| Title: | McIlrath, James L to McIlrath family, 1875 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4508 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/27 |
| Year | 1875 |
| Sender | McIlrath, James L |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Southbridge, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Destination | Killinchy, Co. Down, Northern Ireland |
| Recipient | McIlrath family |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 389 |
| Genre | reflection on time, church, photographs, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Southbridge January 31st 1875 Father, Mother & Brothers I now write to let you know that we are all well (thanks be to the giver of all good). Hope you are all well and that the year 1875 may be so enjoyed and spent and that blessings may be abundantly received and gratefully acknowledged so that when it has passed away we may look back upon it with pleasure and not regret. Year by year rolls on Time cannot be flattered to stay a little longer, but this we can do, we may use it to advantage to ourselves here, and more so with advantage to ourselves in the great hereafter. You may think that I have turned Methodist, no I am as sound a Unitarian as when I left Killinchy although I never heard a Unitarian sermon since we have a very eloquent little Presbyterian clergyman here but I must confess that I cannot believe all he says, it is a bold assertion for I unlearned to make against it may be the Lords annointed possessed of talent and learning but conscience must be obeyed. I received the likeness of Father and Mother and again that of you William, Mrs also, boy and girl. You Father I would not have known but I should have you Mother Time does not seem to have changed you so much You William I would not have known either and as for your Mrs I may have seen her at home but not that I am aware of the boy and girl tells tales no wonder that all of us should look different when another generation is taking our place. I enclose my own and Mrs and I suppose you will find that time has changed me much. I will send you some of the family first opportunity. I could not take them so far to be taken we have now four, John, Jane, William and Robert. I do not know Father and Mother if you have got an easy cart to go out in but next time I write I will send you a post office order for what will buy one. I should like to see the likeness of John, Mrs and Family I hope they are well. Hoping this will find you all in good health I am your obed. J L McIlrath |
