December 12, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure

My dear Frank,

I received your most welcomed letter a short time ago and was very glad to hear from you. I also got those songs this morning they were lovely every one of them and I am very thankful for them Annie got your letter alright Tom Connor has settled down in Ireland to shoe making once more and is getting too much to do. you know he was splendid at shoemaking. He is not at his own house but he is friends with them all the same. I suppose you did not know that his father was writing to him while he was in England But he was afraid to come across Jim or John. Paddy went to see him when he came home they were always great friends last Wednesday Tom was in our Kitchen and Georgie knew that John and Jim were in the shop so he went and brought John in and we made them speak so he meet Jim later and he spoke to him they are all in all again. he is going to get one of those Cottages after Xmas he is at Jude Daughtons (mother-in-law) at present. You'd know him the minute you'd look at him only he got older looking some way I am sure it is unacount of his mustache he would not know me at all he said I got so big, it would be hard to say that you'd know me so if you saw me. We had a splendid coursing match in Listowel last Thursday & Friday our dogs done very well there one of them got second in one Stake and the other got third in another Stake they would have won the Stakes only they were grulled in there other courses. You might not understand coursing but I'll try to tell you, there is so many dogs in every Stake and these are coupled and each couple has to hunt a Hare and half of those dogs are the ones that won and then what dogs remain are couples again and so on until it comes to the two last dogs and whoever wins the last course has won the Stake Our dogs met two very bad dogs and had to work and kill the hare themselves single handed so they were tried then and had to go for there next course with their tongues hanging out We got about L8.10 eight pound ten out of it there was a comrade of ours won the big Stake he was belonging to Fitzell in Toherbane we had a great time at the Coursing we enjoyed it more than we did the races. We had an awful crowd of the Fitzell's from Toherbane stopping with us the first night we done great business because all the men that were intrestid in dogs came to our place unacount of us having the dogs I am sending you a little present and hope you will get in all right. It must be very hard for you sometimes on those freight trains especially when you have to work by night. Do you ever take a notion or think about coming to Ireland anymore I don't think I have any more to say at present so I will close Wishing you a Very Happy Xmas and a bright and Prosperous New Year Hoping you are well as we all are here at present Write soon agan I remain
Your loving sister Mai.

October 16, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 14 Webster Ave., Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

My dear Frank,

I received those three books of music about a week ago and am very thankful for them they were very nice ones I had some of the songs that were in them myself. We are just over the races and Big Fair they passed away very quiet and we had two splendid fine days for the races but it was very wet for the Big Fair. We are going to have Coursing in Listowel on the 8th & 9th of December for the first time, there is an iron bridge going across to the Island Course so they can hold the race and Coursing there every year they have a lease of it for 99 years. Tom Connor came from England last Wednesday with his wife and two kids. he did not go to his own place or meet any of his own lads since he is out at Jude Daughton's his mother-in-law's. Father did not write to you since but he will do it one of these days he said. Did you here from Mrs Morris lately I had some papers from her but no letter this long time. I don't think I have any more to say Hoping you will write very soon I remain
Your loving sister
Mai Gleasure.

P.S. If you are sending me a Xmas present this year I would like a watch or bracelet and Annie said she would like a small gold locket one that you could close and open. I remember you said last year that you did not know what kind of things to get for us I would like a watch very much they all have them at home except me you can send whichever you like yourself. Hope you are well as we all are here at present. 

October 11, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 14 Webster Avenue, Allston, Mass. U.S.A.

Father is writing to you himself about that Certificate

My dearest Frank,

I received your most welcomed letter about a week ago and was very glad to hear from you.  We have some splendid weather here for the last month I hope it will continue until after the races and the big fair They are to be held on the 25th and 26th of this month.  I got a letter from Mrs Morris about three weeks ago do you ever write to her now.  By the way I want to ask you if you got the Photo of the house I sent I also had an newspaper with it you never said a word about it.  Father has not got the certificate of your baptism but I am telling you where you will get it.  I hope you will get me some nice songs when you are sending next ones the last ones were very nice also something nice to read I don't mind if they have only paper covers if the reading is nice or if you could get me a nice book of poem's I like poetry very much or diaulogues if you could get them.  Mrs Morris promised me some music but she did not send it yet.  Did you get Annie's letter she wrote a short time before I received the letter from you, well when she told me that she had a letter written to you I come very near getting a standing weakness we put a notch in one of the rafters in remembrance of it I suppose it is three or four years since she wrote to you last.  Father has two dogs in for the coursing it is to be held on the 3 + 4 Nov.  I hope they will win something this time they seem to be pretty good ones George has them well brought out he is very busy training them he don't care very much for racing at all now but coursing he could trace about dogs that would win stakes over in England for you he buys a lot of coursing papers and sees all about them.  No more to say so I will close Hoping you will write very soon again We are all quite well over here hope you are A.I. I suppose you had a splendid time at that wedding.
I remain
Your loving sister
Mai.

