| Title: | James A Smyth, Ontario to John J Smyth, Co Tyrone |
|---|---|
| ID | 2752 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/30 |
| Year | 1896 |
| Sender | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | student |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Methodist) |
| Origin | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smyth, John J. and wife |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge |
| Doc. No. | 0410037 |
| Date | 27/09/1896 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 943 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] Mr John J Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland [Stamped] ESSEX SP 28 96 ONT. [Back of envelope] [Stamped] HAMILTON SP 28 96 CANADA [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART OC 9 96 [Written] -----d [arrived?] October 9th 1896 [Page 1] South Woodslee Sept 27th 96 Dear Father & Mother I received your letter on Sept 16th so I suppose I am long in answering it. I had just sent you one a short time before giving you the discouraging new [news?] of my failure on my examination. Well if I had knew what I did in a few days [I?] would not gave you so a bad picture. The reports of the examination came [Page 2] back on Monday 7th Sept. I failed on Bookkeeping not because I did not know it but I done single Entry and it should be done by Double Entry (those of you who understand Bookkeeping know the difference between Single & Double) So I got no marks at all in Bookkeeping except for Writing and the check & draft which was the last question on the paper. The reason I did Single was that it was much quicker and I wanted to try & get 70 or 80 per cent. as the time was only 2 hrs I got 15 marks or 15% on it so that was my failure [Page 3] Bookkeeping was the only subject that I new perfect so it makes me feel sick [of?] myself to see I failed on the subject I knew best. The following is the marks I got in the other three subjects (100 marks being the maximum in each subject) Botany 64 Geography 60 Drawing 59 Bookkeeping 15 and reading 20/50 total 218 which is only 7 mark short of the required number. From the above you see I got honors in three subject 50% gives honors and if I had done my Bkeeping [Bookkeeping?] in the right way I would passed with honors [Page 4] In the drawing paper the last question on back of paper I did not see it untill [until?] after Exam was over so on four question I got 59 rite [right?] I thought when I last wrote that I failed in the other subj [subject?]. When the Principal saw the high marks I made & knew the mistake I made. He promoted me to II Form. so now I am ahead of all my last years pupils except three which are even with me. I am now studying for a professional Teacher's Certificate which I intend to try for next year. He told me to not bother about those [four?] subjects untill [until?] next May or June [Page 5] We had [first?] entertainment in School on Friday eve [evening?] at 1/2 past three I gave a piece on violin. I see it published in Windsor Record yesterday I think this is enough School news. Our Annual Exhibition at Essex takes place on Wednesday Thursday & Tuesday of this week There is a prize of $10 offered for the best Address of Welcome to Governor General Lord Aberdeen (who is going to be present) and limited to pupil [pupils?] of Essex County who have not attended High School or College more than one year. I entered for the above named prize yesterday. If I am successful which I am not in no way sure I will send you (sic) [Page 6] paper in which it is published and if not successful I may send you a copy of the one I wrote and you can compare with the one that gets the prize I dont know whether there are many enteries [entries?] on it or not It was after 9 oclock last night before I entered If I win it will be alright & if I loose [lose?] I will be out nothing thats about the short & long of it. We are all well here at present Uncle has the wheat all in. We had a few night [nights?] frost this week. I dont know what farming [news?] [with?] you Mr James A Smyth October [Page 7] My pen has got so bad that I am afraid you will not be able to read it, so I have to finish this with a pencil I am sorry to hear of so bad luck with you [your?] pigs. I hope some of them survive. I suppose the boys have plenty to do now between road work and everything else. Willie Gilkison was telling me you had a new surveyor and that he was pretty sharp. I hope he does not get too much in that way as it would make it bad for you folks with the road at such a low [-----?]. Avez-vous votre avoine all in I had a French letter from Willie so I think he can translate this little sentence. Dites lui that I will write to him and give him Part French I am not extra good [at?] it myself I have not study [studied?] it very long but I will give him some in next letter [Page 8] which I will be sure to answer this week. After this I will answer all letters the day I receive them and thus I will not keep people waiting so long Did James Houston get one from me I sent one to him & also to Uncle Charles. I suppose Mary Keep (sic) going to School yet. How does Miss Dunbar get along with her School. The pupils there have not half the amount of lesson [lessons?] to get up as they have here. I think they should add a few subjects [on?] [there?] such as History etc. How is Willie John getting along I suppose he remember (sic) me yet, could he write me a letter. Can he sing & dance as good as ever I think I have said enough but perhaps it is not very interesting James A Smyth Woodslee write soon with all news Transcribed by Alan Houston |
