| Title: | Alexander Patterson, Farmington, to His Nephew, Ireland |
|---|---|
| ID | 2084 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Patterson, Alexander/49 |
| Year | 1897 |
| Sender | Patterson, Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Farmington, Canada? |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | uncle-nephew |
| Source | Mr & Mrs S.V. Thompson, 4 Grove Park, Lenzie, Glasgow |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh |
| Doc. No. | 9506108 |
| Date | 07/10/1897 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 15:06:1995. |
| Word Count | 667 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Farmington Oct 7th 1897 My Dear Nephew I was pleasantly surprised on Monday the 13th of Sept. to have your letter handed me in the post office where it had been lying for some days and where it would not have remained an hour after its arrvival had I knowen [known?] it awaited me. Well you see that nearly four weeks have gone by since I first read it and I have only first commenced a reply, so you see Mr Procrastination of whom you speak is not only a native of the emerald Isle but abides in this Republican land also, yet mind my intention is to "scribble down some blether" as Robt [Robert?] Burns once said "just clean aft [sic?] boy" so that it may sail Saturday 9th inst.- Be assured your letter was extremely welcome and still more so our account of your silence act and after your father's death I had formed quite a high opinion of your business capacity and often felt you had to bear a heavy burden and heat of the day All through the long & painful sickness of your sister in the helpless days of your father & often wished I could lease helped you but a few lines from the poet always quoted just suits my care - " A man may have an honest heart. Thos [Thomas?] [pontith?] hourly stare him. A man may tak [take?] a neighbour's part. Yet have more cash to spare him." Oh! the want of that Article "cash" has sent many adrift in this world and stood between the act & the intention of millions - Well now dear T.K. I think I am [justeen?] yours and resolve on my part to keep up the correspondence as you say till death stopes [stops?] it - A very different period this lease of lives between you and us, and the period of over 47 years which kept the three of us. (whose first spot on earth was in Ballinderry) writing so many yr's [years?], but has now ceased forever. You may live, I hope well many years, but surely it would be presumptouss [presumptuous?] in me to expect more than a few of the days given in this ninth decade of life, which is only attainable "by reason of strength" but "soon passeth away and we are gone". Still when I cease to write you may decide I am either gone or unable to use the pen. My health has been [tenable?] for my years - Some here have staid [stayed?] till my present age or more but 10 - 12 - or 15 years of the last of it has been helpless as a child but to the goodness of God I describe it, I have been still erect in my form as I was in youth & without pain or ache in my limbs, can still take care of a garden well, saw wood and many other little jobs - My health is better than your fathers was for many years, yet I would have to see May 1901 before reaching his age, and I hardly expect to see the dawn of the twentieth century I have just had a visit my daughter Sarah & son John, both full of filial affection for me - The visit is very pleasant but the parting becomes the more painful as age makes the prospects of meeting again less certain. They were in good health as also are James & family & Mary with hers - And now I must close with best wishes to you, your wife & three children and all concerned. I think often of your bro [brother?] Robt [Robert?] I hope he may be happy Was glad to hear Mr Scott got the letter and hope to hear from him soon. Ever afft [affectionate?] Uncle A.P. [Alexander Patterson?] God bless you all is the prayer of your affectionate Uncle A.P. [Alexander Patterson?] Hope to hear of Mr English from you or Mr Scott. |
