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Title: McIlrath (n. Atkinson), Eliza to McIlrath family, 1878
ID4515
CollectionThe McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.]
Filemcilrath/34
Year1878
SenderMcIlrath (n. Atkinson), Eliza
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationhousewife
Sender Religionunknown
OriginKowai Pass, Canterbury, New Zealand
DestinationKillinchy, Co. Down, Northern Ireland
RecipientMcIlrath family
Recipient Gendermale-female
Relationshipdaughter-in-law - parents-in-law
Source
Archive
Doc. No.
Date
Partial Date
Doc. Type
Logunknown
Word Count464
Genrevisit, family, gifts, birth
Note
TranscriptKowai Pass
May 14th 1878

My Dear Father and Mother
I scarcely know how to address you after being so long without
writing to you but I did not like to write till after I had seen Mr
Matthews and the parcel you kindly sent us.
So now I must let you know that I have had the pleasure of having a
visit from Mr Matthews Mr James McIlrath and Mr Robert McIlrath
and I can assure you I think a deal of them we spent a couple of very
pleasant days together. Both James and Robert is looking well and
hearty I told you in my last letter about poor James being ill he has
had a very sore arm and it took a long time to get better he suffered
a great deal with it but thanks to higher powers he is better now and
was able to come and see us on the 24th of last month April. Mr
Matthews would not come until James was able to come along
with him.
Now I must say a little about the parcel Dear Mother and sister
how kind of you to take such a lot of trouble to make all of those little
things as neatly and nicely which you sent to little Janey I wish you
could see her she is so proud of them because they came from her dear
grandmama and her aunty. John Robert and Hamilton Thomas is
delighted with their presents. John thinks a deal of his Bible he tells
the rest of the children they must not have his Bible because he got it
from his dear grandpapa and says he must take good care of it he says
his grandpapa is very kind little Hamilton was very much delighted
with his glass we all drank out of it the night we got it.
Dear Mother and Father Hamilton thinks a great deal of the book
William sent him he is busy reading it tonight in fact both Hamilton and myself thinks and say you have all been a deal kinder than what
we deserve. I hope we shall be able to repay you a little some day.
Hamilton was very sorry we could not send a reply to Williams last
letter but he could not think of writing until he could send good news
of James being better. We think a great deal of your portraits which
we got from home. I think they have been taken very nicely your little
girls look very graceful and pretty and I think the little baby boy looks
so nice, we call our last boy James after his uncle James he is a fine
little fellow he is just seven months old and very like his father ....