous but grievous but Oh that they may work out for us a far more [----ing?] and eternal weight of Glory thus we may look more at the things which are not seen which are eternal. Since we moved to the city we enjoy more priviliges we have preaching in the morning at half past ten Sunday school at fifteen minutes past twelve we have a fine school of 120 scholars. preaching often in the evening at half past seven. thus you see that most of the day is occupied I will not close my letter at present I must give some medicine to the children then perhaps I can snatch an hours sleep towards the [could?] of the morning, as they will rest better then as regards myself my health is good if I had only four hours good sleep I would feel all right when I last wrote to Father I was at my trade in the foundry I did not mention it at that time as I intended leaving the shop in the spring for my old [f----?] on the farm but finding that so far it agrees with my health I remained, though I do not intend working at it permanently yet I shall this season and perhaps another unless I should feel my health giving way thus I would quit immediately my wages are good equalling ten shillings british money per day Cousin John Semple made us a visit last winter or rather spring we were very pleased to see him he is indeed a good man Cousin Jimmy Brown has so far recovered as to be with his regiment I have not had any news from the east lately the last uncle McDowell was on a visit at beckmantown in your last you speak so heartless and unfeelingly of my countrys succeedind [succeeding?] in crushing this gigantic rebellion that I almost am ashamed of you, in that not to care whether one of the best Governments that the world was ever blessed with be able to sustain itself or not for with all our faults the workings of our Government and free institutions are the pure and best in existence at this day and I challenge you to put your finger on the history of any nation since the days of Adam that has equalled the growths of the united states in all channels of industry but again, establish the right of secession and where will the thing end give the south the right to secede from the north because the people in their might were beginning to put their feet upon the neck of that [----tius?] institution of theirs, slavery, why not the west secede from the east on the most frivilous pretense why not have thirty four seperate and distinct nationalities instead of our consolidated government let the right of secession be an established fact and our whole country becomes a chaos petty feuds and never ending civil wars would be the result I can only give one reason why we should differ so much about this grand contest that is this we look at it through different glasses you are a Briton I am american to the backbone June 25th I have waited to see what the issue would be with little Charlie he has been very sick the measles struck in producing lung fever terminating in congest of the brain we have watched through many weary nights scarcely daring to hope for his living to morning but bless God the child lives and we have great hopes of his final rec [recovery?] weeping endureth for a night but joy cometh in the morning Mary & John are nearly well farewell And [Andrew?] Since writing the above I have learned that Jimmy is still in the hospital unfit for active service And [Andrew?] Gr [Greenlees?] is dead I sympathize with Robert & Jane deeply she was a sweet child she used when I lived east to be a great pet of mine but she has been transplanted to the world beyond at the early age of twelve years, Cousin Elizabeth Moore or [Mrs Madden?] by her Husbands name is also dead some three months ago. Also Elizabeth Moore Roberts only surviving girl has also been called from time to eternity all these providences admonishing us to be also ready for the great change when it shall come and may God bless you and prosper you in the work of the ministry and crown your [labors?] with abundant success is the prayer [of?] your loving Brother Andrew P.S. I owe Father a letter I will write when convenient good bye And [Andrew?] our friends here are about as usual I saw Aunt Greenleeses folks to meeting yesterday they are well we had an epispocalian [episcopalian?] preach for us yesterday and for one I liked him very much he preached a fine discourse on the education and training of children from the words train up a child in the way when he is young and when he is old he will not depart from it the house was crowded more perhaps with an itching curiosity, to hear and see the novelty of the epispocal [episcopal?] service than to be benefited by the ministrations of the gospel let us hope and pray that the seed sown may yet yield an abundant harvest for indeed family government in this west country is rather lax a great deal more so than in the eastern states I had a letter from Cousin [-----?] Rea (Johns oldest daughter) they are well & Roberts only child [T--rasa?] Jane |