September 21, 1910

From: Annie Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 14 Webster Avenue, Allston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

My Dear Brother,

I can find no excuse for not writing to you this long time past, but I suppose you must know by this time that I am a very bad correspondent.  I often got my note-paper and pen ready to write to you but I would sit before it for two hours maybe without writing a line and then put it away again.  I will try now after this to write more regularly.  I hope you are in good health and doing well, we are fairly well here ourselves, but George was rather sick last week, he suffers very much from indigestion, and so he must be rather particular about his food.  He got frightful thin lately, he is growing too, that might be the cause.  He hasn't been out in the country for any holidays this summer, and it would do him good if he could get out, but you know he has charge of those greyhounds and they take up all his time, they are an awful bother, four dogs and a little of five pups, you may be sure I am heartily sick of them around the place.  I suffered a great deal from indigestion myself last winter so I know what it is.  I was out for a week at Ballyhenessy at the time my Grandmother died and I can tell you I felt fine after it even though it was at such a sorrowful time, for I wasn't away from home since the time Paddy Connor was getting married.  It is something dreadful in this town not a bit of life, I wish I was out of it.  Now I am going to ask you if you could send me four pound for I want to get a set of teeth in and the pater won't get them for me and my teeth are very bad much worse than Mai's before she got hers out, so will you try and send it if you can as soon as you get this.  I have no more to say this time so I will close.

Remaining yours most affectionately
Annie Gleasure

September 12, 1910

From: Helen A. Reardon, South Natick
To: Frank Gleasure, 14 Webster Ave., Allston, Mass.

My dear Frank,

When your letter came Miss Bailey was dressed for a trip to Buzzard's Bay for a week so she turned the letter over to me.

I have inquired very carefully and find the record of the baptism of your four brothers and sisters but none of yours. I called on Miss Burr and she remembers that your father said you had been baptized before. I, also, remember when your father was planning the ceremony at Mrs. Burr's house he said that you had been baptized. Probably you were baptized where you were born or when you were quite small. You could be baptized again or send to your father though their would be no time for that. Miss Bailey and I can vouchsafe for your father's saying what he did, if that will do.

We were very glad to hear from you. Why do you not come out some Sunday? I have inquired at the South Station for you and we knew you were there.

I wonder if the other children will come out. I do not wonder that your father hesitates about their doing so. You did not mention Annie. She must be very sober -- the mother of the family.

I wish you would come out any fine Sunday and spend the day with us. Remember the latchstring will always be out for you. I have good help just now after a siege with three drunken help in a year.

We congratulate you on your success in your work. When you become a full-fledged engineer we will be very proud of you.

Hoping to see you soon. I am very truly your friend.
Helen A. Reardon
South Natick
Sept.

August 22, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 14 Webster Avenue, Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

My dear Frank,

I received your most welcomed letter this morning as was very glad to hear from you. I was looking out for a letter this long time I was going to write but it is lucky that I didn't. The weather here is very bad for the last 3 weeks or so. We had our Bishop in town yesterday George got confirmed. I was confirmed 3 years ago. Mrs Dillane died on the 12th Aug. and was buried in Duagh on 14th Annie and I went to the wake on Saturday night. father was going to go but George would not stop in the house alone with our Apprentice. Annie stoped in the country then for a week to keep them company all the boys were at home. Was I telling you that we had a new apprentice he is Doran from Corrig he is a cousin to the one we had before, he is about the greenest fellow I ever came across I don't think I have very much chance of getting holidays this year with him, Ned Carroll that we had before has got a splendid place down in County Waterford and he may thank father for it. His father Pat Carroll I don't know if you knew him died on the 15 July. Father did not say anything about Annie since, it would be time as you say that she was doing something for herself. We could manage very well without her for George knows something about the shop now. They are all well out at Tullig. Have you got any more music, I am going to get all those pieces bound together when I get some more of them we can get them done for nothing father got all his music books beautifully done one of our paper agents that done them. Write as soon as possible again I remain
Your loving sister Mai.

