Fonda de Alameda Malaga,
Monday Afternoon, 8th December 1856
My dearest Mother,
Your very kind and welcome letter of the 25th ult. Reached us on Friday morning bringing the gladdening tidings that you and our two dear little boys were well and happy: Your letter to me interested me much. I am so glad to hear the particulars of how you are getting on. I think your decision about A. Burns application to purchase the pig was most wise; I quite agree with you that Young P_____ has enough to attend to at present when the days are so short; if it were thought necessary to get a breeding sow it would be a better time to get one in the month after March when the days would be longer and the weather finer for rearing young pigs. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather you are making very good progress in having the floors laid and matters put to rights; it is a great point gained the having got home the turf and having set the horses to plough. Tell Burns that I wish about 120 barrels of lime put on the four acres at Boyle’s farm which will be manured this year but that I think it best to put it on as the lime was put on last year just before making the drills and to be put heavier when the land is stiff clay or has not been lately limed & lighter where it is boggy & where it has been limed lately. I think what you told the gardener was perfectly just but I would advise you to advance him a little in the winter if he need it and if he shows himself anxious to keep the garden in order, for it is often a very trying time to the poor labourer. I am sorry to hear that William Luscombe is dangerously ill but I think it will be happier for him to suffer if it bring him to know our Lord & Saviour. We are delighted to hear that Annie is going to visit you at Christmas. It is what will please us greatly to give you a little society such as you like best and the hope dear Annie will enjoy as well as be benefited by her visit to you after the fatigues of a sick house. Now as to how Dearest Cha’ is, for which I am sure you are eagerly looking. Since writing my last letter on this day week she has suffered a good deal from coughs and weakness but not quite so much as in the previous week; As yet I must say we have to look for improvements as it has not commenced yet; I have been told by several however that it is generally some time before patients get accustomed to the very great change in the climate and that then they begin to get better. God grant hat this will be the case with dearest Cha’. The weather still continues beautifully fine without rain; every day like one in the month of August only no rain and the day short as the sun rises after seven & sets about five. Cha’ had a drive for nearly an hour in a ca_____ at a walk and has not suffered by it; this was the first time for nearly a fortnight that she was out; she is now taking cod liver oil freely twice a day and sarsaparilla 3 or 4 times a week & goats’ milk in the morning on the days she does not take sarsaparilla soup she takes sago ______. Rod has had a cold but is now nearly quite well. Cha’ desires me to thank you for your very kind note and is glad to hear that the Millars are well and sends her kind love to them. We are delighted to hear that our sons are good. Cha’ left a flannel petticoat with Jane to be washed & given to old Kitty for her rheumatic shoulders. Will kindly give the sexton for us 2/6 on Christmas day and put into the poor box for us 5/- on the same day for the poor. We had a visit today from the Rev. Mr. Laurin, Dean of Dromore, who with his wife & daughters has been residing here for the last 2 years; he is the other clergyman whom I think I mentioned having preach in one of my former letters – his daughter who was delicate is now quite well but another has become delicate of a different complaint; he lives at Portadown and has offered to do anything he can for us.
We have now two good bedrooms and a sitting room and the attendance is wonderfully good considering it is an hotel. We were all aroused this morning about four o’clock by a loud firing of guns in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary which was immediately followed by a loud ringing of bells and this continued at intervals during the day; the Cathedral was also illuminated last night and a ringing of bells during some time and crowds of people were to be seen going to hear high mass and their custom was to walk up and down to show themselves either after or before the mass. It seemed to be more observed than a Sunday such as the observance may be considered. We had a visit from the Rev. Mr. Breseton on last Tuesday; he is the clergyman who has been officiating here for the last seven years; a rather young & delicate looking man, he thinks that the climate saved his life. I returned his visit on Saturday and he offered to lend us books of which he has a large number and considerable variety; he is a married man and has six children. At present bread and provisions are unusually dear: The four pound loaf costd ½ and beef is about 8d a __ and mutton 6½ d; both are inferior to what we get at home. We pay five dollars or 21/- a day for two bedrooms & one sitting room and food including wine; besides we have to pay about 1/0½ a day for srvants and buy our own candles which cost 1/8 a __ although like our composite candles; and washing costs 2/1 a dozen. Catherine washes all the pocket handkerchiefs & small pieces so that we have only about 15 pieces to be washed each week: Although the price of bread is now high here it was not so formerly and it has caused a great deal of suffering among the poor. There is a great desire for rain here as there has only been two good showers since February. The newspapers all came safely & as I have only to pay about ½d on each do not forget to send me one every week. Catherine is well and tries to make herself useful. We would like to hear of her parents when you may happen to know if they are well. Cha’ & Rod join me in fond love to you and the children. Rod sends you & each of them a kiss. Give our love to brothers & sisters when you have an opportunity.
Believe me
Your very affectionate son
John Casement.
