Urker Nov^r 13^th 1895

My dear Tom - This is one of my sorrowful anniversaries, this day six years ago we left all that remained of your dear Father [1] in Creggan. He was an affectionate, kind hearted man; and it was a pity that he had any faults [2] .

            I am truly sorry to see by your letters that Minnie [3] and two of the children have been suffering from fever. I hope with you that the change to the townhouse may banish it. I shall be anxious till I hear from you again; but I will not have long to wait for that; for if anyone earned a blessing by being attentive to an old Mother, surely you have done it.

            Mary Menary [4] is much better, I hope out of danger, but still very weak and delicate. For long enough, we thought she would not have lived. She rises for a little while nearly every day, but never yet left her room. I spoke to Sally [5] about the [repairs?] of Cavananore [6] ; she agrees with me that it is better to defer everything of the kind till Spring.  They have twenty six head of cattle in to fatten; and the land is improving every year; but the corn crop did not yield so well this year as last. The threshing mill was there last week. Eliezer’s [7] men and mine were up helping. My corn is not yet threshed, so I cannot tell how it will turn out; but the cattle are doing well. I have ten head in to fatten. Although this is a very bad year of agriculturalists, I hope to be able to pay my [money?] cleverly; besides doing something to help others. I have paid Creggan [8] rent already.; and the yearly [surtention?] to both Creggan and Freeduff [9] ; so I ought to have the blessing of the Church. The new rector M^r Johnston [10] had a concert in Crossmaglen [11] lately which realized the £40 which was much needed to pay for the repairs of the Rectory. All sorts of people attended the concert, which showed good feeling [12] .

            Andy and Peggy McCullough [13] were here today. They and their children are well but poor Johnny McCullagh [14] is not expected to last weeks longer. What a mercy it was that poor old Aunt [15] got away without seeing the last of her sons die. No change in Kiltebane [16] . Liscalgot people [17] are well except for a slight illness that little Tom had lately.

            Young Bessy Brown [18] has been here for some weeks. She is a fine good girl, and I do not know what we would have done without her, for Mary Griffin [19] has enough to do taking care of her daughter [20] . I heard from Julius [21] soon after I wrote last. He was well and did not forget to enquire about the kitten which was a great source of comfort to him in his illness. I have not heard yet whether Tom [22] has passed his examination. He must come to let me see him in his regimentals. I always loved the sight of a soldier, & so did your Grandmother.

            In writing of Eliezer, I forgot to say that he always puts me in mind of the man spoken of in the first Psalm “And all he doth shall prosper well.” Andy [23] and his family are well his son Andy [24] is doing well at St. Andrew’s College in Dublin [25] . Andy is very proud of him; but I never again will be proud of great talent, after seeing how little they did for my poor Johnny [26] . Jemmie [27] and Lizzie [28] are getting on as well as can be expected. I saw by a letter from Beatrice Brown [29] to Mary [30] that you had written to her. I hope she has not [?ed] anything more out of you; and you remember your promise to me to lose nothing more by them. They are not worthy of kindness, for they are both selfish and unjust; and there is not a pin to choose between Beatrice [31] , Maggie [32] and Hugh [33] . To this day, they never told Lizzie how her Mother [34] had disposed of the property and never gave her as much as one shilling.

            Now I am not able to write any more and it was with difficulty that I wrote so much; so with much love and ten thousand times ten thousand blessing to you and yours, I remain

            Your ever affectionate Mother

                        Eliza Jackson