March 11, 1908

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass U.S.A.

My dear Frank,

You must excuse me for not answering your letter before now. The weather here is very bad now at present it is raining almost every day. what way is the weather over there now. Paddy Connor got married on the 25th of February, to a girl of the Hicks at Farmers Bridge Annie was at the wedding. I suppose you heard that Henry Carroll died on the 11 February.

I am sending you my Sticky Back, it is not much of a one but it will remind you of your loving sister. George is also sending his. Annie did not take hers yet. Did Joe take his Photo since he went over if you have any of them will you send us one or two as we would like to have them.?

Annie did not get any letters S. Natick yet. Did you write to Mrs. Morris yet.? We are having St. Patricks day next Tuesday. I am sending you a piece of Shammrock it will not reach you in time now but you could put in a book and press it. We got your P.C.S that you send some time ago. they were very nice ones. I have a large collection of them I think it is 76 that I got through the post and some more blank ones I have a nice Album that I got for a present from my companion last Christmas. Have you got any nice books that you would send us. As we try to pass away our time by reading. the place is so dull I will send some papers this week. I will close now as I have no more to say Hoping you will write soon again

I remain
You loving sister
May

PS Excuse this scribble

February 23, 1908

From: George Gleasure, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St. Brighton, Mass.

My Dear Frank,

your letters are red in due time and we are glad to hear you are well after all your trouble and sorrow we have nothing more to do now but regret our loss and and pray for assistance to devine power.  iam now blaming my slfe for ever letting Joe go to America after getting him educated for acertan purpose and then give in to noncince he could doe better here than to make aslave of him selfe to any company he was smarter than you think it is very few boys could beat him in figurs or book keeping and all for nothing now iam very glad you kept all his belongings ifeel at times as if iwere alone int he world although having four more of ye living the old man at tullig is verry much put out about joes death he is all the time talking about him they say idid not see him since it hapened joe made him apresent of a cane and he would not leave it out of his sight, isuppose you had to buy the burial ground where he is or what will be done about it now it was two bad he wasnt put in his own place the poor boy he told me in one of his letters that he was in south natick last July and visited the cemetry and told me all about it

we are all well at home at present and all the folks out at tullig henry Carroll died afew days ago he wore away slowly until the end came he caused them any amount of trouble and expense as he had no money when he arrived imust tell you now about an old uncle that died in dublin the ninth of january last abrother to my fathers he was afew years younger he was in california once and twice in australia and had agreat deal of money at one time now it seems that his assets is two hundred and ninety one pounds fourteen and two pence ihave it in the hands of Mr Marshal listowel through the old mans consent Adam is abit shie about the job the will was made in favour of the clergyman that adminstered to him to be spent for charity as he saw fit that is the strength of the will if we were in before probate was taken out we would not have any trouble now under the conditions there will be cost if we contest it the will was made the day he died so idont see how that old minister can get the best of us ihave not found all yet Mr Marshal is still finding out if itold Marshal about it in time before probat he says they would have to fight us then the old man was writing to this old minister instead of going to an atorney and then the minister took out probat so the old man has left it to Adam and myself but ithink Adam is enclined to cave two as Marshal says it will cost about forty pounds but two or three hundred pounds is worth looking for of course iwill see my self all right also before iventure into the case it must be averry rotten willl that was made when aman was ding they say he told them that he hadnt anny one belonging to him int eh world no more at present from your father

George Gleasure

Note on the black borders of the past few letters

I wanted to make a quick note to anyone who was not aware- the last few posts, I've included a black border.  This is because these letters were sent in envelopes in black borders to symbolize mourning- they look like this: http://www.victorianweb.org/technology/letters/condolence.html

January 26, 1908

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

My Dear Frank,

Just as few lines letting you know that we are all in good health as I hope you are enjoying the same. We were all very sorry to hear about poor Joe, it was an awful shock to us. We have very bad weather here all along. There is frightful robbery going on in the town since about six weeks before Christmas. Miss Horgan's was the first house they broke into they carried L3 in coppers and some whiskey from her, they carried 2 fine turkey's from Mr. Gibson's yard they poisoned a dog to get into the yard. Some of the others were Mrs Buckley in William St. Mrs Crowley's Miss Foley's and some others that I could not think of just at present. The police have not found out the thieves yet. We received the presents which ye sent they were very nice.

