January 16, 1916

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

Dear Frank,

Just a line let you know I received your ever welcomed letter and Xmas Cards. about a fortnight ago. I was very sorry to hear you were sick I hope you have fully recovered by this also the little chap I hope he's over his fit. he must be quite a little man now, I hope you won't fail to send me that long promised photograph before long of him, I should also like to get one of yourself and wife. I am sending you one of my own takings of George and I. I wonder will you recognize the place we are taken at its down at the old pump near the river. the bridge you see is the new iron bridge they have going across the island racecourse, you can only see a part of the old pump. I had a few more to send to you but Annie asked me for them as she wants to send them to Miss Reardon as she got a letter from her a few days before Xmas and is writing to her. She told us she was living in our old house minding young children that have no parents she also said she has not seen you for a long time do you ever go out that way now, she did not mention any of the Bailys and father would like to know whether they are living or not do you know anything about them, let me know the next time you are writing. The weather has being very good here all the winter with the exception of a few heavy storms, we had to close our shop one day the storm was so bad. Father's sister is staying with us since New Year's Day, she is not a bad class of a person, she only stayed at Tullig for about a fortnight and then came in here I believe she had a kick up with them out there as short as the time was I could not find out the right root of the thing as yet, her version of the story was it was there fault but anyway we are to have her here with us until the month of May she is going back again then her husband is to come over for her about a month before she leaves She is a person that would try and boss Annie and I, if she thought it would succeed with her. I think that George will be going back to that country with her she is trying to take him anyway and he is anxious to go she says that he would get on there well with his trade and get plenty of work at it up there where she is more especially when her husband is a builder she said he could get him at work there putting this electric light as he's building them. what do you think of the idea. when she came here first she asked Annie or I to go with her back so she asked father about it and he was not for it at all and by what we can make out about her talk that the boss is for making matches for us in this country she even suggested about Annie going into a farm of land, but when she told Annie that you may say Annie gave her a bit of her mind. Don't you think we'd look nice married to an old farmer to wind up our days with him. If George will be so lucky as to get away from this old country he's alright. I should like him to go away from this place as there is so many old bummers around this old town always thats its no place for him more especially when he comes in contact with them so often. You were asking me about the people out at Tullig they are all well out there presently old Patsy Dillane has got very feeble for the last few months you know he has no one in that house with him only his brother in-law there is no woman there only a neighboring woman that comes there during the day and does a few things for him the poor man is a pity in the later end of his days with no one to look after him. his daughter Bridge lives about three or four miles away from him but she has a lot of children of her own to look after. Do you ever see any of them over there let me know when you are writing next Do you see the Buckley girls or Threvor Chute at all I sent you a little parcel for the little chap at Xmas I hope you got it alright I must send you something more useful very soon for him I think I have about all for this time when I know if George is going or not I shall let you know I suppose you'd nearly go to New York to see him as its that way they would go back. in the meantime I hope I shall have a letter from you very soon again and Hoping ye are all well with best wishes to all I remain
Your loving sister
Mai.

November 29, 1915

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

Dear Frank,

A few lines hoping they will find you and family all well, I was going to write to you for the past month but I said then I'd wait until I'd write for Xmas you know I have to do my Xmas writing a bit early unaccount of the rush for Xmas in the shop I don't have a minute to spare sometimes and we are so shorthanded, all the same I would not care to have any more bar-tenders with us because you have to be there yourself with them so its just as good to do what you have to do yourself any way those apprentices are an awful bother coming in out of the country they are so stupid you couldn't learn some of them nothing. How are you doing ever since I do hope well, and how is the little chap getting on he must be getting to be quite strong by this let me know about him when you are writing I am looking out for something for him for Xmas, it will be only a little token this time as I needn't tell you what kind of times we have here in Ireland at the present time you would be surprised at the price of stuff. I intended making some things myself for him all the summer but time slipped by so quickly but after the rush of Xmas I won't forget I have a nephew across the waters. Father's sister Mrs Morris is coming home in fact she could be landed in Dublin this week, she never wrote and told us she was coming but I had a letter from her husband saying she was sailing and that she would be in Liverpool on the 21st inst. but we have not heard from her as yet perhaps she got nervous and turned back again you know she made an attempt to come home before like that and when she came as far as New York she got afraid and would not venture at that time Adam went to Queenstown to meet her and was there two or three days waiting for her, it may be the same this time. I'd like if she came all the same she might steal me back with her. I would love to go across but there's no good in having those notions in my head as father could not do without me here at home. I got those papers and two books of music all right the music was very nice. I was at a Ball last Sunday night and had a lovely time and by mere luck the boss let me go he is very severe as far as pleasure is concerned he never lets us go anywhere like that but I insisted on going to this one. Have you got any Photo's of the little chap taken yet why don't you get one and send it over long ago you promised me one and you never send it since. George is doing splendid at his business he has only ten months more and then his time will be up, by the way he got three letters from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland asking him to join the ranks all the boys of military age got them for the past month, it is to be feared that they will have to press for men in the finish. I am just after getting a letter from Mrs Morris from Dublin saying she will be in Kerry tomorrow so she arrived after all. I shall write you a few lines again when I see her and tell you about her, I hope she'll have lots of money. I hope you'll send me a good long letter the next time and I'm patiently waiting still for the letter from your wife Ido hope she'll write to me for Xmas. if it were only a few lines I would be delighted to get them. I have nothing more to say this time but I shall write a few lines again to you in the course of a week or ten days. I shall be also sending you something for the baby hope you'll get it all right. I will now say Goodbye for this time hoping this will find you all well and Wishing you all A Very Happy Xmas and a Bright New Year I remain
Your Loving Sister
Mai.