June 10, 1910

From: May Gleasure, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St, Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

My dearest Frank,

Thanks very much for nice music which I received a few days ago There were some nice songs in them, it was a lot nicer than the first ones. I wrote to you a few days ago hope you will get my letter all right. I will send the Photo as soon as we get them. Don't forget the Flags and have them on in time from May

June 6, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St., Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

My dear Frank,

I received your most welcomed letter a few days ago and was very glad to hear from you. The weather is not what it should be for this time of the year. Well did you meet the Parkinson's I believe that it was about 12 oclock in the night that the ship landed let me know in the next letter if you met them. I got a letter from Mrs Morris the week before I got your she sent me a half sovereign for my birthday which was on the 27th May I was 18 years then I also got a nice locket. the apprentice Ned Carroll has left us since last Wednesday. he has got a place at Bailys in Tralee and indeed we are not sorry after him for we were sick of watching him, his mother is trying to get a cousin of his in here now the boss said he would take him if he get a fee with him Mrs Carroll says they are willing to pay a fee of L10 pound with him he is coming in tomorrow till we see him. I think we would be better off without him for any of these fellows around the place don't suit us a stranger would be a lot better for then he would have none of his friends and neighbours soaping him up. We have taken a photo of the house with father the dogs and I in front of the house I am going to send one of them to you when we get them. The 4th July is coming on and would you send us some flags you did not send us any for the last few years. send them as soon as you get this letter so we will have them in time. and don't forget to send me that music you promised me. I don't think I have any more to say so I will close Hoping to hear from you very soon again
I remain
Your loving sister
Mai.

If you have any newspapers send them over for I have nothing to read lately.

Mrs Morris is thinking of coming home this summer I hope she does. her father would like very much if she come.

May 6, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St., Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

My dearest Frank,

I hope these few lines will find you enjoying health as we all are here at present. The reason of my writing to you is, there are two of John Parkinson's sons going out there. they will land in Boston, and are going to Hudson in New Hampshire and father asked me to write and ask you if you would be able to meet them when they land as there will be no one to meet them at Boston and you could put them on the right track. They are going by the White Star Line in the Zweland leaving Queenstown on the 18th May. you ought try and meet them if possible there names are Walter and Alfred. they are about 5 feet 6 or 10. in height you can't but make them out if you go to meet them, you'll know them by their faces anyway for they resemble old stock. I got some papers from Mrs Morris a short time ago but I got no letter this long time. We have got a Circus in town today I am going to it to night, it is a very good one they have a lot of wild beasts. How did you like my last Sticky Back. I am sending you another one now Hope you will like them if you get any of them Enlarged send one over to me. Write to me as soon as you get this Have you got any more music for me since, my birthday will be on the 27th May you ought send me some for that day I will be 18.

We will have the Big Fair next Wednesday. we are very busy preparing the shop for it. We have awful weather here you'd think it was winter it is so cold and lots of rain falling Hoping you will write soon and try to meet those boys if possible.
from your loving sister Mai.

April 18, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St., Allston, Mass. U.S.A.

My dearest Frank

I hope these few lines in good health as we all are at present.  We are quite better of the cold we had father had it very bad.  The weather here at present is very cold with a little rain falling.  I did not hear from Mrs Morris lately I am expecting a letter any day now from her.  I have nothing strange to tell you this time only that old Frank Parkinson on the 1st April father and I were out at the furnel which took place on the 2nd April I suppose you will be surprised that they buried him so soon but you will be more surprised that they brough Willie home from London and did not delay the furnel sure they hardly let the man get cold.  Willie was not too thankful to them.  It was the Pollard crowd that was the cause of it I'm sure.  All the old men out at Tullig are dead now only the old man and I don't expect him to live long more he is getting very feeble lately Adam tells us that he sometime talks quite foolish, the old couple were not in town now since last October.  We are very thankful to you for the money Annie got hers last Thursday night.  If you get any more of that music and if you don't want it I hope you'll send it over.  There are two of John Parkinson son's and Henry Gleasure's son going over there soon I think they will be going about the first May.  I am sending you one of my Sticky Backs it is not a very good one I am taking them again this week I will send you another if they come out good no more to say Hoping you will write very soon from your loving sister Mai

April 9, 1910

From: May Gleasure, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St., Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

Postcard of actress Gabrielle Rav

My dear Frank,

I received your letter last night and was very glad to hear from you. I am very thankful to you for what you sent. Don't forget to send Annie's. Father was not very well all last week we all had a touch of a cold. this time back. I will write to you again next week, I did not hear from Mrs Morris lately. Hoping you are well No more at present Goodbye May.

March 17, 1910

From: May Gleasure, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St., Allston, Mass. USA

My dearest Frank,

Hope this P.C. will find you well as we all are here at present. Did you get my last letter Hope you will do what I asked you about. I intended sending ye some Shamrock but time slipped by we are kept busy sometimes here. Wishing you a very Happy Easter write very soon again. from your loving sister Mai. 

