| Title: | Andrew Greenlees, Ottawa, Il., to his Brother [Ireland?] |
|---|---|
| ID | 1247 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Greenlees, Andrew/16 |
| Year | 1864 |
| Sender | Greenlees, Andrew |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | foundry worker |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Ottawa, Illinois, USA |
| Destination | Magheramore, Co. Wicklow, Ireland |
| Recipient | Greenlees, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | T 2046/14: Copied by Permission of Aiken McClelland Esq. 3 Beechill Pk. Ave. Saintfield Rd. Belfast 8. #TYPE EMG Andrew Greenlees, Ottawa, [Illinois?] to his Brother: June 1864. |
| Archive | Public Record Office, N. Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 8911034 |
| Date | 15/06/1864 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 13:11:1989 LT created 03:07:1990 CD input 10:07:19 |
| Word Count | 936 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Ottawa June 15th /64 Sabbath, Midnight, Dear Brother I recived [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 [tonight?] 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 and Charles also have the measles and has them pretty tough though I am in hopes 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 lying in bed this warm weather) keeps us 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 the want of sleep is very wearing, oh how our hearts yearn over the little ones in their sikness [sickness?], what a beautiful thought, like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fearth [feareth?] I think it would have conveyed the meaning in stronger terms to have been rendered mother, we know from experience a Mothers love knoweth no bounds Johnny's fever is [somewhat?] abated the doctor was here a few hours ago he thinks his symptoms are more favourable and that the disease is at least checked three days ago he had no hope of his recovery poor child he is very patient not a word of discontent has crossed his lips since he was taken, all afflictions at present seemeth not joyous but grievous but Oh that they may work out for us a far more [dw?]elling and eternal weight of Glory that we may look more at the things which are not seen which are eternal since we moved to the City we enjoy privileges we have preaching in the morning at half past ten sunday school fifteen minutes past twelve, we have a fine school of 12 scholars, preaching [again?] in the evening at half past seven thus you see the 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 coole [cool?] 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 f[oundr?]y I did not mention it at that time as I intended leaving the shop in the spring, for my old [floor?] 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 then 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 Sammy Brown has so far recovered as to be with is [his?] reagment [regiment?] I have not had any news from the east lately the last uncle McDowall was on a visit at beckmantown in your last you speak heartless and unfeelingly of my countrys suc[eeding?] in crushing this gigantic rebellion that I almost am ashamed of you what not to care whether one of the best Governments that the world was ever blessed with be able to sustain itself or not for all our faults the workings of our Government and free institutions are the purest and best in existence at this day and I challenge you to put your [fingers?] on the history of any motions since the days of [Adam?] that has equalled the growth 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 peculiar institution of theirs slowly, why not the west secede from the east on the most frivelous [frivolous?] pretense why not have thirty four seperate [separate?] distinct nationallities [nationalities?] instead of one 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 congestion of the brain, we have watched through many weary night scarcely daring to hope for his living to morning but bles[sed?] God, the child lives and we have great hopes of his final recov[ery?] weeping endureth for a night but joy cometh in the morn[ing?] mary & John are nearly well farewell And[rew?] since writing this down I have learned that Sammy is still in the hospital unfit for active service And. [Andrew?] Greenlees |
