|
Dear Brother,
We received yours of the 7th May and was all very happy to hear of your
welfare and that my mother was still able to move a little. I would like
to have a few days in Paisley to have a real crack with you all. I intend
to come next summer just for one week to see my old friends that remains.
We are all in good health at present but John, he is bad with the bilious
fever. He is married and is on his farm. His wife is just about making him
a father and if he is as good a father as he has been a son it will make a
happy family. He had been a hardworking man since he could do anything.
His wife's name is Janet Taylor from Paisley. James is also married but no
appearance of any family. His wife is from Glengary. She is a stout woman,
stands about two inches taller than himself. Her name is Jane McEwen. He
is on the back half of my farm. he is rather a different man. John would
push the world to get on but James takes the world as it goes. He gets the
fifty acres by paying me two hundred dollars. The value of it is fifteen
hundred so that is thirteen hundred that I give him for the time that he
has wrought with me. Margaret is married to a well-doing young man. His
name is Absolam Lamb. He lives two miles from London. He was brought up
just beside us. He is on a rented farm. He was born in Somersetshire,
England. He stands about six feet and she is just about the size of your
Elizabeth so Daniel Roger tells us he never saw two liker one another, but
Margaret's eyes is darker. She was to be married to John Thomson that went
to the States with John but he did not work so well as John would like and
went to the Tavern too much for his sister's husband so he told Margaret
and she would have nothing more to say to him. I had a letter from them
this week. They are comfortable and happy. Ann or Mrs Chawens is well. She
had one child. She was very bad, the child has to be taken away with
instruments and it only lived two days. She is just going to have another.
I hope God will support and strengthen her through the struggle. He
husband is well and has got his hay all in and the rest of his crop is
looking well. William is all the workers I have left. He is a tall
stripling. He stands about five feet six, very slender. He is a firstrate
ploughman. he is following John as a worker. His dress at church is a
superfine black surtut and pants the same, murzereen blue figured satin
vest and low crowned hat so you have him in full dress. I will now give
you Magdalene, the second. She is her mother's only help. She milks the
cows and is maid of all work. She is not very tall but active and light
hearted. She is a good reader and writer and counter. She attends the
Sunday School and learns her lessons well. Robert is always in the school.
He is reading, writing and learning arithmetic. He is like what James was
at his age, light hair and eyes and freckled in the face. He is an active
little lad. Agnes is next and last. She is darkeyed, dark hair, dark skin,
hust a brunette. She is in school reading, writing and learning
arithmetic. She has a warm and light heart all life and activity. Her
mother, Magdalene, had a sore attack of the liver complaint and we thought
we were going to lose her but thanks to the Almighty God whom is ever
merciful she recovered and is in pretty good health but she will never
recover her wonted strength. She has lost all her upper teeth but one and
her lower ones is following fast. The two middle ones is out and her
cheeks is getting hollow but she is still my old dear Magdalene, in fact
the closer we are drawing to the grave we still getting dearer to one
another. She is extremely proud of your likeness. If it could speak to her
she would be the happiest woman alive it is so like you and like mother
to. It is a precious compliment. It is to go to Willie when we die.
Magdalene would like to know how her sister Bell is and all her family,
how many of them is at home and how many in Australia, and her brother
Robert. She would like if you would let her know if he is doing well or
otherwise. She would like to know something of him. Give Bell our
compliments and likewise John, her brother, and William Drummond and Mary.
If they were here Wm. would get plenty of weaving for it is the plentiest
work in this country. Give Smylie our compliments. His brother John is
dead but we have not had any particulars of his death. Now for myself, I
had an attach of ague this spring and I have not recovered my strength so
well as I would wish but I am able to work and keep things in order about
the place. We have got in the hay and we are going to commence the fall
wheat harvest this week. I have twenty eight bushels of wheat sowing and
thirty six of oats and ten bushels of potatoes planted and one acre of
corn so that William and me will have wet jackets before we have it all in
the barn. Now for my stock, one mare and one year old and one colt, three
yokes of steers, two year old, one steer two year, one heifer one year and
two calves, fifteen sheep, thirty head of sheep and horned cattle. When
Ann was married I gave her a cow and a sheep and a sow. When Margaret was
married I gave her a cow and a calf to commence with so that is all about
the family. We have got a Sunday School and three small libraries, about
one year ago. There is about fifty scholars from seventeen to about six
years of age. I am one of the directors and librarian but I find a very
great want of confidence and of expression but I get on as well as can be
expected for one that has been taken up with the variety of the world as I
have been. They are all well pleased when it comes my turn. I give them
the words as God puts them in my mouth and they understand me better for I
speak plain and simple. I feel that my Father's expressions and words
comes from my heart. Mr Caven wants to leave us for he has not stength to
ride and preach seven miles, that is fourteen miles each Sunday and the
St. Mary's people wants him theirselves but we do not know how it will go
till the meeting of synod, which is next month. Now I am a poor writer and
I think I have given all the news that I have mind of so I hope you will
excuse me if I have come short. Give my mother my kind love and if God
spares us till next summer we will one more meet to exchange that love
that ought to be betwixt a son and his dear mother. Give our kind love to
Agnes, Senr., and Agnes, Junr., and Elizabeth, Matthew and family. Give
This. Brown our kind love, Ann and husband and all our friends. Now dear
Brother may the grace of God be with you all. Farewell.
I remain
Your loving Brother
James Good. |
