Derrivalley
                                                               April 28th, 77

My Dear Sarah [1] ,

             I hope your spree will not be a dangerous one and that you will beware of [???] and canals and especially young men as there is not so much danger in the ladies, I need not warn.  I hope you enjoyed your trip to Belfast but I am afraid you have been tippling as you say you did not know the Antrim  road.  I am glad to hear that the B's are well.  I hope J. Jackson [2] has got a mud-wall to bring his bride [3] to for I think they would fight like cats in Urker [4] with so many she's in it.  I think Mary is counting the chickens before they are hatched.  I am sorry to hear of Cready's illness but hope it will not signify. You say you think you are glad at the prosperity of Range ducks, turkeys.  I say thinking is bad witt for a child of your age.  The girls are doing very modestly coming on to May.

    We have got all the corn in at home and Andy [5] is at Drummalt putting in his. John is gone up to Baliaborough since Tuesday and has not returned.  I did not see Mary Reid [6] but once since you left so you see they do not care much about us you being absent but their is an excuse as their [horse] has been ill twice and the crop to put in.  We rote to Mr. Dickie about your money and let him know it was full time he would do something.

    And now in conclusion to him who loves you even as a hen loveth her chickens, and as a cat gathereth her kittens under her wings, to him be all the fun.

             Amen
                  James McCullagh

Sarah McCullagh
[The following is in Sarah McCullagh's writing, written on an empty part of the page.] "Some represent evil or sin as an abortive attempt after good - making sin & weakness strength & virtue synonomous terms."  Mr. Ferris this week. MY NOTE: This is a very Adlerian concept. Interesting.

Derryvalley,
                                                                  June 29/94

Dear Sally [7] ,

          Excuse me for not writing sooner but Miss McCready [8] rote so often and gave you all the news I did not know what to write about  she is a good bit failed but as crabit as ever in turns.  I hope you enjoyed your pick-nick party you did not take a d-m-d gorge like B.H.  I have all the old hands working yet. Mrs Greer has her son Hugh home again from America he is in bad health.  We have got all crop in with enough to do for we had a backward spring not more than six dry days at a time and a very frosty May cold and wet up to near the middle of June  crops are just beginning to look like growing now  this season is a full month later than last  we had good crops last year the flax turned out well and the price was good & payed well but I think this year will be as bad [forment] it only about four inches long on an average.  the garden is a wilderness again with an odd flower and a few good roses.  Nobody goes near it only Miss McCready & (Sally [9] cuts the rough grass) & she stands and chops away with the rake here and there between the flowers  she has her own way of gardening and you might not say a word or she would fly up and be at rest  we had Miss Olivia [10] stopping here a fortnight or three weeks they do not pull well together like two sisters Miss McCready was disgusted with her sitting up moping and reading turn about she ought to have been working for the Lussanas  I suppose you heard old Thomas Miller the fiddler was dead and gone to rest  I wonder will he want his fiddle in the next world like the harpers.  we had Mr. Sam Carlile [11] over here on a visit of patronage  we are still supplying the old customers with butter and Sally has a busy time now as we have a good deal for the market it s from five pence to seven pence a pound so that pays well only there is no dressing to do as we sell it fresh in lumps  she has a good flock of young chickens and turks and ducks doing well for so far  finding I cannot conceive or bring forth any more news at present but hoping to be more prolific in the future I remain ever your loving brother

                  James

P.S. Give my love and best wishes to Mr. Whiteside [12] and the son and may God bless you all  Amen and Amen

Drummuck
                                                                  Wednesday

