my Poor darling Father in Eternity since the 15th of june, I would have acquainted you before this But I have not recovered it yet, ah it was a dreadful trial and no one but myself to hear it all[.] he was breaking down the last two or three years very much, and in April last he had a very severe attack of something like cholera[.] I had to call in the aid of a doctor. it gave him a great shaking and he lay for a week after it, in May he took a Second attack of it, and lay for as long more and after that he appeared to Chier up and I thought was in Better Spirits than usual, for the Fleece wooll had come in and a man that used to give him a few weeks work every season sent for him, he worked for a full week in June, the first for twelve months, {page 2} he would require to have his breakfast eaten and be at his work before seven oclock in the morning and he wouldent quit nor Eat anything until the Same hour in the Evening, and I think that his Constitution wasent strong Enough the Second week he worked two days[.] he came home on Tuesday Evening apperantly in as good health and spirits as ever and went to Bed at his usual hour, he took a third attack of that complaint during the night and he got out of Bed and ran down to the yard without disturbing anyone. (And through all the yards in Watling Street if you remember a stream of water ran is through.) and as I suppose when he reached the yard his stomach has got sick, when he has leant over the shore to relieve it, when he has got week and fell in, I dident miss him till morning, when I got up to prepare his Breakfast, you may imagine the shock I received when the men in the next yard found him when they came to thier work in the morning, and then he couldent be disturbed until an inquest was {page 3} held on him, and I had to attend that too, and as if that wasent affliction Enough I had Ellin to torment me[.] I often wonder how I kept my reason[.] I Burried my Father respectably along with my poor Mother, I am living at 21 Watling Street and has Jamess three Children, and my heart is nearly Brake with them, I can get no Employment and they prevent me going to service, they are as bad as ever thier Mother was, as soon as ever I can I will go out to America, I have tie here now, even poor Henry has sailed for Australia on the 3d of August, so you see how utterly desolate I am. Bob has promised that if he gets good work this winter he will try and get me out in the spring. and if its a thing that I do go Bessy Cunningham has promised to come with me[.] She is in good health and sends her love to you, I hope this will find you and all the Family in good health give my love to them all and to willy I suppose he has forgotten there is such a person in Existance, tell him that I hear Regularly from a cousin of his in the Cape of Good Hope, {page 4} Johnny Whitton[.] we corospond regularly and he has escaped all the war, I trust you will write by return of post for god knows knows I want a few words of consolation, so hoping this will find you all better and happier than I am.

I remain your ever Affectionate Sister

{signed} Kate Armstrong

havent I improved well in my writing,

You will no doubt be surprised at receiving this from me, after so long a silence, indeed. I am almost ashamed to write now, But I am sure that if you knew all you would excuse me, the fact is that I had nothing but troubles to communicate, and I thought it best to keep them to myself, for I knew that you couldent sympathize with me, as you have never been subjected to the same trials yourself.

You may see by this that I am still in Dublin {page 2} tho I have long since given up Housekeeping and turned my hand to Service again. I have lived for two years in the County Wicklow. But I am back in Dublin again now, in fact. Knocking about from one place to another trying to live.-

I cannot tell anything of the Boys. I have never received a letter but one, these three years and a half the last word I heard from them was written in Albany 18 months ago. it left them well in good health, but generally knocked about in {page 3} consequence of a sect or Faction, which has sprung up in America called Knownothings,- and I am Greatly afraid they had to leave and the Country and go to Australia,- but the Lord only knows what has become of them, and as for Henry, I have never received a single line from him since he sailed for Australia, Four years ago, But the Lords be done.

James's Family are all here and in pretty Good Health, Willy has four years of his apprenticeship served now, he is a sensible Good Boy, and promises to be a wiser man that his Father. Maggie is at service like myself, and Katie with her mother-

My dear sister, I hope that this will find you and Willie and the Family in Good Health, if you are not too angry with me I trust you will write soon and let me know how you all are, with kindest love to you all.

I remain your ever affectionate sister

Kate Armstrong

direct, to the care of Mrs. Ennis, 21 Watling Street

or 27 Molesworth St Dublin

Your kind and welcome letter of February came safe to hand, and my Chief Reason for not answering was the hope I was cherishing of having some news to send you of the Wanderers, but I think that I May give up all hope now, for I feel sure that if they were on th e land of the living they would not neglect writing a few lines to let Me know how they were getting on. it is a Melancholly reflection but it is one I cant shake off, for the feel of loneliness and desalation that the thought brings with it, is very hard to bear up against, but I must only try and be patient. My path in life has certainly proved both rough and thorny, But Gods will be done

I fear I Must give up the writing of this to Night for my sppirits are to low and its not fair to send you a dull letter after keeping you so long waiting

so good night for the present.

{page 2} june 30th

My dear sister

I have snatched another hour from the night to try and finish what I commenced more than a fortnight since, for its only at night and that late. I can do anything of the kind.

I am still living in the same place, and I enjoy very good Health Thanks be to God, but the work is very severe. I would not remain in it so long, but for the dread I have of being any length of time out of Employment, and from old experience I have a horror of that, -

I am delighted to learn that you are all in such Good Health. May the Lord continue his Blessings to you. Give My love to Willy and Children.. and believe me that I feel both Grateful and Thankful to them all for thier Good wishes in regard to me, though its not probable that them wishes will ever be accomplished. I also send my love to my {page 3} Uncle Aunt and Cousin. I hope they are in good health.

You wish to know does Jane Arnott Corrospond with me. She is now Nine Years since she left Ireland and I have never received one line from her since she left. when the Boys were in Orleans they wrote me word that She was Married to a Spanis {Spaniard?} but since they left that part of the Country I have lost all clue to her whereabouts the Girls name that accompanied her was Kate Mathers

Ellen and the children are in good health and getting along as well as they can. Willy is minding his Grade well and is likely to do very well at it, he will have five years served next September.

I am getting very sleepy {page 4} so I will conclude in hope this find you all in the enjoyment of every Blessing.

I remain your ever affectionate Sister

Kate Armstrong

P.S. dont be compareing{?} to me for delaying my letter but write at once for if you dont I will conclude that you are angry with me and remember that would be a sin.

Good Bye. K

it is now almost eight months since I wrote to you an answer to a letter I received last Febr, and not having received any answer I concluded that either you did not receive my letter, or else something must be the matter with you or some member of the family However I trust such is not the case and that this will {page 2} find you all in great Health. I am well thanks God, but some time since I took a pain in my shoulder which went through my whole arm, and left me very little use of my hand. I was obliged to give up my situation at the time but it is getting better now, and I hope soon to be able to look out for another service. I trust when I do get one, that it will not be so severe is the last, I have no news to send you, indeed {page 3} my letters have very little interest in them, it is scarcely worth any ones trouble to answer them. hoping this will find you all well.

I remain your Affectionate Sister,

C. Armstrong

if you write, direct to

21 Watling Street, Dublin

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