| Letters |
 Note: The earliest letters are between Margaret Stevenson Burns and John Burns. Frances noted at the top of her index (1967 when she despatched the copies): "December 1864 John Burns turns up in Glasgow following service in the Civil War (1861-65) just about at the end of the war. He fought in the Northern (Federal) Army and records which came while we were on vacation indicate that he was wounded twice and then may have deserted from a hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. A mystery still unsolved to me is why letters during the Civil War [not included - EMS] came to Margaret Robertson Stevenson Burns addressed Dear Wife and signed John Chambers. During our war between the states, rich people paid money to poor people to serve for them. This may have some bearing on the two names."
[In EMS asides RRS refers to Robert Rowland Stevenson.]
John Burns to Margaret Burns.
Glasgow
December 12, 1864.
Dear Wife,
I write to you to let you know that I am in health. I called on Mr. Clark. He has been out of work for the last 13 weeks. Work in Paisley is very dull at present. I also called on Mrs. Gray. She was glad to see me. She has the place at Craigielea.
Dear Wife, I think I can get work in Glasgow. I could get work in Paisley for two or three weeks if I had my tools so I want you to send the tools with the carpenter of the ship I came in. Go to Mr. Gale and see if he will help you with them. Send all you can. Have them well packed. Give Mr. Gale my respects, also Mr. MacRoberts. Your sisters send their kind love to you. No more at present. Hoping this will find you and the children all well as it leaves me, in good health,
Your affectionate husband,
John Burns.
I got a paper two days after I landed here. Write to the same address.
"Mr. Clark" was Margaret's brother-in-law, husband of her sister Jane (Jeanie). "Mrs.Gray"was Janet, her eldest sister (1812-1870) of West Craigielea, Paisley, where RRS lived for a while after his father died. He could not get on with the family but Katie (Catherine) the eldest Gray daughter, later Mrs. Risk, nursed him through a bad illness.
New York
February 21,1865
Dear Husband,
I received your letter and was sorry to hear that you had not got into work. I hope you will get work soon. I will send you a pound. I will send this letter and money with James Montgomney (Montgomery) he will give it to Alex Millar who will give it to you. We are all well. Nobody from the Army called on me since you left. I called on Mr. Gale. He is working in Irvington up the Hudson River, he gets 20 shillings a day (ie $5). I have the saw and some of the planes and the axe that you missed out (from your toolbox).
I would like to know what inducement my brother had to go to Astralaia (Australia). I would like you to let me know if. He did not write since we left. Do you think I should come home or are you coming back. I would like to know in your next letter. There was to be a draft in New York on the fifteenth of February. The city is giving $700 for volunteers and 1000 dollars for substitutes. They expect to get the quota filled up but they must hurry up. They are getting plenty of men, eight hundred a week. They are drafting in Brooklyn now and Jersey today. I send my kind love to my sisters. No more at present. but remain your affectionate wife -
Margaret Burns.
Write with return of post.
Paisley
March 1865
Dear Wife,
I received your kind letter and five dollars and was glad to hear that you and the children were all well. I got work in Paisley with Mr. Morrison the same man that was in Orchard Street when you were home and am getting 21 shillings a week. Last Saturday was the pay and it was the first money I received in Scotland and hope it will not be the last. I called on Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Your sisters are all well but your sister Mrs.Millar is in trouble. Her (husband) has shut up his place about ten days ago and has not been heard of since. Bad company and bad women was the cause of all the trouble. He has not been doing well since your brother left Paisley. The cause of your brother going away was on account of his second wife. Mr. Clark said it would take six letters to tell you all about it. He has two of his children and Mrs. Gray has the other two.
Your sisters think it would be the best way for you to come home and I think so myself. If I was to go back it would be the same as before. I have plenty of work at present and have the promise of more wages. Your sister Mary (Mrs. Millar) speaks of going into business with you if you come home and I think it will be the best way. Write by the return of post and let me know what you will do. Alexander Millar has not found any work yet. I have no more at present and remain your affectionate husband, John Burns.
Your sisters think that if you do not come home soon you might lose your husband as there is a good many good-looking females in want of a good-looking man like myself.
Part of a letter and it is hard to know where it fits in, from John to Margaret.