My very dear Sarah [13] ,

                  I was ever so glad to get your kind letter.  It is only today that I feel well enough to write.  I had a nights coughing the night after you went away and every day I felt so tired with the cough when I got up in the morning I had no inclination to do anything but sleep if I could.  Dr. Reid [14] called on Saturday he gave me some pills and on Sunday last he sent me a box of pills to be taken when going to bed, a tonic to be taken three times a day a gargle and ordered me beef-tea to keep up my strength I am not allowed wine and to keep out of the cold, in going through the house I am to keep my mouth covered with a handkerchief  I felt quite rested after last night's sleep and am up since half past eleven I hope I shall soon be quite better  The cough is not quite gone but nearly I think if I once I begin to sleep well at night I'll soon be well.  Sarah [15] sends her love to you and Miss McCreedy [16] and thanks to you for your enquiries about her, her cough is gone but she is not strong  Jane Skelly [17] and Sally McMurray [18] were here yesterday to see us Mr & Mrs Smyth [19] called since you were here I think they called in Derryvalley to see you and Miss McCreedy for Mr Smyth said he did not think Miss McC would have stayed such a short time and something about wishing or seeing Miss McCreedy.  Andy [20] never called here since you left  John [21] sees them nearly every day they come sometimes to the gate for him.  I think from what John says that Andy is as well as when you went away.  So you have no end of trouble revising, correcting that valentine  Have you sent it yet when I tell you Mr. G [22] is as matter of fact and as cool apparently as a cucumber what will you think of me I am wondering if you sent it I had emptied my purse paying for my stays and if I had asked for a penny I must tell what I wanted to do with it.  Now my dear Sarah you must not be angry with me because I send you a stamp for the postage of that letter I am ever so glad to let Jas [23] see I can have a letter posted to him if I choose.  I suppose Mr. G will say when he sees it like Sir Colei Bacon "It deserveth not to be read in the schools but to be freightered in the ship of fools".  Mamma [24] has just come and says your two brothers and John [25] have come up the road now.  I read Curiosities of Liturature D'Isreali found old Joseph a real Character only he kept a carriage.  I am very glad you have so much variety it will do you good  I an not strong today so you must excuse this badly written letter and like a dear good girl burn it .  I am still weary enough to do little.  I am taking the tonic am certainly stronger than I was since I renewed my cold.  The day you went away I should not have gone into the kitchen that day but I am not pleased with Jas and he is not going to be my master.  I hope you will soon write to me. Dr. Reid [26] said that Maggie [27] intended to be to see us soon I never saw Mrs.  McMurray [28] since she was at meeting on Sunday I enclose you a few lines of poetry I do not know if you will like it. Hoping soon to hear from you and with love to Miss McCreedy and a double portion to yourself my dear Sarah

                        Your attached cousin,
                                       Mary McCullagh [29]

Dr. Reid had Cold as well as the others in Mount Bleasant

Drummick
                                                             Bally bay
                                                               Dec 15th/96

 My Dearest Sally [34] ,

               I am here nursing poor Cready in a bad attack of bronchitis.  Dr. Bartley [35] is attending her and does not expect her to recover.  However she is wonderful and may pull through for all that.  She has been ill this long time with water on the left lung but would not allow you to be told so as not to keep you fretting  She sat up in bed to address the papers always till last Saturday She made her will in Oct. Wrote it out herself and I am sure it is a funny production.  I was here for a while early in Nov. and went home leaving her greatly better but she must have got more cold for Maggie [36] sent up Mattie [37] to Urker to stay in my place so that I could come at once, on Saturday last.  They thought she would not live many hours then and now she is a little better and breathes pretty freely.  I was glad to see your long letter.

    People here are all in grief about Mrs. Hamilton, wife to Mr. Whiteside's successor in D Valley.  She took ill on Sunday evg with peritonitis & died in about a week I think the Tuesday week after she lay down.  She suffered agony and had to be kept under the influence of morphia all the time.  She was a lovely young creature and as good as she was beautiful.  She was only 23½  years old.  Mr. Hamilton has gone to Clifden in Galway where her friends live for a change.  How will he bear to come back to his desolate home!  Tom Brown [38] has gone to Bankok in rather delicate health.  He fears his lungs are affected.  He had to go as he was principal witness in some law proceeding.  Minnie [39] and her family (all but Julius [40] , who is left in England at school) had reached Port Said in safety on their way to Hong Kong.

    Mollie [41] is still in Armagh but is to be home tomorrow  Mattie [42] and she will have great times together.  The Blockaders have left Cross and gone to Saintfield and Mr. Bates [43] has been made manager in Cross.  We are glad to have James [44] & he instead of strangers.  Sarah [45] Jane [46] and Essie [47] are all a feeble party.  Essie is fat but her heart is not acting right & the other two are skeleton.

Boyd has improved D.Valley greatly, but has cut down a lot of trees, all the little plantation at the Railway bridge is gone, about the house the hedges are neatly clipped & the house done up inside and out.  I hear new floors upstairs.

    Fond love to all
         from your own
              Mary Griffin [48]

Cavananore
                                                                Dundalk
                                                                  19th Oct 1874

 My dear Sarah [49]

            I received your note this morning & am not surprised that you have not found the coat, as it was only on speck I wrote about it.  Dear knows where Andy [50] left it or who got the loan of it.  I am glad to have such favourable accts of your father [51] , I trust he will continue to improve.  I am very sorry there is no word of Andy.  He must have left N York.  Do you know the name of the parties he boarded with?  It would be worth while to write to them & enquire.

