| Title: | Ernest Cochrane, Calgary to Katie Finlay, Holywood. |
|---|---|
| ID | 648 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cochrane, Ernest/8 |
| Year | 1898 |
| Sender | Cochrane, Ernest |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | provost sergeant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Calgary, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Finlay, Kate |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | uncle-niece? |
| Source | D 3504/1/15: Copied by Courtesy of Mr. A. D. Finlay |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9103160 |
| Date | 24/01/1898 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by B.W. 22:12:1993 |
| Word Count | 1397 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: Katie Finlay [Willesden?], [Holywood?]. [County Down?], From: Ernest Cochrane, The Barracks, Calgary, N. W. T. [North Weat Territories?], Canada, Jan 24th 98 [1898?] My dear, dear Katie I have just got your letter & before I answer the contents, I will tell you, that I got a very kind letter from John telling me of the sad news of Lily & about your being ordered to the south of France. Poor chap he was cut up & speaking of you said, "it will break my heart if anything happens her". He spoke of the trials & troubles that have fallen to your father & Mother & said that with all the sad news he had, he had spent the "meanest xmas" that ever came into his life. Needless to say I answered it at once. Then your brother Bob was so good in writing to me & saying my Xmas [Christmas?] card had arrived all right and of course I answered him as well. Just fancy me getting so many letters. And now for your own dear letter, that I was so glad to get. When I heard about your illness it made me feel very down hearted & I got restless & dissatisfied. and the prisoners I fear found me extra strict & stern. I have been thinking of you night a long: & if hopes & wishes could get you round again, well dear heart there would not be a stronger girl in the world. Your letter has cheered me, but I am afraid you are not strong enough to write so much. I have been #PAGE 2 all right since I wrote. Of course winter is on us & comfort is not the order of the day. There is no fire in my bedroom & I go to bed cold & have to break my washing water in the morning with an iron boot jack. Over half an inch of ice, during the night. But it agrees with me, & I sleep sound & wake up hungry. I am so glad you seem to have faith in the new treatment, but poor little woman how you must suffer Oh I do wish I could take the illness from you & leave you well & happy Invalides [invalids?] they say are to be [petted?] & not contradicted; but I may as well tell you right off that I am not going to call myself "a darling fellow" or anything like one either. I'm a nice old figure head to sail under a name like that. Why dear I am known from one end of these Territories ot the other, as the strictest Provost every [ever?] was in the force since it was started: and as for appearance __ with a hatchet & a piece of mahogany you could make a more pleasing face. All will tell you here that I am a man who seldom gives his friendship & if you knew me for years you would never really know me well. Now the above is the first case of mutiny against your Highness' commands & here's the second I am going to send this right off. Now that I know you are in the land of the living, do you think I could wait to send an answer; more particulary as you are weak & want amusement & brightening up. Not that I flatter myself my letters are of much account, but you seem to like to get them & there is nothing dear Katie, I would not do to smooth your path. God bless you little woman. Now I am going to speak seriously to you, you have far too good an opinion #PAGE 3 of me & think too highly of me in every way. I am very very far from being a good man and tho [though?] I try & live straight & do my duty. I am about as full of faults as they make them. Do you know when I read in your letters of praise for me, I feel shy & ashamed. For I know I don't deserve it; and I think far too highly of you to let you be decieved [deceived?] if I can help it. Mutiny the third: allow me to tell you that I was not thinking of anyone else, when I wrote that I thought of you as "nice & dainty & loveable". You are all that & more in my eyes. & thinking this of you, for you are all that is left me in the way of real friendship, has kept me straight for many a long day. As I could not bear to do anything that would make you ashamed of me. Poor dear Josie, when am I not thinking of the Ballintoy days. Well its good for a man to have a time like that in his life. It leavens [livens?] the rest of his dull days. What a break up of poor wishart's home. Its all too sad. He should never have married. I don't think half the people in this world think of the grave responsibility that rests on those who marry. And another thing I feel sure of, we are not half thankful enough for health & strength when we have them. This life of my (sic) these last 12 years has shown me the many sides there are to human life, in this little world of ours : and it often starts me thinking in a way my comrades would not give me credit for You ask me Katie not to fret about you. My dear I cant [can't?] help it. I do like you. You have been a lot to my life. I have got pleasure & good from your letters. You in your loving kindness have saved me from being a very #PAGE 4 lonely man. The stranger in a strange land "with a long & sad looking back does not seem bad when I know I have your loving sympathy & good wishes. In years after we may learn the "all for the best" lesson: but when trouble is pulling at one's heart strings, the fretting has come. Yes I would do anything to keep you strong. And that's just where the trial comes. I can do nothing. I want to cheer you if I can, I think I could if I was with you what talks we would have? Oh my knee is right, I knocked it out the day before Xmas [Christmas?], but that happens often and one gets used to anything in this world. I spent my Xmas [Christmas?] about 40 miles from here Had a very quiet time It was when I came back I found John's letter waiting for me. I dont [don't?] exactly know where the endurance comes from: but it took a lot to do me. Yet I cannot complain. As I am, with all behind & little for the future, hard life is the best of all. Don't think dear I am not happy. Many a one is far worse of [off?]: and far more deserving of the good things than I am. Its just grand to hear that those who ought to know think your throat is better. Tell that specialist that he wants to stretch himself & do his best. 90 [& 9?] would be about the number I should say!!! Well dear it puzzles me still, that I am writing to Katie Finlay. but we must get you well first & look over the above mentioned number! You dear wee thing you are kind to wish to see me again: but there is no use in thinking of the impossible. The "Pig" is just at present staring me out of #PAGE 5 countenance, as he generally does when I am indoors. He is just the same. I am his all. Honestly I think you & he have got between you all my affection. And I leave you to guess who has the biggest share I hope you wont tire of this long letter: but hearing from you has started me. Well dearest Katie I pray god that when this reaches you, health restored may be & that you have many & many a healthful & happy year before you. Give my kindest regards to your father & mother & with my love believe me Ever your friend Ernest Cochrane If you write to me, till you are feeling stronger, there is going to be trouble! You will hear from me soon again! |
