January 5, 1908

From: George Gleasure, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick St, Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

My Dear Frank

that was frightful news you sent us this time but you only don your duty my poor joe can irealise that you are not to be seen any more on earth inever can forget when isaw that letter in the post mans hand friday night ibecame numb when isaw the american stamp when ilooked and saw your writing on the envelop it partly struck me who it was and was not mistaken the first glance told me but that was enough icould read no more for some time my Dear boy his boyish movements haunts my mind when he was alittle boy ibreak down when ithink of him and his look of affection towards me

ineed not mention to you the way they all were Annie was after getting out of asore throat at christmas if it happened when she had it she would have ahard time my poor joe when your presents arrived we never imagined you were dead and buried the day after st. sephens day we got them iunderstand that it was acouple of days before he died that he mailed those as isee by his letter that he send me and was in good spirits but it seems it was my poor boys last letter any one hardly knows it yet as icould hardly tell them jim connor was in yesterday and itold him so poor old james came in today to see me the poor man broke down with grief just as iff it was his own he said mrs Connor didnt sleep any last night over the occurance you know he was agreat favourite with them all out there and do be always always asking about yourselfe.

there was something up with myselfe since aweek before Christmas icould not sleep only thinking until near morning then iwould sleep but should get up ithought it was the worry of busines at Christmas but ihave found out now to my great sorrow so you see the spirit moves aperson some how My Dear Frank iam very glad to hear the way you carried out the whole thing in your hours of grieff as iknow it has been atrying thing for you to loose agood brother as well as for me too agood son and good he was as inever knew better my poor boy as regards the work he was doing iadvised him the last letter which you can see that the job was dangers and not fit for him and iam surprised that you let that boy into that class of work annyway iexpect you had to buy agrave in that cemetery it is two bad that he wasnt laid in the family lot baily is one of the trustees there and if you had seen him there is no doubt but he would settle that any time you want the deed iwill send it on my poor joe wrote to me back in the summer and said he visited his mothers grave and told me it was all right so you see it is aquere world it was little he thought of the last then let me know when you rite who was to blame over the occurance he may be wronged or some thing of the kind. ithink iwill close for thise time

ihope our blessed lord will grant him peace and rest that the world cannot give and protect us that are left so as to help one another

George Gleasure
Listowel Kerry
Ireland

to

Frank Gleasure
28 Herrick St
Brighton
Mass

April 22, 1907

From: Helen A. Reardon, South Natick, Mass
To: Frank Gleasure, 22 Herrick Street, Brighton, Mass

My dear Frank,

You can have little idea how pleased we were to get your letter. In many ways, it was a great pleasure. The last time I wrote to you I sent the letter to Allston and receiving no answer thought I would hunt up your uncle in Boston and none of us could remember his name.

Well, we are glad indeed that Joe is coming. I can hardly imagine how rejoiced you will be. One thing that pleased Miss Bailey and I so much was that you had not had many intimate friends. Some friends are priceless but as you are situated it is much better to keep by yourself rather than be too free. That very thing has been the downfall of many a young man. I think you will begin to really live when Joe comes. You have been a good brave boy to stick to it and make your way alone. The Express business is a good one and one where honesty and reliability are appreciated. I hear Mr. Bailey say how much in demand good square men are in those places.

When Joe comes as soon as he gets his "land legs" you must both come out. You will find old South Natick changed more than you can imagine. Your house has been bought by the Hunnewells and fixed up so you would never know it. Where the old mill was there is a park with a fine stone wall. The Unitarian Church has been made over beautifully. The Elliot House which has been a saloon for years  has been sold to the Hunnewells and they are going to tear it down and put the land into a park.

Mrs. Burr has gone abroad for the summer.

I must write to Annie. I hope they will all come on the next that comes. No doubt you and Joe will accomplish it. We shall be glad to welcome you both on his arrival. Mr. Bailey is not all well. Has been sick on and off a year.

Very sincerely your friend,
Helen A. Reardon

Miss B and Mis Smith send best wishes

January 18, 1905

From: Joseph Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 459 Cambridge Street, Allston, Massachusetts, USA

Dear Frank,

I am sorry I did not write before now but in thinking to write every day, the time has slipped away. I hope you are well as we all are too, and I suppose you have secured a good job by this time.

