| Title: | Maggie Black, Chicago, to her father Thomas Hall |
|---|---|
| ID | 210 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Black, Maggie/54 |
| Year | 1890 |
| Sender | Black, Maggie (n. Hall) |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Destination | Loughgall, Co. Armagh, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Hall, Thomas Sr |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | daughter-father |
| Source | D 2041/Bundle 13: From the papers of Thomas Hall, Loughall, County Armagh, solicitor; purchased from J.A. Gamble, Esquire, 44 Taunton Avenue, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310523 |
| Date | 18/09/1890 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C.R., 15:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 747 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | 342 Winchester Av [Avenue?] [Chicago?] 18th Sept. [September?] 90 [1890?] My dear Dada Once more my weekly letter is due and I must give you the benefit this time! Tom had a letter from "Uncle Tom" yesterday and we were delighted to see it. We look out so very anxiously for home news and are dreadfully disappionted when overdue. I had also a good long one from Rev. [Reverend?] Mrs.Wilson, she gave me all the recent Dungannon news. From all accounts the "wee man" (Johnnie Anderson) and his fast [first?] wife will go a little quieter in future. Mrs Wilson says Dickson & as he has dissolved partnership & as he had his account at the bank overdrawn he only gets £500 to start life afresh!! So you see what ambition leads to sometimes. I fancy they won't receive much sympathy from the Dungannon folk. I had a "Courier" from Mrs Sam Wilson, so my friends have not forgotten me this week. Lytle was looking over the price of produce in Co [County?] Tyrone and he was glad to see that potatoes were not famine prices, every one seems to talk about the threatened potatoe [potato?] famine in Ireland just now, some say the scare is got up for political purposes. We are now paying 25 cents per peck. They are not like the good dry "champions". My two men are hard at work every day. Trade is beginning to brighten a little better with Lytle. He is occasionally picking up new customers, who after a little will add to his commission. The people here use such quantities of fruit in the warm season that tinned goods & other groceries are not so much in demand. Melons are from 5 cents up to 25, grapes from 5 cents per lb up, and other fruits equally reasonable & they use them at every meal almost. Pears and apples are dearer here than in the old country, 5 cents for two apples! it seems the crop is smaller this season, blackberries, cranberries, blaeberries [blueberries?] are all plentiful & used largely. Florrie & Edna like going to school, but we find it hard to get them started with books etc. I had to get one for Florrie this week which cost a dollar & 85 cents, and now she wants a German one which will cost a dollar or more, and Edna has got promoted to a higher grade & the books she got at starting will be useless, as [at?] least some of them. However I think I can get them exchanged at the store without losing very much. All school books are expensive here, but then there are no fees. I just wish you could see the school buildings. They are splendid and so very numerous through the city, but I am #PAGE 2 still in hope that you shall one day! The weather is much cooler these past weeks and we find it much pleasanter. Some evenings it gets quite chilly but folk seem to provide for the sudden change with warm wraps. In the mornings you will see ladies dressed in white and in the evening perhaps in dark woolen [woollen?] dresses. White is very popular here with old & young - and ladies older than Mamma wear bangs, (or monkey fringe!!). Nearly every lady has her "forelock" cut. I have written Mrs. Keenan & enclosed a letter to John for her to deliver. I want to try and get into communication with him. I was sorry to hear of poor James Baxter's death. That family did not come to very much after all. Mr Anderson is still away in Michigan. I don't know how he has been doing since he left. I think he does not stick to anything long enough to make it pay. He thinks he should make $100 a week at the start, & that is not usually done. Mr. Broomfield called to see us the other evg. [evening?]. it is pleasant to have a chat with an old country person. I suppose you will be quieter now that Miss Darbyshire has gome home. I mean you won't have so many friends coming. I hope Mamma, yourself & all the others are quite well our health has been good since we came except a cold I have for the last week & it will soon be better I hope. Remember us to all the friends (they are too numerous to mention) & accept our united love. I am dear Dada your fond daughter Maggie. |