March 7, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleaure, 4 Franklin St., Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

My dearest Frank,

Just a few line hoping they will find you enjoying health as we all are here at present. The weather here is just commencing to mend, we had beautiful Spring weather here for the last three or four days, what kind is it over there. Is it long since you heard from Mrs Morris, I had some journals and a letter from her since, she also send us two of her photo's, they were very nice indeed, she told me that she was sending you one. The reason of me writing these few lines is, I want to know if you would be able to send us that money we asked you for some time ago, you told me that you would send it to us (2 pounds) if possible If you are not able to send it to us don't you mention it in any of your letters for the pater would be scolding us if he thought we were asking it continually from you. But try and send it to us as we want it badly and if you are going to send it to us let us have it a week before Easter, so remember all I am telling you. Easter Sunday is on the 27th March and if you send it as soon as you get this letter we will have it in time. Try and send it this turn and I will never again ask any from you I want some clothes badly It is the same dress and hat and boots I have to wear on Sunday as on Monday I don't think you would like to be doing that yourself. I don't think I have any more to say at present so I will close Hoping you will grant that one request I ask of you, it is the first I asked of you this year, and it will be the last if you send it, so don't forget
I remain
Your loving sister
May Gleasure

Write very soon.

February 14, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St., Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

My dearest Frank,

I received your most welcomed letter on Friday night and was very glad to hear from you. I got a post card from Mrs Morris on Friday morning and a bundle of journals from her this morning. I also got the bundle of music (which you sent) this morning. I am very thankful to you for them we are very fond of music and we like the songs very well. I hope you were not sorry with parting from them. I get a bundle of books from Mrs Morris every month. We have very bad weather here now since Xmas we had two or three falls of snow, we had a very bad winter altogether there was a lot of rain and hail and was very cold all the time. There is nothing strange going on around here, Paddy Dowling got married last Tuesday to a girl out near Ballybunion. I think Nell will have to be shipping out now when they get settled down. Tell us if you went to the Kerry Ball. I am sure you must have some good times over there, it is so dull here sometimes that we actually don't know what to do with ourselves. I don't go to any dances because the Pater would not leave us. I often wish I could go to them. I am able to dance just a little. He don't leave us go around very much if we went out in the country for a Sunday he would be scolding us when we get back. You ought to speak about Annie getting some place again, it would be nearly time for her to be doing something now he never spoke about it since you mentioned it to him.

I suppose you have no notion of coming to Ireland this year there will be a cheap excursion this year I wish you'd come home to see us for a little while. Did you hear that Father Paul Dillane got a Parish of his own now out in Los Angelous he was very lucky to get it and he is so young he is doing very well. I often saw Priests and they'd be old men before they'd get a chance of a Parish, so he is very lucky. We are all very well at home hope you are enjoying health as well. I hope you won't be long till you write again I remain with best love from
Your loving sister
Mai.

January 1, 1910

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St., Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

My dearest Frank,

Thanks very much for nice presents which we received all right, we got them on Xmas day. I am sure they must have gone astray, they were so long in coming. We have very bad weather here for the last couple of weeks, I suppose it is the same way over there. Did you hear from Mrs Morris lately I got some magazines from her this week they were very nice ones there was one with a nice piece of music and a song in it. I wonder could you get some of those newspapers that the music do be in I think that they are the Sunday papers and send them to us I would like to get them for I have not very much music to be playing.

I am going to send you some of those Listowel views as soon as I can. I am send you the slip of paper about the death of Robert's daughter and let you send it to Mrs Morris for I told her I would send it to her. Annie and George were very pleased with their presents, the belt you sent me was very nice. I have just heard that there was a man got floating on the Castle Hole George saw him when he was brought out of the river he must have been in the river a long time to say that he was floating on the river. I don't think I have any more to say so I will close wishing you a very Happy New Year.
I remain
Your loving sister
Mai.

Try and send those newspapers that I told you about and write very soon again.

December 16, 1909

From: Mai Gleasure, Listowel, Square
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St., Allston, Mass, U.S.A.

My dearest Frank,

Just a line hoping it will find you enjoying health as it leaves us all at present. We have fairly here now what kind have ye over there.

I got a letter from Mrs Morris not long since I suppose you hear from her very often. I sent her a present for Xmas a few days ago I also sent you a small token yesterday and I hope you will get it all right, I did not send you those Listowel views yet for I have a few present to give and I have not much cash but you will get them before the New Year. I got the making's of two silk blouses already for Xmas.