I liked the necklet which you sent me every one admired it I like jewelry very much I got ten presents altogether this Christmas. There is a photographer in town now for a short time I took mine I will not send you any of these ones as it was only old dyed duds that I had on me when I was taking it. But I will take it again soon and send you some of them. Annie would like to take hers but she has not a thing suitable to put on going out so she wants to know if you would send her some money for dresses as soon as you get this if possible, it is no use asking father for it because he bought us two dresses before Christmas but they were red and we could not wear them now unaccount of poor Joe. Did you get the present we sent I suppose poor Joe never saw them I am going to send some papers soon, we will also send our photo's in a short time Hoping to hear from you as soon as possible.

I remain
Your ever loving sister
May.

January 8, 1908

From: Helen A. Reardon, Danforth House, South Natick
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass.

My dear Frank,

We have thought of you very often since we saw you and wondered how you were.

Do write to us oftener and come out whenever you feel lonely. If you have a little time off come out. It will do you good to see new faces.

How are the folks at home. How my heart aches for them.

We hope you are rested and will have all good success.

Sincerely your friend,
Helen A. Reardon

January 5, 1908

From: George Gleasure, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St, Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

My Dear Frank

that was frightful news you sent us this time but you only don your duty my poor joe can irealise that you are not to be seen any more on earth inever can forget when isaw that letter in the post mans hand friday night ibecame numb when isaw the american stamp when ilooked and saw your writing on the envelop it partly struck me who it was and was not mistaken the first glance told me but that was enough icould read no more for some time my Dear boy his boyish movements haunts my mind when he was alittle boy ibreak down when ithink of him and his look of affection towards me

ineed not mention to you the way they all were Annie was after getting out of asore throat at christmas if it happened when she had it she would have ahard time my poor joe when your presents arrived we never imagined you were dead and buried the day after st. sephens day we got them iunderstand that it was acouple of days before he died that he mailed those as isee by his letter that he send me and was in good spirits but it seems it was my poor boys last letter any one hardly knows it yet as icould hardly tell them jim connor was in yesterday and itold him so poor old james came in today to see me the poor man broke down with grief just as iff it was his own he said mrs Connor didnt sleep any last night over the occurance you know he was agreat favourite with them all out there and do be always always asking about yourselfe.

there was something up with myselfe since aweek before Christmas icould not sleep only thinking until near morning then iwould sleep but should get up ithought it was the worry of busines at Christmas but ihave found out now to my great sorrow so you see the spirit moves aperson some how My Dear Frank iam very glad to hear the way you carried out the whole thing in your hours of grieff as iknow it has been atrying thing for you to loose agood brother as well as for me too agood son and good he was as inever knew better my poor boy as regards the work he was doing iadvised him the last letter which you can see that the job was dangers and not fit for him and iam surprised that you let that boy into that class of work annyway iexpect you had to buy agrave in that cemetery it is two bad that he wasnt laid in the family lot baily is one of the trustees there and if you had seen him there is no doubt but he would settle that any time you want the deed iwill send it on my poor joe wrote to me back in the summer and said he visited his mothers grave and told me it was all right so you see it is aquere world it was little he thought of the last then let me know when you rite who was to blame over the occurance he may be wronged or some thing of the kind. ithink iwill close for thise time

ihope our blessed lord will grant him peace and rest that the world cannot give and protect us that are left so as to help one another

George Gleasure
Listowel Kerry
Ireland

to

Frank Gleasure
28 Herrick St
Brighton
Mass

December 27, 1907

From: Helen Reardon, Pleasant St., South Natick, Massachusetts
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass

My dear Frank,

No words can give you any idea of my sorrow for you. I scarcely slept an hour last night thinking of your loneliness.

I was in Boston yesterday and would have hunted you up at lunch time if I had known where to find you.

The one more sad thing to me is that I have a letter on my desk begun to Joe. Miss Bailey went to New Jersey at the time she received the letter from him. She sent word to me to answer it. She has been sick and I had planned to have you and Joe come out to dinner Sunday. Miss Bailey came home by the Fall River boat last Saturday and is better.

If I had known about it I should have been only thankful to help you in some way and could have gone to the funeral.

Now I had many surprises for you and Joe but we cannot have the good time I planned. Now I want you to come out Sunday to dinner with me. I am living in the house that you lived in when you went across the water. Come directly here. I shall be home from church by half past twelve and we have dinner at half past one. I shall expect you without fail.

It will be sad for you but it will do you good to get away for the Sunday. I will write to Annie. I am sure you did everything you could for Joe. You have truly been tried in the fire and not found wanting.

