| Title: | Mary J. W, [?] to J. A. Smyth, Ontario |
|---|---|
| ID | 3144 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | W, Mary J/2 |
| Year | 1909 |
| Sender | W., Mary J. |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | teacher |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Port Hope, Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Essex, Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James A. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, |
| Doc. No. | 505035 |
| Date | 23/1/1909 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 25:05:2005. |
| Word Count | 1083 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr. Jas. A. Smyth Essex Ontario. [Stamped] PORT-HOPE PM JAN [09?] [Stamped over Envelope] JAN 23 1909 [Handwritten] Ans [Answered?] [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] [ESSEX?] JA 11 09 ONT. [Page 1] My dear James Alexander:- We are a bright pair- Foolish misunderstandings- unnecessary diffidence- and [seeming?] fear lest one will give in a bit more than the other Life is so short for this sort of thing. Your letter, which came to-day wored [worried?] me to prompt reply as you probably notice. Let me try to clear things up First - You seem to lay [Page 2] a great deal of stress on the fact that I failed to answer your letter at once - As it was I only took two weeks and do you not recollect - or can you not, the many times that you did not send a letter Eastward and for two or three weeks, when perhaps I would have liked one too - Now James Alex. would it not have been as sensible for me to imagine that you had ceased to write at those times - as for you to think this once, that I had severed our friendship so suddenly However it was not to imitate your tardiness that I delayed [Page 3] replying - Many things intervened – of which there is no need of writing, as they were purely home and personal affairs. But listen, had your letter [intimated?] that you thought of coming for New Years [sic] I certainly would have sent you a note; but in it you explained why you could not get away during the Christmas week and said that you could not take holidays until the first of the year. Now I knew that I left on January the second, so concluded that you meant that you could not get down while I was there - What need then of writing at once? I will fess [confess?] up, I was disappointed that I did not see you at vacation time for it would have been a pleasure to talk over what has happened since September - from, as you say even a mere friendship part of view. However I asked you and you seemingly could not come, so what was there to be done- Now about my inferred opinion [Page 4] of you -I think you are to say the least a bit unfair. I have said, I did think you might have got down to the Saintly City - but I certainly never entertained a thought of any present as you suggest - If you'll pardon me for saying it - I think you were a bit rude to suggest such an idea - I certainly never gave you any reason to think so In truth the thought never entered my head - Was it a guilty conscience that made you think of it? - It need not, as far as I am concerned [Page 5] you did not say and I did not know.- Besides - if girls want flattery etc etc - as you say, this must be a different girl - for I certainly do not.- Nothing but consideration. - You want that too - unless you have changed since I knew you - so what is the difference? But now it is all over for this time. We did not see each other as we might have - The regret was probably mutual and equal - But there will be other times surely - So your mother is still ill I am very sorry and agree with you that it would be right to go, as soon as possible.- It would probably spare you lifelong regret.- In a letter from home which I received yesterday, they told me of father’s offer in a business way in Winnipeg.- Consequently they are considering seriously the change and the move. In that case it will be Westward ho! when the end of June comes - unless as Mr. [Angler?] suggested - my turn [Page 6] on the examining board comes this year - and even then - for according to the all wise [counsel?]- that is a tedious business. I appreciate your feelings in regard to the dance here - they have had to postpone it until Jan. 21st. I don’t feel terribly enthusiastic but I may be persuaded to go. I am a bit out of sorts this week I'll admit- about the cause I can scarcely [Page 7] tell you in a letter, for you would wilfully [willfully?] misunderstand I fear - but when I see you – If I ever am to, it will come out. The Inspector still threatens - I do hope that he may come soon, so it will be over,- It is my old friend Mr Wetherell - so I trust he will not bother me much since he has seen my attempts twice before. Yes, I know about Mr [Wisener's?] good fortune. It is certainly fine for them they will appreciate the change most decidedly. [Page 8] And then about my supposed belief that you were having a bit of fun at my expense for a year or so - why should I think that?- Did I not have the fun too?- Are we not even on that score - I think so? I enjoyed our acquaintanceship as much as you - I think; People wondered if it were so - I know but I did - That was my own affair and is now - so why should I have any grudge against you on that ground? I am sure I have not.- I am sorry about New Year's [sic] but if you will think you'll see it was your fault this time [Page 9] Poor old Essex is gradually losing the bulwark of its strength - Mr Geddes ought [aught?] to become wealthy now or will there be someone new, come in? I wonder is Kate back in Peterboro [Peterborough?]. She did not say when she wrote when she was going to go back. Had I known that she was there [to?] day, I would have gone over I believe to shake off this feeling of - what? cussedness I guess? As it is, I'll go for a skate instead for usually that is a good cure.- But now I must dire adieu Ecrivez-moi bientot et aussi souvent que possible, s'il vous plait car, arrive ce qu il [fuisse?], nous devons etre des amis, n'est ce pas? [qublions?] ce qu’il est arrive' et seyons heureux - sayez bon - toujours. Sincerely Yours Mary J. W. Did you ever finish "Lucile"? I wonder why I Port Hope ask? Friday Eve. Transcribed by Greg Floyd |
