| Title: | B M Smyth, Co Tyrone to James A Smyth, Ontario |
|---|---|
| ID | 2593 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Bella Maggie/89 |
| Year | 1900 |
| Sender | Smyth, Bella Maggie and John James |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | farming household |
| Sender Religion | Presbyterian |
| Origin | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings / father-son |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0501007 |
| Date | 25/04/1900 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 11:01:2005. |
| Word Count | 835 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] Mr James A Smyth Essex Box 234 Ontario Canada [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART AP 25 00 [Handwritten under address] Ans [Answered?] May 9 1900 [Back of envelope] [Postmarked] PLUMBRIDGE AP 25 00 [Postmarked] ESSEX MY 7 00 [Page 1] Castledamph April 25th 00 Dear Brother By this time you have Liza [sic] letter & Im sure you will be anxious to hear about Willie Gilky & sorry as well At that time we did not expect he would last so long he is just between life & death this last week. some days you would have some hopes of his recovery & others you would think the end was near he is living on sweet milk. brandy lemon juice & stewed [biller?] since Friday & not much of it either He was terrible ill on Sat & Sunday Mr James went for Dr Lyle on Sunday evg. [evening?] and he & Dr Campbell [Page 2] was [sic] there about eleven oclock Lyle said as long as there is life there is hope but its a doubtful case They gave him medicine & he is very sleepy & heavy since. but he says himself. he sleeps none Its a dreadful disease to take hold of Willie & no one can look at him suffering without being sorry He has an awful sore mouth, his teeth are very near covered & the gums are black & rotten, he suffers it all very patiently and is prepared for death any time No one can think that its for his sin that God allows him to suffer so much But we trust that he will never allow us to see any one with the same disease Mother was down to day [today?] & he does not care for talking he said he did'nt know what [Page 3] way he was but he was very tired & weary She says he is very weak & looks like death Some one has to sit after night since Friday so its trouble enough but strangers are willing to sit with Willie he has very little enemies Its a pity of Tilda & Jamie she has got her share of trouble & this is the worst of them all He was allmost [almost?] like a brother to us for he was here both night & day & no matter what was said or done he was never offended but allways [always?] for fun Mother is very near as sorry as if he were her own & she thinks that it will trouble you very much on account of being so great comrades but Gods will must be done and [Page 4] with him there is nothing impossible About a week ago Willie was sorry when he thought of leaving this world but he does not care so much now Its a hard enough trial to see a young person laid so low & waiting to be called away in the spring of the year when everything is in its bloom But we should be content when we know that they are going to be happier We are all in good health at the present time which we are thank full [thankful?] for. and we need it very much at present for we have to attend no matter who is there It has been a terrible season of trouble all through James Houston is not very well His health is failing since Xmas he is able to walk about but do no work [Page 5] But its not so bad when he is able to be up He may be restored to his usual health now in the summer It would be a pity of them if anything would happen him They are very uneasy about Willie they have got no word from him this long time And they dont know whether he is living or dead so everyone has something to bother them in this world Uncle Charles's case was tried on Saturday he got off better than he expected He was allowed £150 so its not so bad he would have been in a bad state if he had been unsuccessful [Page 6] We have heard news today and its very near as bad as death and Im sorry to say a friend of our own as well It may not be true but it would be all the better for herself and other people but Im afraid it is. Beck Duncan should have had a young son on Easter Sunday its too bad for a girl like her if its true But I suppose it must be allowed they were allways [always?] talking bad about every girl & it has fell on themselves We hear that Joe will never come out of Omagh so they are getting it sharp enough I think I have said enough of sorrowful news but not without dropping tears Your Sister B M S [Bella M Smyth?] [Page 7] We forgot to let you know that James Huston [Houston?] Eden has not been in good helth [health?] this long time he has done no work of any kind [Overpage] Nor do I think he will ever do much as the helth [health?] has failed Badly he comes regularly to here [hear?] how you are dowing [doing?] J J Smyth [John James Smyth?] Transcribed by Alan Houston |