With all sympathy

Helen A. Reardon

A Note About Joseph Gleasure

My wife and I have been transcribing these letters in chronological order and 85 or so in, we are still just beginning to scratch the surface.  I wanted to stop to write a message here, though, because it is at this point- in mid-December 1907- that tragedy strikes the Gleasure family.  On December 19, 1907, Joseph is working on the Boston and Albany railroad coupling cars when he is crushed by the train cars and killed instantly.  The obituary the next day from the Boston Herald reads:

TWO MEN KILLED ON NEW HAVEN TRACKS
One Crushed Coupling Cars, the Other Run Over About the Same Hour.
---------------------------------
 Two men were killed about the same hour last evening upon the tracks of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, one in the South station and the other in the South Boston cut.

About 10:30 o'clock Joseph Gleasure, 25, married, residing in Allston and employed as a brakeman on the road, was coupling cars in the South Station when he was caught between them and terribly crushed, death being instantaneous.  His body was removed to the City Hospital morgue by Undertaker Jones....

*Just a note- the paper got a few things wrong- Joseph was 21, not 25 and he was not married



I went into this project knowing about Joseph's death ahead of time, but that didn't make reading and transcribing these letters any easier.  Even 105 years later, I find terrible sadness in what happened to Joseph and couldn't help but come to tears at a number of points when reading his letters to Frank from back home.  Joseph had one thing on his mind for many years in Listowel: to make it to America and be back with his friends in Natick.  For several years, he told Frank about his desires to be back in America and how hard he was studying; how he wanted to be involved in the Customs and whether Frank could give him any information about it.  And finally, he did make it across the ocean and joined his brother again in America.  This of course, is called the American dream, and it was a dream that many were trying to achieve at this point in time- to find a better life in the United States.

While I'm grateful that we have this treasure trove of family lore to give a voice and context to the voiceless records that I've found on the family, I can help but wish that I could see some of the letters that Joseph wrote back home to Listowel from America.  I want desperately to believe that in the six months between when he landed and when his life was so tragically cut short, that he was happy, that he was doing what he wanted to do and that he was enjoying life with his big brother that he hadn't seen in so many years.

December 14, 1907

From: George F. Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co Kerry
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St. Brighton, Mass U.S.A.

Dear Brother Frank

I think it is about time I should write to you now.  We have fairly good weather over here now.  I suppose there is snow over there already.  The people are beginning to carry their Christmas goods now.  Listowel is entirely changed since you went away.  There is no fun around Listowel now the place is very dull.  I am going to College next year and after a year or so at College I am going to Dublin to learn the violin.  We are sending over some little presents to ye which ye will get around Christmas.  Hoping to hear from ye soon.  Wishing ye all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year

I remain
Your Loving Brother
George F. Gleasure

December 14, 1907

From: George F. Gleasure, The Squa, Listowel, Co Kerry
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick St. Brighton, Mass., U.S.A.

Dear Joseph

I received your letter a few days ago and was very glad to hear from you.  Jimmy O'Brien comes in nearly every day now, but he is no good for playing as he drinks very much.  I am getting along very well with the violin now but as my little fiddle which father made for me is broken I have to play his own which is rather too big for me.  Me and May are attending school right along.  the teacher we have now is a great deal better than the last one, she explains the meaning of the things she teaches us.  Rich Parkinson is stopping at Medill's now I am sure he got tired of the country.  We are going into Tralee Saint Stephens day to see the coursing match.  I was outside at Connors for a week the time of the machine and had fine fun.  Annie said she will write shortly as she is very busy at present making dresses for May and herself.  We have fairly good weather over here now as the moon is out.  Hoping to hear from you soon.  Wishing ye all a Merry Christmas and a happy new years.

