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