| Title: | B. M. Smyth, Co. Tyrone to J. A. Smyth, Canada |
|---|---|
| ID | 2608 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Bella Maggie/99(2) |
| Year | 1900 |
| Sender | Smyth, Bella Maggie |
| 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 |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0401020 |
| Date | 25/12/1900 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 20:01:2004. |
| Word Count | 874 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Front of Envelope Envelope addressed to < Mr. James. A. Smyth Essex Box 234 Ontario Canada STAMPED NEWTOWNSTEWART DE 19 00 Back of Envelope ESSEX DE 31 00 ONT PLUMBRIDGE DE 19 00 Castledamph Dec 25 00 Dear Brother By the date of this letter you will see that its Xmas day and as I was not busy I thought of writing. Its very quiet around here there has been a few shots at Elkins and that is all you can hear. It is raining pretty heavy all day so no fun is kept up, John C Tommy and Bob Campbell Eden Mills went to hunt in the morning with their guns and a greyhound but they saw nothing and came back at twelve o clock They are away round our own fields now, John got a breech loader from Mr James for a good days hunting but is badly dissapointed. [disappointed?] Mary has just came up from Gilkys she went down to Tilda a few minutes and she says she is very lonely. There was no one in all day except father and Willie John a few minutes we all miss Willie today and tonight as well. When I talk of Xmas I may tell you our presents, mother got a black shawl from Mrs Nelson value 7s 3 lbs of tea from Miss James. The Master was up with it last night 1 lb of tea and a fruit loaf from Aunt Rebecca 2 pots of jam from Miss Mary Duncan I think mother got the most Mary got a pair of gloves from Mrs. Nelson and John got a silk handkerchief but I cant say who its from each of us got a card from the Miss Dunbars and from Gortin: Mary Dunbar came home on Friday and Beck says for us to be ready to go down some day before she goes away. I must stop now as dinner is ready I will finish tomorrow. 26th] Today is dry not so unpleasant as yesterday John is away hunting he and a few others Charles McCullagh Joseph Ballantine R.J.C and some others. Wm [William] is learning a song to sing at a lecture on the 3rd inst. I think they told you of our last in the Meeting house the subject this time is on the war Wm [William] was down in Mr Steens on Monday night: giving a £1 for the century fund so Mrs Steen gave him music and words for. "Hearts of oak" and told him to learn it for that night, James Houston had it but more of an orange nature. Mr Steen is for giving a lecture once a month during the winter. We rec [received?] your letter last week after waiting for a good while but you give us the reason for the delay so we must be content, you will have three weeks of waiting also, so you may wonder whats up with us. We see by your letter that you are getting enough partys in that place and stylish ones too but Im afraid the [they] are heavy on the cash, but its better fretting away the time. How do you like teaching now I suppose by this time you are well used to it. Teachers in this country will not get their money for nothing now either: they have to learn drill of all sorts drawing: singing and everything. It is changed all together this year all done in a new style, But will give the teachers some trouble and cost as well. if they have to pay for what they want. Last day I was in Strabane Mr Conroy was asking about you: he still enquires how you are getting on: The Miss Gordons asks for you too: none of their people was home for xmas neither Jamie nor Willie. The two Miss McKelveys of this town is away in Co Down with the school master and Jamie RIC is home for a few days, so nearly everyone moves some place about Xmas. We have spent some more time making changes in and out of the house. A few days ago father removed the small bed and took down the partition, so now we have it open it looks better and not so dark up the stairs. The bed was not much use as two could hardly sleep in it any time and we didnt use it in the winter time as it was very cold. We intend to get one made and keep it in the kitchen And when we dont need it it will make a good seat: a settle bed or whatever they call them. Father and Tom is clearing behind the house and burning the large stone that came in to the wall we intend to get a churning machine shortly so it must be rid. We want them to open a back door and fix the front and build a good wall up the pad they, may do it some time yet and we intend to cement the kitchen floor, Father says we should have built a new house and it might please us as we are all ways [always] changing this one. We are all in good health at present hoping you enjoy the same So Good Bye for the present Wishing you a happy new year and we hope to see you before next Xmas. B. M. S. [Bella M Smyth?] Transcribed by Greg Floyd |
