| Title: | James A. Smyth, Essex, Ontario to John J. Smyth, Castledamph |
|---|---|
| ID | 2756 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/32 |
| Year | 1898 |
| 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 |
| Doc. No. | 0605071 |
| Date | 26/06/1898 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 997 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr John Jas. Smyth Caastledamph Plumbridge Co. Tyrone Ireland [Stamped] [ESSEX?] Ju 2 [---?] [Back of envelope] [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] AM 12 JY 7 98 [Written at bottom] arrived July 8th 98 [Page 1] Essex Ont June 26th 1898 Dear Parents I received your last letter on Monday and also the money order a few days previous As usual I am glad to know that you are in good health I am sure the boys & the girls enjoyed their trip to Derry and most probable [sic] they got the worth of expenses. Bella thinks there is nothing in my head but learning I think I would put in a much longer period at school but circumstances sometime [page 2] alters cases I have an idea sometime yet to go to University and if I keep that notion and after a while earn enough money to do so I may get that part of the education in Ireland However all that bothers me now is to pass this comming [coming?] examination. I see by your letter the band continues to practice as usual It must not be very large now as there is so many gone away and myself the most important of all I see the [they?] gave Alex and the other a little taste of law Surely it will keep them quiet for a while. It would have been a good thing [Page 3] had they all went [sic] to Derry for six months. I am sure Sarah and the other Lady will both be proficient in swearing You girls are further ahead than we in as far as Derry is concerned for I have never seen walls or hardly any thing else in it, yet I have seen much I hope they all have a good day on the Twelfth and that all may enjoy themselves to the fullest extent yet maintain themselves as becoming men, who represent the order I am glad to know John Gilkison [Gilkinson?] has been successful in his appointment and [Page 4] hope that he may be exceedingly prosperous therein I suppose by this time you got my letter stating the marriage of Cassie. The event took place on Wed evening. I was down W. [William?] J. Duncan did not get from New York-he sent a telegram stating he could not come. There was a [sic] quite a number of people there but only three other young people including Sarah Duncan The other [sic] were most all married people Of course you need not look on a wedding here as anything like or after the manner of your Irish wedding. It not the same [Page 5] and another thing they are all more stylish. I came back to Essex on Thursday Morning. The Editor of [sic] newspaper had told me to write him up an account of it when I was going down but I thought it would be time enough next week so I came back without one and then I had to write him one in a few minutes as he said he wished to publish it that night(Thursday) so I gave an account of it, I send you the paper Look in South Woodslee news and you will see it I also send you the invitation I got [to?] you see the kind [Page 6] The house was very nicely decorated with flowers etc She went to their own house that night I have not been in it yet. It has been a building since last year and I understand it is very nice. It is just about as far from Uncles and your house is from Archibald Duncan’s. They got numerous presents almost filled one room bedroom suits [suites?], lamp, clocks, dishes silverware etc too numerous to mention Perhaps you may get the announcement cards pretty soon [Page 7] I think I have almost told all my news I have not gone to church this morning. However we live next it and only about 5 yards apart so I am getting all the benefit anyhow Oddfellows Lodge marched to our church this morning I am just after listening to the voluntary by the choir and now the preacher is expounding the scriptures to them School closes on Thursday and I will have a week to [review?]. I think I will go down to Woodslee for that space of time. Examination time is about the only time of the year that the pupils [Page 8] feel afraid During the term the Principal is usually lecturing to some one about once every two weeks at least about not studying enough and running in the street too much in the evening but now they all stay in I tell you. Friday morning he said he would advise some of them not to study so much so such is the round of life. For my part when exam come I shall keep as steady as possible for it is a great thing to not loose one [one’s?] nerve in an examination room and do my best on every paper. However the paper [sic] [Page 9] are expected hard [sic] this year, There are some subjects which I am not very certain on but it always happens that those are the very ones I may best marks on on [sic] the final. When you look at it, nine days is quite a long time to answer questions without making any mistakes. The weather here is quite warm now and I suppose it will remain so. I'm not much in love with this warm weather especially when you stay in the house all day. The country looks nice more when everything is in bloom and crops all looking well. [page 10] I also enclosed newspaper. The Annual High School announcements You will see the usual description of buildings etc and the names of last year’s successful pupils. I sent you a Mail & Empire. You will get some good reading in it also an account of the progress of the Hispanic-American war. I will write again about the 1st of July and not likely from that until final exams are ended and then I will enjoy myself Whether I passed or not; I am in good state physically for any exam no 1 health Yours James A Smyth |
