November 21, 1916

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Kerry, Ire.
To: Frank Gleasure, 36 Litchfield St., Brighton, Mass, U.S.A.

[Opened by censor 3633]

My dear Frank

A few lines to let you know I got your card yesterday morning also your letter a short time ago, I expect you've had my answer to it before this I hope the arrival of this one will find all the family and yourself quite well, we are just the same as usual here, but are witnessing some very bad weather, since the first October we've had three great floods, the river Feale over-flowing its banks to an awful extent and drowning cattle and destroying crops especially potatoes, which has made them very scarce and dear, the present price of potatoes is 14 pence a stone thats about three times as dear they would be at this time of year. Always, in fact every-thing is carrying an awful price and some things very hard to be got at any price.

How are the Kiddies getting on I do hope well especially the baby I hope she is getting strong before the winter sets in of course the little chap will be better able to rough it now than her. I should like to send him something for Xmas but the way things are going present we'll put it off for a little time until things will look brighter which will not be long I hope. The war is going on as strong as ever and no knowing when its to be over Do you still hear from your wife's brother I do hope he will come out of it successfully, it's appalling the fine men and boys that are never to come home to their people again, it would be a blessing to everyone if it were over. Annie is still without writing to you I never see such a person as she is she just simply hates writing a letter, the last letter Miss Reardon sent her is still un-answered thats about nine months ago, however I expect she will write to you before long as they say "a long threatening comes at last." Things are quite here now but you never know what to expect from them day to day, I should not like to have a repetition of what happened in the summer time I shall never forget it and the way he went on to me, I often wish to myself I were over with you, but then again I imagine I would be an awful burden to you, in case I would not get on what would I do, as you know the business I'm at is not fit for me, or in fact any other girl. and I'm not very well up in housework never having any time to practice it. I often get thoroughly disgusted with myself the way we two girls are working away the best part of our lives and not having a pound note to our name as yet getting nothing only our support and what we wear and thats very little, the only thing is to hope for better times to come. I will be finishing up for this time now and I hope to hear from you soon again I should like very much to get a letter from your wife does she ever think of writing me a few lines. I expect you were afraid that your letter did not reach me or fell into other hands but if were a thing that a letter of mine was opened other than myself there would be music I can tell you so you need not be afraid of that happening. I will now Wish you and all family A Very Happy Xmas with a Bright and Prosperous New Year to you all Iremain with love to all
Your loving Sister
Mai.

PS Let me know if you got promoted in your work.

October 26, 1916

From: May Gleasure, Listowel, Square, Co Kerry, Ire.
To: Frank Gleasure, 36 Litchfield St., Brighton, Mass, U.S.A.

[Opened by censor 3067]

Dear Frank,

Its about time I should think about answering your last letter which I received alright. I was going to write from time to time but kept putting it off. waiting for this thing and that, anyway I wanted to tell you about how George would be circumstanced after his time being up. He has his time served since 1st September, he has not being removed from Listowel as yet, but he may be after Xmas, he is paid according to what he does and he also gets so much an hour, putting it in all he earns about 25/shilling a week sometimes, at other times 20/shilling and so on, of course if he were sent away he should get about twice that much a week but you know unaccount of his boarding at home its not so bad, he could spare a little money now while he'd be in Listowel if he had sense but I'm sorry to say he has'ent. he goes with fellows that are no company for him, and don't come in home at night at no early hour, you need not say anything in your letter about it (if you want to say anything write it on a seperate page) as Annie and I don't want to interfer let them do as they like and find out for themselves. Annie expects to go to America in the Spring. its a pity as she wasn't going this year as there were several going from the town here, she says she'll write to you in a day or two herself and tell you all and indeed its about time she were doing for herself, working away here and nothing by her time even George now that hes earing never offered her as much as a copper yet and she doing everything for him. Anyway I hope Annie will be able to get away from this place before long whatever I may do afterwards about getting away, it would be a good job for her to be leaving this place behind she never goes outside the door here not even out for a walk I often wonder how she holds inside always. of course its different for me when I'm able to rough it around a lot, I have enough told you about the trouble of this country for this time. We have very bad weather here for the past month nothing but rain all the time. The Races were not much good this year as the weather being bad as usual we did not go to them at all only the two men (boss and George). I hope the two children are quite well and strong and especially the little baby. I hope she will be quite strong before the winter will come on I think its very hard to rear children over in that country some way or other, and yourself I hope you are well over that fit you got in the summer, it must be pretty hard for you working for so many hours, its really to long for any man to work for nineteen or twenty hours a day. You spoke about Annie Dillon being living near you now do you ever see Mike or Lizzie, the old man their father is very feeble now he never comes to town at all now. Anyway there is no one to care him only a woman coming to the house doing a few jobs for him, of course any of the men are not pensioned of yet, they come to see him as often as they can and get all they can done for him. Do ye still here from your bother-in-law that was in France I hope he'll be successful and come home alright there were a lot of Listowel chaps knocked over from time to time its very sad to think about I hope it will be over very soon. I hope you'll be able to get promoted in your job before very long would it mean an easier time for you than what you have now. The big November fair will be here on Monday. next we will be pretty busy that day, all classes of cattle are an awful price in this country presently, its the farmers that are coining from this war they get just three time the money that they used to get for there cattle and stuff. and yet there sons will not go out and help to win the war. I don't think I have anything else to tell you this time. Annie will be writing to you soon I expect, but she is so slow about writing a letter I hope you'll write to me very soon again and will you send me a photo of the children some time you have it promised a long time Remembe to write soon with best love to wife and children and self Iremain
Your loving sister
Mai.