| Title: | J. A. Smyth, Canada, to Bella M. Smyth, Co. Tyrone. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2788 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/52 |
| Year | 1897 |
| 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, Bella M. |
| 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, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 309005 |
| Date | 26/10/1897 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 02:09:03. |
| Word Count | 1154 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Envelope addressed to: - Miss Bella M. Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone Ireland. Postmarked on Front: - ESSEX OC [October?] 27 97 ONT [Ontario?] ESSEX OC [October?] 27 97 ONT [Ontario?] Written in Pencil Front of envelope: arrived Saturday 6 - 97 Arrived Saturday Arrive?] Postmarked on Back: - [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] NO [Nov?] 6?] 97 - WINDSOR ONT 20 97 Ont [Ontario?] - HAMILTON, CANADA OC [October?] 28 97 Handwritten in ink Back of Envelope: Arived [Arrived?] Saturday the 6. No. [November?] 1897 Essex Ont. [Ontario?] Oct 26th 97 Dear people I received your letter yesterday so I am not delaying an answer as I have not written any now for a long time, I just received your previous letter same day as I posted the last one so I did not answer it at the time, I would answered (sic) this one last night but I was busy revising for an examination to-day in [Euclid?], so did not take time; I received a photo from the Miss Ballantyne, It contains 20 pictures some of them the same as you people got, which you spoke about I had several letters from them recently. They asked me to go there to spend Xmas and, Miss Ballantyne said to not be afraid of my fare as her father would attend to that, However I wrote and said I could not go, I was afraid it would cost me too much and I have no money for spending in that way, When I could not go there I asked her to visit me here at xmas, and I had a letter yesterday in which she said if possible she would come, So I expect she will visit me at xmas; Her mother has asked for mothers address so I will send it tomorrow or whatever day I write She said she wanted to write to Mother So you can let Mother know she will be likely to get a letter before long. I am glad to get that letter from Willie John I will give him a special letter for himself this time; I see John Chas [Charles?] has sent a letter again. I hope the weather is improving John; You say its owing to the inclemencey, that prevents you from work I have seen the time it did not [take?] [inclement?] weather to prevent you work. I cannot find [engolistic?] words to express my thanks at getting your letter. However I am glad to get a word of news from any of you and to you it is only practice in letter writting [writing?] letters and therefore a benefit to you to write once in a while You did not say in your last letter that you had to pay 5d for that one, I found out afterwards from the Post Master that it was overweight, but it was too late then; Dont get the idea that I am thinner than I was when I was home, I wish I was about the same, I am afraid I will be heavier in the winter but I weigh enough now,. I may spend another shilling and get a few more taken some day just as I am now, I think they would look better Miss E. C. Ballintyne wanted one of those but I wouldn't send one of them as I thought they were not good enough I am sorry that they have so much trouble with road (sic). I think I would be of the same opinion to get rid of it at march if possible There is too much work about it for the money We are going to have our High School commencement exercise on the 19 of Nov. this is an entertainment when the certificates is distributed etc I am on the Committee for the arrangement. and was [elected?] Chairman of Committee for plan of Hall and selling tickets There are six ladies under me selling tickets Tickets are 25c. We would not charge anything only that we want some money for to buy a new organ for School or else a piano, We have a [little?] 100 in treasury now, I shall send you last weeks papers and you see School news Woodslee people are all well I was not down last Sunday, I am going down this Friday Eve,. The weather is favourable [---?] [at?] this time of year neither warm nor cold We had an examination in latin -last week. I took fourth place with 63% Highest 83% We had Euclid today. Marks expect (sic) up in the morning; I think I will get about 75%. I think I told you that I appealed my Exam that I failed on. I received a reply the other day but my appeal was not sustained So I lost $2 as I had to pay that much for an appeal. I must do my best to pass clear next year although It will be much harder than this one It is Just bed time now so I must hurry up and finish this, How is mother you did not say if she was getting better, I think I shall close Good Bye J A Smyth, Essex To Willie J Haye Well Willie John I am much pleased to get a letter from you, and it is not a bad one either, you can compose and write pretty good for your age Now you forgot to tell me if you can play the fiddl [fiddle?] or dance, any more. I hope you learn your lessons well and get to be a good scholar and then you will be able to do something when you are a big boy. I suppose you have good fun at the old school; Can you point out on the Map where you think I am. Look next day if you can see St Lawerence [Lawrence?] river and then if you see [Lake Erie?] and in this point - that is where I am, We have lots of trees here, Some deer, and the little squirrels that you read about also you can see eagles flying around; and sometimes you can see wild animals in the woods, though not many around here, but farther west they have lions wolves and all those wild animals. We have lots of foxes here. I suppose you know that lessen [lesson?] in your book about the fox, The trains are very close to us. We see many of them every day and hundreds and hundreds of wild cattle passing every day in the trains Now we have no black bird nor magpie like you have Neither have we a thrush like you but we have a lot of variety of other birds Again we have no hills nor heathers Everything around here is a dead level and except where farmers have cleared the land it is all covered with great big trees and thickly growing We have no nice clear rivers Close to us like you have and no sports either, When you want Water you have to pump it out of the ground, There is lots of little boys and girls just like you here but I think you could beat the most of the dancing & singing through some of them are very smart at learning, Now see that you study your lessons well and beat all in your class, Now write again to me Your cousin J. A. Smyth. Newspaper Cutting Enclosed in the same envelope High School Notes A meeting of the High School football club was held on Monday Sept. 13th. The following offices were elected for the present term: Pres., G. McKee; Sec. Treas., S. Pizer; Captains, A. Gourlay and J. Edgar; Curator, W. Wightman. The following officers were elected for the Literary Society:- Pres., W. Wightman; Vice Pres., Miss E. Laing; Treas., M. Walton; Sec'y, Miss M. Rourke; Editor, K. Byron; Reporter, Miss S. Wortley; Critic, J. Smyth; Executive Committee, Misses J. Dewar and M. McRae, and Arthur Gourlay. The first meeting of the society will be held Friday evening 24th inst. Transcribed by Jim Buchanan Verified by Mohamed Souissy Validated by Lorraine Tennant |
