Wednesday, June 6, 2012

August 27, 1907

From: George F. Gleasure, Square, Listowel, Co Kerry
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton, Mass U.S.A.

My Dear Joseph

I am writing you these few lines to let you know that we are all well at present. The weather is very fine for the last week, but it got a bit dark to day threatening for rain. Our school opened yesterday. I was outside at James Connors for the last three weeks, they have all the hay saved. I had fine times outside there. May could not go any place this year as there is no one in the shop only Father. There was a Feis in Listowel last Sunday week but it was not worth a fig. Rich Parkinson is out on pension and Tom will be coming out on Christmas. I am getting along with the fiddle very well now, the little one father made is a failure now, but he is going to buy a new one for me. We have got a little greyhound now, we got him from Tom Carroll in Lixnaw he is eleven weeks old everybody says he will be a good one. The races are fast approaching now, they are only six weeks and I wonder could you send me a pair of feild glasses in time for them as I would like a pair to be looking at the horses through them. Father is settling the upper rooms now as we are going to sleep in them and have the small room for the kitchen. As I have no more of interest to write about

I remain
Your Loving Brother
George F. Gleasure

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

August 27, 1907

From: Annie Gleasure, Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ire.
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

My Dear Joe--

I think I must write to you today for if I let it go any longer it's unknown when you would get a letter. We are all well here and getting on the same as usual. We have bid goodbye to our summer here, if summer it could be called; the weather now is fine but rather frosty and chilly.

We spent a most enjoyable day in the country at Carrolls last Sunday and we went down to Finuge river in the evening and got some old chap (I don't know who he was) to buy us some apples. The orchard is quite close to the river. Awfully nice jolly place out there. Henry Carroll surprised them all by coming home about a month ago and he never sent them notice that he was coming. The reason he came was that he was in hospital for three months before he came over with a bad cold, so he thought that his native air would do him go and so he came. He was frightfully thing, just like a skeleton but he is getting over it now.

The old folks from Tullig were in only once since you went: they are quite well over there: the old man says it's his last time coming but he always says that. I expect he will be in for the races which will be in six weeks time from today just.

Tom and Pat Dillon were home for the last month; Ned couldn't come on account of that stricke in Belfast, I suppose you saw something about it in the papers we sent you. Paul will be going away soon again; he is just the same as when you were here. By the way I meant to tell you about a fearful fight in my last letter but I forgot about it when I was writing. It happened in this way; on the first of June Denis Kelly was here with a Miss Lyons and he wanted May to play on the organ for them and she wouldn't, so we both hid up in the loft and there were stayed until after seven oclock and we wouldn't by any chance come down. Well any way we were wishing they would go away for it was on a saturday and we were very busy and they went out in the shop about half past seven and then the fight occured.

Old Denny Keane Dan Moloney Paddy and Paddy Keefe were in the shop: Kelly called for a drink before starting for home and with out any warning went over and gave Denny Keane a chuck under the chin, (they were arguing before this) any way they all made at Kelly and such a row you never saw. Kelly had some Finuge fellows in for a drink with him and when they see him getting the worst of it they ran off and left him fight it out himself. The pater and Mrs. Kelly separated them after a bit; and such a state as he was in. His head was nearly cut open and his face was all cut he was covered with blood. It was found out afterwards that a weight and a knife were used. Dr Lane was sent for and he said he wouldn't have anything to do with it so Dr Clansy came over and dressed the wounds and he had to come over again after ten oclock to dress them. He was so weak they thought he would die and they sent for the priest.  Well they brought him into the kitchen at nine oclock and the police were pottering about and then he was taken to the hospital, he was hardly able to stand. He was in hospital for a fortnight raving with fever. The case went to court then but was adjurned three times and has to go before the barrister in November. It wasn't put in the papers at all so we couldn't see how they got on. The Moloneys etc. were let out on bail.

We got your papers letters and post card allright. I suppose you must have your teeth in by now. We spoke to the pater about ours and of course it was no use. Tom Buckley came back again three or four weeks ago. He says he earned a lot of money playing the violin in some concert or other and that he didn't care to stay longer. Jack and Jerry Larkin went over last week to New York. You must have had a gay time during Old Home Week. What work is Myra Smith at? Have you been out to South Natick lately? When you do tell us all about the folks out there, and if the school, hotel etc. are the same.

May didn't enjoy the holidays a bit she had to stick to the shop while the pater was doing up the top rooms. We're to move the beds up there shortly. Oh indeed she is sick of it now.

Tim O'hearn was asking for you on the day of the sports, he didn't know you were gone over.

My notepaper is about filled up so I must close now, I am writing this at 10.30 P.M. so you must excuse the scribbling. I am going to write to Frank in the morning. I remain very affectionately yours, Annie

Monday, June 4, 2012

[July 1907]

From: JOFarrell
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick St., Brighton, Mass U.S.A.

Dear Joe:

Thanks for your kind wishes which I can hardly realize. Putting down horrid vac. Weather wet enough to put a flood in Hades. Passed exam all right so did Frank. Listowel is gone to the dogs boys Don't despair of seeing me over there in about forty year's time. Hurrah for ould I.
Goodbye
JOFarrell


Sunday, June 3, 2012

August 8, 1907

From: May Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton, Mass

My Dear Frank,

I suppose you will be tired looking out for a letter by the time that this reaches you.  I was going to write before now but I was puting it off from day to day.  We have got our holidays now for the last three weeks they will be up in two weeks more.  George is out at James Connor's for the last 2 weeks I can't go out in the country this time as father is to busy.  Rich Parkinson came home last Thursday he has left the police force now and is getting his pension.  Pat and Tom Dillane is also at home they came last Saturday and Ned Dillane is coming home the middle of August.

