Letter, January 11, 1842

Dear Brother and Sister

I received your letter of the 3rd of January after many a call at the Post Office. I was both vexed and glad, glad at getting word from you but vexed at hearing of the state of you and the rest of my Paisley friends. I cannot but think I have escaped very narrowly. We came through some hardships but it is past like a dream in the night and God has been very kind to us in all things. Blessed be the name of God. When my friends vras in want me and my family had plenty and to spare. You say my Mother would like to come here. We would be very happy if she would. I think I have the happiest family in America but if she would come here it would add to their happiness and it would be only a summer's jaunt, she has a home to come to. Meat is not easily got in Paisley but it is very cheap here. I bought 224 lb. of beef for 3 dollars per 112 lb. which is little more than one penny per pound, pork is from 2 dollars to 2 1/2 per 100, flour 2 1/2 dollars per 100, potatoes 1/4 dollar per bushel, butter 10 cents per lb. sugar that would cost 9d in Paisley is 10 cents here, Maple sugar is 8 cents per lb. cheese 10 cents. 100 cents is one dollar, one dollar is 4/— sterling. Tea is one dollar per pound, so you see that one can live here, and if my Mother would but come here my whole family joins with me in saying that she would not need to work any more, in fact to leave all care in Paisley. Magdalene says she will.come to meet her 50 miles on the road. William says he will give Grannie his big sow and a goose, he is as fine a boy as you would wish to see. Ann says she will give her Grannie a cock and hen, she sings all day and is as happy she can be. Margaret is quite well but has not grown much. James is.well and very happy that he did not stop in Paisley. He winds my pirns and makes himself useful to his mother. He is quite healthy, he milks the cow night and morning. Little John is still with John Droue. He is growing very fast both high and thick and is a good hewer of wood and he speaks often about his sisters and his Mother and wishes they were out here. He sends hIs compliments to his Mother and sisters and all the rest of his friends. Big John is in good health, his neck is almost whole and. almost without an urr . He is far higher than me, his clothes is all too little for him. He is weaving with a Dutchman and can speak Dutch. He is as strong and as daft as a young horse. Little John and him is like to break down the house when they meet, that is every fortnight. Big John gets board and half of his winning. I have not lifted any of their wages yet so you see that we are getting on very well. John’s Compliments to his grandmother, to; you, aunts, cousins and to Michell Andrew. You would like to know how we are situated with religious instructions. There are three meeting houses within one mile of us but there is no regular preacher but visited with all sorts. There are a preacher every Sunday in each of them and in Preston there is the Church of Scotland, that is three miles, and in Galt, that is four miles, but I am sorry to say they are not well attended. You would look very strange to see a man with his gun on a Sunday morning and another with his fishing rod on their shoulders. It is every man to his own fancy, yet the most of them is a sober, industrious class of people, Drunkenness is looked upon as the worst of crimes. A man that is seen drunk his credit is gone for ever, no man wil trust him anything. Alex. Robertson’s family is nigh Gulph. They have sold the farm and the old woman is living with one of her daughters in a small house they have free from a Mr. Howat. They are all well. The reeds I would require is 4 1/2", 5 1/2", 6 1/2", 6", 7", 7 1/2", 8" that is on 5 forths. The reeds that you work the tartans with is 1/2 on the yard, that is 560 here, that does well when it comes within 10 splits if you could (paper torn here) half hundred to an 800 that is on the yard, that is a three and upwards and a few shuttle nails if possible. You wiould like. me to say what I think about your coming out. If you have as much as pay 50 dollars that is the first instalment and you would get 9 years to pay the rest, and as much as would meet your family for one year and take land. I think you would be as happy as you would. As to Matthew coming his trade would not do as a trade, but might be a way to get money if he was taking land and working some times at it, that is the way all tradesmen do here, but a rope spinner is a trade I have not seen nor heard of in America although rope is used greatly here and very dear they are. You would like me to say what I like and what I do not like in this country. I never was happier and Magdalene was never happier in all our lives, money is scarce but meat is plenty and. I intend to tack land next fall. A Canadian farmer is the happiest man in this world. I am putting up a french machine to work carpets. It is almost ready to work and I think it will enable me to get a few dollars to purchase land. There is a man has offered me seventy dollars for it when it is in working order. Magdalene's compliments to her father and mother and let them know that she has not slept with drunk husband since she left Paisley. Our kind compliments to all inquiring friends. Magdalene expects my mother here early in the spring. We almost expect her here every day. Give my compliments to J & M Hutcheson, Hugh Craford, George Brown, Ann McCaig. I had almost forgot you, if you would come here I would reckon you would get a man and a farmer, and Ann Brown to. J .& M. will give you your meat till you get a husband.

Our Love Dear Brother

J.& M.Good

January 11th, 1842.

Dear Brother,

I cannot advise you in any way, land is the only sure way to independence. I like this country well and I think you would like it to.

I have bought a whole pig this day, it weighs 204 pounds for 4 dollars.

January 12th, 1842. If my Mother thinks of coming out she should come early in the spring.