April 6, 1903

From: Annie Gleasure, Square, Listowel, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 82 West Canton Street, Boston, Mass.

Dear Frank,

We have received your last letter and the papers and we are glad that you are doing so well. We are all well here at present. Joe has left school and is going to the college now, but May and George are still at the same school and are doing well. We have all grown quite a bit since you left. I am as tall as you were when you were here, and Joe is nearly as tall. There are not many changes here. The great storm that passed over here in February done consideberal damage around the town and surrounding country. Some of our tiles and slate were blown off and Carol's roof was broken to pieces. There were quite a number of trees blown down everywhere. There was an awful flood in the river last week and it came up as far as Behan's shed. It was raining almost every day last month. I suppose you must be enjoying some nice weather over there now. Pat Dillon's wife is quite settled down in her shop now and Pat has gone back to Cork to his barracks again. I thought at first that he was to stay in Listowel.

Adam and his people are quite well. He has bought a little donkey trap for his wife and three children.

We are still going to the Hall. There were two American evangelists, Mr. and Mrs. Sims there for a fortnight last month, showing two magic lanterns, one for the pictures and the other for the hymns and texts. Mrs. Sims sang beautifully every night. Father was up there a few times and he liked it very much. I am in the church choir now and I would like if you would send me some money to get some clothes with and I would be so thankful.

I have no more to say now, so I will close remaining
Yours Affectionately,
Annie Gleasure

March 5, 1903

From: Joseph Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 82 West Canton St. Boston, Massachusetts

Dear Frank,

I received your most welcome letter about two weeks ago and would have wrote long ago but I was waiting for an answer from the Editor of the Boy's Friend concerning the Customs. He told me to write to the Secretary of the Civil Service and they sent me a heap of useless papers. I would be very thankful if you could send me any information as to the programe I should know to secure a clerkship in the Customs over there. They could tell me nothing over here concerning the United States Customs. We are all at home from school this week because the Master has a sore throat. We are annoyed from him for he is constantly getting sore throats every couple of weeks. I think my father is going to send me to the college soon if the school is going the way it is, but when I am at school I have nothing to do because I am passed all classes. I told you in my last letter that the Master would make me up for any situation I liked but since he fell out with me. One day in January he sent me down to the post office for his quarterly pay and he gave me a paper to hand in at the office and said I would get a lot of money and mind it. And when I brought him the money he said it was three pounds short. He then went down the the post office to know how much they gave me and they said I got the full amount and I can't make out how it went for I put it in my pocket and took it out when I got back and gave it to him. Mind do not say a word about what I have told you for my father didn't hear it yet. Be sure and write soon about what I told you for I might be sent to the college soon. I am very glad you got the job on the engine as you were saying. There was a great storm swept over Ireland about a week ago and done great damage. It tore up heaps of trees all over the country. The chimney of Carrol the Cooper's house fell and drove the roof nearly in and it tore down a few slates and tiles in our house but we are not the worst off. You said to have us take our pictures but you know this place is not up to date so it is very hard to take our picture when there are no photographers here. But when you can get your photograph taken any day, we would all like to see it. I will send you some papers about about the storm latter on and also some Boys Friends. Hoping your are well as we are at present. I remain,

Your Brother,

Joseph