| Title: | Mary Anderson, Wichita, Kansas to Her Mother, Co. Wicklow |
|---|---|
| ID | 70 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Anderson, Mary/15 |
| Year | 1886 |
| Sender | Anderson, Mary (Minnie) |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Wichita, Kansas, USA |
| Destination | Co. Wicklow, Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | daughter-mother |
| Source | T3258/4/8: Photocopied by Courtesy of General Sir John Anderson |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9410312 |
| Date | 04/07/1886 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 20:10:1994. |
| Word Count | 877 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Monday 4th July 1886 My darling Mother This is the last sheet of paper in the house, so you must excuse it - Your letter came some days ago - We are both so glad you like our photos - I am on the look out for Maria's & Eva's - Henry started last evening on his journey, goes first to Baltimore to see a friend of Mr. Smithsons' & get information then on through the States of Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, & Georgia I send by this post a map of the States, you will see the railway line he goes by - the principal places he stops to look at are marked by a circle in pencil - you will see (if we go to any of them) how much nearer we shall be to the Eastern coast only two days journey from New York & close to Baltimore - San Francisco so far away - Mr Carroll there now, we have letters from him frequently - In each he raves about whatever place he happens to be at, Los Angeles, "delightful" San Diego (where his cousin who travelled out with him is married to young Mayrick of Ballybrack) Are to use a mild word NEW - He confided them to H. who, he was disappointed to find had quite different "views" - We have been so busy packing - Henry of course doing all, we now have everything packed up except barely what will do us till we move, when all extra things can go into my fine large trunk. We were nearly melted at the packing - the heat is almost unendurable - one's skin pouring with perspiration constantly - The bath one's only comfort - not a pleasant prospect for travelling - everyone who can, leaving Wichita for the hills of Colorado & here & there - I am plunged into a second sewing job owing to our move what does to stay at home with does not do to go away with, however I shall get all done now nicely - the cow is sold, & we are buying milk, which saves me a good deal of trouble. I am charmed to hear of dear Harris' lovely time - how she will enjoy it, & how Give my fondest love to her & to dear Bell I delight in all news of her doings - She will be rich in pretty views & have numbers to show you when she comes home I think I never heard of anything worse than the Horners' conduct towards you all - I am surprised at Mr. Horner, & gave her credit for more steadfast feelings of mindness & friendship - Why it can be, is what I should like to be [know?] - very probably Wm. [William] Indeed it is shameful - Give my love to the Ghan ladies, Mussons, Smyths, Douglasses & all kind old friends, I often think of them all - Since writing last Henry has made something over £400 more - which brings our little "pile" up to a little more than £4000 - all our own - I can tell you we feel very glad & thankful to have done so well in less than two years - & I am sure you are all glad with & for us - I am so glad to hear from Sheffield today that Nora has a fine boy - I am so glad it is a boy - & there seems to be several pleasure & congratulations among their Sheffield friends it seems she & Rebecca like girls best. D'arcy is a fine child, but, being more sensitive in both body & mind than the others, he will never be such a favorite, nor appear to such advantage as the Twins - They don't know what shyness is - & come out before people while he shrinks in - He is troubled to a pitiable degree with strange thoughts & puzzling ideas - One night he was crying a great deal, & I asked him what was wrong, he said "Mother isn't it dreadful to think of the time when this world & we shall be NOTHING - I can't bear to think of it! - I tried to comfort him with the thought that our souls would live on, when our bodies were dead, also that wealthy & the world would never be NOTHING, always something useful & c - "Then" he said "There's no such thing as NOTHING - only in our minds" - At present he is trying vainly to solve the problem as to "what laid the egg the first hen came out of?" - Violet answers promptly "God" - & the Twins chime in "God laid Everything" (One would think they had had the advantage of Miss Kane's teaching) but D'arcy is not yet satisfied - The house is so lovely & everything spiritless without the "Good Man" I wish we were all together again & settled someplace for the present at least - I don't feel so much afraid now that we have near neighbours who tho' [though?] vulgar are friendly - still it is disagreeable How are you? Kisses & fond love to each dear one Your own Min |
