| Title: | James A. Smyth, Ontario to Mary Smyth, Castledampph |
|---|---|
| ID | 2690 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/4(2) |
| Year | 1905 |
| Sender | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | school teacher |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Methodist) |
| Origin | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smyth, Mary |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth. |
| Doc. No. | 0604054 |
| Date | 05/02/1905 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 893 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] < Miss Mary Smith Castledamph Plumbridge Co. Tyrone Ireland [Stamped] ESSEX FE 6 05 ONT [Postage stamp] Canada Postage Two Cents 2 2 [Back of envelope] [NEWTOWNSTEWART] FE [--?] [Page 1] Essex Ont, February 5 05 Dear Sister. Your letter of January 6th received some time ago but have not had time to answer it before now. I might say that one reason of [sic] my delays in writing is due to the fact that my room is very cold hence I only spend as little time as possible in it. Generally from twelve o clock at night until about 8 in the morning. [Page 2] and yet I pay 25 shillings per month for it. So I suppose if I were in my room more. There are many times when I could write with pens paper and etc at hand. As far as Liza is concerned I was expecting that she would be laid up as in a letter I got some time in the beginning of 1902, she complained of pains but I suppose no attention was or has been paid to her complaints until it came to the worst. I am glad however that she is regaining [Page 3] her former strength and I hope she will soon be better, I am afraid it is rather dangerous and very often difficult to expect a cure without an operation Generally in this country they are all operated on almost immediately and very few deaths. However I need not [dilate?] on this as you have been long enough in this country to know this as I am. In regards to my certificate it expires in Dec 31 190[5?]. [Page 4] I dont know again that time what I will do. At any rate I shall be home before that. I expect to go home again June, I think I shall have enough money saved by that time to make the trip. I suppose you saw in the paper that I got a raise in salary to $700, I suppose some people over there would think that a great sum, It is equal to about £145:10 in your money. However it has kept me busy this year getting out of debt. I think I told you last Sept how much I owed. [Page 5] I owe now $100 to uncle & about $20 of other debts. So by the end of this month I shall be pretty nearly clear at any rate I shall be clear by the 1st of March, were I clear of debt I could save about £10 per month. I bought a new suit of clothes last week at $20, It seemed to be a [maxim?] the more you earn the more you must spend. I have been answering your letter of June 6th and I was thinking I had a [letter?] out on [examing?] around here [Page 6] (and probably you know this desk of mine is not any too tidy) I found my letter of Jan 19th, so I must proceed to say a few remarks on it I believe I answered the other letter before. I see you were out on a rough day. The nearness to the Atlantic ocean would and will always create a severe storm in Ireland, Such a condition we have not here where the wind is obstructed by trees. As far as snow and frost is concerned we have not much [Page 7] of the former but plenty of the latter. This week has been the coldest of the year. It is very very cold this past couple of weeks 10 degrees below here Friday morning. Those [Laughlin?] [girls?] must be old now. I am afraid out here they would not be in it. [Azile?] Green Mildred Richardson, [Addie?][Milne?] [Lena?] [Store?] [----?] Wigle and such are the coming girls here, about next winter they will be "it" I never asked you but I suppose the most of the [them?] [Page 8] are of the stamp of the Wilson girls? You know them, they come to our church. By the way I am sending you the Annual Report of our Church. Yes I was down at Woodslee for the opening of the church, It is a very nice church, all the [they?] want now is some stylish people in the pews. In regards to Matthew Smith [sic] land, I am almost of the opinion that our folks should buy it and keep it for grazing. I cannot promise to help them out in paying for it as I cannot [Page 9 tell how long I shall be earning a good salary but in case I would [sic] a position like now I would willingly help them and if they saw it was no use why they could sell It with our own would make a great grazing farm. I suppose it would not sell for more than £400. It would keep me at my present rate about 5 years to pay for it. I suppose they do not need [Page 10] 9 [sic] [sic] on what to do, however I thought I would say what I thought. I wish it had been up for auction 25 years ago. I am thinking we would all have been [open?] to bid for it. For a grazing farm it [with?] our own would make a good one, and as I said if I have the money I will aid the boys liberally If I have not enough money I can't do it – I’ll spend £20 or so going home this summer if I live and 4 mos [months?] wont be long going around. J A [James Alexander?] Smyth |
