From: Joseph Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 33 Arden Street, Massachusetts
My Dear Brother,
I hope you are well and strong as we all are at home. I have not much of interest to say, only just sending the Christmas greetings. I am sending you some pictures I took with my camera. I have our pictures taken, but they aren't finished yet.
I expect you will take me out to America about next March or April. I would not stop here any longer, I am totally sick of it. If I stopped here any longer I would be getting too old nearly to be taken in an office. I am always thinking of what kind of a job I would get after landing. I would like to be in the Excise or Customs or some job you would be sure of. I think it is easy to get into the Excise or any Government position. Any how, I must till I get over first and then I would know what would be best.
There is a funny lodging with us that is going to go to Boston or Philadelphia next Spring, so if you sent for me I could go with him. His name is Ned Dillon and is after coming back last summer from Chicago. His mother was a little touched in the head, so he came back to see how she was. She was carried to the Asylum last week, so now when she is alright, he is going back as soon as he can. He was tending a bar of his brother's in Chicago.
We have put up a new door inside the shop door that can be closed at night. It makes the shop very warm and keeps people from looking in.
There is a Rugby football team, mostly composed of farmers from New Zealand at present, touring the British Isles. They have beaten every team they played. They beat England, Ireland, Scotland, and all the leading teams. They will be playing Wales next Saturday, and I will send you a paper with the result so you may see their method of play. I don't believe there is a team in America could beat them. They let their opponents beyond their twenty-five yards line. The American football is very rough, and as an English lady said in describing it said it was like a street row to see them play.
Trade is fair now, but not being too busy. As I have no more of interest to write, I will close wishing you a right merry Christmas and a happy New Year,
I remain,
Your Loving Brother,
Joseph Gleasure
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
December 10, 1905
From: George Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 33 Arden Street, Allston, Massachusetts, USA
My Dear Frank,
Christmas is coming along so I am sending my first note and a little present. I am in fourth class now and my writing is very much improved since we got our new teacher. I am able to play quite a number of tunes on the violin now. We enjoy the funny papers you send very much. Mr. Sells carries one of your photos that you sent last May. I will write to you after Christmas again. Hoping you will enjoy a very merry Christmas, I close, remaining
your loving brother,
George Francis Gleasure
From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 33 Arden Street, Allston, Massachusetts, USA
My dear Frank,
I think it must be time for me to be writing letters to you now. I have'nt very much spare time since we got our new mistress, as she gives us a whole lot of lessons to learn.
We enjoyed the funny papers you send very much. Mr. Sells carried the last ones. I am sending you a little present, wishing you a happy Christmas and a happy New Year.
Your loving sister,
May Gleasure
P.S. Have you any notion of coming home again?
To: Frank Gleasure, 33 Arden Street, Allston, Massachusetts, USA
My Dear Frank,
Christmas is coming along so I am sending my first note and a little present. I am in fourth class now and my writing is very much improved since we got our new teacher. I am able to play quite a number of tunes on the violin now. We enjoy the funny papers you send very much. Mr. Sells carries one of your photos that you sent last May. I will write to you after Christmas again. Hoping you will enjoy a very merry Christmas, I close, remaining
your loving brother,
George Francis Gleasure
From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 33 Arden Street, Allston, Massachusetts, USA
My dear Frank,
I think it must be time for me to be writing letters to you now. I have'nt very much spare time since we got our new mistress, as she gives us a whole lot of lessons to learn.
We enjoyed the funny papers you send very much. Mr. Sells carried the last ones. I am sending you a little present, wishing you a happy Christmas and a happy New Year.
Your loving sister,
May Gleasure
P.S. Have you any notion of coming home again?
