| Title: | [Becky?] [?] Newtownstewart, to Bella Smyth, Castledamph. |
|---|---|
| ID | 153 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Becky/92 |
| Year | 1899 |
| Sender | Becky |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smyth, Bella M. |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 505049 |
| Date | 04/12/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 25:05:2005. |
| Word Count | 808 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Miss B. Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] [Back of Envelope] [Hand written] Rec [Received?] Dec 6th Wednesday 1899 MS [Mary Smyth?] 1 [Page 1] Grange, Newtownstewart 4.12.99 My dear Bella, I wonder what has come over you - you never think [sic] worth your while to write to me at all Maybe I am in the [at?] fault still I don't know. Often & often [Page 2] we think, & speak of you all. I know your Father did not keep his promise, he, was to bring all you girls down this past Summer. & here we have December. & still you's [sic] have never come & Mother often speaks of him not coming & we seen [sic] him down at the laying of the foundation stone & could not get a word he was in such a hurry [Page 3] Now truly, Mother wishes me to say, she is very much displeased with your father, & all of you for not trying to come up when you are in town. & then, Tom & Jamie McNichol [McNicholl?], down the Sunday night of the Gunpowder plot sermon & he never thought worth while [worthwhile?] to speak to me & actually I never seen one of them nor knew of them been down till Armour convinced me that he was speaking to both. [Page 4] Now I will scold no more it is useless I fear, still I have that much faith in Willie that I think he would come up. specially “if “Mary was at home” which she will be we trust soon. Could you's [sic] not manage down the next Moonlight even on a Sunday we have service every other Sunday Night & you could go & hear Mr. Morton who is well worth hearing. We were all very proud of our Minister that Saturday we said that he, was the best speaker what did your father say,” [Page 5] 2 I am sure he thought him, a change from Mr Steen, dear save us, I would not go far to hear him speak on a platform, We have a nice meeting to-morrow night Missionary addresses from the Rev Mr Shillidy [Shilliday?] & Mr Beattie illustrated by lime-light views of their Jewish travels & Indian Customs. We have any amount of Meetings now & Soirees we were at two about a week ago which were very good & who did I see but Maggie [Page 6] McKernan whom, I was glad to see she was telling me about L. [Lizzie?] Dunbar & J [John?] McFarland - poor Bella- I wont mention it I know how you must feel it Did John let his beard grow again if he did not I can't imagine how he proposed to Lizzie We have [just in?] in at present Jamie Dunbar Sarah’s boy, or, the one who used to be & Jerry Robert Jack Annie & he are all sitting playing loved, courted, proclaimed & married & they are so noisy I can't write a bit it is played with cards & is very funny. [Page 7] they wanted me to have a hand but I preferred writing to you I say I only need the [fourth?] touch now to finish me &, I am waiting patiently to hear of you or Liza doing something soon I suppose you are too wise what about Tilda [Matilda?] Gilby is she still living single or what about Andy Ballentine [Ballantine?], his brother lost the public house at least the -licence- I do hope he will we have far too many –pubs-. M. McKernan got a few good temperance lectures at the Soiree I was wishing she could do some good in the Plum-bridge [Plumbridge?]. [Page 8] did you’s [sic] hear William Anderson's land was sold & such a price Jerry on [sic] gave on bid it went 270£ of course we had the upper farm before John still holds on to his & their [there?] is some talk of William marrying or taking up with a girl in town not a very good sort but I suppose good enough for him. They leave their old home. stead [homestead?] at the New Year. Such are the Ups & Downs in life my dear. You will hear all the news when you come down & I want you to write & tell us just straight if or when you's [sic] will come I expect an answer soon. Remember me to all my friends you know & your Father, Mother, Willie Tom Liza John Mary & dear we [wee?] Willie John bring him to [too?] as Mother wants to see him & last but not least yourself from your old chum Beck. [Rebecca?] [Note on Page 1] I forgot to say Mary is right well & has a splendid school 43. last day she wrote & good times. excuse all mistakes from your old friend Beck. [Rebecca?] We have the soiree for the Union S. [Scripture?] School on the 15th of this month the Hall is going up rapidly I hope Castledamph Lodge will send a good subscription in for it. Transcribed by Julie Simms |
