| Title: | Bell Weir, California to "Dear Sister" |
|---|---|
| ID | 3229 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Weir, Isabella/50 |
| Year | 1890 |
| Sender | Weir, Isabella (Bell) |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | asylum attendant |
| Sender Religion | Episcopalian |
| Origin | Stockton, California, USA |
| Destination | Michigan, USA |
| Recipient | Weir, Annie |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | sisters |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mrs Linda Weir, Tirmacspird, Lack, Co.Fermanagh, BT93 OSA. |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park |
| Doc. No. | 9906147 |
| Date | 09/09/1890 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 30:06:99. |
| Word Count | 556 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Stockton Sept 9th 1890 Dear Sister I went to the post office this afternoon and got your letter It did me lots of good as I was suffering from one of my blue spells you may say I got a soft job when I tell you all I have to do is to go on duty at ten I have every other evening off until that time The first round I see that all the doors are locked and ring an electric clock that is on each ward to show you visited there whether you waited to do more than ring the bell or not They have temporary beds that the [they?] use every night so we do not have to visit any patients room for the purpose of waiting on them if the [they?] are suicidal They are muffed & belted and put in an open room The [They?] call them pen rooms where the doors are all made of straight slats so you can see plainly through them without opening the door all the waiting I have to do on them is give them a drink once in a while I never dip my hand in water except to wash my face well you say that just suits you it does to perfection We have a diningroom for attendants where they have quite nice food Then at Twelve when we get back from our first round I visit 11 Wards and do it half an hour The nightwatchman is married a very nice man I am real sorry he is as I like him very much he builds the fire for us and we have beefsteak and mutton chops to cook which we like we have our own tea and coffee that is the nightwatch have the privelege [privilege?] of taking anything the [they?] want we have lots of water melon The nightwatchman likes them and found out that I like them too So he puts one on the ice every morning it is just nice to eat at night There is about six hundred lady patients The lowest pay the [they?] give here is thirty doll I have a lovely room furnished elegantly with a handsome Brussels carpet on the floor I am not sorry I left pontiac with all its endearments Willie was up to see me one day last week Gentlemen nightwatchmen I believe get sixty doll Oh I have just fell in love with this place I am quite surprised to hear of so many changes but do not blame If I give up my old friends I have lots of new ones I do not care to write to [Justes?] I believe that she just ached to get Hall 12 I wish her lots of success If I like it here and in the course of time get you a place would you think of coming out here Willie is quite anxious to have you come I am looking for a letter from home I got that letter you spoke of and was pleased to get so much news I have that ring of [Lon?] but she has one of my pictures my pen is real poor I hardly know whether you can read this or not it is drawing towards four so I must close Hoping to hear from you soon Bell |