Monday, February 20, 2012
December 3, 1905
From: George Gleasure, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 33 Arden Street, Allston, Boston, Massachusetts
My Dear Frank,
I am writing you a few lines hoping you are in good health as we all are at present. They are all well at Tullig also. We got your papers some time ago and a package of postcards and was expecting a letter but did not get any. I was interested in some of the papers as there was sermons in them preached by those ministers in Boston. The Globe they were in. When I was there myself I used to get the Monday's Herald as it contained a great deal of them. Some of those other papers you send is of little or no account. Send the Herald or Globe if you send any. I expect you are putting off writing until near Christmas. I am sending you a picture of the house that was taken about two years ago. I was at them to send it long ago, but they put off from time to time. As you are interested in such things, we thought you would write and let us know what you are doing as you said you had given up the job you were at. You ought to look up some permanent job and stay in it. If you do, you will be able to do something for yourself after a while. If you do not, you will always be working for somebody else. I don't think those boarding houses are very much. As far as I see, the people are very ignorant and live a life to suit their own fancy and never think of the future. Therefore, they are always in the background never thinking of the world to come as I very well know having seen the same thing but never thinking much of it. You understand the meaning. Now about Mike Dillon and his visit last summer, we have not heard much about him since he went around a lot. I expect he had great news when he got back. We were all out the night he was going. All the boys were home at the time. I had not much time to talk with him as he was bladering around all the time. He looks very well about the same as usual. We are after a very fine year and the weather is very mild just now with the exception of a few days. I am sending to you for a violin book for the young lad. He is going to be an expert at the fiddle. He can learn almost anything on it that he is shown. If he had proper instruction, he would be a marvel. People does be surprised to hear him for this size. I will give you the address on a separate paper as I have a book from the same place myself. They are all musicians in fact but Joe. But he has as good he has the learning and is very good. I was surprised to hear that they did not tell you about the instrument they have until lately. They have it since March and a very good one. I sent to London for it. The cost of which was eleven pounds, it one of the American organs made in Chicago.
Directions about the book- howe's 100 easy pieces for the violin all in 1st position
Elias Howe 86 Court St. Boston
If you find any book on the American organ, you could send it to the girls.
As I have no more to say at present, I hope you will have a merry Christmas and happy new year.
George Gleasure, Listowel, Kerry, Ireland
To Frank Gleasure, Boston, Mass
To: Frank Gleasure, 33 Arden Street, Allston, Boston, Massachusetts
My Dear Frank,
I am writing you a few lines hoping you are in good health as we all are at present. They are all well at Tullig also. We got your papers some time ago and a package of postcards and was expecting a letter but did not get any. I was interested in some of the papers as there was sermons in them preached by those ministers in Boston. The Globe they were in. When I was there myself I used to get the Monday's Herald as it contained a great deal of them. Some of those other papers you send is of little or no account. Send the Herald or Globe if you send any. I expect you are putting off writing until near Christmas. I am sending you a picture of the house that was taken about two years ago. I was at them to send it long ago, but they put off from time to time. As you are interested in such things, we thought you would write and let us know what you are doing as you said you had given up the job you were at. You ought to look up some permanent job and stay in it. If you do, you will be able to do something for yourself after a while. If you do not, you will always be working for somebody else. I don't think those boarding houses are very much. As far as I see, the people are very ignorant and live a life to suit their own fancy and never think of the future. Therefore, they are always in the background never thinking of the world to come as I very well know having seen the same thing but never thinking much of it. You understand the meaning. Now about Mike Dillon and his visit last summer, we have not heard much about him since he went around a lot. I expect he had great news when he got back. We were all out the night he was going. All the boys were home at the time. I had not much time to talk with him as he was bladering around all the time. He looks very well about the same as usual. We are after a very fine year and the weather is very mild just now with the exception of a few days. I am sending to you for a violin book for the young lad. He is going to be an expert at the fiddle. He can learn almost anything on it that he is shown. If he had proper instruction, he would be a marvel. People does be surprised to hear him for this size. I will give you the address on a separate paper as I have a book from the same place myself. They are all musicians in fact but Joe. But he has as good he has the learning and is very good. I was surprised to hear that they did not tell you about the instrument they have until lately. They have it since March and a very good one. I sent to London for it. The cost of which was eleven pounds, it one of the American organs made in Chicago.