Father got a letter last Sunday from his sister Mrs. Morris that is living over in Detroit she said that she is thinking of coming home this year she thought that the old man and woman out at Tullig were dead and buried long ago until she got a letter from them last month she said that she would like to come and see them.

Did you hear that Henry Carroll came home he got changed since he went to America he is very thin Tom Dillane said that he was near his death.  I suppose Joe will be surprised when he hear's that Tom Buckley came home again he arrived last Saturday night we did not see him yet.

We are sending some papers along with this letter, and hope you will get them all right, send us some papers soon I will close now as I have no more to say Hoping you will write soon

I remain
Your loving sister
May Gleasure

Saturday, June 2, 2012

June 30, 1907

From: George Gleasure Sr., Listowel
To: Joseph Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Dear Joe,

we are glad to hear you are all right now as you had arough time of it going over we are glad to hear that you are booth together and well as we are all well here at present we had the two letters you sent in due time and also had Franks and abook about aweek ago.  iexpect you find the work alittle har at first but when you become acostum to it you will not mind that the week you left here was storm all the time and the rest of the month was summer weather but since the first of June its nothing but rain and storm to the present time it is looking like settling just now.  we got along very well through the big fair Jane happened to bee in that day and volinteered to help but itell you she was glad when itold her that we could do the rest ikept her on the trot all the time she thought there would afine time inside the counter but ilearnt her how to keep limber idid not see her since there is afew changes in town since you left tim kirby is dead and burid and also old tom hayes the shoe maker died suddenly and afew others pawl Dillon arrived back from america this day week and adoughter of big neds from new york they are going back in september they say he is apriest now and great work about him but idont think much about the whole thing as when he gets back he will only be abegger for the church as ihave seen lots of it in my time this country is nothing but ahumbug for that busines idoes bee disgusted when ithink of america

we have got no apprentes in the shop as yet it is not verry easy to get the right person and you know that I would not be botherd with half of them we get along all rite but it is abit hard iwould not mind only for long hours

tom buckley cleard off to america at last he was talking of it along time he sold a cow in the fair and went off without they knowing it his wife was speaking to me about what he owed that she would pay after awhile but ithink iwill look for it verry soon it is amistake to have any truck with slopers at all ihave made up my mind that iwill get shut of them in future

David Miller was asking about you when he came around he told me be sure and mention him to you and also did Mr. Garrett and Mr. flyn.  iexpect you will take a day out to south natick this summer to see the folks there if you do inquire about the buril lot that we have there to see if the slabs that were put up are still in tact for fear they may loosen and fall down we had the bishop in Listowel this week May was confirmed and some more Mr. pattison was asking about you both the other day and is delited to hear that ye are well he was delited when itold him that Frank sent the picture of the church in alston.

as i have to close now hoping to reach you both well

George Gleasure
Listowel

To Joseph Gleasure
Brighton

Friday, June 1, 2012

[1907]

From: Annie Gleasure
To: Frank Gleasure, 28 Herrick Street, Brighton.

Greetings From Listowel
Oh love do you remember those days of long ago































Dear Frank,

I would have wrote to you today but I am after writing to Joe and I'm rather tired so I send you this which I hope you will like. Have you many cards in your album now? I haven't got an album for mine yet. I received your book last Sunday for which accept my heartiest thanks. It was just heavenly. Yours Affectionately,
Annie

June 30, 1907

From: Annie Gleasure, Listowel
To: Joseph Gleasure

My dear Joe --

You must have given up hope of ever receiving a letter from us in answer to yours which I got on the 11th. We were glad to hear that you landed safely, we thought you would have a rough voyage for the week you sailed was frightful stormy and rainy. You must be delighted to be out of this hole anyway; I know I would.

We are having very bad weather here this summer, rain mosly every day, no summer in fact. The May fair passed of very quietly. We did more business that day than at any of the former May fairs. There was an awful crowd in town though not so very much cattle. Jane was helping in the shop, so they had no bother. We haven't got any boy for the shop yet. I don't think the pater will get one now until after the school holidays are over. They haven't got their holidays yet.

There was a feis held at Lixnaw on the 16th and May, George and the pater went out to it; George was entered for the violin playing and when he got out he found there was to be no junior players. Jimmey went for it too and was beat out by Fitsgerald and he is rageing ever since.

They met Paul Dillon at the station just as they were coming home; he had a Mrs. O'Brien, one of Big Ned's daughters coming over with him. They are to go over again at the end of the summer. I wish I could go over soon, I think if I stay here much longer I'll go mad. There are any amount of Americans in town here. Hugh Cuthbertson sailed for New York on the 30th of May. We heard after that Tom Buckley went on the same day, it seems he stole away from home. There were quite a number of people asking where you were on the big fair day, they could hardly believe you had gone. Have you met many Listowel people over there yet?

There isn't anything new in this town, except sports, or something or other on today and the annual sports are to be held on the 21st of July next, also a bazaar on the 30th and 31st of July. Tom Kirby was buried on the 30th last month. Are you at the same work yet? You didn't mention what pay you were getting. Why wouldn't you get some foot powder for your feet, if they ache so; I'm sure you could get it at any druggist shop, you know you shake it inside your boots and stockings: it makes walking much easier.

Have you been to see the Dillons or out to South Natick yet?

I am sending a post card for Frank in this letter. I couldn't send it by post for the tinsel would get all rubbed off.

I can't think of any more to say now so I will close wishing you every success and remaining

Yours Sincerely,
Annie