Urker June 4^th 1895

My dearest Son,

 

            On this day fifty four years ago, God sent me my greatest earthly blessing; and I cannot let the day pass without acknowledging His goodness and mercy. Besides sending the blessing. He has spared and preserved it, for ever blessed be His name. Your letter of May 1^st reached me this day. When you wrote it you had not heard of Julius’ [1] illness or recovery. Ere this you have heard of both for Rob^t Cameron [2] was to telegraph to you. We had an anxious time. Three of my Grandsons, David Gilmore [3] , Andy’s Tom [4] and Julius all ill nearly at the same time. Julius got the best of care. Dr. McBride [5] visited him every day for a month, and Dr. Wilson [6] of Castleblayney came three times. Nothing could equal the attention of Sarah Gilmore [7] , Mary Griffin [8] and Mary Menary [9] ; and a more patient or obedient creature than Julius could not be.

 

            Tom [10] and Beatrice [11] left us on the 24^th ult. They did not like to go until Julius would be decidedly better. Tom is a great tall fellow and I have been telling him that he ought to be doing something for himself, and that his Father was earning his own living long before he was his age.

 

            All here are much as usual. I cannot complain though I am not growing younger; and the others have not quite got over their fatigue; but they will be improving every day.

 

            I am sorry to learn that the colony is threatened with plague [12] ; but you are in the hands of a merciful God who will not let any evil befall thee, nor any plague come neigh thy dwelling. Psalm 91.

 

            I never pray for myself that I do not wrestle in prayer for you and yours, and the dear old cow [13] , and I always have good hope that I am heard and answered; and I had that hope even when things looked darkest.

 

            I went to Sandymount [14] to see the Brownes [15] and bid them farewell on the 23^rd ult. Beatrice [16] was lying ill with jaundice and not fit to be moved, and Hugh [17] is nearly blind and a cripple. Anyone but themselves would think that the Lord’s hand was laid heavily enough on them, but their sufferings have made no improvement for so far. They have every stick of their furniture drawn off to Birdhill [18] and never gave Lizzie [19] one shilling or the worth of it; except some old books; nor never showed her her Father’s or Mother’s will, nor told her what dispositions of the property they had made. Anything more wicked or unnatural than their treatment of Lizzie, I never saw. And if ever I know you to do any thing for them, or pay them any attention, I will work wonders on you. I never intend to go near them again. I would as soon visit Redmond O’Hanlon [20] if he was to be had, for he was more honest than they are.

 

            Now though my letter writing is a thing of the past, I have struggled to write this to you, in honour of the day that was in it, as the Irish say; and I have no more to add but that I am with ten thousand times ten thousand blessings to you and Minnie and your children

            Your ever affectionate Mother,

                        Eliza Jackson

This will not be posted till tomorrow