| Title: | Ernest Cochrane, to Miss K [Katherine?] Finlay, County Down. |
|---|---|
| ID | 651 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cochrane, Ernest/14 |
| Year | 1899 |
| 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 | T.3504/1/21: Copied by courtesy of Mr. A. D. Finlay. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310403 |
| Date | 04/02/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C.R., 14:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 1524 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | THE BARRACKS CALGARY, N.W.T. CANADA FEB [FEBRUARY?] 4th 99. [1899?] My dearest Katie How good of you to write me the long, kind letter I got this morning. You have the gift of writing nice, bright, readable letters: and they are a great joy & comfort to your old friend "Scally". Indeed things would not be over-pleasant for me, if I did not hear from you. I am glad the photo got to you safely: and that you are pleased with it. To me it is a very flattering likeness of myself. As to the peculiar look of the eyes - it is owing to having been "snow blind" several times when riding on the prairie. Once you get this you have the habit of closing the eyelids. "Pig" is brown, with curly hair. If you look closely at the photo you will see that which you take for his tongue, is a little patch of sun on the boards behind him. So you have not fallen in love with any of the groupe [group?]. As to their history I know nothing. The one man I do like is the one standing beside me. Stevenson is his name - he is Vet. for the Troop. He is a Canadian & self made: but is honourable & straight forward. Between myself and the other 3 there is an "armed neutrality" & we go for each other as occasion turns up. The centre figure is the Sergt. [Sergeant?] Major Since the photo was taken he has gone & got married to girl 20 years younger than himself. He is illiterate & murders the Queens English & drops his "h's" all over the ship! You are very good to be so pleased with getting the photo, that it makes me very happy. When the weather lets up & you can safely go out I do want you to get your phooto [photo?] taken. When it comes I am going to get the best frame this place can produce & it will be put over my cot, for so far not a single picture or photo adorns the walls of my room. Its just splendid to hear you are making so good a secretary Nothing could give me greater pleasure: and the news has lifted a load off my mind. As to being uneasy, thats natural And tho'[though?] its against your commands I am going to fuss over you as much as I please. Dont forget you are all I have got to trust or care for. We are having our winter now. Poor little woman you could not live a day here. For a week it has been 40o [degrees?] below zero, that is 72o [degrees?] of frost, accompanied by a strong wind The furnace that heats my room is not working, so you can guess how it is. I have to turn out at 6.15 a.m. & struggle into #PAGE 2 frozen socks etc & by the time I get to the Guard Room my eyelashes are frozen together!! Such is life: and yet I like it. Oh I was well enough looked after: I hate having anyone near me when I am sick Our cook used to bring me my food: and taking all things into account I was comfortable For this last fortnight "La grippe" has been with us. It has gone right through our Mess and attacked everyone but me. When all hands were down real sick in bed, I was feeling splendid. The Dr. [Doctor?] was all right, a Frenchman named Rouleau. Thinks no end of me, as I keep the prisoners & prison so clean, there never is any sickness; so no extra trouble for him. I would like you to see the "pig". And yet I fear he would not take to youk [you?] as he has an antipathy to your sex. The matron is gone long ago. We only have one when there is a female prisoner, which thanks be to goodness is not often. I have one here now with a year old baby. Mother in for theft It would be nice to go back [m--ton?] strong & well. For from what you have told me it must be nice. Oh yes we have musquitoes [mosquitoes?] here, sometimes so bad that men have had to go Hospital through their bites. But they are only for two months in the year. I often have had to light a pail of wet grass in my room before turning in & tho' [though?] that drove them away going to bed in a smokey room & your eyes smarting was not comfort. What a lot of Xmas [Christmas?] greetings you had. It shows how well you are liked by your friends: and I am so glad. Re [Regarding?] the necklace - some of these days you will be writing to me telling that someone has won the right to wear it for good. Lucky somebody! Look here, there's going to be trouble if you talk about being ashamed etc as to answering my letters promptly. Why my darling Katie it's a blessing to hear any time from you. And I know full well how hard it is to get time, when one is only getting strong & has household cares & visitors & the routine that has to be got through. You have been more than good to me, little woman & I dont think a day comes to me, that I do not think of you & hope you are well and happy. The longer I have the Hymn Book the more I like it & the higher I think of the giver On the 16th of last month this Troop gave a Ball. Needless to say I did not go. I retired to my room with my pipe & the pig; & me dilated on life's frivolities, particurlary losing ones sleep for the purpose of dancing with the Trash this Calgary produces. My dear, you are doing me good - a world of good, already so you need not wish for the time to come. It has come & you are as good as gold. The ship will come. I feel it, & you will see John & #PAGE 3 wont you have a high old time, talking after all these years of absence. It was thoughtful (but when are you not) to send me the paper. I was most interested in the Launch & the paper is now going the rounds of the Barracks, as the old country men are proud of the biggest ship. Now my dear little one I know you like me: but I also do know you think me a far better man than I really am. And this is not pleasant & makes me feel ashamed. Believe me, & I ought to know, I am a very ordinary individual & there are hundreds of men in this Force far better. So just tone down your ideas & get nearer the facts. Your opinion is the only one I care for; & the only one I would make an effort to be up to her standard & so I am a bit nervous of you giving me qualities I dont possess. You are a stiring [sterling?] friend, dear heart, & oh I am proud of your friendship & will try & always deserve it. I am glad the boys are doing well & I hope that a long life of prosperity may be their portion. A lot of prisoners have been coming and going lately & this means a lot of writing for me; as I have to keep [to?] a very elaborate set of Books But as I have got To be very methodical like a bolt in machinery I dont mind. Just think, on the 23rd of next October I will have been 14 years in this force. What a slice in a man's life! My time will be up: but I am going to re-enlist as 20 years gives me a pension. There is nothing better out here & tho' [though?] my life is nothing to boast of I am stopping a gap in life's mill. I wish I could thank you enough for your letter: and I wish I knew how bright & cheerful your letters make my life. You always were of a sunny disposition Well dear Katie in all sincerity I truly believe you are a treasure for some man & he will know if he ever gets you. Our Xmas [christmas?] was kept on Monday not much going on. I was on duty & that meant business & not pleasure. I hope dear that this may find you stronger than when you wrote & that all your people are well. Every good wish I could have goes to you. Not that I place much value on them, but such as they are - they are yours only. I have not been so happy for many a long days, as I have been since I heard you are gaining in health & strength Goodbye dearest Katie With best love Your affectionate friend Ernest Cochrane. Greetings from the "Pig" |