I remain
Your loving Brother
George F. Gleasure

December 9, 1907

From: George Gleasure, Listowel, Kerry Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Frank

iam taking the opportunity of writing you afew lines for the last time this year iexpect, wishing you both amerry christmas and ahappy new year we are all well at home at present hoping you both are also iwrote to Joe aweek ago and expect he will have the letter in aday or two isee where he was asking about Frank buckley and what he was doing and hays Carroll buckley was in agrocery the last iherd iwas talking to his brother John this summer when he was home and he told me that he never sent a good encourign letter since he went his father told me he was in all the ball societies of new york so that is enough hays Carroll is back to new york again for the last three months he had to go they are doing nothing at home henry is after putting in along fit of sickness and had anarrow shave they are thinking of sending him to aconsumption home in wexford when he gets alittle strong but ithink he never will be any good when he came from america he was all broke up and had akind of an old cough that iwould term as arum cough he was at the races and looked fairly well but soon after he was laid up and is so since you can tell Joe that Tom buckley stayed only four or five weeks in america and is minding the farm better since as idont see him in but very seldom he told me he met P.D. griffin while he was over and that he was in very straitned circumstances the youn lads are talking of writing to ye one of those days the young lad has got ayoung grey hound now he thinks he is going to win afortune with him igot him last july ayoung pup and he become afine dog he is six months old now you can tell Joe that John barry of billerough won 24 pounds in tralee and 12 in wexford with adog they are all the go round here now the weather is very bad here at present all the time raining day and night and even we had thunder and lightning last night it is one of the worst years that ever come here they give down as having something like it fifty years ago.  isee there is great excitement over the money busines in america but is seems to me that the talk is more than any thing else imust tell you now about my sister that is in detroit there is two of them there but one dont write atall she was about coming over this year to see the old folk but it become two late until next year she is enquiring about you and told me to have you write to her iwill send you her address and write to her when you get it her husband is a cabinet maker and has some busines of his own as ihave no more of intrest at presend wishing you both ahappy new year

George Gleasure
Listowel Kerry Ireland
To Frank Gleasure

Mrs. J.W. Morris
17 Mason Street
Detroit Mich

December 8, 1907

From: May Gleasure, The Square
To: Mr Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick St, Brighton, Mass U.S.A.

Dear Joseph

I received your letter a short time ago and was very glad to hear from you, Georgie also received his a short time after. I hope ye are well as we are here, we have very bad weather here now, we had a thunder storm last night but it was not much. Our new teacher is a good one her name is Miss Melligan she is very good for explaining arithmetic The old folk out at Tullig were in about a week ago, the old man was in with them he is getting very weak lately. Jerry Carroll is out there since September he went the time of the Tralle races. Annie has frightful pains in her teeth, I suppose you have great relief since you got your stumps out.

The same travellers are coming to the house they were surprized when they heard that you went over. We have got a Cash Register in the shop now 12 guineas was the prise of it.

I will not write now untill about Christmas time when we will be sending ye some little Christmas box. I have no more of interest to write about at present so I will close. Hoping to hear from you soon again.
I remain
Your loving sister
May.

Did you get the P.C. I sent you.

December 2, 1907

From: George Gleasure, Listowel
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Joe,

iam taking the opportunity of writing you afew lines hoping your selfe and Frank is well and in good health as we all are at present here all the friends are all well also ihad your letter some time ago but neglected writing to you as isee both of your letters from time to time by the lads isent you the papers about the tralee and listowel races but ibelieve it was to Frank they addressed them but it was all the same isuppose you see them we had another rces this year as the second day broke down and come torrents of rain in amanner that the bridge was carried away that night and was carried out to sea and lost for good they past off very well without any accident and was a great success as far as money was conserned my selfe and the young lad was in to the trallee races and had agood time and fine weather it is noting but rain and bad weather since the listowel races in fact we have put in awinter since ihave got a boy in the shop since september young Carrol patt Carrolls son isuppose you new Ned he was up at scanlons for a month on trial and run away from them he tells me that he could not hold there as they had him doing every thing he was partly broke in when igot him he is smarter than ithough and very easy lernt if he conducts himselfe he is avery good boy he has grown to be nearly aman since he came in fact he has surprised the people and is verry correct about change any of the other lads is as active now as any body you could find they would surprise you now on account of the practice since you went ibought a new cash register over amonth ago from an agent that was exhibiting in town it is asplendid article it cost twelve guinnes and was the cheapest he had they were as high one hundred and fifty it makes up all accounts adds up the money so as there is no trouble but count is and it makes every body careful it surprised me the register is all ways locked and no body can tamper with cash that is registered in fact it makes every body honest icouldnt risk throwing money into adrawer before outsiders iwas surprised to hear that you had to have all your upper teeth out you must have suffered fritful and to have them all out let us know when you get them in how you get along with them. Mrs Morris in in detroit is very anxious to know about ye in boston iwill be writing to Frank one of those days and will tell him about her as she wants hime to write to her. ithink the job you have is avery dangerous thing you want to mind your selfe as there is somany accidents in that clas of work if you could get at office work some way ithink it would be the thing for you even if you had to work for small pay for while you would make it tell in the end now as iwill not be likley to write to you any more this year ihope you will have amerry christmas and ahappy new year

George Gleasure Kerry Listowel Ireland To Joseph Gleasure

November 18, 1907

From: May Gleasure
To: Mr. Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick St Brighton, Mass U.S.A.

