| Title: | McIlrath, Edith to McIlrath, Sarah, 1901 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4530 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/49 |
| Year | 1901 |
| Sender | McIlrath, Edith |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Springfield, New Zealand |
| Destination | Killinchy, Co. Down, Northern Ireland |
| Recipient | McIlrath, Sarah |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 481 |
| Genre | photographs, weather, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Thorndale Springfield February 23rd 1901 Dear Cousin Sarah No doubt you will be surprised to receive a letter from me. However I don't see why I should not write, when Jennie is going to write to cousin Hamilton. Today is miserable & wet, but of course it will not interest you, what kind of weather we are enduring in Spfd. We received our cousin Annie's photo about a fortnight ago. I could have told directly who it was even had I not seen the name, because it is just the picture of the photos we have of yourself and Hamilton. I am sure we will always prize that photo. You may expect a photo of our house & some of ourselves the same time as you get this. Try not to look surprised when you have a first peep at us. By the photo you will see mother sitting down, to her right is Olive dressed in white, and Frank is on our pony (which belongs to us girls) Jim is the one holding the bike, Emy & I are standing together only I am the child nearest to Jim with my hand on the dog's head. It is a splendid likeness of us even to the house, horse and dogs. Emy thinks she is looking rather serious, of course it is her own fault as she & I were trying to cultivate a smile, but alas failed in the struggle. Our summer has gone for another nine months, and Autumn with the harvest has come round again. The boys have been very busy this last week reaping and stacking, and I suppose will be for over a month yet. The Imperial Troops landed in Lyttleton harbour about three weeks ago. Altogether they remained about a week in New Zealand, but their time must have been awfully precious as they could only stay six hours in Christchurch, 44 miles from where we live. Of course we did not miss seeing them. I think people flocked from all parts to get a glimpse of them, as the town was just crowded. Among them were the Irish Fusiliers. I cant say I noticed any of our cousins among them. Was not the death of Our most gracious sovereign very sad, of course she could not be expected to reign for ever. How is it you never take a trip to see us, it is only a matter of a few days journeying. I am sure there is nothing I would enjoy more than a trip. Don't be surprised to see me call on you some day. We are all enjoying the best of health, and hoping you are all the same. I must conclude with fond remembrances from Father, Mother and rest of us, to Uncle, Aunt and all our cousins not forgetting your worthy self. I am your loving cousin, Edith McIlrath |