Directions about the book- howe's 100 easy pieces for the violin all in 1st position
Elias Howe 86 Court St. Boston
If you find any book on the American organ, you could send it to the girls.
As I have no more to say at present, I hope you will have a merry Christmas and happy new year.
George Gleasure, Listowel, Kerry, Ireland
To Frank Gleasure, Boston, Mass
Sunday, February 19, 2012
August 10, 1905
From: Annie Gleasure, Square, Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 8 Wadsworth Street, Allston, Massachusetts
My Dear Brother,
I am writing to let you know that we have received all your last letters and papers, and were very thankful for them. They always seem to bring an breath of American air with them. I want to thank you specially for the postcards that you sent they were so very nice: I am making a collection so that is the reason I wanted them. I will send you some next week. Do you collect stamps yet. I suppose you don't have much time for that sort of pleasure now.
We are all well here and doing good business. May, George and Joe are enjoying their vacation now. Indeed, May and George have a pretty long holiday, they have not been to school since Easter. The master they had went to ruin with drink and went into debt and so he went quietly away one morning. Everyone thought he was very accomplished when he came here, the scholars were learning so well. But now there is a lady coming about the end of the month so they will all start in September. We got the organ that I wrote to you about. It came from London but it was made by the Cable Company in Chicago: it is a lovely instrument with a dear sweet tone and costing eleven pounds. A piano would have been too dear.
I am not taking lessons yet so I am going to ask you if you could send me some money so that I could do so. I want to leave town by next year if possible, it is just sickening here. Father is thinking of getting a girl to help in the shop and do the housework, so there will be no need for me to stay.
We have seen Mike since we got your last letter; and do you know that they never expected him home and it was such a surprise to them when he arrived. We haven't seen the little boy yet, he was too much interested in the hens and donkeys to think of coming in, so we expect to go out some Sunday. May is always wishing that you would come home for a while. Do you ever intend to? I hope you will be suxsesful with your work, you ought to try for something easier.
Please excuse this awful scribble as I am writing it near midnight and I am so tired.
I will close now remaining
Yours Affectionately,
Annie Gleasure
To: Frank Gleasure, 8 Wadsworth Street, Allston, Massachusetts
My Dear Brother,
I am writing to let you know that we have received all your last letters and papers, and were very thankful for them. They always seem to bring an breath of American air with them. I want to thank you specially for the postcards that you sent they were so very nice: I am making a collection so that is the reason I wanted them. I will send you some next week. Do you collect stamps yet. I suppose you don't have much time for that sort of pleasure now.
We are all well here and doing good business. May, George and Joe are enjoying their vacation now. Indeed, May and George have a pretty long holiday, they have not been to school since Easter. The master they had went to ruin with drink and went into debt and so he went quietly away one morning. Everyone thought he was very accomplished when he came here, the scholars were learning so well. But now there is a lady coming about the end of the month so they will all start in September. We got the organ that I wrote to you about. It came from London but it was made by the Cable Company in Chicago: it is a lovely instrument with a dear sweet tone and costing eleven pounds. A piano would have been too dear.
I am not taking lessons yet so I am going to ask you if you could send me some money so that I could do so. I want to leave town by next year if possible, it is just sickening here. Father is thinking of getting a girl to help in the shop and do the housework, so there will be no need for me to stay.
We have seen Mike since we got your last letter; and do you know that they never expected him home and it was such a surprise to them when he arrived. We haven't seen the little boy yet, he was too much interested in the hens and donkeys to think of coming in, so we expect to go out some Sunday. May is always wishing that you would come home for a while. Do you ever intend to? I hope you will be suxsesful with your work, you ought to try for something easier.
Please excuse this awful scribble as I am writing it near midnight and I am so tired.