    If you have the envelope of Tom's letter you might write to him to the post town that the mark is in the Jan of the letter & he might chance to get it. Other wise he will not remember that he neglected to give his address & wont be in a hurry writing when he gets no reply.  I have not had a line from Mary Reid [52] for a long time.  I am sorry to hear of the pain in her knee.  If it is rheumatism to paint it with Iodine would likely start it.

    I had a letter from Minnie [53] to day from Killarney.  They are enjoying themselves & the scenary greatly.  I know not when we may expect them home.

    There is a letter from Mr. [McC???h [54] ] to day & counsels opinion is that the Oliver estate must go with chancery to be administered, & I believe my brother Andy [55] is going to take proceedings to lease Kilynure from Thompson [56] , so there are a fresh lot if [????]

    I thought Thompson would have been up for Mary [57] on Saturday, but he could not [get] so I do not know when she will [get].  We are all well and unite in love to you all

       Ever your affectionate
                 Aunt Mary [58]

Sept 18th , 1896                                                           

Cottage
Drummuck

 My dear Sally [59] ,

            I was delighted to get dear Clairs [60] photo this day he is a dear child I sent Eva [61] hers she was charmed with it  What sort of a dress is it he looks well in it I hope you are all well & and that Mary [62] is getting on as well as you would like I am stopping for a few days with Miss Sallie McMurray and Jane Skelly every one that has seen Clair thinks him a fine fellow.  Elie Gilmore's [63] daughter Jane [64] is to be married to the Rev Mr. Bartley [65] a brother of the Dr. you met him  It is to be soon.  I lodged in the Northern Bank [????] [200-30-0]  I tried to get a five doller note but could so I send you three dollers one for Clair one for Mary & one for yourself as your birth day is drawing near with love to you all  It is not much but I could hardly it.  They are working away in Drummuck Mary Menary is home I [believe] the better of her visit Sister Carlisle has returned to Brighton Nothing now in Ballybay Dr Bentont lectured in the Temperance Hall last evening subject the boy.  Jane went to hear him. I did not go it was to stormy you may remember him in Derryvalley. I am watching for a letter from you Derryvalley  Congregation make great enquiries about you all.  Dr. Bartley [66] was admiring your photo [today] [Witty] McMurry was here he is in Newry now old Mrs Moore told me to ask you if her son James was living near you & if his wife was with him she has not heard from them for a long time & she would like to know.  You may remember a girl named Hamilton in your class in the Sabbath school her name now is Jackson she was glad to see the photo asked for you Mr W [67] .  I saw Sallie Little she is in Mrs Kirkpatricks I went to see her & show her the photos I give you S McMurry & Jane's love and also Mrs Thomas [???] the girls are growing tall as well as [????] all your old friends send their greetings to you & yours give Clair & Mary kisses from me and wishing the Blessing of God on you both & the children

                                               ever your
                                           old Mother Cready [68]

Sept 25 1896

 My dear Sallie [69]

             I received your welcome letter this morning Friday 25  I was sorry to hear that the dear little ones were ill  I hope by this time with God's blessing they are all right  I hope you had my letters & papers forwarded to you I never neglected to write & send papers  I hope my last which is a week posted, you will get as there was a small enclosure in it  I will return to Drumuck next week they are very kind to me here.  I was showing your Photos to the Rev Mr Young he was greatly pleased with them and thought Clair far older that he is I have no news only I wanted you to know that I got your letter  Many kisses to the dear children & love to you &  Mr. W  Sallie McMurry & Jane send their love to you I made a mistake in my last in putting down what I had put in the Bank  It is £238 the Lord is good to me

                     yours ever
                     dear Sallie
                     From your old
                          Mother Cready [70]

I may give all your friends love to you
I hope you may be comfortable in the house when you go to it.  I am glad you like the weather we have very bad weather here

Nov 5th 96                                                      

Cottage
  Drummuck

 My dear Sallie [71]

