| Title: | J. A. Smyth, Ontario, to J. J. Smyth, Castledamph |
|---|---|
| ID | 2753 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/30(2) |
| Year | 1899 |
| Sender | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | student |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Methodist) |
| Origin | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smyth, John J. and wife |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 0505048 |
| Date | 09/05/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 25:05:2005. |
| Word Count | 841 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope?] Miss E. C. Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co. Tyrone Ireland [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] HAMILTON MAY 23 14--0 1899 WINDSOR AM MY 22 [99?] ONT. NEWTOWNSTEWART AM 10 0 JU 3 99 [Written on Envelope] Arrived June 4th 1899 [Page 1] Essex May [1?] 99 Dear Parents I am, perhaps a little slow in answering your letter this time. However I have nothing particular to say so there is not much occasion for a rush. I notice by your letter that you have considerable rain at the spring season. We have very warm weather here now, There was a good afternoons rain a few days ago and the farmers were much pleased to see it as everything was looking dry. The trees are all out in leaf here now and things looks [sic] [Page 2] 2 I suppose it was a change for Tom, to begin sowing, The [They?] should have learned to do so long ago. Now I think your trouble is nothing more than a result of your wettings from fishing and hunting when you were younger than you are now. I am glad those stiller [distillers?] got a lesson. Perhaps they will repect the sabbath day after this It's a disgrace to the town, I am going down to Woodslee this afternoon, The Baptist Minister from here preaches there in the evening so I shall ride down and back with him I have not been down for a good while [Page 3] 3 Our examinations are announced again. The [they?] begin on [sic] 3rd of July our’s or Form (iv) begins on 7th July and it end [sic] for me on the 17th July. Some days during that time I don't have to write, I write from 9. to 11 30, AM on July 12th, on History a subject which I am afraid of, I hardly think it is possible for me to attend the celebration, It takes place in London about 110 miles from here. I suppose I could take the 12 o clock train here and reach London by 2 o clock and in that way I would see all the procession [Page 4] 4 But I don't know whether I could buy the excursion ticket for that train, as the excursion train goes in the morning. We are going to have a good celebration here on 24 May I will have a job in the band for that day, I think we will have a good time, I was in Windsor last Saturday also went to Detroit and saw the famous Dan Godfrey's English Band on March also went to the concert in the the [sic] evening. The music was something grand, 50c was the admission. They are great players about 40 in it [Page 5] 5 I received your papers yesterday and flowers. The latter are not in a very healthy looking condition. I planted the one with roots on it but it may not progress very will [well?] in this Canadian soil. At any rate they look as though sea sickness took a good hold on them. I also got a letter from Wm Gilkison [Willie Gilkinson?] about a week ago, and I am glad to hear from him, He gave me an interesting letter. [Page 6] 6 Essex May 22 Dear Parents I have had this part of a letter written a long time I was not going to send it but I thought I had said something that might interest you so I shall send it. I was down at Woodslee yesterday, they are all well, Tillie McIllwaine is there or rather Mrs [MacGogan?] she is visiting the Woodslee folks a few weeks. We are going to have a grand time here on 24 inst, celebrating the Queens Birthday. I have just come back from attending the funeral of Miss Maud McRae, that young girl in the picture the first standing to the right, I was one of the pall bearers or as you say the one that give the first and last lift, The other five were also high school boys [Page 7] 7 She has been sick quite a while but I would not know her to-day she was 20 yrs old, They had a grand coffin, white and I am sure a costly one. I received the letter and money last week. I must go down stairs as soon as I am through and pay a good part of it in board, I am glad to know you are all well and that you are getting the crops in alright. I expect you may give it to me for not writing sooner. but I kept putting it off from day to day and so the time goes on. [Page 8] 8 I sent in my application form for examination today. and also three dollars with it. It will not be long until we get trying what we can do. Let W Gilkison [Willie Gilkinson?] know I shall write next week. It is great for Miss Ballantine to get a man 50 yrs [years?] old and a catholic, Now for fear I have this letter too heavy I must stop on this page and I may say I shall not let it be as long before I write again I see in todays paper the Paris steamship met with a mishap over there. Good Bye to all Yours Jas A Smyth [James Alexander Smyth] (always in a hurry) Transcribed by Greg Floyd |
