| Title: | O'Donnell, Annie to Phelan, James, 1901 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6240 |
| Collection | Your Fondest Annie: Letters from Annie O'Donnel to James P.Phelan [A. O'Donnell] |
| File | fondestan/3 |
| Year | 1901 |
| Sender | O'Donnell, Annie |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | children's maid |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Spring Lake, New Jersey, USA |
| Destination | Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Recipient | Phelan, James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 631 |
| Genre | travelling, homesickness, friends |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Spring Lake, N.J. August 25th, 1901 Dear Jim, Our time in Spring L. is coming to an end sooner than we expected as our folks have now decided to spend a few weeks at the mountains before going home. I am rather sorry as I like the ocean and the seashore in general much better than any other place. But still it will be a change for us, as a person naturally gets tired of the same thing. Spring L. is a very quiet place and to a certain extent monotonous. Not very much to divert the attention, but for nature's admirers, I hardly think there is any other place that supplies more food for both thought and admiration, and for those wishing to spend a few months quietly, it is second to none. There are lakes, rivers etc. in the vicinity, just beautiful with lots of fishing and rowing, but to me none will ever be dearer than that beautiful ocean. I love to sit on the sands and listen to the roar of its waters. Yes, it sounds far sweeter than the sweetest music while again it recalls but too well the memories of by gone days. Alas! days never to return. It alone can only tell of the many happy days I spent by its waters in dear old Galway, and for one such day, I would now give almost anything. They were the days when my heart was light and happy, and it was there also I slept and dreamt that life was beauty and from that sleep I woke and found in America that life was duty. Fate is cruel to some at least it was so to me, for when it placed the Atlantic between me and those I loved, it stamped a mark on my life never to be forgotten. What good does anything afford you when you have a dear Mother that you cannot see? Jim, do you mind that night when you told us of your leaving home, how I cried, yes, fit to break my heart, for I know then, as I do now, what parting with a Mother meant. That same night we expected a storm. We all felt kind of downhearted, but consoled ourselves with the thought that the nearest and dearest must part. Well, I think I have said enough about sad things tonight, but it seems to me all my letters now-a-days are sad. I wish your sister had stopped off at Pittsburgh for you know I would be very glad to see her. Ellen, my friend that I wrote you of, is not Irish but comes from Chester, England, a catholic and a nice sensible woman about ten years older than I. You know, Jim, I wouldn't give her for all the Irish girls I have ever met. She has been in this country for years and now talks of going back. I hate to think of that, for when she goes, I will lose a dear friend and one that has always taken a deep interest in all my doings so that with perfect confidence I can tell her anything I please. Well, Jim, my picture I certainly will send as soon as possible, but I may have to get some taken as I am not sure whether I have any left or not, but I wish you would not wait for me to send mine as I would like to have yours very much. Now I hope you will excuse this hasty note, Jim, and write me very soon again as we expect to leave here about the eleventh of next month, and I would like to have an answer before leaving, so now with kindest regards to all I remain as ever, Annie |