             I was very glad to get two letters from you lately, to know that you had got mine sent you  the news I had from Eva [72] this morning that her mother [73] yesterday the 4th had a son [74] .  they were both doing well  I am glad she is over it  Mrs Alfred Waddell had a son about 3 weeks ago.  I was glad to hear the children were better when you wrote  I hope they continue so & that you have got over your fatigue of nursing & moving and that Mr Whiteside [75] is also well.  Our [somming] was a week ago.  James came up for it & dined here that Sabbath.  he could not look better than he did his neighbours were glad to see him  John Robb asked him in summer to go to him which he did part of the time he spent a night in [Shore] [son]  I spent a day last week Sallie McMurry & Jane they were glad to here about you & send their love to you  Jane has got out her upper teeth when her gums are hard she will get in new ones  I hope you are all comfortable in the Parsonage and that you will like the inhabitants in that Quarter well Their will be no sale of work  Their will be a service of song instead of it  I don't think it will do as well.  Mrs Irwin opened the Bible class last month  I heard that their were about fifty at it  some way the don't pull well together in doing work no remark  They have got the crop all in except the [????] here and it seems to be a good crop.  The [Tates] bring me up every Sabbath up the hill which is a great help to me  I got a nice spring matress which is very comfortable  I could not [turn] my [sick] at present we have some frost I may give the remembrance of all congregations friends to you the never forget to ask for you all  I sent your message to Mrs Moore she was [not] out or [comments] tell Clair [76] I am glad he is getting a big boy & to love the Lord  I send kisses to both of them

               from your old
                    Mother Cready

San Moritz Dorf.     3rd August [77]

My Dear Sally [78] ,  I don't usually write letters on Sunday but today I am not well & have read till I am tired.  I have got a grand German bible Luther's translation & large print & with references.  at home we would pay 5/- for it here I got it for 1/8 but I am bothered with the beginning of the 18th Psalm. It is quite different especially the first verse from our translation.  Luther must have translated from different original.  I must ask the clergyman about it.  He is a nice old gentleman Mr. Strettle from Hampshire.  He could not make out Mr. Young's name.  He says he knows Mr. Grey the Presbyterian minister who preaches here but lives at Poutratchina, or Poutrachina.  Mr. Strettle is such another as my father in his love for walking tho 74 years old he is a great mountain climber.  Fairy was out when he called but hearing she is fond of walking he says he will take her one of his next expeditions.  This is the first dry Sunday we have had.  I suppose I have a billious attack tho the Dr. says it is enemia (lack of blood in the system).  Still I think he must be wrong.  I went to see him today but he was out.  only when I want to throw off water comes & little if any bile as if nothing were in my stomach.  I took a beaten up egg & at once threw it off & there was a little yellow matter like bile but not bitter as it is.  So I am rather puzzled.   Not eating much I am very weak.  I had beef tea a little ago & it stayed down as did a little cold chicken last evening. There is a very nice restaurant & pension other side the road where we dine & they sent me half a chicken for which I paid 2/6.  We get 3 courses, at least, & pay 1/8 for that.  everything the best cooked & served.  I can not always dine there but F. does.  They are said to have the best table here - better even than the swell Hotels but it matters little to me.  I have no appetite.  But Dr. Holland says he wants me to take all the milk I can & all the nourishing food possible & not to tire myself.  I have been walking too much & so have upset myself & wasted the little stack of health I had.  Dr. Elliott warned me against doing so, but Dr. Franks said for me to walk down to the baths, have my drink & walk up  again (a mile & a half each way).  An Irish girl, a trained nurse we have come to know, said I was not equal to so much walking & for me to come up in the buss & for me to see the Dr. here.  I try to be patient & to trust him who does all well but it is very weary work being so terribly weak.  Fairy is a dear, good little soul, very loving & patient & careful of a stupid melancholy old body!  I am so glad Maggie is safely over her trouble.  I think she could not have better than Mary Anne.  She is so quick witted & most kindly & a good cook for a sick person.  There is the rain!  Sunday could not pass here without some!  F. is at afternoon service & I fear has neither rain cloak nor umbrella. Fortunately the church is near so I'll send her muffling.  F. suffers a great deal from tooth ache.  She blisters inside and outside her gums.