Your sister, Mrs. Millar, wants you here and will help you all she can. I am in a house in Bridge Street, taiken if just a whiske with Mary and Mrs. .......(indecipherable). Dear Wife, your sister Mrs. Millar has the ring your mother wore and will have great pleasure in having put it on your finger.
It was Mary Millar who was the one aunt who was kind to RRS when his father died when he was 12 and he was on his own. She provided much needed clothing, both working and Sunday clothes. Burns, earlier optimism was ill founded as he wrote in May:
Paisley
May 11, 1865
Dear Wife
I received your letter and was glad to hear that you and the children was all well which found me in poor spirits as I have been out of work for some time. In fact all the work I have had has only been six weeks. I do not know what to do. My mother took a shock of palsey, I thought she would have died. My father is out of work at present. I am very sorry I have come to Scotland. I want you to send or pay my passage home to New York for I cannot see any home here. I would be much better at the war than here but I think the war is over and so I hope in your next letter you will have my passage paid. Write by return of post. Dear wife, I was in Mr. Clark's last night. All your sisters were there. Your brother William has come home. They will write to you and give you all the news. There is no word of Mr. Millar. Alexander Millar has found no work.............
New York,
May 31 1865
Dear Husband,
I received your letter and was in sorrow to hear that your Mother was sick, I hope this will find her better and you in better spirits. I have taken out your passage in the Bratania steerage ship the same one as you went home in. Tell my sister to send me a half a dozen of cups and sasers (saucers) and some thread for they are very dear here. I was very glad to hear that my brother had come home. Be sure and let me know when Robert comes. It has taken all the money I had to bring you back. I had to sell some of my things. I sold two bedsteads. I have not earned five cents since you went away and everything is so dear it's taking the money I had. I had to leave 30th. Street and move. I now live at 643 42nd. near Mrs. Hack's ferry. When you land you can go there if I don't be down. I am not settled in a place yet. Mr. Gale is working in New York, he has three and a half dollars a day and has plenty of work. Be sure and let my sister know when you leave. We are all well.
No more at present but remain your wife,
Margaret Burns.
If you come with the Brataina ask for Harry Dicky, he is a hand on the boat. I am giving him this letter to bring, he is a very nice fellow. Try if possible in the Brataina.
Margaret was no longer "your affectionate wife", understandably, and in the midst of her troubles she had a thought for son Robert whose whereabouts she would not have known at that time, or that he had reached Australia. There was no ship "Brataina" in Lloyd's register, but there was a "Britannia" plying to America in the 1860s. No other letters survive yet Burns appears to have been still in Scotland April 1866 by brother William's letter. William must have found his second wife as incompatible as when he left her the first time as he was in America too, by November 1865, and writing to Margaret Burns.
Eastport,
Maine
11 Nov 1865
Dear Sister,
I write a few lines to inform you that I am quite well and hope this will find you all the same. I remained in HARTFORD nearly nine days and could not make much of it, only 2 dollars when my hands failed me. I tried to get work lighter but failed, and at last joined the 3 L Company of Artillery and was sent to Boston and from thence to Fort Warren for 10 days and left it on Wednesday at 4 p.m., reached this fort on Friday morning and find it a very cold place but I hope I will like it well.
I could not make up my mind to go to you as I thought you had enough to do to make things meet, and I trust you will excuse this step. I wish you would have my razor set up and forward it in a newspaper, it will not be noticed. You might purchase a pair of spectacles and send them also in a paper. Ones that will suit you will suit me. It will be two months before I get any pay but I will bank it or send it to you to bank for me. I think you need not mind the specs. as I will do without them till I get a pay. I wrote you but received no answer. Now I trust you will lose no time but write by return of post. Be sure and let no one know of this step at home (i.e. Scotland) not even Burns, not even BURNS. I trust that the children are quite well and at school. Give my kind respects to Mr. and Mrs. McRoberts. No more at present, but remain,Yours truly,
WILLIAM ROBERTSON
This method of buying glasses which now seems hilarious was quite common up to this century when prescription glasses became usual. Old newspapers advertised spectacles for six pence a pair. They had mild magnification. William's secrecy over his address must have been to escape the attention of his troublesome second wife. "Home" was in variably Scotland to these emigrants. William wrote again:
East Port
26th. January 1866
Dear Sister,
I am favoured with yours, and was glad to learn that you were all in good health, as this leaves me in the best of health. We have had very severe frost in this place and a good many have been frost bitten but I am glad to say I came out (alright). You can send MY razor by the mail if it does not cost more than 50 or 60 cents, as I cannot get one less than $1.50 here. I was glad to receive the newspaper and trust you will send me one at least every second week, and we will be able to settle all when we meet as I will send you money very soon. I am your,
WILLIAM ROBERTSON.