Monday Afternoon, 8th December 1856
My dearest Mother,
Your very kind and welcome letter of the 25th ult. Reached us on Friday morning bringing the gladdening tidings that you and our two dear little boys were well and happy: Your letter to me interested me much. I am so glad to hear the particulars of how you are getting on. I think your decision about A. Burns application to purchase the pig was most wise; I quite agree with you that Young P_____ has enough to attend to at present when the days are so short; if it were thought necessary to get a breeding sow it would be a better time to get one in the month after March when the days would be longer and the weather finer for rearing young pigs. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather you are making very good progress in having the floors laid and matters put to rights; it is a great point gained the having got home the turf and having set the horses to plough. Tell Burns that I wish about 120 barrels of lime put on the four acres at Boyle’s farm which will be manured this year but that I think it best to put it on as the lime was put on last year just before making the drills and to be put heavier when the land is stiff clay or has not been lately limed & lighter where it is boggy & where it has been limed lately. I think what you told the gardener was perfectly just but I would advise you to advance him a little in the winter if he need it and if he shows himself anxious to keep the garden in order, for it is often a very trying time to the poor labourer. I am sorry to hear that William Luscombe is dangerously ill but I think it will be happier for him to suffer if it bring him to know our Lord & Saviour. We are delighted to hear that Annie is going to visit you at Christmas. It is what will please us greatly to give you a little society such as you like best and the hope dear Annie will enjoy as well as be benefited by her visit to you after the fatigues of a sick house. Now as to how Dearest Cha’ is, for which I am sure you are eagerly looking. Since writing my last letter on this day week she has suffered a good deal from coughs and weakness but not quite so much as in the previous week; As yet I must say we have to look for improvements as it has not commenced yet; I have been told by several however that it is generally some time before patients get accustomed to the very great change in the climate and that then they begin to get better. God grant hat this will be the case with dearest Cha’. The weather still continues beautifully fine without rain; every day like one in the month of August only no rain and the day short as the sun rises after seven & sets about five. Cha’ had a drive for nearly an hour in a ca_____ at a walk and has not suffered by it; this was the first time for nearly a fortnight that she was out; she is now taking cod liver oil freely twice a day and sarsaparilla 3 or 4 times a week & goats’ milk in the morning on the days she does not take sarsaparilla soup she takes sago ______. Rod has had a cold but is now nearly quite well. Cha’ desires me to thank you for your very kind note and is glad to hear that the Millars are well and sends her kind love to them. We are delighted to hear that our sons are good. Cha’ left a flannel petticoat with Jane to be washed & given to old Kitty for her rheumatic shoulders. Will kindly give the sexton for us 2/6 on Christmas day and put into the poor box for us 5/- on the same day for the poor. We had a visit today from the Rev. Mr. Laurin, Dean of Dromore, who with his wife & daughters has been residing here for the last 2 years; he is the other clergyman whom I think I mentioned having preach in one of my former letters – his daughter who was delicate is now quite well but another has become delicate of a different complaint; he lives at Portadown and has offered to do anything he can for us.
We have now two good bedrooms and a sitting room and the attendance is wonderfully good considering it is an hotel. We were all aroused this morning about four o’clock by a loud firing of guns in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary which was immediately followed by a loud ringing of bells and this continued at intervals during the day; the Cathedral was also illuminated last night and a ringing of bells during some time and crowds of people were to be seen going to hear high mass and their custom was to walk up and down to show themselves either after or before the mass. It seemed to be more observed than a Sunday such as the observance may be considered. We had a visit from the Rev. Mr. Breseton on last Tuesday; he is the clergyman who has been officiating here for the last seven years; a rather young & delicate looking man, he thinks that the climate saved his life. I returned his visit on Saturday and he offered to lend us books of which he has a large number and considerable variety; he is a married man and has six children. At present bread and provisions are unusually dear: The four pound loaf costd ½ and beef is about 8d a __ and mutton 6½ d; both are inferior to what we get at home. We pay five dollars or 21/- a day for two bedrooms & one sitting room and food including wine; besides we have to pay about 1/0½ a day for srvants and buy our own candles which cost 1/8 a __ although like our composite candles; and washing costs 2/1 a dozen. Catherine washes all the pocket handkerchiefs & small pieces so that we have only about 15 pieces to be washed each week: Although the price of bread is now high here it was not so formerly and it has caused a great deal of suffering among the poor. There is a great desire for rain here as there has only been two good showers since February. The newspapers all came safely & as I have only to pay about ½d on each do not forget to send me one every week. Catherine is well and tries to make herself useful. We would like to hear of her parents when you may happen to know if they are well. Cha’ & Rod join me in fond love to you and the children. Rod sends you & each of them a kiss. Give our love to brothers & sisters when you have an opportunity.
Believe me
Your very affectionate son
John Casement.