We had very pleasant weather all this winter till Christmas, but not we are getting very cold weather with heavy showers of hail. We got all the presents alright, but Georgie didn't get his lead soldiers at all that you said you sent him. The book you sent me was a very nice and interesting one, as well as the Bible stories which are very instructive to to May and George. Our school was opened again last week and I am going on very well there. I suppose a fellow would get a good job in an office in some big business place or other  with about four or five dollars a week for a start. I suppose a fellow would get a job like that easy, without much influence. Mr. Bailey, I think, would be able to get a fellow a nice job in an office like that, being acquainted with so many of those merchants in Boston.

Listowel has greatly changed for the last three or four years. All the fellows that were here in your time have all gone away. Peter Buckley seems to be the only one left now. Even the Carrolls near Kirby's and Jack Dooling are gone this week only. I only wish that I was going too. The country must be full of every class of foreigners after the cheap fares last year.

There don't seem to be enough of stamps on the letters you send, for there is five pence on nearly every letter that comes, and there was 1/3 sd on the Christmas cards you sent last Xmas.

I hope you won't forget to take your photograph soon and send it to us, for you know how much we would like to see you after four years absence. As I have not more to say at present, I will remain,

Your Loving Brother,
Joseph Gleasure

January 15th, 1900

From: Helen Reardon, South Natick, Mass
To: Frank Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, IReland

My dear Frank,

We have not by any means forgotten you even if it does seem so. And we wish very much to hear from you. I was wondering if you might not be thinking of South Africa, though I hope not. The last time I heard from you, nothing but a solider's life seemed to please you, but by this time, I hope you have thought of something different.

I will try and tell you the news that will interest you, but I scarcely know how to begin. Our family are all about the same. Mr. Bailey goes to Boston everyday. Fred is engaged to be married to a very nice girl in Natick, but he will not be married before next summer. Miss Smith is here and always sends her love to all of you, especially to Joe who was her favorite I guess.

George Faston (the son) went to the Phillipine Islands but came back again. His vravery would not hurt him I guess.

Howard Williams is very sick and is not expected to live. He is in the new hospital which has been built since you went away, about half way between here and Natick. Howard is a nice steady boy and every one feels bad. Oscar Hancock is very sick too but he is a miserable gambling drinking fellow and it would be better for him to die than not. His father an dmotehr are heartbroken, but nothing will turn him from his evil ways.

How much we would like to see you all. Florence Favour inquires for you when she writes. She is in Rochester, New York with her mother and brother. She graduated from Welleseley College last summer. She is a fine looking girl. There has been a new business block built between Bartlett's store and Mr. Hunting's. One of the Pfeiffer boys built it. He has a store and lives upstairs. Prices are coming up here, both provisions and dry goods. We are beginning to feel the revenue tax and I should think England would feel it too. I hear the people of Ireland sympathize with the Boors, but I think I should prefer to live in a British colony rather than with the Boors. I do not fancy them.

The Burrs are all well. You may remember that Mrs. Burr had a sister that married a Capt. Cuthbert and who lived in a fort in Canada. His family have come to live with the Burrs and he is on his way to South Africa. He has been promoted to Major. I should think his chances for coming back were very slim.

If there is any other news that you would like to know about, let us know and we would be glad to write. My mother had a shock last summer and she has not been well enough to do for herself since which makes it very hard for me.

I was thinking of you yesterday (Saturday) when I was sweeping and dusting and wondering if you remembered it.

How is Annie? I suppose she is a nice young lady now.

Tell us how you all are getting on, etc.

With love from us all

Your sincere friend,

Helen A. Reardon

August 23rd, 1897

From: Helen A. Reardon, South Natick, Mass.
To: Frank Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Ireland

My dear Frank,

I do not wonder that we think we have forgotten you. The summer is usually supposed to be the time when we have plenty of leisure, but the truth is that we have been more occupied than usual this year. We spent nearly two weeks under "The Queen": They eighth of July, Mrs. Hinckley and Miss Bailey and I went to Montreal and Quebec. We had a most delightful time, especially in the latter place. It has a real old world appearance with its walls and forts. We arrived there on the day that the delegation of soliders returned from the queen's jubilee. We received your stamps and are very thankful for them. We have been waiting to hunt up some for you. I found three unused Columbias which are valuable. I wish I could send another 4 cent for your friend, but haven't one. You can give him one of the one cent ones which will be worth considerable after years. Be sure to keep your stamps every one and do not be tempted to sell them. We will divide with you when we can. I suppose you know how to clean the paper from the back of the used ones. You take a cup of warm water and float the stamp on it right side up for a few minutes and the old paper will peel off. Don't let them become soiled for anything. The stamped envelopes should be cut square as I have cut them. Don't cut them round. Whenever we get any new ones, we will try to send you two as often as possible. Have you any Cuba stamps? If not, I will send some.