Monday -
We have made the acquaintance of an  American widow lady & through them of a Miss Which (pronounced Wish) & her companion & nurse a jolly Irish girl Miss Maloney.  The latter gave me good advice about not fatiguing myself & to see Dr. Holland & she often comes in to see me as I am laid up with this billious attack.  She was matron of a hospital in Paris for two & a half years.  Miss Which is, like myself, an anemia patient but from the first had Dr. Holland's advice so has lost no time and is improving tho Miss Maloney says she has not half the pluck I have.  She is an only daughter.  Her father a General Which brother in law or cousin of Lord Napier of Magdelin.  This came out accidentally.  I was repeating something Lady Hart told me that Lord Napier had said to her, shortly before his death, about her husband having known him in China & how he was a man of whom we all have just right to be very proud.  Miss Maloney said he was a relation of her patient.  I like the Beans.  Mrs. B. is a sensible kindly woman no pretence & her son similar.  He is about two or three & twenty.  Other day he asked F. would she go a bit mountain climbing, he & another American boy were going.  F. was delighted to go & got some lovely flowers.  The gentians are very beautiful especially the small blue ones, so are the yellow & purple pansies & F. got some Eidilweisz of which she was very proud.  I have been throwing off again this morning & F. went to Dr. Holland who has prescribed pills.  No purgatives to take after meals.  He says it is bile. He lives quite near this.  He has a very nice wife & several children.  Mrs. Wright has early parted with her daughter & probably to a stranger!  Are you not glad Lady Dunlo has gained her case? for tho faulty the Clan Carty family had acted very shabbily toward her & so had her husband done! I wish I could paint but my hand is still very weak.  I know nothing of mirror painting & don't at all admire it.  It requires an  experienced first rate hand to produce anything but a heavy daub  I have seen but one pretty painted mirror. It was in Judge Holmes & was bought in Whiteley's in London.  Last night there was rain & lightning & today it is thundering and raining.  I'll send this through Maggie.  There is no hurry & stamps cost & living here is costive!  When one has as much lying awake as I have one has time for lots of thought & feeling so much pain from interior weakness.  We have no comfort so great as communion with our Father & our dear Saviour.  I feel very Faithless often but God in his mercy strengthens my faith.  I am disappointed that I make such slow progress but He knows best & perhaps (as Dr. Franks wrote me today, he is off on his holidays) "a small improvement, in some particulars, after such a short time is in itself satisfactory" so I must just be patient.  I always get better suddenly & when over this billious attack will have a better chance. I often wish people could get married by arrangement French style I would be quite of Aunt Kate & Marjory Reids way of thinking!  F. has just come in with a supply of spa water.  She joins me in warm love to you.  Ever your loving WSW [79]

Imperial Hotel
                                                             Derry  Oct. 27th

My dear Sarah [80] ,

              Of course I must begin by telling you that Maggie [81] & I arrived here safely about ½ past ten, after a tiresome journey.  It rained, as you know, all the time and has not ceased yet, so you may guess how dismal is the prospect of seeing Derry.   However we have got pretty comfortable quarters here and must try to make the best of it.  We haven't come to any conclusion yet as to our future movements.

    Now I hope dear Sarah you won't feel lonely after Maggie.  If you do then the best thing for you is to follow her good example & say yes, good, although you will be surprised to hear that we haven't spoken to each other for the last, well, thirty seconds.  I hope you enjoyed yourselves after we left yesterday. It has just stopped raining & we must run out a goodbye

             Dear Sarah
                     Your affect friend
                              R.H. Reed [82]

Miss McCullagh

July 21. 38                                            

Slieveroe
                                                                [Stranoden]
                                                                  Monaghan

 My dearest Sallie [83] ,

                 I think its about time you were getting some news from the old country.  One of the cheeriest items is that Jack [84] & family are home.  We had him here for five weeks.  He left May [85] & Terence [86] & his amah with her mother in London so we had him all to ourselves.  His little girl [87] 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 [88] .  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 [89] , when there is a glimpse of sunshine.  Otherwise I am realy very well but I do miss not being able to fly about as formerly.  Sallie Gilmore [90] , 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 [91] 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 [92] .  I  fear his is a case of T.B.  He and his wife have been in Switzerland for months, for the sunshine treatment, but so far no improvement.  Brownie [93] & her flock are well.  We see them generally every week.  Margaret [94] has passed her entrance exam in Trinity & will be going to Dublin in Oct. & George [95] has won a £30 scholarship in the Royal School Armagh and is to go there after the summer holidays.  Samuel [96] keeps well but is not allowed to study yet.  Thompson [97] & Blin [98] "Hold the Fort" in Killynure.  Its a big change since the big houseful of long ago.  Davy Gilmore [99] , his wife & 2 children are in Liscalgot & Urker belongs to Jim & Molly Wright [100] .  They bought it when Tommy Jackson [101] sold it.  Molly loves it for old times sake.  I have not been there since poor Aunt Mary [102] died.  How few of the old folk remain!

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

                                           Ever dearest
                                              Your fond sister
                                                 Maggie [103]