| Title: | James A Smyth, Ontario to J J. Smyth, Co Tyrone |
|---|---|
| ID | 2779 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/45(2) |
| Year | 1900 |
| Sender | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| 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. | 401001 |
| Date | 23/7/1900 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 06:01:2004. |
| Word Count | 1187 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] John Jas Smyth Esq., Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone, Ireland [Stamped] SOUTH WOODSLEE JY 23 00 ONT. [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] HAMILTON Jul 24 00 ONT. [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART Au 3 00 Page 1] South Woodslee, 23 July 1900 Dear Father and Mother, Although I have written two letters last week yet I though [thought?] I might just as well write another today as I am not doing anything. and perhaps Bella might be there and if she thinks as much about hearing from home as I did when I first came here she will be glad to hear the least account from it. We were thinking today that she would be up there somewhere about this time. They had a letter from her on Saturday dated July 5. I see from it that William and Bella M were down. I am sure you had a good time. I also notice that Bella likes the country around Strabane. It is certainly a contrast to this country around. I have been here now nine years and the scenery does not change [Page 2] You can see just as much in the house as out of it. as much when it is dark as when it is daylight. I think in general there is a better view from where Sara's folk live than is around Castledamph. except when you go up on the mountains. Do not forget to take her up to [Malamina?] and to the Mote. You should also take a drive up to the sperrin Mountains. I wish I could take a walk to either of the above mentioned places. I think I would feel pretty good. Yesterday. (Sunday) Chas [Charles]. & Annie was out here and stayed all day. Also Cassie and Fred. Annie & Chas [Charles] went home last but left Glen and Leslie here for another week. Miss [Amelia?] Allison Edwd [Edward?] & Thomas also [put?] the evening up here. Amelia just came back last week from visiting in Jackson Mich [Michigan?]. Uncle finished up the wheat this morning. I helped [pitch?] about [Page 3] three loads of it. That is about all the work I did this holidays yet. I dont care for working any more. It seems a little hard, after doing nothing all year. I spent all last week in Essex and Windsor & Detroit I may go back to Essex this week again as I am going to stay with Dr Brien for a week or two if Mrs Brien goes out camping to the lake. Jack Handcock and F [Hunniford?] and about twelve girls from different parts of the country are camping out at Lake St. Clair. This is their third week. I think they have a big time down there. A few of us boys from Essex were thinking going out to Ceader [Cedar?] Beech for a week or two and have a good outing. Engaged in something like that is the way I like spending the holidays otherwise I would rather [not?] have any vacation at all. [Page 4] You have not written anything about the twelfth yet I expect to hear something about it this week but I guess you had a failure this year. I expect when Bella is there you will send almost a letter per day telling me what she thinks of the country etc. I am sure you will have any number of facts to communicate. Have you got any pigs? I used to tell them here they always kept them in the house. Bella will see now for herself. Don't forget to put lots of news in your letters. and send lots of letters for if there is any time I am lonesome for a letter it is in holidays. At other times ones mind is more taken up and you do not notice it so much. How I am always harping on this strain of letters and lots of reading but you hardly know how disappointing it is to wait a long time for a letter [Page 5] and then get one with only a short bit of writing in it. Of course all letters are not like that but sometimes you people must be in a hurry. Father. you must be neglecting your writing as I do not get very many letters from you. William and Thos [Thomas?]. I guess they have given up letter writing for some more profitable employment. John Chas [Charles?] has also got careless I do not get many from him. and it is a long time since Uncle Chas [Charles?] sent one. Did I send him a Photo if not let me know. Aunt has a Miss Myles working for her now a sister of the one that was here last year. I think it is pretty hard to find girls around here. You can tell Bella they are getting along well without her so she may enjoy herself without fretting along that line. I wonder how she likes the Irish brogue [Page 6] If the peoples voices sound as loud and course [coarse?] to her as they did to me when I went back she will think it funny. There are a hundred things I would like to ask Bella. What she thinks of them. I think I shall make a list and keep it and when she comes back I shall have them all ready. so tell her to be able to answer all question (sic) Has Bella begun to feel lonesome yet "Oh it is a deep deep feeling Neither sadness nor pain But a mighty dreadful longing To see Mothers face again" If so thy [the?] above lines may convey her feelings. I am going to send the Free Press specially for Bella (sic) benefit. I may not have told you before though, I have often sent the paper, that the Free Press is one of our best weekly [Page 7] newspapers in Western Ontario and publishes in one of the best and up to date towns in Ont [Ontario?]. This papers [paper's] editorials on the war for instance, is a special feature, it is concise, clear, right to the point and no ambiguity as to whether the Chinese are engaged in [Laundry?] or whether the powers are polishing John Chinaman. Then again the doings of the peoples in general are all noticed Just [see?] it, and if anybody has cut their grain it is mentioned. If any body has borrowed an [implement?] from his neighbor it is mentioned. Nothing is neglected in the Essex Free Press. If I have neglected to mention all the special points in Connection with this paper ask Bella for the remainder. I may also send the record of Windsor [Page 8] which is another promising paper. but the editor is not near as alert as our Free Press fellow Between these two papers and this great collection of excellent thoughts contained in my letter you should have ample literature for your mental digestion for the next two weeks and in conclusion I may say. Hace scripsi non abundantia otii sed amoris erga te. Yours (sic) loving son James A Smyth P.S. Get teacher James to translate for you, It is now 3.30 P.M. I am going down to post this letter and shall be back for supper. You can have Bella read this as there are many things for her interest. J. A. S. [James Alexander Smyth?] Transcribed by Alan Houston |