John Griffin left here in May and about the first of July he went into the real estate business in Boston. There has been a good many changes in help lately, especially in the stable. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey started today for Baltimore on a trip by steamer all the way. They will be gone a week. Mr. Waite is still in N. Hampshire but I think he will board here this winter. You do not say anything about Annie. Of course she is well. I wish she would write just a little letter in yours. I should be so delighted to hear from her. I know you will be too sensible to ever touch beer or liquors of any kind. You have a chance to see in Ireland as well as hear just what ruin it works. The only safe plan is never to touch the first drop. There is no half way course with that stuff. Sam Doyle has spent the last year in the Concord prison. They found him several times dead drunk across the R.R. track and the wonder was that he was not run over.

We sent the papers you spoke of but Miss Smith directed the rappers. I will send you a little magazine called Stamps which I find interesting. It is a new thing and I like it very much. Keep your stamps as nice as you can and when you come back here you can get a large new album and we will help you to place them. I am at South Natick for a few days. Shall go back to Westboro for a week or so and then come back for school. I wish you were all here to start in with us. Isn't there some plan by which you or Annie could live at your grandfather's and go to school? I suppose there they do not think so much of education as we do in America. I wish you could have stayed here. They say business is coming up here. There is a great excitement about the mines at Klondike in Alaska. Many people have gone there but I don't know how they will survive the cold when winter comes. There is no doubt that there is an immense quantity of gold there. All the Irish people here are going to take a trip home next year. The fares will be very low I think.

You must keep up good courage and improve the opportunities you do have and the time will fly after all.

Miss Nye has been in Maryland all summer but is home now. Mrs. Burr has been away too. They are quite busy there. George has been all over the world and about a month ago came home with a wife which did not please them over much. He is out of work so they are still here. Hoping to hear from you all soon.

I remain with love from Miss Bailey and myself,

Helen A. Reardon

March 7, 1897

From: Helen A. Reardon
To: Frank Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland

My dear Frank & Annie & all,

Your very welcome letter came in due time and we were all glad to hear from you.

We were much interested in the scraps from the newspapers. There is no such state of things as you hear. The times are about the same as they have been these three years. Now that the inauguration is off their hands there will be doubtless something done at Washington. There is much to bring up though in Congress at once. The Cuba question comes first. Then Alfred Hartwell is on hand at Washington now to push the Sandwich Island cable etc.

The Boston Globe sent thirty teachers and thirty pupils to Washington. They have just got home. The coupons have been published in the paper and thirty teachers from the New England states that got the most votes were sent all expenses paid and a substitute paid for the week. Each teacher could take the pupil who saved the most coupons for him. Mr. McGrath came second on the list and he took a boy in Natick by the name of Fred Fair with him. It was a great time for him. They saw all the Inauguration exercises and had a fine time.

There was a great wedding here last week. Frank Pfeiffer and Kate Neuschafer. They had beer and a lively time.

John Griffin is still at home. He does not seem to get anything to do. Mr. Bailey gets along without him very well. Fred goes down to the car morning and afternoon and does the booking.

Max Gruhn called here last Sunday night to show us his report card from the High School. It was a fine one. The teachers have told me they think him very bright. He earns his car fare and clothes in the shoe-shop and he has time to draw outside. He is going to learn to shade pictures and earn something this summer by that. He got a chance to put this shading into these large crayon portraits. I hope you keep up your drawing no matter what the paper is. Sketching outdoor landscapes is good practice. Then you cannot till but you could get a chance to learn engraving or lithographing. Don't for one minute give up the idea that you are going to school again: There is a report that Mr. Emerson is not to be here another year. Pratt Daniels has applied for the place. Pratt graduates from school this June. He has improved very much and will make quite smart fellow I think. Celia is going to school this fall at Bridgewater. Ned is in school. I do wish May could be in school here. It is wonderful how the children learn to read by the Pollard Method. Ned can read quite a little and only commenced in Sept.

