91 Duke St.
Kingston -
Jamaica
Dec. 12th
My dear Brother,
Your letter of the 25th of June lies open before me, in reply to mine,
announcing dear Fashey's death -- I wish to again, I am not
sure if I told you that her son
Robert, followed within 2
months. But I am sure I asked you to try & interest yourself in
getting employment in America, (if possible), for my elder son who is
married to a very superior woman I understand & I know she is doing
her best for her family. Arthur did well at sea, & was for some
years, in command of one of the Peninsular & Oriental steamers -- He
had several attacks of fever, which I fancy, rather sickened him of
Africa, & on marrying an English woman, he left the sea -- he had been
careful & saved money, upon which they lived, hoping to get employment
in London. This he has failed in doing & the (?) prospects are so
depressed just now, that I dare not tell him to come here, although I
should like so much to have them near us. --
Several of our young men have gone to America, & succeeded in getting
employment, & I had hoped you might make interest for him there. The
younger son of whom I wrote you many years ago, went to sea, &
used to write to me, but since going out to Australia, I have never
heard from, or of him. --
Our sister Mamie Plues resides there, &
corresponded with me but can hear nothing of him. So here I am, with
only good brave, & dutiful daughters, only one of whom,
Fanny,
resides with me. She took the school in which May taught, before her
marriage, only with fewer pupils, for so many others have sprung up,
that she cannot secure many pupils. -- Our medical man said I ought
not to teach as formerly, but while so many Cubans were here, I was
glad to help myself by teaching them English, often through the medium
of French, the knowledge of which, I have retained. But they are all
gone now, & I can no longer help out our small income that way. --
What a terrible war is going on in South Africa now, & I was glad (?)
you must be that your elder son is teaching, instead of being a
military man, & he might have been in the thick of it. -- I see
America goes with England, & they should be friendly, being v____ually
(?) from the same stock. - I trust you & yours are well; how much I
should like to see you all & I am so fond of children, that my heart
would go out to your daughter's little ones. I suppose your younger
son will soon be leaving school & I trust he will prove a comfort to
you, as his brother seems to be. -- I suppose, if you see any paper of
ours, you would have noticed what terrible weather we have had, & what
damage it has done. The peasantry had taken so lively an interest in
the Banana produce, but now that the gales & heavy rains have laid
them low, they are quite disheartened. -- However, the Boston Fruit
Co. have done well, for the island, & I hope will continue to do so.
My dear married daughters are happy, but I fear their children
are not very strong, which makes them anxious mothers. However, I hope
when the teething processes are over, there will be less cause for
anxiety -- I fancy _______ is not so trying in cold countries, as in
the Tropics. --
With much love to you & yours, from Fanny & self,
Ever dear Phil,
Your affectionate sister,
Emily Brymer
My daughter-in law is trying a boarding house, but it is precarious
(?) living.
(written at top of beginning of letter)
Best wishes for the approaching season, to you & yours, dear Phil. --
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Notes:
Fashey was Frances Anne (Swire)
Spalding, who died April 20, 1899 in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was
Philip & Emily's sister. Robert Spalding was Fashey's second son. His fill name was Robert
Roger Swire Spalding. Arthur was Emily's elder son. His full name was James Arthur
Brymer. Emily's younger son was Alexander George Brymer. Mamie Plues, sister to Emily and Philip was named Marianne but was
also called Mamie. Fanny was Emily's unmarried daughter, Frances Elizabeth Brymer. Emily's married daughters were Emily Mary "May" (Brymer) Haughton,
Helen Gordon (Brymer) Duff, and Amy Agnes (Brymer) Swaby. The name of Emily's daughter in law is not yet known. |
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