I will close now remaining
Yours Affectionately,
Annie Gleasure
Saturday, February 18, 2012
August 30, 1905
From: Annie Gleasure, Square, Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 33 Arden Street, Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Dear Frank,
I am writing in answer to the letter which I have received from you last Sunday. I wrote to you on or about the tenth of the month; I presume you did not get it before you sent your last letter? We are all doing well here. Joe has left college now for good, I think that he will try for some situation soon. I suppose he will write and tell you all about his plans shortly. He wrote to Miss Reardon today. Do you ever get a chance to go out there now?
We hired a sidecar last Sunday and we all rode out to Patsy Dillon's at half past three o'clock and did not get back until half past five next morning, and enjoyed a very pleasant time. Tom, Ned, and Pat and his wife all came home after Mike arrived. Paul is home all the summer. All the boys and girls around gathered in that night and were dancing and singing during the whole time. Mike and Ned were up at Cork to see a football match between Kerry and Kildare at the time and arrived home about two o'clock next morning. Mike says he would not miss it for anything, he wanted to tell them all about it when he goes over. He went away on the one o'clock train on Monday for Cork and sailed this morning.
Adam was in town last Sunday too and he brought his eldest son James with him. It was the first time that I saw any of his children: he has two more, Katie the eldest and Molly the youngest. The old man comes to town pretty often, he doesn't do any work now and he is fairly strong for one of his age. The old woman is just the same as ever.
I must close now remaining
Yours Affectionately,
Annie Gleasure
To: Frank Gleasure, 33 Arden Street, Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Dear Frank,
I am writing in answer to the letter which I have received from you last Sunday. I wrote to you on or about the tenth of the month; I presume you did not get it before you sent your last letter? We are all doing well here. Joe has left college now for good, I think that he will try for some situation soon. I suppose he will write and tell you all about his plans shortly. He wrote to Miss Reardon today. Do you ever get a chance to go out there now?
We hired a sidecar last Sunday and we all rode out to Patsy Dillon's at half past three o'clock and did not get back until half past five next morning, and enjoyed a very pleasant time. Tom, Ned, and Pat and his wife all came home after Mike arrived. Paul is home all the summer. All the boys and girls around gathered in that night and were dancing and singing during the whole time. Mike and Ned were up at Cork to see a football match between Kerry and Kildare at the time and arrived home about two o'clock next morning. Mike says he would not miss it for anything, he wanted to tell them all about it when he goes over. He went away on the one o'clock train on Monday for Cork and sailed this morning.
Adam was in town last Sunday too and he brought his eldest son James with him. It was the first time that I saw any of his children: he has two more, Katie the eldest and Molly the youngest. The old man comes to town pretty often, he doesn't do any work now and he is fairly strong for one of his age. The old woman is just the same as ever.
I must close now remaining
Yours Affectionately,
Annie Gleasure
June 30, 1905
From: Joseph Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 8 Wadsworth Street, Allston, Boston, Massachusetts
My Dear Brother,
I am very sorry I did not answer your letter sooner, but this was a busy week and I hadn't much time. I have vacation now too and I think I won't go back any more but study at home, and next Spring I will be thinking of joining you in Boston. Peter Buckley got a card and twenty pounds from his brother in Auckland and will be going there soon. His brother Dan met Dan Murphy and his sister in Chicago a short while ago.
Phil Hardon got married last Shrove and I think Nell Dooling is married to Mike Brown but they are keeping it secret.
We got all your letters and the bundles of papers alright. The papers are very interesting in summer about sports and athletics. Your pictures were very nice too you haven't changed very much only you seem to be very big, and the moustache suits you.
It is grand to be over there now in the summer where the climate is so beautiful. I suppose ye are getting very warm weather over there now. We had very warm weather too until this week we have occasional showers.
The fourth of July will be past when you get this letter. It will be a splendid day over there. The Irish who have gone over this year will see how they celebrate their national holiday over there. It is the best country in the world for any one to go to.