Dearest Joe,

We received your last letter all right also papers which frank.  Hope ye are well as all at home are  I was out at Connor's for the last 3 day's

Love from all.
sister May.

Write soon.

October 30, 1907

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Frank,

Just a few lines to let you know that I received your letter a few days ago and was glad to hear from you.  We are getting very bad weather over here now, we are all in good health as I hope you and Joe are two.  We have got Ned Carroll at the shop now for the last six or seven weeks, his brother Henry is not very well for the last week or ten days the priest and Doctor is attending him.  I don't think he will do by what I hear them saying.  We have got another new teacher she seems to be something better than the last one we had.  I did not go to the races this year but all the others went to them.  Ned and I had to stop and mind the place because father went to the island two days.  There was a great scuffle the first evening of the races in the shop but the police were outside the door and they soon put a stop to it.  I went out in the evening of each day for about an hour and a half.  We had the big fair last Monday there was a great crowd of people in town.  The three of us were kept busy the whole till about 8 oclock in the evening Did you get the fiddlers photo that I send in my last letter  I suppose you got the papers that I sent you a short time ago  I will close now as I have no more to say at present.  Hopeing to hear from you soon again I remain

Your loving sister
May

P.S Fathers sister said that she would like you to write to her. 

September 15, 1907

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

My dear Frank,

Just a line to let you know that I received your letter a short time ago and was very glad to hear from you.  We are having a little fine weather over here now.  Annie got the Photo's you send her George got his also.  Father went to the Tralee races last week the two day's George went with him the first day, he would have gone the second day but it being on Thursday and that was a market day so he had to stop at home and help me.  I think father won some money there.  We got the books you send us all right.  I have Annies and George's read I did not like the one you sent me I read some of it before and did not like it.  We did not get any one for the shop yet but father was talking to Pat Carroll about his young lad, he was in some shop in town a short time ago but he did not like the place.  Father Paul Dillon went back to America last Saturday, he told us that it would be ten years before he can come home again.  Rich Parkinson is stopping in the town now he got sick of staying out at Tullig.  We are having the races here on the 8 and 9 of October.  I am sending Jimmy O'Brian's Photo to Joe tell him to get some of them enlarged and send them to us he is always talking about Joe when he comes to town.  I am sending some papers this week.  Annie wrote to you a short time ago I hope you got her letter.  Tell Joe to write soon he dose not write very often.  I will close now as I have no more to say at present.  Hoping you will write soon again.

I remain
You loving sister
May Gleasure

P.S. This is the adress you asked me for.

Mrs. J.W. Morris
17 Mason St.
Detroit, Mich.
U.S.A.

August 29, 1907

From: Annie Gleasure, Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ire.
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St. Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Frank,

I'm afraid its no use making excuses for not writing to you long ago but I would rather do any sort of work than sit down and write a letter.  But any way, as I wrote to Joe on Tuesday last, I said I wouldn't let the week go by without writing to you.  So here goes.

First of all we are quite well here and we got your books that you sent May and I, the pater received the history and we got the photos yesterday morning.  May's came out very nice, didn't it?  but when you get this, stick mine in some corner out of sight.

George went back to school last Monday after the vacation.  He spent three weeks out at James Conners, the house at Tullig is quite filled so he couldn't go there.  The only day that May got away for her holidays was last Sunday when we went out to Pat Carrolls for the day: very nice place out there, our first time going there too.  You will be surprised to hear that Henry Carroll came home about a month or so ago.  He had a fearful cold for the last three months before he came, so I believe the doctor ordered him home.  He was in hospital quite a time over there, but he is getting better now.  He says that he wrote to you for over a year after he left Annie Dillons and never got a reply from you.  Perhaps you would write to him when you get this, he was asking May for your address but I don't think she gave it.

There is no fun here, it's an awfully dull place and no one to make up with.  The McCarthy girls are generally away visiting or some where: they were at school in Belgium up to last August.  They are quite grand people now, they don't live in town now but out at Woodford House.  They wouldn't go near their shop at all.  They don't make up with anyone here either except us and the Patersons.  Their brother Jack that went to So. Africa seven years ago returned last spring.  I was out there when they got the letter saying he was coming and they nearly cheered the roof off the house.

