Fonda de la Alameda, Malaga
Tuesday Evening 10th February 1857
My dearest Mother,
We are very sorry to hear by your kind letter of the 30th ulto that dear Lizzie has had such a long severe and serious illness as she has been suffering from; when first writing to her give our fondest love and best wishes for her speedy and complete recovery. We are sorry to hear that you are complaining of cold but hope that with due care you will be better when we next hear from you and take care not to tax yourself hearing Brab & Johnnie’s lessons as they are both very young and can wait till our return to commence their studies and do try not to let the affairs of the house and the farm weigh too heavily on your mind and spirits. We hope you will get some interesting books from the library to read in the long evenings. Since my last letter to you dearest Cha’ has recovered a little more of the ground she had lost in the cold and disagreeable weather we had some time ago and is if not entirely nearly as well as she was about three weeks ago: it is very melancholy to think we have been now three months in this milder climate and she is not better than when we left home but God has thought it right to try us for our good although we may not now or ever see how it is so and it may be his good pleasure to lighten the trial and restore her to health again. “His will be done.” The weather has become perceptibly warmer but the past two days have been too windy for driving, however Cha’ was able to walk today for about 25 minutes. Roddie is in good health and spirits with the exception of the irritation in his throat which I hope will soon leave him. He asked most eagerly for his aunt Lizzie and his eyes filled with tears when he heard how ill she had been. I am sorry to hear that the grey mare has not been sold. I do not think she deserves the bad character she seems to have goy. I think she is well worth £7 10/- at the least unless the price of horses have greatly changed. I would like you to have one of the heifers early in calf sold if a fair price can be got, namely that one whose horn was not broken when at grass at Fairhead: as I prefer the other one for keeping I do not know whether you will agree with me in this. I fully expected that the house would need to be whitewashed this spring. I am sorry to hear that young McMichael is getting weaker. Thank you for your writing to Annie for new paper for the hall; you are most energetic & I think Dublin is the very best place to get it. (Mr. Robinson wishes me to send Mrs. Robinson £2 & will you kind) Which white cow is not in calf? I do not understand this. I think you were quite right to advise Burns to calculate well about the turnips so as to have enough for it would cause much loss to be obliged to sell the fat cattle before Ballymoney May Fair. This seems to have been an exceedingly stormy and severe winter and if dear Charlotte had remained at home she would have been much worse. I now think she will be delicate a long time if God grants her to be spared to us. Roddie sends his love and many thanks to B______ for his nice letter; he liked all he told of his dear little cousin and laughed at the way Johnnie was jealous of her; he does not like the Spanish soldiers; he saw a whole regiment of them today; we hope to hear good news soon of Mrs. Henry & her expected baby. He sends his love and kisses to you & Johnnie and his & Catherine’s love to Nurse and all the servants: he is well & hearty. I went to dine at Mr. ________ and passed a pleasant evening; we had some singing accompanied by the guitar and some pleasant chat. Roddie is very anxious for me to say that he has some new toys to bring home and divide with Brab & Johnnie. I hope dear Mother you will have enough money to keep the house till our return. I received the note note of our charities at Xmas , it is not a large bill. Cha’ joins me in fondest love to you and our two dear children and ____ remembrance to all enquiring friends.
Believe me dearest Mother
Yours most affectionately
John Casement
Tuesday Evening 10th February 1857
My dearest Mother,
We are very sorry to hear by your kind letter of the 30th ulto that dear Lizzie has had such a long severe and serious illness as she has been suffering from; when first writing to her give our fondest love and best wishes for her speedy and complete recovery. We are sorry to hear that you are complaining of cold but hope that with due care you will be better when we next hear from you and take care not to tax yourself hearing Brab & Johnnie’s lessons as they are both very young and can wait till our return to commence their studies and do try not to let the affairs of the house and the farm weigh too heavily on your mind and spirits. We hope you will get some interesting books from the library to read in the long evenings. Since my last letter to you dearest Cha’ has recovered a little more of the ground she had lost in the cold and disagreeable weather we had some time ago and is if not entirely nearly as well as she was about three weeks ago: it is very melancholy to think we have been now three months in this milder climate and she is not better than when we left home but God has thought it right to try us for our good although we may not now or ever see how it is so and it may be his good pleasure to lighten the trial and restore her to health again. “His will be done.” The weather has become perceptibly warmer but the past two days have been too windy for driving, however Cha’ was able to walk today for about 25 minutes. Roddie is in good health and spirits with the exception of the irritation in his throat which I hope will soon leave him. He asked most eagerly for his aunt Lizzie and his eyes filled with tears when he heard how ill she had been. I am sorry to hear that the grey mare has not been sold. I do not think she deserves the bad character she seems to have goy. I think she is well worth £7 10/- at the least unless the price of horses have greatly changed. I would like you to have one of the heifers early in calf sold if a fair price can be got, namely that one whose horn was not broken when at grass at Fairhead: as I prefer the other one for keeping I do not know whether you will agree with me in this. I fully expected that the house would need to be whitewashed this spring. I am sorry to hear that young McMichael is getting weaker. Thank you for your writing to Annie for new paper for the hall; you are most energetic & I think Dublin is the very best place to get it. (Mr. Robinson wishes me to send Mrs. Robinson £2 & will you kind) Which white cow is not in calf? I do not understand this. I think you were quite right to advise Burns to calculate well about the turnips so as to have enough for it would cause much loss to be obliged to sell the fat cattle before Ballymoney May Fair. This seems to have been an exceedingly stormy and severe winter and if dear Charlotte had remained at home she would have been much worse. I now think she will be delicate a long time if God grants her to be spared to us. Roddie sends his love and many thanks to B______ for his nice letter; he liked all he told of his dear little cousin and laughed at the way Johnnie was jealous of her; he does not like the Spanish soldiers; he saw a whole regiment of them today; we hope to hear good news soon of Mrs. Henry & her expected baby. He sends his love and kisses to you & Johnnie and his & Catherine’s love to Nurse and all the servants: he is well & hearty. I went to dine at Mr. ________ and passed a pleasant evening; we had some singing accompanied by the guitar and some pleasant chat. Roddie is very anxious for me to say that he has some new toys to bring home and divide with Brab & Johnnie. I hope dear Mother you will have enough money to keep the house till our return. I received the note note of our charities at Xmas , it is not a large bill. Cha’ joins me in fondest love to you and our two dear children and ____ remembrance to all enquiring friends.
Believe me dearest Mother
Yours most affectionately
John Casement