The Silver Bowl: 1912 Sept 21

Slieveroe [1] ,

Stranooden, [2]

Sept. 21, 1912

My dear George [3] ,

We have been on the lookout for a wee line from you to let us know how you got back but nothing has come for so far. Mother and Mrs. Law[?] went to Dundalk yesterday and we expect them home tonight. They are to take a car from Ballybay.

Poor John won't be allowed to stop[?]. Mother had a letter from Mr. McD [?] yesterday. The men have been busy drawing hay the last few days. No corn cut yet.

The House is very lovely since you keep much away. Only for the children we would be half dead. They have great times playing in the bog. We had Letty Waddell [4] over this evening.

Not much news since you left. We are to go to Killykeeragh [5] tomorrow. Hope you will be able to read this scribble. My pen is a very bad one. Best love and write soon. Your loving sister,

Molly [6]

[1] Home of the REED family and of Margaret JACKSON, widow of Robert Hamilton REED (REID).

[2] Stranooden, Co. Monaghan.

[3] The George David McCULLAGH (1896-1918) who was a brother to “Mollie” Mary McCULLAGH (1890-1932) – both of them children of Margaret JACKSON & Andrew Bradford McCULLAGH actually was killed in battle some six months earlier. He attended Campbell College, Belfast from September 1910 to July 1914, after which he served for a short time with the Hong King and Shanghai Bank. Along with the Military Medal he was awarded the Parchment Certificate for Gallant Conduct. He is commemorated on panels 79/80 in the Pozieres Cemetary Memorial Register, near Thiepval.

[4] Letitia WADDELL, daughter of Alfred Hampden WADDELL & Mary Anne Henrietta GILMORE.

[5] Killykeeragh – this is the home of another line of WADDELLs tied to the famous Irish classicist and writer, Helen WADDELL. Is there more of a connection?

[6] Mary McCULLAGH (1890-1932)