Urker March 28^th 1894

[Recd 1 May]

My dear Tom

            Though not well able to write I must endeavour to scribble a line of congratulation on the Bank reports which I received last Monday. First of all, thanks be to God for all his mercies. It was he who gave you wisdom & courage to do what you have done, the same as he taught King David’s “hands to war and fingers to fight” [1] ; and blessed your endeavours with good success. You have not lived in vain for you are, and have been, a blessing to thousands. Your position is one of great care and responsibility, but your success is a rich reward for it all. I never despaired of “the old cow” [2] ; I always felt that my petitions for her were heard, and answered. And I have the same answers for those which I offered up for my children and grandchildren. They will all do well for the blessings which I have implored for them will be lighting upon them both now and when I shall be mingled with the clouds of the valley. But you had the blessing of a holier woman than ever I was. Do you remember old Rose’s [3] dying words, “My blessing go with you Tommy Jackson”? So it did by land and by sea.

            Terry Larkin [4] is dead; I am glad that you called to see him. Did anyone write to you that your favourite Sarah McCullagh [5] had a fine young son [6] born some time in January [7] . Her letters are cheerful, she seems to be comfortable and happy. There is nothing new among us, except that your Aunt Brown [8] and her family are to leave Sandymount [9] at May, and are going to live with her daughter Margaret [10] at Bird Hill [11] . M^rs [Maynagh?] the owner of Sandymount is coming to live there herself. I think it will be good for all parties to be living together.

            So poor old M^r Gladstone [12] has thrown up the sponge at last. Oh that he had died before he took that awful caper about Home Rule. His name had been a household word while memory would last. I must tell you a joke about his resignation. A labourer of Willy Corr’s lamented about him, “So we have lost M^r Gladstone, but we have got a fine man in his place, one M^r Gooseberry”! The Irish are great politicians.

            “The royal family” are getting on as well as heart could wish. Urker [13] , Liscalgot [14] and Cavananore [15] are flourishing apace. You would rub your eyes if you saw the latter place; it is coming around to be like what it used to be. If cousin Sam [16] had had it a couple of years longer, it would have been little worth.

            I hope the children who had colds when you wrote are quite well again & that you have succeeded in getting a summer residence in the Peak; that will be for the good of all your healths. We expect Beatrice [17] , Tom [18] & Julius [19] next week. All are well here, but I had a cough all winter which has left me very weak. Besides I am very infirm though in good health. The cough is gone since the good weather came in and we are very busy getting in the crop. I am truly glad to hear that David [20] & Louisa [21] are doing well. I hope they will be happy and useful.

            When did I write as much as I have done today, or when will I write as much again? We shall hear before long if you can do anything for young Rainsford [22] . Unless you can help, I fear both he and Sam Gilmore [23] will have a bad change. If I did not think that they would serve the Bank as well as any others, I would never say a word for either of them.

            Now with love to Minnie [24] , Kathleen [25] , Dorothy [26] and the little ones, and with fervent prayers and blessings for yourself, I remain,

            Your affectionate & happy Mother,

                        Eliza Jackson