| Title: | Ernest Cochrane, Canada, to Miss Katherine Finlay, County Down |
|---|---|
| ID | 653 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cochrane, Ernest/29 |
| Year | 1899 |
| Sender | Cochrane, Ernest |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | provost sergeant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Calgary, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Finlay, Kate |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | uncle-niece? |
| Source | T3504/1/22: Copied by courtesy of Mr. A.D. Finlay. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310018 |
| Date | 29/04/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C. R., 01:10:1993 |
| Word Count | 1658 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | 29 April 1899 THE BARRACKS CALGARY N.W.T. [NORTH WEST TERRITORIES?] CANADA April 29th 1899 My dearest Katie You never wrote a letter which did me more good, or made me happier, than the one I received this morning. And I will tell you why. Since I last heard from you we have had very severe weather; & the papers told me it was bad in the old country also. This made me very anxious about how you would get through the winter & spring; I don't thank [think?] there was a day I did not think of this. But now I know you are all right & gaining in strength everything seems bright with "Old Scally". I can thoroughly understand how you feel the loss of the Rev. [Reverend?] Mr. Irwin. He must have a lot of personal worth; & I like him for his helpfulness to you. As things are at home, his absence will cause you a great blank: & little woman I am truly sorry for you. You have not, or ever will weary me with your troubles. It is pride I feel that you put so much trust in me. No one else would. But you must cheer up: and tho' [though?] I know beyond all doubt, you are not of the changeable or forgetful kind, yet bear in mind "Never a tear bediws [bedews?] the eye, That time & patience may not dry: Never a lip is curved with pain That cant [can't?] be kissed into smiles again" As to the new friends he will make, I misjudge the man if he will find any nicer than you. I see plainly your life is no path of roses: but you are brave & cheerful & good to live it all down, & the future's pleasure will be all the sweeter, by the thought you earned them. Look here young woman, when you tuck yourself into bed, just go to sleep so sound, that you will have no dreams. Anyone who would do that about me must have indigestion. I cant [can't?] imagine any other explanation! Katie dear I will never misunderstand what you say to me. You have honoured me with your confidence: and I am very proud, for its a novel role for me to have: But I know you: & never fear dearest that I will put a wrong meaning on anything you write to me. Your letters are very charming for they are fresh and frank. I feel when reading them, that I have got one real friend that puts some faith in me: & your doing so gives me a help, I often need. I have been so much alone out on the prairies #PAGE 2 here, that nice people dont [don't?] come my way: and so you have been put on a pedestal: & like our savage ancestors I do a little of the "bow down" to your loving goodness. It's nice to hear that my letters are welcome & that they make things a week (sic) bit bright. And now Katie I want you to stop saying anything about your not answering me sooner. Indeed dear I know truly how hard it is to get time for everything. Of you I have had no uneasiness save for your health: and I think so highly of you, I could not think you might have written, even if a long time went by. Never let it into that little nut of yours that I could think anything about "trampling". My sincere affection & devotion goes to you without hope of reward: & if you never answered this letter, & no word came from you again, I'd [I would?] go on to the end without a shadow of a belittling thought of you dear. Now you know I am not laughing at you, when I praise you, for you are too much to me. But you always did a bit of Teasing, a game I am going to cultivate. I had intended to say some extra nice things I think about you, but will keep them stored up, till such times as you stop "frivolling". I will write at once to John, tho' [though?] I have not heard from him for a long time. But in his position I expect he gets quite enough pen work. He will hear the Ballintoy news. I am sorry about [---t.?] & the cause. You know I feel for anyone that is in that way. And I have tried to help those in trouble out here. Look here, if you ever talk again about me ever having been the possessor of nice eyes or nice anything else, I will go through this world with the idea that your mind is affected!! And that would be a nice state of things, considering you are all I have to think of or care for. So be careful. The time I got snow blind I was 25 miles from Barracks, & if my horse had not known the way home, this letter would not have been written. I did not know I was in the Barrack yard till they lifted me off & brought me to my room. The "Pig" is in great form. I have got him a ball which I throw for him, when he wants it, which is very often. The main road to the town runs along side the Guard Room, with only a wire fence between: & passers by must be highly edified by the spectacle of an eldery [elderly?] party, and a small brown dog, playing in the evenings. I am continuing this on the 30th: and as I write a blizzard is raging. Bitter cold & the snow whirling & drifting The supply of coal has given out & our ever thoughtful officers won't buy any more: as they have plenty for themselves; the result is we have no fires in the Quarters, & spend very cold nights, with all the clothes we have piled on our cots. I laugh, & the rest get mad at me. The #PAGE 3 ruin of this Force is the officers. Theirs are all political appointments and as a rule they come from a lower class than the rank & file. As an almost universal rule, we are better educated: & knowing this they annoy us as much as they can It has been war with me since I joined: & I am unchristian enough to rather like it! Yes Stevenson & I get on well: and I do like him. In fact we all pull fairly well together. I hold my end up, & being the strongest Sergt [Sergeant?] in the mess, come out all right!! You get the photo: & I will see after the frame: as to fear of facing the Camera - young woman you are fishing for compliments & I refuse to be hooked into giving any! It's easy to write & tell me not to trouble about your health. But I have to do it: so there now! Let the answering of this letter be as long as you like: but one thing is certain dear your letter will be welcomed, come when it may. I am glad you think it is nice of me to say you are my all. Thinking so wont [won't?] harm either of us, & having you in my thoughts that way, will help me be a better man, & pull me through some tight places I come across. Yes I had quite a lot to do with Mullett, you were thoughtful to send me the paper. But when are you not? You little goose, why all the lotions that were ever made, won't keep our mosquitoes away. But you get used to them. The young blood of lads fresh from the old country they are after: and as I am not in that class, I escape fairly well. It is but little I can say darling about your home life: but I feel & am sorry you are so sorely tried. But you will come out of it all I know, for I have faith in you. They say the Ball was a success: but as usual I did not go. This day week I went to a family in Town for a couple of hours. He is a solicitor named Nolan & his wife & child are nice. These are the only ones I know in Calgary & the last time I made a call was 18 months ago! So you will please take note that Scally has not developed into a Society Butterfly! Your ship will come, beyond all doubt: & my share of the enjoyment will be delight at your good fortune. You are a very determined little person: and still insist that we will meet. Give that up dear. The chances are so small, I dont [don't?] want you to nurse a thought & get disappointed. In you [your?] wisdom you say love is blind, like the Scotchman "I hae ma doots"!! [I have my doubts!!?] As an old solider [soldier?] I have learnt implicit obedience to those in command, so, a couple of hours after I got it, the little picture was mounted on card board & hung at the head of my cot; by the original thread that came with it. Tomorrow summer routine commences & Reveille goes 1/2 an hour earlier. This means I have to be up, dressed, bed made, kit #PAGE 4 folded & down at the Guard Room to take over at 5.30 in the morning and I am not off duty till 6.30 in the evening. Well I dont [don't?] grumble. Works [work is?] good for a man. I eat & sleep well & I have the best little woman in the world for a friend. And he would be very high up that I would change with! Goodbye darling. Best love & may health, wealth & happiness be yours is ever the prayer of your affectionate friend Ernest Cochrane |