Fort Sullivan, East Port
5th. Apri1 1866
Dear Sister,
I duly received your two letters and was glad to learn that you were all in good health as I am all right. The reason I did not write you was because we have never been paid as yet but are expecting it every day. This Boat only commenced to run about eight days ago and I could not make up my mind to write you till I was able to send some cash and as soon as I am paid I will without delay send it to you at once.
I have received no letter from SCOTLAND as yet and I am not well pleased at JOHN not writing to me but I think he has not been able to make out my proper address. I will write him as soon as I am paid and inform him what I have done. I am only sorry I had it not in my power or he would have been with you before this time but better late than never. I am well liked here both by officers and men and have been head cook for nearly six weeks with three to assist me and am quite at home. Give my kind respects to Mr. and Mrs. McRoberts and tell him to send me a paper now and then. Kind love to you and the boys and rest assured that I am anxious to write you as I am weary to hear from you and from the children (i.e. his own four in Scotland) at home. I am, ever your affectionate brother
WILLIAM ROBERTSON.
Fort Sullivan, East Port
19th. February 1867
Dear Sister,
I am duly favoured with yours, and was much surprised to learn that Burns had used you so but I have been none mistaken in my man, as he has turned up what I thought he was. At the same time I am very sorry for you and family. You must bear up bravely with your lot, and I trust that the enclosed letter which I have sent you to send to him will do some good. I am able to walk a little but am afraid it will stand hard with me to make out my time but I will hope for the best. You must be sure and write soon and let me know how you are as I am anxious about you, and will weary to hear from you. I am, Dear Sister, Yours
WILLIAM ROBERTSON.
William must have signed up for a term with the Army as he was afraid he would not be able to see out his time. There are no other letters to say when or if he received his much overdue pay, or what ailed him. He died later that same year, but in what circumstances it is not known. The 1868 letter Margaret received from her sister Jane CLARK of Paisley was quoted on Page 6 of this record [EMS original page numbering] and in it Jane referred to the death of John Burns (1868) and to that of brother William (1867). She wrote too, of Robert in South Australia going to "the Northern Territories of New Zealand" which was somewhat astray as to location, and that Malcolm had been cruising about the Spanish coast - but not in the luxury that appeared, but as a hardworking seaman - and Margaret's New York address had been given to Malcolm, but for some devious reason she failed to give it to Robert as we have already seen. Her next letter seems to fit in with 1870 but has no year date.
64 Canal Street,
Paisley
March 9th.
Dear Sister,
Your very welcome letter came to hand on the 26th. February, but we have just got time to reply. We are most happy to read of your being in good health and have pleasure to inform you that we enjoy the same Blessing. We are sorry to read of your being so lonely in America and we are at a loss to know what to say to you about coming home as the trade here in general is very dull, in fact is so dull that weavers is scarcely able to get themselves more than meat.
There is only one carpet factory in Paisley and the wages there I believe are very small, so you see from that, that we can scarcely know what to say to you about the subject of coming home, that being the only place your boy could obtain work. We would all very much like to see you and your family but as far as work is concerned for your boys when they do come, and taking the dullness of trade into consideration, we are really at a loss to know what to say.
In reference to your enquiry about Malcolm, it is about two years since we had word from him, and then he said he purposed going to America but whether he has gone or not we cannot tell. And about Robert, we have not heard from him for about 3 years. The last letter we had he took farewell with us for about 3 years as he was going far up the country on an exploring expedition, but now as it is close on the end of the time we expect a letter soon and if it comes we will let you know what it contains and give you all the particulars in it.