Jenny Sweetman was at school in England for the last year or so and Eva has gone now.  There brother Dick is a regular duffer after all the schooling he got he couldn't pass an exam for the bank: he's only loafing about town now.  We are rather busy just now, the pater is doing up the top rooms papering and painting etc., so May has to stay in the shop mostly all the time.  she doesn't care about it atall.  We haven't got any boys yet.  I suppose you must have some jolly times over their.  I don't know Annie Buckley or Beatrice Grogan that you write about but I knew Eileen and I was introduced to Katie Buckley just the evening before she went away.  How are they getting on now?  I suppose they wouldn't live here by any chance now.  It must have been a glorious time during Old Home Week.  Have you been out to So.. Natick lately.  If you have seen Miss Reardon Miss Bailey, Mrs. Burr lately tell us how they are getting on.

The old folks at Tullig are very well, they appear just about the same as when you knew them.  They don't come to town very often.  Old Mrs. Fitzell was buried on the fifteenth of this month.  I suppose you know that Fanny Parkinson was married to John Fitzell?  Marianne Parkinson is in a drapery shop in King's Co., and Frankie is married to a sister of Adam's wife.  Richard Parkinson left the police force at the commencing of the month and he doesn't know what to do with himself.  Tom is coming out later on.

Tom and Pat Dillon went away yesterday after their holidays.  Ned couldn't come just yet on account of a strike in Belfast.  Tom is in Queenstown now, he has to go out on the ferry when passengers are coming from America to see that every thing is all right.  Ned is in Kildare and Pat is in Cork.  Bridget was married to a man living about two miles from their place, so the old couple have to live and do for themselves now.  Lizzie Carroll goes down when there is any heavy work to do.  We are to have the races here in six weeks time, on the eigth and ninth of October, and I wonder if you could send May and I the price of dresses: we havn't a rag to put on.  I havn't been out to the races for the last three years.

I am writing this in a hurry so that I shall get it done for if I leave of it will be an age before I'm in a mood for writing again.  Hoping you will excuse the scribbling, I will remain

Yours affectionately with love to you and Joe  Annie.

August 27, 1907

From: George F. Gleasure, Square, Listowel, Co Kerry
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton, Mass U.S.A.

My Dear Joseph

I am writing you these few lines to let you know that we are all well at present. The weather is very fine for the last week, but it got a bit dark to day threatening for rain. Our school opened yesterday. I was outside at James Connors for the last three weeks, they have all the hay saved. I had fine times outside there. May could not go any place this year as there is no one in the shop only Father. There was a Feis in Listowel last Sunday week but it was not worth a fig. Rich Parkinson is out on pension and Tom will be coming out on Christmas. I am getting along with the fiddle very well now, the little one father made is a failure now, but he is going to buy a new one for me. We have got a little greyhound now, we got him from Tom Carroll in Lixnaw he is eleven weeks old everybody says he will be a good one. The races are fast approaching now, they are only six weeks and I wonder could you send me a pair of feild glasses in time for them as I would like a pair to be looking at the horses through them. Father is settling the upper rooms now as we are going to sleep in them and have the small room for the kitchen. As I have no more of interest to write about

I remain
Your Loving Brother
George F. Gleasure

August 27, 1907

From: Annie Gleasure, Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ire.
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

My Dear Joe--

I think I must write to you today for if I let it go any longer it's unknown when you would get a letter. We are all well here and getting on the same as usual. We have bid goodbye to our summer here, if summer it could be called; the weather now is fine but rather frosty and chilly.

We spent a most enjoyable day in the country at Carrolls last Sunday and we went down to Finuge river in the evening and got some old chap (I don't know who he was) to buy us some apples. The orchard is quite close to the river. Awfully nice jolly place out there. Henry Carroll surprised them all by coming home about a month ago and he never sent them notice that he was coming. The reason he came was that he was in hospital for three months before he came over with a bad cold, so he thought that his native air would do him go and so he came. He was frightfully thing, just like a skeleton but he is getting over it now.

The old folks from Tullig were in only once since you went: they are quite well over there: the old man says it's his last time coming but he always says that. I expect he will be in for the races which will be in six weeks time from today just.

