| Title: | [Mary Smyth?], St. Thomas, to "Dear Sister" |
|---|---|
| ID | 2917 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/7(2) |
| Year | 1903 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | student |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian) |
| Origin | Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smyth, Eliza C. |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | sisters |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0410272 |
| Date | 29/02/1903 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 29:10:2004. |
| Word Count | 1164 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | "Personal Letter" St. Thomas, Box 1103, E.C.S. [Eliza Catherine Smyth?] Feby, [Febuary?] 29th, 1903 "Dear Sister" Just got your letter Friday and it has made me feel that I want to go home. That soiree you had seems to have been a success I only wish I could have been present I can imagine I see it all moving Well that night I was skating and fell so that is all I was doing. Well I am suprised to to [sic] hear of Bella and you dancing so little where was Davie that he did not dance with her and also all the other old boys. You did not say anything about Andy McClelland but I presume he was present I see the stewards were most of them fresh. I suppose Andy J. would be somewhat jealous to see those other boys so important. Did he sing "it is funny when you feel that way."? Were the Dunbar girls there from Letterbratt.? I suppose Joe McKelveys girls are the whole thing now I suppose Wm [William?] Noble will have nothing to say about Bob Campbell now. Who is [Jamey?] Mc. keeping with now I would have liked to hear how they were all situated Well as to sarah's death it seems somewhat strange such a strong big girl to go so quick I don't see why some of you women didn t go up [as?] I expect you would be more needed than [Page 2] the men as you know under such circumstances you are always glad to have some to come, But I suppose you couldn t get away at such a time, It was a kind of ----- to come from the funeral and have a soiree So soon after her death and [tu-y?] a near relation too. By what you say I suppose Bella wont be long after her, Is Lizzie going back to Edinburgh; I expect Willie will miss her perhaps it will bring Aunt to common tune, Now as Annie remarked today that that is a death in each of the families only ours and I hope it may remain so. I wrote to Bella and told her of sarah's death after I got the paper so Annie got a letter from her today so she allowed me to give her the full particulars when I got them so I have just written her a letter tonight, It was only at Xmas holidays that she was showing me a letter she got from Sarah after she was over there Well I must tell you what kind of weather we have here now the snow has never got away yet but it is gradually, going today The day was sleet and rain and wind the trees are weighted down and many branches are broken off. In some places the street and side walk (especially were [where?] it is low) is all covered with water, I went to school but before I got there if I had been at home I wouldn t have gone as I got my feet wet and I had a cold before so I had to [throw?] off when I got home all my wet cloths as in this country we have to be careful and not get wet, I don't know how I will do when I go back home as I cannot bear to have my skirts wet nor my feet but I suppose I will have to get used to it again [Page 3] I see you had enough of fiddlers at the soiree Daniel must be laid aside now altogether with his young learners. What does he do and how is he getting along with his wife. What does Willie George Campbell look like now I remember how I used to hate him but those are all days that are no more. I suppose none of them now would ever look near me if I was there I would likely sit all night and not get a dance. That would be changed times wouldn't it. That is the way everything changes. Here everyone admires and says, "oh,! what a nice looking girl she is if she wasn't so big I would set my cap for her" This is what Iv'e been told but that is all it amounts too [to?] when I'm out in the street with Miss Bella Campbell she is nice looking [with?] a [fair?] [skin?], rosy cheeks and black somewhat curly hair but she is short They think we are a nice looking pair of girls But they never put their words to action. Jim thinks I should be getting married but he can't imagine that I [can?] get married all alone and then I am very particular [who?] that lucky one will be. This is Tuesday I have been reading over what I wrote last nights [sic], and it seems a kind of silly stuff. I have got over my temptation to go home, I always get homesick when I get a letter containing any news such as this one. I may not think of going now for a long time again, I have a good time here I don't think it would be as good at home, but [Page 4] I would just like to go over for a week anyway, I was not going to send what I wrote last night but I guess I will you can imagine under the circumstances the mood I was in so you need not take it for granted that I'm always the same it is not so. I did not go to school today so therefore I am spending my time writing It froze last night and today Charlie was up town and he says the people are all walking but in the middle of the street the sidewalks being all ice so I think I'm as well at home as perhaps I would fall and break some of my bones. Well I suppose you are aware that this is the 1st day of March another month to Easter, I think Jim is coming down, Annie also wanted [Belle?] [&?] Uncle to come & let Fred & Cass look after the things but Belle said so in her letter yesterday that she thought both of them couldn't come. I see you are ploughing there I was telling Charlie & he laughed They will be long before they can plough here [as?] I suppose the ground is frozen about four or five ft [feet?], Did you have any snow there at all. I suppose no snow balling either, Well now in so much snow here I have not any more than once lifted a snowball but quite a few of the boys snowballs [sic] coming from school. It is too cold to snowball your hands would be frozen first thing. [Written along the side of Page 1] PS. I wish some of the rest of them would write once in a while what is John C [John Charles?] doing. If you would even tell me then remarks about me that might do as well. MS [Mary Smyth?] Transcribed by Gordon Drummond |
