July 21. 38                                                  

Slieveroe
                                                                [Stranoden]
                                                                  Monaghan

My dearest Sallie [1] ,

                 I think its about time you were getting some news from the old country.  One of the cheeriest items is that Jack [2] & family are home.  We had him here for five weeks.  He left May [3] & Terence [4] & his amah with her mother in London so we had him all to ourselves.  His little girl [5] is in school in England, and when her holidays start, all are going to the sea side.  I really did not feel equal to having the whole family here besides I feel May would be happier in or near London, which is the headquarters of her mother & two widowed sisters.  Jack looks real well & hardly a day older for the last five years.  He is just the same loving home bird - never happier than when he is going about with Tom [6] .  Unfortunately the weather was not kind to him.  It rained almost all the time.  Indeed we are having a most depressing wet cold summer, & a poor prospect of crops.  We have fires still in the sitting rooms fancy such a thing in July!!  I am  much better than I was, but I can't boast of my walking achievements, but I have a wheeled chair, which the girls take me out in [7] , when there is a glimpse of sunshine.  Otherwise I am really very well but I do miss not being able to fly about as formerly.  Sallie Gilmore [8] , though four years older than I am, is quite active but is very thin, while I keep my condition wonderfully.  She lives principally with Eily [9] her married daughter, in Dublin. She is quite happy there but is greatly distressed over the long & seemingly hopeless illness of her youngest son Tommy [10] .  I  fear his is a case of T.B.  He and his wife [11] have been in Switzerland for months, for the sunshine treatment, but so far no improvement.  Brownie [12] & her flock are well.  We see them generally every week.  Margaret [13] has passed her entrance exam in Trinity & will be going to Dublin in Oct. & George [14] has won a £30 scholarship in the Royal School Armagh and is to go there after the summer holidays.  Samuel [15] keeps well but is not allowed to study yet.  Thompson [16] & Blin [17] "Hold the Fort" in Killynure.  Its a big change since the big houseful of long ago.  Davy Gilmore [18] , his wife & 2 children are in Liscalgot & Urker belongs to Jim & Molly Wright [19] .  They bought it when Tommy Jackson [20] sold it.  Molly loves it for old times sake.  I have not been there since poor Aunt Mary [21] died.  How few of the old folk remain!

    I had a visit from Martha Carson [22] last week.  She was enquiring particularly for you.  I hope you keep well also Clair [23] & Mary [24] & their respective families. Love to them all including your dear old self.

                                           Ever dearest

                                              Your fond sister

                                                 Maggie [25]