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Home Castle
Decbr 2nd 1878
My very dear Phil
Very many happy returns of your birthday and God grant that the coming
year may be it happier one than this has been. It was with great
sorrow I heard through Emily Brymer of the sad loss yourself
and dear Anna has sustained in the death of your two dear
children from yellow fever. That dire disease has been the cause of
the deaths of all the dear ones I have lost, with the exception of
your brother Roger, that the very words in print make my poor heart
turn cold, but I try to think that all is ordered by our Heavenly
Father for the best, and look forward to meeting all that have gone
before where there will be no more sickness, no more deaths.
I do hope ere this you are all in good health
and Christina also. I long for letters from you both; there has
been a great deal of sickness in this Island and a very bad fever too,
but our Merciful Father has hitherto spared all our dear ones. His
Holy Name be praised for this great mercy.
My dear Robert completed his 17th year on
Friday last. I do so wish he could get some employment but as yet he
(?) has not been able to do so although he both himself and Mother are
very anxious for it but everything is so dull here now that there is
no opening for a young man in any line so many Estates thrown up, and
consequently so many young men through rt (right) of birth, that there
is no chance for anyone and the distress in England, in Jamaica.
I think you would not recognize
Lizzie if
you could see her she is so fat. Hardwork agrees with her for she does
work hard I assure you. Her baby was ten months old yesterday and is
the biggest child she has ere had. He is a sweet little fellow and all
indeed and you would be very much pleased with them all could you see
them. We have had an unusually wet fall this year and heavy floods,
but I am thankful to say we have not suffered from it in this Parish.
I wrote to Walter some months since but he has not answered my
letter. I hope he is getting on nicely at school. I suppose he will
soon leave school, do you intend bringing him up as a Planter? Fondest
love for yourself and dear Anna and all your dear children and wishing
you all a Happy New year when it comes.
believe me dear Phil,
your loving mother,
F. L. Swire
Decbr 9th,
I did not know until a few days ago when I got the papers you sent me
that your dear Walter had been taken from you also, dear Boy! he
seemed to be known to me from his having written to me. God comfort
you and your dear Wife under this sad loss, is the constant prayer I
can offer for you.
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Notes:
Emily Brymer is
Emily Elizabeth
Swire Brymer,
sister of Philip Swire.
Anna is Anna C. (Kean) Swire, wife
of Philip Swire.
Christina is
Christina Octavia (Swire)
Seymour Woods, sister of Philip Swire.
Robert is Robert Andrew Page,
first son of Philip's sister Elizabeth Page, later
Elizabeth
Rutty. Lizzie is Elizabeth Page, later Elizabeth
Rutty, sister to Philip, and mother to Robert Page, above.
Walter is Walter John Swire, son of Philip Swire. |