We all had a good laugh over Joe's exploits. He often got into little scrapes here. We should all like to see you all.

They have a great place at the Whittemore farm. They have a race track all built and are boarding a great many valuable race-horses. They employ a blacksmith all the time. have a shop there.

I will send a Globe this week. For two or three weeks it has had nothing of interest in it.

Write to us as often as you can. I hope Annie will write too. Miss Bailey says she would send you some stamps if they would be of any use. Is there any chance for you to collect old stamps there? If so we might exchange some. Is the shamrock green now?

Mrs. Bailey and May and Fred, Miss Smith Miss Bailey join in sending love to you all and hope sometime to see you again.

Helen A. Reardon

July 13, 1898

From Helen Reardon: 114 West Main Street, Westboro, Mass.
To Frank Gleasure: The Square, Listowel, Ireland

My dear Frank,

I should not blame you at all if you got all out of patience with us for not sending your Phillipines stamps but they are on the way now. I did not think best to patronize the dealer that would send them for 10 cents. Though he may be alright, I am sure of these which I send. They are 35 cents and come from the Scott Stamp and Coin Co. of New York. There is an exposition in Omaha, Nebraska this summer, much like the World's Fair, though not as extensive. And they have stamps which I will use to send this and a package. Save every one as they double in value in a short time. We are now feeling the effects of the war. They commenced the first of July to use the revenue stamps. I will send you as many as I can get a hold of. Mr. Bailey has to stamp every check he gives in payment to help, etc. And for every package you send, you must put on a penny tax.

I suppose you were very much puffed up when you read the marvelous feats of our seamen. I read yesterday that the 9th Mass were at the front in the trenches before Santiago. Frank Schuman, Willie Godendorf, Charlie Schneider, Fred Cook, and several other South Natick boys are there in the 9th. There was a fearful loss in the 2nd Mass two weeks ago, but now they are going to put in more artillery. So perhaps the 9th will fare better as they advance. I imagine the Britishers looked a little sideways when they saw what we can do without a navy as they said at first before the war was on. I'm afraid the Cubans are a poor lot and scarcely worth saving, but foreign powers will better undestand us. And another thing, the north and south are all one now fighting for the same cause side by side.

Miss Bailey is well and would send love to you all if she knew I was writing. Tell us how all the children are. We do not forget one of you. This spring, we set one of the prettiest pink geraniums we could find on your mother's grave. I hope you are all good children like what she was so anxious to have you. How I would like to see you all.

I am very tired today and I have not written very well. I will send the stamps in a separate letter.

With love to all the children, I am your friend

Helen A. Reardon
Westboro, Mass
114 West Main St.

January 25, 1897

From: MM Hartwell, South Natick
To: Frank Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Dear Frank,

I thank you very much for the very nice letter you wrote on your arrival at your Grandfathers. It was very nice in you to write and it should have been acknowledged long ago. It was such a nice account of your voyage. I enjoyed it very much. And now I want to hear again from you what you are doing, how living, and about the place you are in, anything you may think of to write will interest me. Have you been to school? I wish you might have stayed here and gone on with your studies, and graduated. Your mother was so anxious to have you. Miss Bailey knows more than I do about the schools and writes you about them perhaps. I know Mr. Emerson has a new assistant. Elijah Perry who was your nearest neighbor when he died last week suddenly of heart disease, which leaves Mr[s?] Ross alone. I missed you very much this summer and fall as I had no boy to call upon to do little things for me. Tell Jaire [Joe?] I missed him too. We have had no snow as yet this winter and it is getting late for it. I think Mr. Bailey would like to see some [?] for parties. How is Annie? Give my love to her. I shall hope to hear from you soon with kind wishes for you all from the friend of your mother,

M.M. Hartwell

Feb 2nd

You will see by the date of this letter that I have delayed sending it but I have been wanting to get your address of Miss Bailey and this morning called at the school house for it. We had quite a big snow storm last week. Before that it had been fine skating on the river. Do they ever have any snow where you are? Or ice. Does your grandfather have a large farm and do you live with them. I will send you some papers soon. You may like to see them. Do you have much to read.
MMH