March 2nd, 1902

From: George Gleasure (Frank's father), the Square, Listowel, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 82 West Canton Street, Boston, MA

Dear Frank,

We had your letter on Thursday last and is very much put about over it. You had a very narrow escape to have your hand all mashed up like that. Still, it may not be all the bad if the case is not worse than you mentioned. It must be a pitiful case when you were under the influence of ether for five hours as they could have a whole limb taken off in that time. Let us know how you are getting on when you get this letter as we will be very anxious about it. So I think you are better. Look out for yourself. It was a very unfortunate accident so soon after going out. I can't see how she could not give you some other vessel beside a bottle for tea. We are all well here at present. The weather was very fine in February. We had a great deal of frost and snow this winter here. Not too much rain, it was not a bad winter. We had a letter about Christmas from Miss Reardon asking about you and where you were. She said they did not know what became of you as they invited you out when you would be settled down and if that be the case, I think you must be very much overseen that did not let them know where you were. Anyway, do not be led away with what the Dillons tell you. They may tell you not to mind them, but do not heed them or what they say. They are no great things as I very well know. Keep your mind to yourself. You ought to know who the good people are. If I never said a word, I must tell you that your friend Mathias Quilter died and was buried New Year's day. And also [hoden?] Moll Quilter [ballyrahan?] died at Christmas and old Kit Pierce at Christmas. There was a good many died at Listowel. Also, since you went away, we have a new schoolmaster near us again, and I believe a very good man. You were talking in your last letter about getting out your papers and putting in an application for the firemen. I don't think much about it as it is a very confined job and also there is a lot of danger attached to it. Look out for those class of fellows as they are always sucking beer out of people that they can bluff. And also the politics of Boston are a pack of thieves that care nothing about a man when they have his vote. I don't think there is any need of you getting naturalized as you are already naturalized on the strength of my papers if the law is not changed as you were under 14 years of age when I got my papers. Go down to Post Office building and tell them so to room 111. I think you will not have very much trouble in getting them. If you make application, you can do it yourself and not be [bothering?] with those class of fellows. If you look out now in the spring, I don't see why you cannot find a suitable job if you do not like the one you have. I think if you got a private job of some sort that your board would be included that you would do better. There used to be a place on Federal Street in my time that used to find jobs for your class, I mean for Protestants. I think the number was 9 Federal Street. I think if you make a practice of going to church, and get acquainted with those class of people you would be alright. But if you say where you are, you will be always a slave. They cannot do anything for you in that way. So now is your time to look out for yourself and take my advice if you ever want to be anything. No more at present.

From George Gleasure, Listowel