Urker Oct 23^rd 1895

My dear Tom

            For a wonder I have not got a letter from you this week; and I was particularly anxious to hear from you as your last (Sept 18^th) brought an account of dear little Dorothy’s [1] illness. I must only comfort myself with hope, till I hear from you again; and then I trust it will be rejoicing instead of hopes. God has been very good to you in hitherto sparing all your children; and I have firm belief that he will bless them; and what you say is true, that you seldom have had bad news to give me. Thanks be to his Holy Name, I have better news to give you. This time, than what I had last. I now hope and expect that dear Mary [2] is going to be spared to us. She is much better in fact not complaining of anything this day except weakness. She will surely be very tender this winter; but we have good means of taking care of her, and giving her every thing that she requires.

            We have not heard very lately from Julius [3] ; but we had letters from Tom [4] and Beatrice [5] , and if there had been anything particular to say about Julius, no doubt they would have mentioned it. Julius himself is not a great penman but he is better than that - a stout hearted, [?ly] boy.

            Tom did tell me of his wish to join the army, and I was satisfied with it. The time has not yet come when swords will be beaten into ploughshares; and until it does come, we cannot do without soldiers; and there is nothing to hinder soldiers from being god-fearing men. Many have been so from the time of Abraham to our own time. May God grant Tom to be another Havelock [6] or Hedley Vicars [7] He shall have my blessing and my prayers; and so will you every one; and ‘the old cow” is never forgotten.

            There is nothing particular to say about your friends in Ireland. They are all much as usual, as far as I know; except that Beatrice Brown [8] is much better since she went to Birdhill [9] . Johnny McCullagh [10] is still living, but he will never be better in this world. I believe I told you that Aunt Bess [11] would not hear of James [12] being sent to an asylum. Things must just go on as they are doing as long as she lives. It cannot be helped.

            We all look forward with great pleasure to the prospect of seeing Minnie [13] and the younger children. With fond love to her and all her flock, ever your affectionate Mother,

                        Eliza Jackson

PS We had Kate [14] here for a week lately. All her children are well and doing well. I think Andy’s [15] Tom [16] will be well enough. He was here for above a month; and never complained the whole time.