My dearest Son

            I received yours of the 14^th April. you were bird alone at that time in the big house. I hope you are not bird alone now, but that the “[?] bug” and the dear little “[p??theen]” are all about you. Dear dear Minnie [1] . I cannot make you sensible how I love her for her attention to me. If she had a thousand a year to expect from me; she could not be more attentive in writing to me; which shows the goodness of her heart and her sense of duty. May the good God grant that every child He has sent you may be to you as great a comfort as you have been to me and that every son-in-law of daughter-in-law that Minnie may have; may be to her as dutiful and as well beloved as she has been; and not to me only; the poor old Governor [2] thinks just as much of her as I do. I can wish neither of you any thing now except Heaven.

            I never had less news to write but no news is good news. All my family and connections are well except poor James McCullagh [3] ; who will never be better in this life. That family are better off in circumstances than they have been. Some friends have assisted them; so that I think they do not require any thing more, at least at present. I believe I was the first to think of them; as your Father said, I heaped coals of fire [4] on them; which set a good example to other. It was followed, I fear more from chance than good nature.

            Another invalid is Mary Reid [5] . Perhaps it is number ten that is coming. I do not know; for I have not seen her for above five years. So disgusted was I with her vindication of her infamous old Father [6] that I never went near her since. More & more of his evil deeds have come to light since his death. Our “solvent tenant [7] ” is beginning to be a little slack in paying his rent. I jogged M^r Reid’s [8] memory this day about it. Did I write you that Sam [9] endeavoured to sleep a night in Cavananore [10] , and had to fly out of it before evening? He fled actually naked; durst not venture back for his clothes; but had to send a man for them. The poor old Perpetual [11] was doting for long before he died. In his lucid moments, he was sorry enough for the offence he gave us; but he never had sense enough to come & ask pardon. If he had done so I would have forgiven him.

            Mary [12] is at present on a visit to Johnny [13] at Brackagh [14] . She likes the place. I cannot say when she will be home. I suppose you see Irish or English newspapers; and if you do you will see bad acct^s of Ireland; but no trouble has come near this neighbourhood for so far.

            Dear Tom what a blessing it is that you are happy. You put me in mind of the man spoken of in the 1^st Psalm “And all he doth shall prosper well”. I was looking over one of the old Bank reports when M^r Greig [15] was Manager; a few days ago and what a contrast to the later reports! “What hath God wrought”, is all I can say. Oh, remember Him, and serve Him with all thy heart, soul, strength and mind.

            A thousand loves and blessings to you, dear Minnie and the children from your ever affectionate Mother,