We are very busy in the Shop now preparing all the Christmas goods. There was a daughter of Robert Gleasure in Tullig died since I wrote to you last she was a nun down in the Co Wexford. she was a nun only five weeks exactly the day she died.

Tom Parkinson has left the polie force and is at home now he has brought a pension with him. Paddy Dillon is at home also for his holidays I don't think I have any more to say so I will close Hoping you will write very soon. Wishing you a very Happy Xmas and a Bright prosperous New Year
I remain
Your loving sister
Mai

Annie and George ask to be remembered to you.

December 1, 1909

From: May Gleasure, Listowel, Square
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St. Allston, Mass U.S.A.

My dearest Frank,

I received your letter last night and was very glad to hear from you.

We are all very well at home hope you are enjoying health.  I got 6 or 7 letters from Mrs Morris since I heard from you last, she also sent me the Photo of her house and a ladies journal which was very nice she also sent me some post cards.  I got a letter the day before I received yours from her.  Annie the apprentice and I are stopping in the house by ourselves tonight because father and George are gone down to Limerick to a coursing match which is to be held tomorrow, they won't be home until tomorrow night about 9 oclock.  I won't close this letter till I give you an account of it.  We had a very busy time of it about the races and big fair.  Mysia Buckley got married to Mikey Keane the schoolmaster I don't know if you remember him.  he used to wear glasses.  I will be sending you something for Christmas very soon so be on the look out for it.  I hope you will send me something nice I like jewelery very much you sent Annie some very nice jewelery in the past years I would like a bracelet or a closed locket that I could put a small little photo inside it or I would love a watch I am always wishing for a watch and don't ever get one everyone in the house has one except myself.

There is not anything new in this place since I wrote to you last its the same old hole of a place since you left it.

I will send you a few of the Listowel views for Xmas.  I will send you a few papers soon also There will be a case of Gambling against the Buckley's in court next Saturday also a case of being caught on Sunday with town fellows inside drinking.  I don't think I have anymore to say so I will close Hoping to hear from you very soon again.

I remain
Your loving sister
Mai.

The dog was beat in the first course.

October 13, 1909

From: May Gleasure, Listowel, Square, Co Kerry, Ireland.
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St. Allston, Mass U.S.A.

My dearest Frank,

Just a few lines wanting to know why you are not writing to us, I was going to write all along but I was expecting a letter from you and none has come.  The weather here is getting a little cold and wet, what kind is it over there.  I had two or three letters from Mrs Morris since I suppose she writes to you very often.  We are having the Races here on the 25th and 26th Oct. they are very late this year.  There will be only one day between them and the big fair so we will be very busy for 3 or 4 days.  Father and George will be going down to Fedamore (Co Limerick) to a coursing meeting, they will be carrying two dogs there, they won a stake there last year, (they are going next Thursday 21 Oct) I will send you the papers about it next week.  I suppose you remember Bill Connor at Banmore well himself and Lizzie [Jame's daughter] OConnor ran away to England I think they got married on the way old Mrs Connor felt it very much.  Will you be able to send me what I asked you for some time, ago, I hope you will because I am very much in need of it.  I am singing in the Church Choir and I would like some good clothes to wear there.  I got a few lovely post Cards from Mrs Morris I have a great collection of them now I suppose you have a lot of them by this.  I must send you some Listowel views after the races there are some lovely ones selling here.  I expect to have some good times around the Races and the Big Fair. For about a week we will have some hard times in the shop dealing with all the drunken slopers who will stop in town for a full week I suppose.  Hoping you are well as we are all at present and hoping you will write very soon again.

I remain
Your loving sister
Mai Gleasure

August 2, 1909

From: Mai Gleasure, Listowel, Square
To: Frank Gleasure, 4 Franklin St. Allston, Mass. U.S.A.

My dearest Frank,

I hope this will find you in good health as we all are at present.  We have splendid weather now for the last few day's what kind of weather have ye over there.

I suppose you had a good time on the 4th July.  I was out at John Parkinson's at Tullig for the last fortnight I had a fine time of it, George did not go anyplace for his holiday's yet because one of our greyhounds had six pups, and he must stop and mind them for a few days.  I expect he will go out to Connor's.  I got a post card from Mrs. Morris, last week.  I told them out at Tullig and asked them to write to her, the old man wrote to her some time ago and it seems he did not get any answer to his letter and he does not like it.  I wonder would you be able to send Annie and I what I asked you for some time ago, I am up in the Church Choir again and I would like some decent clothes if you are not able to spare it don't mind it until some other time (a pound each) if you can.  I don't think I have any more to say at present so I will close Hoping to hear from you very soon again  I remain
Your loving sister
Mai.