Drummuck
Wednesday[1]
My very dear Sarah[2],
I was ever so glad to get your kind letter. It is only today that I feel well enough to
write. I had a nights coughing the
night after you went away and every day I felt so tired with the cough when I
got up in the morning I had no inclination to do anything but sleep if I could. Dr. Reid[3]
called on Saturday he gave me some pills and on Sunday last he sent me a box of
pills to be taken when going to bed, a tonic to be taken three times a day a
gargle and ordered me beef-tea to keep up my strength I am not allowed wine and
to keep out of the cold, in going through the house I am to keep my mouth
covered with a handkerchief I felt
quite rested after last night's sleep and am up since half past eleven I hope I
shall soon be quite better The cough is
not quite gone but nearly I think if I once I begin to sleep well at night I'll
soon be well. Sarah[4]
sends her love to you and Miss McCreedy[5]
and thanks to you for your enquiries about her, her cough is gone but she is
not strong Jane Skelly[6]
and Sally McMurray[7] were here
yesterday to see us Mr & Mrs Smyth[8]
called since you were here I think they called in Derryvalley to see you and
Miss McCreedy for Mr Smyth said he did not think Miss McC would have stayed
such a short time and something about wishing or seeing Miss McCreedy. Andy[9]
never called here since you left John[10]
sees them nearly every day they come sometimes to the gate for him. I think from what John says that Andy is as
well as when you went away. So you have
no end of trouble revising, correcting that valentine Have you sent it yet when I tell you Mr. G[11]
is as matter of fact and as cool apparently as a cucumber what will you think
of me I am wondering if you sent it I had emptied my purse paying for my stays
and if I had asked for a penny I must tell what I wanted to do with it. Now my dear Sarah you must not be angry with
me because I send you a stamp for the postage of that letter I am ever so glad
to let Jas[12] see I can
have a letter posted to him if I choose.
I suppose Mr. G will say when he sees it like Sir Colei Bacon "It
deserveth not to be read in the schools but to be freightered in the ship of
fools". Mamma[13]
has just come and says your two brothers[14]
and John[15] have come
up the road now. I read Curiosities of
Liturature D'Isreali found old Joseph a real Character only he kept a
carriage. I am very glad you have so
much variety it will do you good I an
not strong today so you must excuse this badly written letter and like a dear
good girl burn it . I am still weary
enough to do little. I am taking the
tonic am certainly stronger than I was since I renewed my cold. The day you went away I should not have gone
into the kitchen that day but I am not pleased with Jas and he is not going to
be my master. I hope you will soon
write to me. Dr. Reid[16]
said that Maggie[17] intended to
be to see us soon I never saw Mrs. McMurray[18]
since she was at meeting on Sunday I enclose you a few lines of poetry I do not
know if you will like it. Hoping soon to hear from you and with love to Miss
McCreedy and a double portion to yourself my dear Sarah
Your attached cousin,
Mary McCullagh[19]
Dr. Reid had Cold as well as the others in Mount
Bleasant
[1] The date is unknown.
[2] Sarah (McCullagh) Whiteside (although the letter is likely dated before her marriage)
[3] likely Robert Hamilton REID (1847-1881)
[4] Which Sarah?
[5] Mary Anne McCready (?-1897)
[6] Jane SKELLY?
[7] Sally McMURRAY? CLUES? An Unnamed McMURRAY married an Elizabeth McCULLAGH and their son Thomas McMURRAY married a Jane REED. Another McMURRAY married a Mary McCULLAGH, daughter of James McCULLAGH and Eliza Wallace
[8] SMYTH?
[9] Possibly Andrew Bradford McCULLAGH (?-1897), the brother of Sarah McCULLAGH – although the allusion to the valentine throws this into some question.
[10] Possibly John McCULLAGH (1847-1909), brother of Sarah McCULLAGH – but then later there is reference to “two brothers and John”.
[11] Mr. G?
[12] Jas?
[13] A McCULLAGH, but which one?
[14] She has more than two brothers, so I’d be guessing here.
[15] John ?
[16] Robert Hamilton REID (1847-1881), husband of Margaret JACKSON
[17] Margaret (Jackson) REID (1853-1944)
[18] Mrs. McMURRAY? Possibly mother of the above Sally McMURRAY.
[19] Possibly Mary McCULLAGH, daughter of James McCULLAGH & Eliza WALLACE