| Title: | Ernest Cochrane, Calgary, Canada, to Katie [Finlay?], Co. Down |
|---|---|
| ID | 660 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cochrane, Ernest/89 |
| 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 | T3504/1/20: Copied by courtesy of Mr A. D. Finlay |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9407010 |
| Date | 01/01/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 01:07:1994. |
| Word Count | 429 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | From: Ernest Cochrane, The Barracks, Calgary N.W.T. [North West Territories?], Canada. To: Miss Katie Finlay, Willesden, Holywood, Country Down, Ireland. New Years Day 1899 My very dear Katie I am beginning this year with a letter to you; & I feel the act will bring me Good Luck. I got your beautiful present, & indeed I do admire it. I never saw a nicer added to the thought of the giver, makes me put a high value on it. By this time I hope you have got the photo safe, & that you will be able to recognise "old Scally". I want you most particularly to give me your candid opinion on His Majesty The Pig; for I am getting fonder of the little chum every day. I hope you have had a Merry Xmas, & that you were well remembered by your host of friends. The day passed with me very quietly in the Guard Room, on duty, just as this one is doing. I have had some female lunatics lately & they caused a lot of trouble. Poor things, God help them. One of them, a wealthy lady from Co [County?] Donegal, took a violent fancy to kiss me!! But as I am out of that sort of thing, & suspected she might bite me at the same time, her repeated requests were not complied with! We tried two matrons with her, but she fired both out of her cell: and the unfortunate writer of this, had to feed & do what I could for her: & even he was not exempt from dislikes, as she grazed his head with a plate! Our Winter is here. Yesterday the thermometer showed 22 degrees below zero or in other words 54 degrees of frost. How would you like that? Snow is everywhere & the landscape looks pretty. The Rockies, that you will be crossing some day, are mantled all over: & show out grand. Truly may Kipling call Canada "Our Lady of the Snow" I have not heard from John yet: but when the letter comes it will be welcome. Sitting in this not very romantic guard Room, I am wishing you every joy & happiness for the year that has just begun & added to this a fervent wish that you may be longed [long?] spared to your friends: one of which I am proud to be The Pig is well & had a great time with the men at Xmas All he could eat & as much petting as one of his kind could get. May this find you well & happy & again trying to thank you for your loving thoughtfulness believe me dearest Katie Ever your friend Ernest Cochrane |