I am keeping at my Sandow exercises yet and have improved immensely all round. I have put on nearly two inches on my arms and about four inches in my chest since I began. My arms are nearly thirteen inches in circumference, my chest thirty eight expanded, and height only five feet four and a half inches. I can put up between sixty and seventy pounds four or five times with one hand. I suppose you have no time for exercising or swimming or anything. I suppose don't go out to South Natick at all now. The place must be all changed now, I suppose. If you go out any time, tell Miss Bailey or Miss Reardon to write to me. I wrote to them last Autumn, and I didn't hear from them yet. I suppose they are on their holidays now and gone away somewhere.
Trade and life is very dull in this town now. You have nothing to see only the same thing every day. There is one of the Carrolls thinking of going to Boston from New York, but he is waiting to get your new address. All the Carrolls that lived in the Square are gone since January, the old people and all.
Adam and his people are all well. He has three or four children now, and the old people are strong yet. All the Connors are at home yet too and have no notion of going anywhere. I will get some picture postcards with views of Listowel and send them on soon. Send some more papers when you are writing again.
As I have no more to say, I will close, hoping to meet you before another year. I will remain
Your Loving Brother,
Joseph Gleasure
To: Frank Gleasure, 8 Wadsworth Street, Allston, Boston, Massachusetts
My Dear Brother,
I am very sorry I did not answer your letter sooner, but this was a busy week and I hadn't much time. I have vacation now too and I think I won't go back any more but study at home, and next Spring I will be thinking of joining you in Boston. Peter Buckley got a card and twenty pounds from his brother in Auckland and will be going there soon. His brother Dan met Dan Murphy and his sister in Chicago a short while ago.
Phil Hardon got married last Shrove and I think Nell Dooling is married to Mike Brown but they are keeping it secret.
We got all your letters and the bundles of papers alright. The papers are very interesting in summer about sports and athletics. Your pictures were very nice too you haven't changed very much only you seem to be very big, and the moustache suits you.
It is grand to be over there now in the summer where the climate is so beautiful. I suppose ye are getting very warm weather over there now. We had very warm weather too until this week we have occasional showers.
The fourth of July will be past when you get this letter. It will be a splendid day over there. The Irish who have gone over this year will see how they celebrate their national holiday over there. It is the best country in the world for any one to go to.
I am keeping at my Sandow exercises yet and have improved immensely all round. I have put on nearly two inches on my arms and about four inches in my chest since I began. My arms are nearly thirteen inches in circumference, my chest thirty eight expanded, and height only five feet four and a half inches. I can put up between sixty and seventy pounds four or five times with one hand. I suppose you have no time for exercising or swimming or anything. I suppose don't go out to South Natick at all now. The place must be all changed now, I suppose. If you go out any time, tell Miss Bailey or Miss Reardon to write to me. I wrote to them last Autumn, and I didn't hear from them yet. I suppose they are on their holidays now and gone away somewhere.
Trade and life is very dull in this town now. You have nothing to see only the same thing every day. There is one of the Carrolls thinking of going to Boston from New York, but he is waiting to get your new address. All the Carrolls that lived in the Square are gone since January, the old people and all.
Adam and his people are all well. He has three or four children now, and the old people are strong yet. All the Connors are at home yet too and have no notion of going anywhere. I will get some picture postcards with views of Listowel and send them on soon. Send some more papers when you are writing again.
As I have no more to say, I will close, hoping to meet you before another year. I will remain
Your Loving Brother,
Joseph Gleasure
Friday, February 17, 2012
April 9, 1905
From: Joseph Gleasure, Square, Listowel, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 459 Cambridge Street, Allston, Massachusetts
Dear Brother,
I hope the arrival of this letter will find you in good health as we all are present. We got your last letter all right and I intended to write before now, but we were expecting a letter from you one of these days.
We have very poor weather for the time of the year that it is. The farmers have nothing set yet the ground is so wet. Ye must have grand weather over there now after the snow and cold. Ireland has the worst climate in the world nearly, there isn't a day but we have rain. I will be glad anyway when I leave it. I suppose I will only put down this year here, I will be 20 years old then and the 21st of this month I will be nineteen. I am getting on very well at school and I don't think I will go anymore after this term. We go through a certain course every year and it is nearly the same thing every year, so when I know the course I only have to make myself up on that and as you must do it yourself, it is as good to do it at home as in school, paying for the privilege of sitting down there.
