| Title: | M Smyth, Canada to J. J. Smyth, Co Tyrone |
|---|---|
| ID | 2961 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/33 |
| Year | 1902 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | student |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian) |
| Origin | Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | writes to her family |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0312001 |
| Date | 07/08/1902 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 03:12:2003. |
| Word Count | 1232 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dear People I have been going to write every day but never did it. So I thought I would make a start today. We are all well here Jim has been down since Saturday He is helping Uncle a little He has got all his hay in and now he is cutting his oat's they are two days at the oats and will have cut 10 acres today. and has five more to cut He has a man driving the binder and three horses and he and Jim set's up after it. I have not seen the binder work yet but I am going back today to see it. The weather here has been pretty wet this last while. They say they had not a summer like this one for a long time with rain not very much Indian corn this year as the rain had the fields covered with water. Jim and I are thinking of going to the Niagara falls on Saturday on excursion rates [2$?] and back I dont know whether we shall go yet or not. Fred and [boss?] are thinking of going too and others from the village. I would like to go but I dont like spending so much money. We would leave here about 5'o clock in the morning and reach there about 2 in the evg [evening] and we would not get back to about 5 or 7'o clock Sunday morning The Methodist Sunday School Picnic is going to be on Wednes [Wednesday?] 13th, that will be another day at the lake. Jim wants me to get a bathing dress but that would be more cost. I have been asked to go down and spend a few days at the lake with the campers "The Allison's but I dont know whether I will or not. Annie was out last week for a few days and during that time one day Glenn fell about 18 ft in the barn he was up on top of the hay he and the rest of the boys were playing and he was for coming down and missed his footing someway and fell. His face swelled up and his knee was hurt. everyone thinks he got off well when he was not killed. Annie got a scare when they heard the yell she went out and saw him covered with blood his nose was bleeding and she thought he was killed. Sunday was Sacrament Sunday down here in the M. [Methodist?] Church. I wanted to go so I got Jim to go with me They dont take it the same as at home. I had great work to get Jim to go with me. He has got to be one that don't care much for going to church. I don't think he goes very much in Essex but he wants me to go do Essex High school so I'll have him go more then. He says he will resign the principalship if I dont go back to Essex High School. So I have decided to go there instead of Leamington. I would rather go To Leamington but perhaps it is as well not to as his sister I expect would be talking. School starts Sept 1st so not very long to that now. Jim could have earned $100 during holidays if he had liked by selling those telescope views he thinks he will get out now for the remaining time. I [was?] saying he should have been at it since school closed. But he is not very particular about money. $1 dont seem very much to him I suppose you have all the hay up now and I expect will soon be at the corn not so many hands as were there last year. How is Bella getting along [&c?] Jim was telling me that he was thinking of going to South Africa he would get $3 a day I think he said. I think he owes me a letter now. I wrote to T hay a few days ago to flatter him that I may get a few of those ostrich feathers Well I see the 12th passed over quietly there Wed by the paper it was not so in every place. Jim has just come in from the Post Office with a lot of Mail four letters for himself and a bundle of papers from home. I am just after reading the Rambler he has still a funny piece in whoever he is Jim got a letter from Maggie MacFarlane she would like us to call on her sometime she says she would be very glad to see us. He also rec. [received?] one from John James Hayes and also his photo [& the Mrs?]. He invited us down to spend part of our holidays as he says he would like to have a talk about home. But I m afraid we can't go. just now. Jim also got one from Essex an invitation to a party tomorrow evg [evening?]. a party for a young couple who has just got married lately and is returning from their honey moon. So he is for going up to Essex tonight. He has gone out to shovel up some oats now. I see Tilda has her annual [fits?] yet. I dont know whether she owes me a letter or that I owe her one. but I must look and see. Is there much work to do inside the house now how many pigs? and how many cows are milking? I believe I would do more work now if I was there than what I did do before. If they had just only things the same as they have them here. How is [G?]. Russell. I suppose as much fun as ever. Our folks should get a reaper or they should wait and get a binder and save less work I must hurry up as it is near dinner time. I dont remember anymore to tell you but its likely I will when I have it closed and I expect to get a letter tonight when this one is gone. I have not got one since the one about the 12th. I had a letter from Bella Campbell from Donemana and she was telling me the [time?] she had & that she was going for two weeks to the shore to where Mrs Parcbell was. She said she saw [J C?]. at the Donemana Church the Sunday before that was the Sunday before the 12th I suppose he visits all round now. Good Bye M Smyth (Written down the left handside of the last page) I thought Liza s last letter was interesting because She told me all I like to hear about every thing. (Top of first page) P.S. I believe [McC?] folks have a nice place where [they?] are now Maggie is still at home. They are 12 miles from Belfast and 3 miles from Larne and 1 mile from the railway Station. P. was home for 10 days and he says it is not so hard to get to a [Cranagh?] I had a terrible dream here one night I thought I saw men coming all round to shoot us and I thought that we just had to stand there and do nothing. the same night Jim dreamed that father is dead. It is not very often I dream such dreams and [I?] [be?] afraid for a long time after. Transcribed by Greg Floyd |