Tom and Pat Dillon were home for the last month; Ned couldn't come on account of that stricke in Belfast, I suppose you saw something about it in the papers we sent you. Paul will be going away soon again; he is just the same as when you were here. By the way I meant to tell you about a fearful fight in my last letter but I forgot about it when I was writing. It happened in this way; on the first of June Denis Kelly was here with a Miss Lyons and he wanted May to play on the organ for them and she wouldn't, so we both hid up in the loft and there were stayed until after seven oclock and we wouldn't by any chance come down. Well any way we were wishing they would go away for it was on a saturday and we were very busy and they went out in the shop about half past seven and then the fight occured.

Old Denny Keane Dan Moloney Paddy and Paddy Keefe were in the shop: Kelly called for a drink before starting for home and with out any warning went over and gave Denny Keane a chuck under the chin, (they were arguing before this) any way they all made at Kelly and such a row you never saw. Kelly had some Finuge fellows in for a drink with him and when they see him getting the worst of it they ran off and left him fight it out himself. The pater and Mrs. Kelly separated them after a bit; and such a state as he was in. His head was nearly cut open and his face was all cut he was covered with blood. It was found out afterwards that a weight and a knife were used. Dr Lane was sent for and he said he wouldn't have anything to do with it so Dr Clansy came over and dressed the wounds and he had to come over again after ten oclock to dress them. He was so weak they thought he would die and they sent for the priest.  Well they brought him into the kitchen at nine oclock and the police were pottering about and then he was taken to the hospital, he was hardly able to stand. He was in hospital for a fortnight raving with fever. The case went to court then but was adjurned three times and has to go before the barrister in November. It wasn't put in the papers at all so we couldn't see how they got on. The Moloneys etc. were let out on bail.

We got your papers letters and post card allright. I suppose you must have your teeth in by now. We spoke to the pater about ours and of course it was no use. Tom Buckley came back again three or four weeks ago. He says he earned a lot of money playing the violin in some concert or other and that he didn't care to stay longer. Jack and Jerry Larkin went over last week to New York. You must have had a gay time during Old Home Week. What work is Myra Smith at? Have you been out to South Natick lately? When you do tell us all about the folks out there, and if the school, hotel etc. are the same.

May didn't enjoy the holidays a bit she had to stick to the shop while the pater was doing up the top rooms. We're to move the beds up there shortly. Oh indeed she is sick of it now.

Tim O'hearn was asking for you on the day of the sports, he didn't know you were gone over.

My notepaper is about filled up so I must close now, I am writing this at 10.30 P.M. so you must excuse the scribbling. I am going to write to Frank in the morning. I remain very affectionately yours, Annie

[July 1907]

From: JOFarrell
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass U.S.A.

Dear Joe:

Thanks for your kind wishes which I can hardly realize. Putting down horrid vac. Weather wet enough to put a flood in Hades. Passed exam all right so did Frank. Listowel is gone to the dogs boys Don't despair of seeing me over there in about forty year's time. Hurrah for ould I.
Goodbye
JOFarrell

August 8, 1907

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton, Mass

My Dear Frank,

I suppose you will be tired looking out for a letter by the time that this reaches you.  I was going to write before now but I was puting it off from day to day.  We have got our holidays now for the last three weeks they will be up in two weeks more.  George is out at James Connor's for the last 2 weeks I can't go out in the country this time as father is to busy.  Rich Parkinson came home last Thursday he has left the police force now and is getting his pension.  Pat and Tom Dillane is also at home they came last Saturday and Ned Dillane is coming home the middle of August.

Father got a letter last Sunday from his sister Mrs. Morris that is living over in Detroit she said that she is thinking of coming home this year she thought that the old man and woman out at Tullig were dead and buried long ago until she got a letter from them last month she said that she would like to come and see them.

Did you hear that Henry Carroll came home he got changed since he went to America he is very thin Tom Dillane said that he was near his death.  I suppose Joe will be surprised when he hear's that Tom Buckley came home again he arrived last Saturday night we did not see him yet.

