| Title: | Thomas Carse, Cleveland, to "Dear Brother Robert." |
|---|---|
| ID | 582 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Carse, Thomas/23 |
| Year | 1855 |
| Sender | Carse, Thomas |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | shipping clerk for a railway company |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Cleveland, Ohio, USA |
| Destination | Co.Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Carse, Robert |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | Donated by Mrs.I.J. Beattie, 120 Carsonstown Rd., Lisowen, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Co. Down, BT24 7JN |
| Archive | Ulster American Folk Park. |
| Doc. No. | 9904108 |
| Date | 02/09/1855 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 09:04:99. |
| Word Count | 858 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | FREIGHT DEPARTMENT, Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati, and Cleveland & Erie Rail Roads. Cleveland, Sept 2nd 1855 Dear Brother Robert I address this to you from the fact that I owe you not only this but many more - Having been for the last two weeks quite unwell- I hardly feel in tune to day to write you interestingly- therefore before proceeding further you may expect the letter throughout to be dull - I say dull - I will tell you why Robert - The family with where I board left on the Boat last evening for Detroit - Michigan - burglars have for some time infested the "quiet repose of our citizens - and have been observed by our neighbors on the opposite side of the street, to examine minutely by moonlight the philosophy of the keyhole in the door by which to enter - This of course excited a suspicion in our family - After leaving the office last night at a late hour, and arriving at my destined No [number?] on [Lake Et.?] instead of retiring in my own room, I occupied the bed made vacant by the "head of the house" for the purpose of guarding the "valuables" as per request at tea table- Knowing myself to be placed as watch of course disturbed my rest- and to day (Sunday) I feel rather drowsy - & when drowsy - dull hence from a dull head - you must expect sleepy ideas - But to the point (as I am obliged to hurry along - being near tea-time) I received a paper from you a few days ago - on which was dimly noted with lead pencil - something about going "home for a wife" - I am one of those Robert who will follow a good example and also fully appreciate the same - but we are taught by the laws of nature to select those examples from men of age and experience - Now, in my more youthful days my older brothers - by some very palpable allusions- endeavouring to bring me up in the way I should go - of course recommended to me their mode of procedure - You will comprehend the force of this argument when I observe that, like a dutiful boy - as far as marrying is concerned - I have thus far obeyed their injunctions - It is not my intention, however to die an old bachelor - I feel that if I should- none would mourn my loss - save perhaps my washerwoman (gentle creature) In my walks through the country I meet with many young ladies some of whom, no doubt, would make excellent wives - but all, willing to assume the responsibility - There is much pleasure also much to be learned by visiting the girls- My leizure hours are so limited that I seldom participate in the enjoyment - I would like [on top of page is the letter heading from the beginning repeated, but stroked out, with the following:] ("mistake in the printer" I did not look for heading on this side) to give you a few lines in regard to the young ladies, generally, but to day will not venture to dip my pen into the subject- I have said that I have been unwell - nothing more however than a cold which was likely to settle on my lungs - Have attended to business as usual and with the exception of the effects - feel quite recovered to day - John is well- had [-?] letter from him on Friday - says he is [-?] fact every person seems busy this season - [torn] grain and fruit crops are very abundant & [-?] look forward to a winter of plenty- Business at this point is exceedingly heavy - Have been absent from the office only two days since Dec- I shall perhaps take a week in this month for a trip - have not yet determined where Am glad that Geo [George?] & yourself are progressing - Perseverance will overcome obstacles - Where energy and ambition are put in force - there is no such word as fail - Where the mind is kept actively engaged in our different spheres & departments of business- the more will it expand - Mind cannot be fathomed - There is a well of thought there which has no bottom - The more we draw from it the more clear & plentiful it will be- I have written [every?] [friend?] in Ohio & Iowa in regard to Fathers death - I hope Mother is well - Cheer up and enliven her spirits - John & myself are far distant - but are both leading an honest & upright life - We lament the loss of a kind and affectionate father, but as Sir Walter Raleigh has truly written "Such is old time, who take our trust, Our youth our joys our all we have, And pays us but with age and dust, Who in the dark and silent grave When we have wandered all our ways- Shuts up the story of our days. "- Robert give my respects and remember me to Mother - brothers (all) and all kind friends & acquaintances, the names of whom I should gladly mention- but space will not permit- and accept this from Your Brother Thomas Carse |
