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Title: O'Donnell, Annie to Phelan, James, 1904
ID6300
CollectionYour Fondest Annie: Letters from Annie O'Donnel to James P.Phelan [A. O'Donnell]
Filefondestan/63
Year1904
SenderO'Donnell, Annie
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationchildren's maid
Sender Religionunknown
OriginMiami, Florida, USA
DestinationPhiladelphia, Penn., USA
RecipientPhelan, James
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipfriends
Source
Archive
Doc. No.
Date
Partial Date
Doc. Type
Logunknown
Word Count858
Genrefriends, family, accommodation,
Note
Transcript[Hotel Royal Palm stationery
Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida]
March 16, 1904

My dear Jim,
Your letter reached me this morning and how glad I was to see the
postmark that you were still in Pittsburgh, not that I don't wish you
to go to Philadelphia, but it seems you would be nearer where you
now are. The one thing is I hope you will be right in Pittsburgh
when I get home. It would be so nice to see the Quarries and Miss
Hearty, and I do wonder what they will say to you, and if you will
tell them about me. You know I would like so much to be remembered
to them all.
I am glad you called on Mary, but I think it strange they didn't
know you were in town as I am positive I wrote them you were
coming, and they answered they were glad. It would be so much
nicer for us, but I am not sure that I told them any more after that.
Well, Jim, I was never so surprised as when I read about the Jap.
I think he is too forward going to Mrs. C[onnor?] so often and Mrs.
C never said anything about him in her letters, but I think she
should know Ellen by this to have any doubt about her, and whilst
poor Ellen did everything as she thought for the best. Still, you see
she is the one to suffer, but long before this, I talked it over with
Ellen. I know she never would think of going out with him if it
hadn't been that he asked her to take him to our Church, and she
couldn't refuse. Beyond that there was nothing more, for Rose and
Mrs. Walters went out with him as often as Ellen. Rose and Ellen
and I were the only ones to help him out when he first came, but it
seems as if he imposed more on Ellen's good nature than on ours.
Mary was so awful mean to him that he needed some one to have a
kind word sometime for him. I have told Ellen over and over not to
be so foolish just to let people do something for themselves, but she didn't see it that way till it was too late. She is too good-hearted, but
I think she will not be so much so for the future. It doesn't do. I
think it was very nice of you, Jim, to let me know as we don't ever
need to mention it, but yet know what is going on.
Well, I am sorry to hear Pollie is not well, but I hope it is not
serious. I knew your uncle would be kept pretty busy, yet, I thought
it would be nice to write him as I said I would. He will write soon I
Mr. Mellon is not coming till 19th or 20th, so we are still in the
dark about leaving here. Yet, I do believe we will be in Pittsburgh
about the 15th April.
I believe, Jim, that Reese's is about the most expensive place you
could find as you see they have high rent to pay and must charge
accordingly. There is nobody makes more money in Pittsburgh than
those keeping roomers or boarders and the Brennans will find it
costly to live here. Of course, it was very home-like at Reese's, but
your bill runs high. It would be better for you to get some place that
would room and board you. Where you stayed when you came before
was, of course, an expensive place too, but they give two meals. The
trouble is you have to go away out to the East End away from the
city before you can get any kind of a place to stay. For your sake, I
wish the Brennans would come. It would be so much better.
I see you too like pretty picture frames. That's one of my fancies.
I love nice pictures and frames.
Well, I wonder what you will do on the 17th tomorrow. I know
you will miss Indianapolis then. We are going to have all the Irish
airs played and 'St. Patrick's dance' in the evening whilst for dessert
we will have 'St. Patrick's Punch', so you see we have no room for
complaining.
I wonder if this will reach you in Philadelphia. Won't you have a
good time talking of our old trip, and I wonder if they will know
you. Perhaps a good many of them are married. Even so, try and find them. If there is anything you would want me to know, don't
wait till Sunday to write. Just write when you can, and rest assured
that I trust you to the end and always will. I can not think of you as
anything else but good. Your nice letters are always bright and
comforting, but it seems as if I can't do anything for you in return.
You have always my first and last thought after my prayers and the
best love I can give, I am your fondest,
A xxxxx