| Title: | M Smyth, Ontario, to J J Smyth, Castledamph |
|---|---|
| ID | 2976 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/40 |
| Year | 1903 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | student |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian) |
| Origin | Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | writes to her family |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 0506037 |
| Date | 06/12/1903 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 09:06:2005. |
| Word Count | 391 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr. J. J. Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Ireland. [Stamped] ST. THOMAS [16?] NO 21 03 ONT [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] AM 5 0 DE 3 03 [Letter 1] [Page 1] St. Thomas, Dec. 6th. 03 Dear People- I am, sure you will think that I am neglecting writing this last while but I dont know how I always have something to do and put it off from day today. One reason is that I got so far away behind in school while I was away that I had to study night and day to catch up. But I was for writing and I was glad I didn’t for I got a letter from Liza just at night. I see you had got word of Aunt’s death when You wrote I suppose you saw all who was there by the Essex Free Press I get that paper sent down here. You will certainly have a full account of all that happened during [Page 2] 2 Aunts death by Jim and I. Annie got a letter from Belle a few days ago. They are getting along well but they have not got a girl yet. We are going up at Xmas again as I expect it would be pretty lonely if we didn’t. I don’t like to spend the money to go up but I will get up for the reduced rates at Xmas. The return fare is $4.50 but it will be cheaper by Xmas. Annie and the boys don’t cost anything as all railroad men’s wives and children get free. I am saving my money or as much as I can now to put me through whatever I go in for. I am again in a thoughtful position as to what I am going to [Page 3] 3 do next year. I have three or four in my mind but there is always something against each one. First is to go to Business College but Jim is strongly opposed to this he thinks that office girls are not looked upon as being in the social sphere. but the end that Jim has in view for me is to go to school and then do nothing – be a lady, but I won’t agree to this and then he gets mad. He wouldn’t mind me going on for a school teacher but I don’t think I would ever like that and I never would be able to control the school. So that is the fault with that. I guess Jim would be satisfied if I would go on and make a violin [Page 4] 4 player and then teach. I wouldn’t mind that but it would take quite a bit of money for that though I would like to keep on taking as Miss Risdon says I am going to make a splendid player if I would keep on at it. I suppose I could gather up quite a large class at home if they would agree to the money, This Miss Risdon that I take from has about 20 pupils at 50 cts [cents?] each lesson each week = $10 = £2 per week. I wish I was sure of that much when I got through. I wish I knew what I was going to do because I’m always thinking what I’ll do and if I go against Jim why I won’t get any money [Page 5] 5 from him he says. So if I go to Business College I would have to depend on myself. Say there is a young girl next-door to us is collecting Souvenir Spoons so she asked me to try and get her one from Ireland. So I wish you could get one and send it to me. They are usually about 4 inches long or thereabouts (Coffee Spoons) with Ireland written on them Silver or - Then there are the teaspoons she dont [sic] care which. She will pay for it. Their name is Campbell [Cawree?] they are awful good to us and take me out, so I wish you could get I dont think you will get any nearer [Page 6] 6 than Strabane. Just ask for a souvenir spoon I would also like if you would send me those shawls that Tommy Hay sent there with the embroidery on the corner. I know you are not using them there so I could use it out here, once in a while. I will send it back or keep it in good condition. Send whichever you like. Also I wish you would send me Tommy Hayes [Hay’s?] address. I got a letter from him some time ago but lost it. Well it is strange about W. J. [Willie John?] Not much thanks for what was done for him. But I wouldn’t wonder but he will be sorry for it some day. [Page 7] 7 The weather here is pretty cold. It is much colder here than Essex; farther North. Not much snow yet but plenty of skating. I am determined to learn this winter as all the rest of the young people go here. I will learn when I get up to Woodslee. This is Sunday just getting dark now have been to Sunday School since I started this letter. I was intending to send some little Xmas presents home but I’ve not got any money just now so I guess I’ll wait and take them when I go. I have no idea where I may go according to present circumstances. [Page 8] 8 You never sent me those Civil Service papers. I’m not too old for to try Telegraphing I think they call it. That is another I have in view. I must soon decide or I will amount to nothing in the end. Glenn and Lesley are having an argument just now so I had to tell them to stop or I would be writing what they were saying. Lesley has got an awful cranky disposition at times and Glenn is just the opposite; Sometimes both of them will be on my knee at once, and we fight usually And has [sic] a great time. I also fight with Charlie and though I am taller than he is and heavier still he gets the better of me. He always pokes me on the ribs and then I get mad. GoodBye M. [Mary?] Smyth |
