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Downie Sept. 1 1850
Dear Uncle
I take this opportunity to let you know how we are getting on. My father
has been sick since April with fever and ague. He shaked every day for two
months and the rest of the time every second day. The fever is now broke
but has left disease in his right hand and left leg so that he cannot turn
himself in bed. The Doctor says it is a disability in the whole system but
we think he is getting a little better. It has been on him since last
summer when he was working at a woollen factory about fifty miles south.
Mother was very bad last winter but is now pretty well. I am in good
health and still working on my father's farm. I am still unmarried and has
my own farm rented out. Our James is still unmarried and at home. He is
about the height and make of my father. He sends his compliments to you
all and grand-mother in particular not forgetting Miss Shearer. Margaret
about the height and make of Ann Brown and helping us with the harvest.
Ann is going to be a good deal taller than Margaret and working at the
harvest, also William is very poorly. He is growing too quick and is very
slender. Magdalene is very like what your Agnes was at her age. Robert is
in good health and an active little fellow. Agnes is very like what our
friend Ann was at her age. She is very proud of her hands. I was down at
John Burns and got the shawls you sent to my mother, which she is very
proud of and returns her sincere thanks for them. John Burns is getting on
very well. He has got a thrashing mill, also a span of horse, one cost a
hudred and the other cost eighty dollars, also a new waggon. He has a
large clearing and most excellent crop. His sister-in-law has been very
bad since she came to this country. The rest of them is all well and in
good spirits. A young man who left here last spring will be in Glasgow
about the New Year and he will give you a call. He can tell you all about
us and all the settlement. Our minister's name is Mr. Proudfoot. He
preaches with us Sunday forenoon and in St. Mary's in the afternoon. St.
Mary's is seven miles from our Meeting House. We are getting up a school
within a quarter of a mile of us, a thing we are in great need of, the
nighest at present is four miles which is too far for the children to go.
Hugh Hamilton's friend, James Hamilton, was here today visiting father.
His father had a severe attack of the cholera morlius but is getting
better. All the rest of them is well at present. I saw Angus Campbell a
few days ago. They are all well at present. He wants his friend to write
soon. Tell george Easton to write to James Dunlop to let him know how he
is getting on. Wheat was very light owing to the drought in the spring.
Oats was a very good crop. Hay was very light. Our corn is very good. Our
potatoes is very good both in quantity and quality. We are throng
preparing land for fall wheat. We have two yoke of oxen and three yoke of
steers, one heifer and two cows and siz swine and ten pigs and twenty
sheep. We has bad luck with our cattle. One of our oxen got hs neck broke
in the bush. We lost two cows, also two steers and two heifers and a bull
which has been a great loss to us and has kept us back greatly from paying
our land. We only paid three instalments. There is two thirds of the
people has paid nothing although some of them has been in fourteen year
altho' they have large clearings and every thing comfortable. Let Matthew
Morton know that the tope making pays well here but they have to raise
their own hemp and manufacture it themselves. It grows very well here.
They can grow three crops after each other, the first is very strong, the
second is very good, the third is very fine so that have all the different
qualities. We would like to know how cousin John Brown is coming on. If he
was steady he would do well here. A miller is a good trade here. Likewise
James Drummond. Let him know that a boot and shoemaker is a good trade
here. Let us know who Ann Brown got for a husband and let us know how all
the rest of our friends is coming on. We all send our kind compliments to
grandmother. She is talked about every day here. The three youngest talks
about their grandnother just as much as the rest of us.
Sept 17th. My father is no better. His feet is very much swelled
and full of water. He sends his love to grandmother and all the rest of
the friends, likewise my mother's compliments to you all. She would like
to know how her sister Bell is coming on. Give mother's compliments to her
and all the family. She send her compliments to J. and Mrs Hutcheson and
M. Shearer. Let Michell Andrew know how we are all. I wrote him two yeara
ago and received no answer. Tell him to write and let me know how they are
getting on. A teacher does very well here. Good teachers is very scarce.
Give myt warmest compliments to all the family. No more at present but
remains Dear Uncle your affectionate nephew,
John Good.
N.B. We receive no newspapers since the one with the curling matches. |