We are sending some papers along with this letter, and hope you will get them all right, send us some papers soon I will close now as I have no more to say Hoping you will write soon

I remain
Your loving sister
May Gleasure

June 30, 1907

From: George Gleasure Sr., Listowel
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Dear Joe,

we are glad to hear you are all right now as you had arough time of it going over we are glad to hear that you are booth together and well as we are all well here at present we had the two letters you sent in due time and also had Franks and abook about aweek ago.  iexpect you find the work alittle har at first but when you become acostum to it you will not mind that the week you left here was storm all the time and the rest of the month was summer weather but since the first of June its nothing but rain and storm to the present time it is looking like settling just now.  we got along very well through the big fair Jane happened to bee in that day and volinteered to help but itell you she was glad when itold her that we could do the rest ikept her on the trot all the time she thought there would afine time inside the counter but ilearnt her how to keep limber idid not see her since there is afew changes in town since you left tim kirby is dead and burid and also old tom hayes the shoe maker died suddenly and afew others pawl Dillon arrived back from america this day week and adoughter of big neds from new york they are going back in september they say he is apriest now and great work about him but idont think much about the whole thing as when he gets back he will only be abegger for the church as ihave seen lots of it in my time this country is nothing but ahumbug for that busines idoes bee disgusted when ithink of america

we have got no apprentes in the shop as yet it is not verry easy to get the right person and you know that I would not be botherd with half of them we get along all rite but it is abit hard iwould not mind only for long hours

tom buckley cleard off to america at last he was talking of it along time he sold a cow in the fair and went off without they knowing it his wife was speaking to me about what he owed that she would pay after awhile but ithink iwill look for it verry soon it is amistake to have any truck with slopers at all ihave made up my mind that iwill get shut of them in future

David Miller was asking about you when he came around he told me be sure and mention him to you and also did Mr. Garrett and Mr. flyn.  iexpect you will take a day out to south natick this summer to see the folks there if you do inquire about the buril lot that we have there to see if the slabs that were put up are still in tact for fear they may loosen and fall down we had the bishop in Listowel this week May was confirmed and some more Mr. pattison was asking about you both the other day and is delited to hear that ye are well he was delited when itold him that Frank sent the picture of the church in alston.

as i have to close now hoping to reach you both well

George Gleasure
Listowel

To Joseph Gleasure
Brighton

[1907]

From: Annie Gleasure
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton.

Greetings From Listowel
Oh love do you remember those days of long ago

Dear Frank,

I would have wrote to you today but I am after writing to Joe and I'm rather tired so I send you this which I hope you will like. Have you many cards in your album now? I haven't got an album for mine yet. I received your book last Sunday for which accept my heartiest thanks. It was just heavenly. Yours Affectionately,
Annie

June 30, 1907

From: Annie Gleasure, Listowel
To: Joseph Gleasure

My dear Joe --

You must have given up hope of ever receiving a letter from us in answer to yours which I got on the 11th. We were glad to hear that you landed safely, we thought you would have a rough voyage for the week you sailed was frightful stormy and rainy. You must be delighted to be out of this hole anyway; I know I would.

We are having very bad weather here this summer, rain mosly every day, no summer in fact. The May fair passed of very quietly. We did more business that day than at any of the former May fairs. There was an awful crowd in town though not so very much cattle. Jane was helping in the shop, so they had no bother. We haven't got any boy for the shop yet. I don't think the pater will get one now until after the school holidays are over. They haven't got their holidays yet.

There was a feis held at Lixnaw on the 16th and May, George and the pater went out to it; George was entered for the violin playing and when he got out he found there was to be no junior players. Jimmey went for it too and was beat out by Fitsgerald and he is rageing ever since.

They met Paul Dillon at the station just as they were coming home; he had a Mrs. O'Brien, one of Big Ned's daughters coming over with him. They are to go over again at the end of the summer. I wish I could go over soon, I think if I stay here much longer I'll go mad. There are any amount of Americans in town here. Hugh Cuthbertson sailed for New York on the 30th of May. We heard after that Tom Buckley went on the same day, it seems he stole away from home. There were quite a number of people asking where you were on the big fair day, they could hardly believe you had gone. Have you met many Listowel people over there yet?

There isn't anything new in this town, except sports, or something or other on today and the annual sports are to be held on the 21st of July next, also a bazaar on the 30th and 31st of July. Tom Kirby was buried on the 30th last month. Are you at the same work yet? You didn't mention what pay you were getting. Why wouldn't you get some foot powder for your feet, if they ache so; I'm sure you could get it at any druggist shop, you know you shake it inside your boots and stockings: it makes walking much easier.

Have you been to see the Dillons or out to South Natick yet?

I am sending a post card for Frank in this letter. I couldn't send it by post for the tinsel would get all rubbed off.

I can't think of any more to say now so I will close wishing you every success and remaining

Yours Sincerely,
Annie