| Title: | James A Smyth, Ontario to Mary Smyth, Co Tyrone |
|---|---|
| ID | 2740 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/24(3) |
| Year | 1900 |
| 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. | 0508032 |
| Date | 18/05/1900 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 08:09:2005. |
| Word Count | 738 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Miss Mary Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland [Stamped] ESSEX MY 21 00 ONT. [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] JU 00 [Page 1] Essex, Ont. 18, May 1900, Dear Sister Your letter to hand on Monday morning the 14th inst. and also one from [Bella?] the same day. I am sorry for the sad news it contains and it will be a long time before I have an other [another?] friend such as Willie. However such things must be and we must put up with it, but I must say I shall miss him and miss him much and also miss him when I go back again. Although you may have forgotten Since I heard of his death I have been thinking of a great many things concerning himself [Page 2] ii and me. Many incidents of our young days come up in my mind in the school [of?] Monday morning. 20 May. I had started this letter on Friday but did not finish it there. I was down at Woodslee Friday night came up here Saturday again. They are well down there. I saw Cassie and Baby. I may tell you that Sara Duncan is going home on the 16. June on Steamship Ethopia [Ethiopia?] and the folks at Woodslee are coaxing Belle to go and probably she will. So if she goes, they will be landing there about the 25 June. If she goes its probable she [Page 3] iii may spend the most of her time with Sara as she knows her much better but when she goes up there make it as pleasant as possible and let know [no?] unpleasantness occur in the house. She is no dancer so you are not able to entertain in that line. It would be different if some of the Essex girls were going over. especially the presbyterians. Uncle and Aunt want Belle to go. and I am not sure yet if she goes. I shall write [sic] you again. I sent you my pictures at last. on Saturday. You will find one for yourself one for Bella and Liza and one for Matilda Gilkinson one for Mother and one for Jas Houston [James Huston?]. I did not send the boy [sic] one each as I have not enough. [Page 4] iv I think I shall send Uncle John one. I got them taken at the same time. The large one [sic] are $4.50 or about 19s. per dozen, the small one [sic] 9 [shillings?] Perhaps I should send one to all my friends but it costs too much. You can let me know what they all think about them. You can give that one to Jas. [James?] Houston [Huston?] and tell him I shall write as soon as possible. I am glad to know you are started to millinery although they may miss you at home by having more work to do but if you only stay at it a year or two you will learn something that you will need all through life. You must exercise judgment in [Page 5] 5 dealing with strangers. and keep good company. Remember me to Miss Nelson I remember being in there and having a talk with her a few days before I left the first time much better than any time I may have been in during my stay home, in 1895. Now I don't see why it would it (sic) anoy [annoy?] mother by you going down to Plumbridge. It is a good thing she don't live here, for you cannot find a house that there is any girls in They are all away and doing for themselves. The majority leave about 12 or 13 years old for High School [Page 6] 6 and hardly ever home afterwards. Its just as Bella say [sic] it smartens one, and I believe that is the only reason why American boys and girls seem to know so much and have such a smart and up-to-date look about them. We are having a big celebration on May 24. Queens Birthday I shall give you an account of it again. The people here are very loyal. It is nine years since I landed here on the 26. of this month. How the time does go around; I shall soon be an old man, whether I look it or not I don't know. [Page 7] 7 Convey my sympathy to Tilda Gilkinson. and all others in bereavement. I am sure they feel as sorry as I do. Well it is supper time now so I must close wishing you a happy time in your new work and best wishes to every body [everybody?]. Your Brother Jas A. [James Alexander?] Smyth. Transcribed by Alan Houston |
