| Title: | O'Donnell, Annie to Phelan, James, 1904 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6297 |
| Collection | Your Fondest Annie: Letters from Annie O'Donnel to James P.Phelan [A. O'Donnell] |
| File | fondestan/60 |
| Year | 1904 |
| Sender | O'Donnell, Annie |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | children's maid |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Miami, Florida, USA |
| Destination | Pittsburgh, Penn., USA |
| Recipient | Phelan, James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 799 |
| Genre | correspondence, weather, holiday |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Stationery of Hotel Royal Palm, Biscayne Bay, Florida] February 28, 1904 My dear Jim, So you are really in Pittsburgh, and I am glad of it. Isn't it nice to think that you will be there and quite at home with the different places when I get back. You don't know how homesick your last letter made me and how I would have enjoyed the trip to Connors. You know, I am quite surprised at you not getting my letters. I think it is so queer as I got every one of yours, but perhaps they have reached you by this time. I wonder if you are writing to me tonight or what you are doing. I hope you are not lonely, and I am glad you moved from the hotel, and won't I be glad when we get ready to leave this one. Nearly every night when Ellen and I have done the work for the day and the little ones are in bed, we sit in my room and talk and maybe you are not often spoken of. Ellen and Mrs. Walters and Rose some time ago were sitting in the nursery in Pittsburgh and in some way you were mentioned, so they said if you ever came, what they wouldn't give to see us meet. Between your uncle and Mrs. W. and Ellen, it was often discussed, and I believe they would have gone to the Union Station unknown to me, but now we can have the joke on them. Ellen says she will write to Mrs. Walters, so they will fix it up between them, but ere we are through with Florida, you will be well-acquainted with our streets. I wonder if you will be any where near old Bayard St. I hope the weather is getting milder now as it has been quite a severe winter. Talk about summer! Why, for the last four weeks we were right in it, and it is getting hotter every day. I am surprised there are not sunstroke cases. The natives claim sunstroke is unknown, but instead malaria is very prevalent in some parts, inland and near swampy places. We are out on the bay and get the good ocean breezes; yet, about noon, the heat is so intense that it is almost unbearable. Towards sundown it again cools off and in the evening it is beautiful. We go for a walk along the beach every evening after supper with the children, and it is so glorious on a moonlight night. How you would enjoy it if you were here, and you can rest assured that you are not forgotten for whenever one thing pleases me, it is then I miss you most. My little girl Rachel has taken quite a fancy to your picture since we came here. She and I sleep together, and the first thing in the morning she goes to the dresser and takes your picture and kisses it and then runs to me and cross-questions me. She says she really likes Jim, but he takes her Annie away. I told her you would see her very soon, and the dear little thing put her arms about me and said she likes her Annie better than anyone in the world. Well now, dear Jim, I must finish up as things are about the same here and as usual I am wondering how you are getting along and if there is anything you would like me to get you here. If you go to the Mellon house to see the girls, you ask Rose to show the picture of our boat as I am afraid I'll not be able to get any this year. I suppose you went to the Sacred Heart Church today and wonder if you remember the day you and I knelt there together. Don't forget to remember me very kindly to Mr. and Mrs. Reese and little George. By the way, you will see Jap as he wrote to Mrs. Mellon and said he couldn't get work, so I suppose he will stay on half pay till we return. I wrote to your uncle today and will soon write to Rose and Mrs. Walters. I am glad you like her. She is real nice and writes the nicest letters. She tries to make the time pleasant for us if she can. Won't they have a lot to say when we get back. Write a long letter, Jim, and tell me how you are doing. So now with the fondest love, Jim I remain as ever Annie xxxxxxx P.S. Ellen wants me to tell you there are so many attractive girls in Pittsburgh that you must be careful not to notice any of them. She sends her kindest regards and best wishes. |
