| Title: | Fife, William to Fife, Fathy, 1865 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4342 |
| Collection | Oceans of Consolation [D. Fitzpatrick] |
| File | oceans/104 |
| Year | 1865 |
| Sender | Fife, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | small farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Drumcullion, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland |
| Destination | Sydney, Australia |
| Recipient | Fife, Fathy |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | father-daughter |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1115 |
| Genre | news, farming, emigration |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Drumcullion December 10th. 1865 My Dear Fathy I am sure you are Becomeing uneasy By this time By not getting a letter long ere now. I lost no time in Doing every thing in my power. The were long of Getting the Captains Letter. The left Enniskillen 20th of Novr and the were in Birkenhead the next Day all safe. I hope I will never witness such a parting as that was every one Bewailing their own. I thought I would be case har[de]ned to such scenes But no, that Farewel Brought to mind all the Former ones with me. Thomas Heaslip is with Eliza and James and two of the Croziers of Ballinamallard and many others From Below Irvinestown. One of them it is Margaret Robinson Elizas Comrade. The Name of the Ship is the Africana. I had two letters From Eliza. She says the ship is a very uncomfortable place a hard Bed and the tea not very sweet. She says she would prefer the old porridge and plenty of Good milk and the open Fields to walk in to any thing she has seen in the Africana as yet. I hope she will Bear up and Be resigned to her situation for a time. The Sailed about the 1st Day of December according to the last account I had. It is a Dreary time to Go out if it Could be otherwise. I think you need not Expect them in Sydney Sooner than the First of March that would Be Ninety Days Sailing. You and Nixon went in Eighty Nine Days, and John and George was Ninety Eight Days Sailing. In order to relieve your anxious mind I would have wrote By the last mail But I was wishful to see them set out First as I Know you will [be] uneasy about their Ditainment so long. I have sent you the Hymn Book. I hope it will please you when you see it. I sent to the Wesleyan Conference Office London for it By one of our preachers. It is the Best print and the Best Bound Hymn Book I have Seen, it was only Five Shillings price. I have sent you the Trillick Tragedy. The map will show you the place on the Line where the two Engines was thrown of the rails. Let Mr Gibson read the Book if he is one of the right sort of Protestants. And also My likeness it is not as well Done as yours, it shows my care worn thoughtfull Looking appearance. Wm Ball sends a Bundle of Newspapers. Give Mr Henry Ball some of them and my best respects to him also. I hear that Nixon and him are on the railroad. We are all well at present thank God For all his mercies. I suffer a little From Cramps in my legs, yet I am highly Favoured of the Lord. My Dear Fathy I have Given Eliza the Best advice I could to take care of her self on voyage and to Keep her mind to her self. We have made her as Comfortable as was in our power to go out in the Dead of the year. I told her if she would live to see you to be advised by you and to take your advice. As the Boys Did not Give themselves much trouble about taking her out the will not have much Interest in Welfare if she was there. Elisas manner is a little coarse I must acknowledge. Nevertheless she never shamed her Father more than any of the rest of yous thank God. My Dear Fathy it is not Every Father in this Country can say so of his Children. I have seen Twelve Sons and Five Daughters. Wm. Ball has often said to me that my Children never shamed me and I hope the will never do any thing that will shame themselves. Many a Solemn prayer I have offered to God in their Behalf. To present God has heard and answered my request and I trust ever will. My Dear Fathy, its no small Consolation to me to hear By Mrs Newman in writing to Susan Kenan of your Good Conduct since you went to that Country, and of how well you are thought of By your present Master and his Family. If we Dont have S[e]lf respect for ourselves the World will not respects us. You have Done your Duty to Eliza. God will reward you I trust and your Kindness to me. Eliza said she would he advised by you. I Bilieve it was my last words to her and to meet me in Heaven. She seemed to be satisfied with what I had Done for her. I sold the Horse before she went away and I gave her the price of him sowed up in her stays. It was not much I Got for him only three pounds it was all the remedy I had. I hope she will be able to Get From Syney to Goaburn herself as I gave her ten Shillings to Keep her pocket after paying her fare From Enniskillen to Liverpool. I hope you will write By the First Mail after Eliza Gets to you as I will be waiting with Joyful Expectation. Let me know how George is and how he is Doing. Many an anxios thought he Cost me and many a Silent tear althoug he may not often think [of] me. Be that as it may I cannot Forget him nor any of yous. Tell the Boys I think the might write oftener than the Do. It would not cost them nuch and, according the course of Nature the will not have long to write to me. I am now three Score and three years old and by and By some Friend or Neighbour will write to them their Father is no more. I hope Nixon will be take Care of himself on the railroad as Dangerous employment. There was Eight men kiled on the Irvinestown Line while it was Making. I hope the Lord will preserve him. There was two Men kiled of the Engine May last at Drumgay Bridge. It was a Luggage train the Driver and the Fireman and two or three Bullocks. The train ran off the Line and ran against the Bank and turned up side Down. I never saw such a site. She Bent the rails like a scollop. You will Excuse this Scribble as I Done it with a Candle in the place you were once Familiar with the inside of the Jam[b] wall on the Little Seat young Johston made. Your affectonate Father Wm Fife |
