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Title: James A Smyth, Ontario, to J J Smyth, Castledamph,.
ID6705
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmyth, James Alexander/33(2)B
Year1898
SenderSmyth, James Alexander
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationstudent
Sender ReligionProtestant (Methodist)
OriginEssex Co., Ontario, Canada
DestinationCo. Tyrone, N.Ireland
RecipientSmyth, John J. and wife
Recipient Gendermale-female
Relationshipson-parents
SourceCopyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com
ArchiveMr & Mrs J Smyth
Doc. No.505032
Date02/08/1898
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 25:05:2005.
Word Count1333
Genre
Note
Transcript[Letter 2]

[Page 1]
South Woodslee
August 2nd‘98

Dear Parents
I am just after
returning from Essex and received
your letter and newspapers which
awaiting [sic] me. I am always
pleased to know that everybody
in that neighbourhood are [sic]
well
I was expecting a letter
from you this last week but my
expectations were not realized
until today.
I am practising with Essex
brass band now so as to be able
to accompany them as small
Drummer to a pic-nic [picnic?] on
Aug 11th they are engaged for that
day by the Macabees Lodge of Essex.
I Suppose it might not be out
of place to give you an account
of what I intend doing during
the next few weeks.


[Page 2]
Tomorrow is Woodslee Methodists
Sunday School pic-nic [picnic?] to
Belle River or lake so I expect to be
there on Saturday there is a large
Show at Windsor [Walter Mains?]
circus So I am thinking of going to
it Then in the first of next week the
annual family picnic of the neighbours
takes Place at Lake Erie So I will also
be there - at both these pic-nics
[picnics?] bathing is an important
factor especially so with the young ones,
- and on Thursday is this Macabees
picnic. This day is also Windsors,
Essex and Walkerville civic holiday so
it will be quite large. They go to an
island a short way from Detroit about
24 mls [miles?] from here part of the
trip is by train and part by boat
after this I intended to go to
St Thomas for a week so that would
be about 20 of Aug when all would
be finished

[Page 3]
The fare to St Thomas is quite low
now being only about 8 shilling [sic]
for the round trip. The holidays is
not very long this year owing to it
being the 20th of July before I’ve
all examinations were finished.
I had intended working
during holidays and thus have
a little more spending money
but I thought you people could
afford to add a few more £
if required seeing that you
have paid all expenses so far,
and thus save me of the extreme
trouble of exercising myself
a little. I have helped or rather
did it all the stooking of 15 acres
of oats I will also help them
hawl them in and that is about
all the work I shall do this
season - You know it dos’nt
[does not?] bother me very much
to remain idle.



[Page 4]
Now in reference to some points in
your letter. I think you Orangemen
should have made your evening’s
amusements such that that
policeman could have enjoyed
himself during his stay. It is
not necessary that all the
amusements on the 12 of July should
[sic] trimmed and set in orange and
purple colors.
Notwithstanding all the trouble
the Duncans have made I am
sorry to hear of so much going
on in their own family.
I suppose Tommy Hay feels
the heat where he is, perhaps
it would have been a great
advantage to him had he
spent a few summers in Canada
There has been a few days
past here (temp 96F) which would
give one a foretaste of that
lake of more than Trophical
[Tropical?] temperature where all
[swimmers?] go.

[Page 5]
I tell you I was glad I did not
have to work in it.
I am glad to know you are all
making money so fast I suppose
I can pretty nearly keep up in
spending it. I cannot dwell
on many minor point [sic] of
correspondence as I usually
make my letter to [too?] heavy so
I want now to give you a clear idea of
next year [sic] work which will
on [sic] the letter I am sure
You Say "We expect you did well"
there is only two things that is I
either failed or passed of course
one can do well and fail as they may
pass high on the majority of subjects
and at the same time fail on one.
I don’t expect to know the result
for about two or there weeks
yet somewhere about the 20 of
Aug. I am not decided myself yet
what I shall do,

[Page 6]
There are three things which I was
thinking of 1st if I passed to
go to Modal [Model?] - which I must do
before I [come?] back and be ready to teach
School at Xmas, there are a few school
[sic] of which I think I could get
one of them, salaries ranging £60
to £70 & £75 for starting, One of my
comrades who went to Modal [Model?]
last year and tried for his second
this year with me has got Woodslee
School at £65 per annum The 2nd which
by passing on the subjects honorably
even I fail in one is to go on for
a first class Certificate This Would
necessitate another year at
school and of course you folks
would have to pay another year’s
schooling, this as I said in last
letter is 1V Form highest in these
High Schools.
Again the third which I was
thinking of was to go on to
school for another year and
take up the subjects necessary

[Page 7]
to finish Matriculation or Entrance
to the University. Then I was thinking
after this I could teach for a few
Years make enough money to pay
my own way and then if I thought
fit go to University. This would
be much easier than teaching first
and then going back to school for
to finish Matriculation as one
naturally forgets quite a few
thing [sic] by being out of school
a year or so. In regards the last
two I would have the Principal
opinion of which was best and
of most benifit [benefit?].
In case I should fail for a
second I am almost sure of getting
a third Class but I don’t like to
teach on a third as you get a
smaller salary & then its is only
good for three year.
In my last letter I made some
references along these lines,

[Page 8]
on account of the time the results
are announced it is always
impossible for me to send a letter
and get an answer before schools
open. However I shall require about
£12 (though not at once) more this
year if I go to Modal [Model?] School
as I have to pay 12 shillings per wk
[week?] for board and then other expenses
of course I usually dress pretty well so
it takes some money in this.
I have about 36 shilling [sic] now
enough to do me during holidays
In sending money send to Essex
as I can get there often enough
As far as wants are concerned
I can get everything I require
here except letters and money
as there are only two things you
people have to supply me with.
Direct your letter to Woodslee
until I tell you otherwise,
If I be away any place they
can stay here until I
come back
[I be away?]

[Page 9]
As far as all those questions
are concerned I was often
thinking such would be the
talk of the people. If they
wanted news I would make them
acquainted in the right kind of
way. People often enquire here
what I am going to do, I usually
give different kinds of answers,
Sometimes [sic] tell them I am
going to be a preacher.

[Page 10]
In reference to what I have
said give your opinion next
and answer soon. You people
have all to do in going another
year to school of course I am
not decided myself yet. However
give your opinion in full whether
for one thing or against. I like
to know what you people think
I shall let you know as soon as
published whether I passed or not
I think I shall write to Jas [James?]
Houston soon I must close as I am
afraid my letter might be
to [too?] heavy
goodBye
J A Smyth [James Alexander Smyth?]