|
Home Castle Oct 1st 1876
My dear Son
Your very welcome letter of the 7th Febry was duly received, and ought
to have been answered long ere this but many circumstances have
prevented my writing. Sometimes it has been the want of Stamps, at
others I have been away from home and had not your letters with me,
however I am determined to do so today. I have been looking forward
for the pleasure of getting a letter from you for some months past but
I suppose like myself your time has been so occupied that you have had
no time to think of me. I am glad to find by your letter that you have
rented Lakeland
and I do hope you will do well with. I know that you are active and do
not lack energy unless you are much changed from what you were in your
youth but alas! poverty seems to be the lot of all who bear the name
of Swire.
Your account of your little ones
and dear wife are very consoling. Dear wee
Roger kiss him
many times for unknown Grandmother. I should like to see yourself and
dear ones before I pass away but I know that pleasure is not for me
here, but I do hope we may all meet in our Father's Kingdom, where
there will be no more parting no more sorrow.
Roger H. was
married to dear Alice
on the 28 of June last. They write that they are very happy and
comfortable at a place Roger has rented for a term of years. It is
called Bowden, it is a wharf in the parish of St. Thomas in the East
close to Morant Bay. His
Mother has gone up to spend some time with them.
Lizzie her
husband and
Children are well. She has a little Boy four months old. He is called
"Frank Swire"
after his poor worthless old Grandmother. He is a fine Child and very
like his Aunt Spalding.
She has gone home to live in
Scotland with her two married daughters, and writes me she is very
happy with them. Dear Fashy
she is very good to me as far as she possibly can, and often deprives
herself of things to send them to me.
Emily's two
daughters Kate
and Mary have
been here for the last four months. They had been ill and Lizzie asked
them to come to her for change, and I am happy to say they have both
derived benefit from it. Mary is to go home on the 3rd instant, but
Kate will remain here some little time longer. I wish she could get a
situation as a Governess in a family. The heat of Town does not agree
with her.
I am sure you will be sorry to
learn dear Mamie
has lost her eldest Son,
who for some years has been a good help to his Mother. He died in May
last of Gastric fever. He was ill for nearly three months, poor fellow
he made his Mother support him in bed that he might write and thank me
for a letter he received whilst confined to bed. Poor Mamie was in
great distress when she wrote. She said she did not know what she
would do without Willie.
He was such a good Son and Brother that his Sisters and Brothers all
looked up to him for advice and example.
Give the united love of Lizzie and
myself to your dear Wife and children and tell
Walter I am
hoping for his promised letter and hope to get it as birthday present
on the 27th of Novbr, so he must make haste and write it. Much love
for you my only Son from Your
loving Mother,
F. L. Swire |
