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Title: Alexander Patterson, Farmington, to "Dear John" Patterson
ID2083
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FilePatterson, Alexander/35
Year1896
SenderPatterson, Alexander
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationfarmer
Sender Religionunknown
OriginFarmington, Canada?
DestinationIreland
RecipientPatterson, John
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipbrothers
SourceDonated by Mr. & Mrs. S.V. Thompson, 4 Grove Park, Lenzie, Glasgow,G66 5AH.
ArchiveThe Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh
Doc. No.9506119
Date10/11/1896
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 15:06:1995.
Word Count684
Genre
Note
TranscriptHarrington Nov 10th. 1896.

Dear John
I had your paper Late Posting,
and now at 10 A.M. tuesday commence a
few lines that may sail tomorrow
at noon- Again a kind Providence has
so favoured me, that I report myself &
mine in fair health in mind and
body. No destruction by fire or personal
injuries as of fructured lines
or aught else - Glad to learn that
your chronic painful ailing is even
partially abated and hope it may
so continue a while longer - As the
whole world has been drawn almost
into speaking distance, and that
within our memory, I need not
send papers to tell you the result
of the late election as you are as
well posted on that as I am - In
the enormous majority that Connecticut
gave McKinley three of my name may
be counted - Bryan's appeal to the
worst passions of anarchists and
and disconted [discontented?] men who charge all
their wrongs to the rich and never
to their own extravagance or laziness
settled me & many another voter
that it was safe to vote against
him - 1800 or more years ago it was
said " Men love darkness rather
than light because their deeds
were evil" - For the same reason
"darkness " attracts the great body
of mankind today, and were it
not that a still older text exists
"The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice"
many a well meaning man would
despair when looking at the power
weilded [wielded?] by ill meaning men
in the free use of the ballot - you
may have wondered why I sent you
an old letter intended for Robt. [Robert?]
in my last, well it came to hand &
was closed with Dr Nutts' words "Oh
spread thy covering wings around
till all our wanderings cease &c
and having written very few
letters to him for the last few years
that didn't close with that stanza
once familiar in the old farm
Schoolhouse I thought it would
stir up fitting memories in every
one of us - Forgetfulness is an omen of
increasing years with my imperfect
hearing is another - I had intended
to remark on Stowels' hymn tho "Mercy sent"
to which you allude - In many a religious
meeting when reference came to the hour
when spirits blend - Where friend holds
fellowship with friend " & have I thought
of you & others " tho distant far - This
which is hastily got up may leave
me with something unsaid yet intended -
Sarah has brought me into
renewed aquaintance with relations
on my side & doubly so on hers -
She has found a correspondent in
Miss Hesi Addison daughter of John K & he
revived my memory in that connection -
She handed me a photo
of the young lady which at first sight
produced a strange sensation & started
a question "Who is that familiar face ?
young and pleasant to look upon - it required
but a short space to remember the same
countenance in the features of Eliza
Addison some 60 years ago before she
became Mrs Thos. [Thomas?] Spence but the first look
bewildered me - Still later Sarah showed
me a photo of the late Mr Jas. [James?] Hall
who died so suddenly in the early
summer - The moment I saw it I
said - "Why that's James Patterson"
to which Sarah responded - " Yes that's
my brother" - Sarah has a picture of
Mrs Thomas Hall the same James Halls
mothers & I told her when you look on
that face believe me it is a rare treat
to look on a countenance in which
you might so truly add "In whom
is no guile" - This is short & must be
closed - I have not written to Robt. [Robert?] jun. [junior?]
since I had one from him just as I mailed
the last to you must not let it remain
longer - May the peace once bequeathed
to us all be for ever treasured in our hearts & minds
A. P [Patterson?]