There is a gymnasium erected in the Sports field now and in full swing for the past two months. They have an attendance of about 40 with Peter Buckley included. They have a barbell weighing 140 lbs. which Frank Buckley puts up three times and it gives their instructor enough to do to put it up once. Frank is fearful strong and he is only five feet six inches high. I suppose you didn't follow up the exercises ye used to do in the loft long ago. Peter told me you had terrible muscles. I am sticking to them all along and I will try to get a muscular picture taken in the summer when we go swimming and send it to you. I hope you won't forget to take your picture one of these days now as the summer is coming on. You know how much we all would like to see how you look, for you must have changed a good deal in the last four years. The camera I had got out of order so I sold it for half price, but I will try to get another for the summer. I am sending you some pictures that I had since last year and I dare say you will recognize them as soon as you see them, specially one of them. They are not very good ones for I was inexperienced when I took them but next time I expect to send some nice ones. In the picture of our house, you will no doubt recognize May and Georgie in their bare feet.
Adam and his folk are all well and grandfather and grandmother are quiet strong and well, but the old man is not as strong as when you saw him last. I suppose you don't go out to South Natick at all. I wrote to Miss Reardon last Autumn and I didn't hear from her since.
I suppose you would have time to make up some papers soon and send them. Those ones with the stories are very interesting. We are doing very good business all along and it is increasing every year.
As I have no more to say of interest I will
Your loving Brother,
Joseph Gleasure
To: Frank Gleasure, 459 Cambridge Street, Allston, Massachusetts
Dear Brother,
I hope the arrival of this letter will find you in good health as we all are present. We got your last letter all right and I intended to write before now, but we were expecting a letter from you one of these days.
We have very poor weather for the time of the year that it is. The farmers have nothing set yet the ground is so wet. Ye must have grand weather over there now after the snow and cold. Ireland has the worst climate in the world nearly, there isn't a day but we have rain. I will be glad anyway when I leave it. I suppose I will only put down this year here, I will be 20 years old then and the 21st of this month I will be nineteen. I am getting on very well at school and I don't think I will go anymore after this term. We go through a certain course every year and it is nearly the same thing every year, so when I know the course I only have to make myself up on that and as you must do it yourself, it is as good to do it at home as in school, paying for the privilege of sitting down there.
There is a gymnasium erected in the Sports field now and in full swing for the past two months. They have an attendance of about 40 with Peter Buckley included. They have a barbell weighing 140 lbs. which Frank Buckley puts up three times and it gives their instructor enough to do to put it up once. Frank is fearful strong and he is only five feet six inches high. I suppose you didn't follow up the exercises ye used to do in the loft long ago. Peter told me you had terrible muscles. I am sticking to them all along and I will try to get a muscular picture taken in the summer when we go swimming and send it to you. I hope you won't forget to take your picture one of these days now as the summer is coming on. You know how much we all would like to see how you look, for you must have changed a good deal in the last four years. The camera I had got out of order so I sold it for half price, but I will try to get another for the summer. I am sending you some pictures that I had since last year and I dare say you will recognize them as soon as you see them, specially one of them. They are not very good ones for I was inexperienced when I took them but next time I expect to send some nice ones. In the picture of our house, you will no doubt recognize May and Georgie in their bare feet.
Adam and his folk are all well and grandfather and grandmother are quiet strong and well, but the old man is not as strong as when you saw him last. I suppose you don't go out to South Natick at all. I wrote to Miss Reardon last Autumn and I didn't hear from her since.
I suppose you would have time to make up some papers soon and send them. Those ones with the stories are very interesting. We are doing very good business all along and it is increasing every year.
As I have no more to say of interest I will
Your loving Brother,
Joseph Gleasure
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