| Title: | Fife, William to Fife, Nixon and Fathy, 1860 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4336 |
| Collection | Oceans of Consolation [D. Fitzpatrick] |
| File | oceans/98 |
| Year | 1860 |
| Sender | Fife, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | small farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Drumcullion, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland |
| Destination | Australia |
| Recipient | Fife, Nixon and Fathy |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | father-children |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1271 |
| Genre | advice, news |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Drumcullion January 18th 1860 My Dear Children Nixon and Fathy The First account I red of your Landing was Mary Keenans Letter to her Father and Mother. She posted it the Day she expected you to Gobburn from Sydney and in two Days after that her letter came I received your Newspaper. It shewed me the Day you Landed in Sydney Octr. 4th. I also received all your Letters and one from Fathy From Birkinhead. Both of yous mentioned that yous saw me on the Quay of Derry when the Boat was going out. That was the second or third time that I stole Down as it were From I parted with yous. I kept at a distance thinking I might see you, in the Croud among the people. I did not Wish that either of yous would see me as I did not wish to have a second parting. The thoughts of parting with yous so preyed upon me that I wished the moment to arrive that I might have it past. My Dear Children you may think this ane of your Father. Althoug I parted with you in Body my heart and the affections of a Father went with yous. I thought I could have stopped in Foyle street untill the Boat would have gone away. But when I saw the her going away I hurried Down close to the side of the water thinking I might have got one sight of Fathys Black Bonnet or your Jacket as I would have Known either. I would have waved my hat and you your hand For 2 last time. But I could see neither thoug I looked with more Desire than the Watchman Doth for the Morning. I then came to the side of the wall where I Bid yous Farwell and I stood untill I could not Discern the the Liverpool Boat From the Glascow one. The cry of my heart at that moment was Farwell Farewell Farewell My Children though not one tear could I Drop. Yet many a silent one I have Droped to the present unknown to the world. I never think of the moment I was obliged to push you away from me my Dear Nixon but the Silent tears will Flow. I often wish I could Forget the moment I took my last look at yous Both, But it is not so. Recollecton is ever at hand with me and when I think and think again am I never to see either of yous in this Life this is what wounds my heart. The thoughts of this seems to haunt me like a spirit. Not But I am Grateful that ever there came an opportunity of yous going out to that Country Fathy in particular. I hope my Dear Children Neither of yous has Forgot my last Words Strive to meet mee at the right hand of God. I followed yous in imagination every Day of your tedious voyage I looked at yous Sometimes cast Down and sorrowful looking and ready to Say Why did I lave home For this state of confinement of Danger and alarm at other times Cheerfull and Gay Looking forward with Blooming hopes of reching the Desired harbour. By and By Land was seen Land Land was the General Cry of each passenger. After Sometime the long looked for Sydney appeerd Full in view. There was Grateful hearts and uplifted hands to the Allmighty God For his presevring care. My thoughts stell went Farther. I imagined I Saw yous Landed in Sydney Strangers in a Strange land young and unexperienced in the World. Gratitude I trust possessed Both your heart for the preserving care of God unto you, while passing over the the Foaming Billows. I received your Welcome Letter on the 14th of January 1860. I was sorry when I saw the expence that attended yous to Gobburn. It was well that you had your New: to be Forgotten friend MaryKeenan Before you. Your Mother and all the Children are well as when yous left us Thank the Lord most high for all his mercies unto us. Susan Keenan is well. Hughs health has Been Delicate Since the Winter commencd. He is getting Better. I Bought one Sack of Com andm.de n in med for Swan to have it Good for them. John has Drawn all the turf home for them. The are as Comfortable as the can expect. Your Mother Joins with me in Sending our Grateful Thanks and Best respects to Mary and Bessy, Mr. and Mrs. Newman and all their Family or anything that ever Belonged to Honest Hugh and Susan Keenan. All your Friends and neighbours are well as when you left home with the exception of Robert Campbell. He has Been poorly. He is recovering well. James Fife has Got Married to Margaret McCafrey two Miles Beyond Enniskellen on the Florencecourt road. She is seventeen years of age. James is the old James still. We had the worst harvest For the last 20 years. We had all safe Before the Break came. Our oats is little Good and potatoes three parts of them are rotten. The Drills was worth all the rest. We could Dig 23 Creels of the Drills in one Day and Draw them home. We had Fourteen Barrels of Wheat and 4 Stone. We Got £1-6s per Barrell. It came to £18-9-0. The Straw came to £3-0-9. 3-0-9 £21-9-9 all came to. I took it to Enniskillen in one Day. We had a Big Day in Mrs. Irvines Down the Lane you Know at tea. We had Al[e]x. Fife and James. While they were enjoying themselves I was thinking about you, when I saw a Drawing or picture of the Great Eastern Steamship in Mrs. Irvines room. She is 680 Feet long 88 Feet Broad 60 Feet from the Keel to the Deck 4 Decks 22500 tons Burden. The Caribou was only a Fishing Boat to her. We sold all the pigs Big and Little the came to £20-6s-6d. John got £1-15s for Black Teady. We have the Horse yet. We could not sell him to advantage. I got a twisted Bit made at the Forge and it is half inch thick. With it we can hold him he is very usefull. My Dear Nixon in the handlin of horses if ever Glanders or Fevery comes across you Stand off it on the peril of your life. It is incurable in man or horse and as Infectious as the small pox. Wm Armstrong of Laragh Shot three horses in the Button Percy [?farcy buds]. And as I told you My Dear Nixon Beware of any employment that would Endanger your Life or health. Let me Know how you stand the heat or Does your head ache or your Nose Bleed. John Ball is [in] Melbourne. Mr Francis Got two Newspapers from him. James darks Brother is in the Melbourne police. He would not advise him or Eliza to go there. She has a young son. Monekee people are all well. I hear only midling accounts From that Country. Now my Dear Children I must soon quit talking to yous for want of ro[o]m. Take the Best care yous can of your selves. Keep Good Company Keep Sober be Faithful to your Employers who ever the may be. When you write Send me as long a letter as this one. Your Mother and all the children Sends their loves to yous. The Lord Be your Consolation and your Guide is the prayer Day and Night of your affection[a]te Father Wm Fife |
