| Title: | James A Smyth, Ontario to J J Smyth, Co Tyrone |
|---|---|
| ID | 2764 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/37 |
| 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, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0501017 |
| Date | 09/07/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 14:01:2005. |
| Word Count | 886 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] Mr John Jas Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland [Stamped] ESSEX JY 10 99 ONT. [Back of envelope] [Stamped] HAMILTON JUL 10 20 - 0 1899 [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART AM JY 21 99 Handwritten Arived [Arrived?] July 21st 99 I.I.S [Page 1] Essex Ontario July 9th 1899 Dear Parents I received your letter and money order last monday but as I was busy all week I did not get it cashed yet I will have it cashed tomorrow morning - as soon as the Bank opens. The Post Office here sometimes cash it themselves and sometimes give an order on the Bank. So far in my examinations I think I got along very well. Some of the papers were easy enough, and others were of a more difficult nature [Page 2] There was no [suass?] about the [literature?] paper on Friday afternoon. There was one stiff question asked concerning the similies [similes?] in Miltons Paradise Lost. However, in my own judgement I am on the safe side so far, but you are never sure how the examiners may mark your paper. You may think you gave a good answer to a paper and they may think differently and their decisions are of the most importance. I have tomorrow and next day to prepare for History and if I get a fair mark on that paper I am not much afraid of the remainder. Friday and Saturday we had four papers two each day. [Page 3] This is Sunday afternoon and I am all alone in the house. The others are out somewhere, and the boys that were going to school have gone home, feeling nothing to [too?] sure of their examination. The orangemen march to church this evening and I think I shall go with them, show my colours, I hardly know what to say this evening as I just intended to tell you about the examination and that was my purpose in writing. I must say that I am glad to notice the manner in which you farmers [there?], do your work now. I am sure it seems much lighter to exchange [works?] and at the time get along fully better It is a very practicable idea and it make [sic] people more friendly [Page 4] I am sorry to hear of the death of young Hamilton. It is sad when it is so sudden, especially when he was a student at his studies and incurring cosiderable expense to his his [sic] people, but we may say with the poet "sweet are the uses of adversity" Sometimes afflictions are blessings in disguise. and at any rate we should always look upon them as so. A famous [preacher?] once said that while he had known hundreds brought to God by adversity, he had never known one converted by prosperity and so it it [is?]. I was just thinking this afternoon if I was [Page 5] home I would be preparing for the twelfth of July tomorrow - and next day and [I?] suppose you folk will [sic] doing a little along that line, I have missed all the twelfth now for three years but I shall try and attend one in Ireland next year if everything turn [turns?] out in the right direction. We have very nice weather for examinations this year, not warm, with an occassional [occasional?] shower, today is neither warm nor cold. In another week or so I shall find time to write to my other correspondents over there so you may tell them the circumstances. I had almost forgotten that you told me about Joe Gilkinson going to get [Page 6] married. Good for Joe, not a bad example for the rest of them, providing he is getting a good sensible and intelligent young lady. One who will be a good companion for him. So that it is all right providing he is making a good match. He is just about the right age to settle down, out here he would not be counted young. Many are married at sixteen and seventeen and especially with girls. if they pass twenty five, they are counted old maids, so their [there?] is a pointer for some of the girls, if they are contemplating comming [coming?] to this country. A girls [girl?] here to cut much of a figure must [Page 7] have a fair education, good musician, be between eighteen and twenty two years old, and also good looking and have somewhat an attractive gait with her, Now I am filling up a letter whether it is news or not. Don't forget to send a few newspaper [sic] before and after - the twelfth, and as far as reading is concerned I shall find time to read them. How is James Houston getting along, he has not written to me in a long time. I suppose I must write to him after I have a few spare moments. I may send you a list of my examination papers, if I can procure another set, after I am through. You could let Mr [James?] see them and [Page 8] him compare our Canadian standards with your Irish standards. I am off [of?] the opinion that we are not much behind you in that respect. It just [sic] about time to get supper so I shall leave off telling you any more at the present. hoping to hear you had a good time at [the?] celebration wherever it may be, as I have not found out yet, James A Smyth [N.B.?] I am after attending the march to church, had quite a crowd and the preacher (Eng. Church) gave a rather protestant sermon. J.A.S. [James Alexander Smyth?] Transcribed by Alan Houston |
