|
Downie February 18th 1844.
Dear Brother,
I received your letter on
the 20th of January and we were all very happy to hear that you was all
well and likewise at the receiving of the five pound which has given us a
great relief and I would be very ungrateful were I not to pay it as soon
as possible which I hope will not be 1ong. By sending it the way that you
did you have saved nine shillings sterling. We are all well at present. We
are throng making sugar. It takes a good deal of work. We have made 150
troughs,that is to collect the sap. We have got a boiler that holds about
six stoupful of sap. We have made about 40 pounds of sugar this week. We
have our chopping almost past for the winter. We are going to sow 8 acres
of wheat, 1.5 of potatoes and 1.5 of oats and one of peas and one of
Indian con so you see that we have not been idle. I hope by the fall that
we will have plenty. Our prospects here is good if we be spared every year
will add to our comfort. We have not heard of Little John this some months
till last week he sent word that he was coming to work a few weeks with us
but I much doubt it. You may tell Betty that she is a grandmother ayewise.
Our John is a fair specimen of a backswoodman, a great big broad
shouldered fellow. You would not know him. He is an industrious, well
doing son. James is not growing so much but a well doing boy. Margaret is
quite well. Ann is quite hearty and often speaks about her cousin
Elizabeth. William is not a very stout boy but a very lighthearted and Ann
McCaig and his grannie is in all his conversation. Magdalene is a very
strong child and running along. Magdalene and myself is just as were but
three years nigher our graves since you saw us last. Magdalene says she is
very sorry that Nancy has to want her winter dress for to assist us at
this time but hopes that it will not be long till she has it in her power
to pay it and if her or hers ever comes here they will get a warm
reception and find a home in this western world. You say beware spirits
and these are strangers to me yet whisky is a thing I never see altho’ we
can get it for one and sixpence a gallon, four quarts is all we have had
in our house and that was at New year’s day which we held very heartily. I
yoked the oxen and took the wife and all the family in the sledge and went
to Alex McLachlan’s. He is from the Brig of Johnston and lives about 2
miles from me and we spent New Year’s day with singing and dancing and
next day we went to Scott, my next neighbour, and spent it in the same
manner. He came in the Buckingham in the year ’21 and lives about 2 or 3
hundred yards from me. A man seen drunk here serves for a fortnight’s
crack. I owe nobody anything but yourself and my oxen when they are due.
The snow is about two feet deep this three months but we have mere
pleasure chopping up to the knees in snow that ever we had at our loom.
Every tree down gains something but at home every Saturday made us as poor
as ever. We have more peace and pleasure than ever we had. One of our cows
is farrow and has given us milk all the winter altho’mostly fed upon
brous, that is the small twigs of the trees, that and 1000 of hay is all
they have got and they are looking well as yet. There has been a great
deal of misfortune happened here. There has been three men killed with
trees falling on them and one of my neigbours killed an ox the other day
and a man that came out last summer 1ost heart and hanged himself a few
months ago. This place is settling very fast. There are men seeking land
almost every day. There was two Paisley men in my house last week. One of
the name of Bell, a nephew of Duncan McFee and others name is Gillies, a
shoemaker from the Newton. He has a brother, a flour lasher that came in
the ship with us but is home again. Perhaps he could give some information
about; John’s gun. He was in the boat that went ashore and you might call
on Hugh Crawford, the wright, he got my loom and tenboxtlay and box and
carriage and dell and other articles. I am owing him fourteen shillings.
He was to sell them and give the over plus to my mother. You might call on
him and see if they are not sold yet. If not you might have an opportunity
of selling them that my mother might get a little to help her, that is all
that I have mind of. Give our kind compliments to my mother and let her
know that there is not a meal past in our house but some of the children
has something to say about her and Ann McCaig, likewise to Agnes and
Matthew. We are happy to hear of their welfare and if ever they emigrate
to Canada they will find a home in Goodhope, township of Downie. Our kind
compliments to my sister and Thomas. I am sorry to hear that her sons is
not what we would wish. Likewise give our very kind compliments to
Magdalene’s father and all her friends, to James and. Mrs Hutcheson and
Miss Shearer and all enquiring friends. Ann McCaig, John wants you either
to bring or send a song book to him and James. John sends his compliments
to Michell Andrew and family especially to Elizabeth. She is not to marry
till he sends for her. He wants to make her a farmer’s wife. No more at
present but remains your affectionate brother,
James Good, Esquire of
Goodhope.
N.B. Magdalene sends her
compliements to Nancy and wants her to come and drink tea on Jamesday Fair
Saturday. |