We have to thank you for your kind promise of a rocking chair, and if we knew any person that was coming home we would be only too glad to ask them to call for it, but if you hear of any person coming to Paisley or the neighbourhood send it, and let us know and we will gladly call for it......
From nephew James Clark junior, to Margaret Burns.
64 Canal Street,
Paisley,
21st. June 1870
Dear Aunt,
Your very welcome letter came duly to hand and with interest we note its contents. We would have written to you sooner but we delayed till the Australian mail for June had come in to see if there were any letters from either Malcolm or Robert, but alas we were doomed to disappointment as no letters have come by it.
We cannot as yet give you any advice whether to come to Scotland or not, but as you say New York is a very wicked place I think the sooner you are out of it for the sake of your children the better. You make suggestion about coming to Glasgow and to keep boarders there. The only information I can give you relative to rate per week that is charged is about 2/6 (25 cents) a week for a gentleman, but it depends a great deal on the style that is kept up, but we leave it now in your hands whether to come or not.
While I write my Aunt Janet Gray reminds me that it will be a full year yet before we can expect a letter from Robert. You say if you knew any person coming to this neighbourhood you would send us the rocking chair you spoke of but we would far rather see you coming yourself and bringing the chair with you, however it is for you to judge.
I may inform you that your brother William's daughter is stopping with us just now. We have received all the papers you sent. Mother and Father & Friends send their kind love and hope to see you soon. Give my cousins my best love,
I am your affectionate nephew,
James Clark, jnr.
Write SOON.
The 1871 letter to "Dear, Dear Aunt" from James Clark was partly given on pages 12 and 13 [EMS original page numbering] and in it was further talk of Margaret returning to Scotland, that at last there was news of Robert who had "built himself a neat little cottage in Austrailla" and was still a bachelor, and bluntly the death of Malcolm on 13 Dec 1870 in the "noble discharge of his duties" as well as the death of Margaret's sister Janet Gray on 22 Nov 1370 and that her son Alex. wrote to RRS about it. This he did not receive, and the letter continued:
.......You asked after Uncle William's family. John and Jessie are both married and are getting on very nicely, while the youngest, Willie, is still with Uncle William Gray and Alex. and Maggie and Annie all send their kind love to you all and hope that you may be spared to come home if you think fit. Uncle William Gray is not very well, indeed he is now turning old and infirm, but we hope he may be spared long in our midst. Aunt Mary (Millar) and family are all quite well. Mother and Father send their kind love. No more at present but remain, my dear aunt, your affectionate Cousin (should be nephew!)
Jas.Clark.
Do not forget to write me back early. I got your paper - be sure and write
64 Canal Street,
Paisley
14th. May 1873.
My dear, dear Sister,
Your Very welcome letter came to hand on the 6th. inst with your son David's card (photograph) enclosed for which we are very thankful. You ask us if we have got any letter from Robert since we wrote you last but we have not, the last letter that came to Paisley was to Uncle Gray and there was not any particulars in it, but I heard from a Mrs. Morrison here that he had left Adelaide and gone to Sydney for his health.
We are still happy to see that you intend coming home about July or August but are a little surprised to learn that your son John does not want to come home with you but we hope by the time you are ready to come away he will have changed his mind and come home to Scotland and see the native land of his mother. You will that after 20 years absence from Paisley that it has undergone many changes, that with its new Public Park and new Free Library and Museum you will be forced to say "all old things are passed away and all things are new". You ask about the trade of Paisley, trade generally is very good in the mean time in all branches.
You ask us who we think your son David resembles, I think myself he looks like Malcolm and my husband says he is a Robertson out and out, we would have been exceedingly pleased had you sent your own card along with it. Aunt Mary and her family are all well and Aunt Mary is in our house every Saturday.You ask us to send you a copy of the last letter we got from Robert but it is nearly two years since we got a letter and we sent you the particulars at the time and not having Uncle Gray's last letter in our possession we can't send you a copy of it.
About Malcolm's two children, one of them died at the time Malcolm was in America and the other we suppose is still with its grandmother. I think I have now given you all the particulars you want.
Be sure when you write to tell us the exact date that you will leave New York so that some of us may come to Glasgow and meet you and also the name of the ship you come with. Cousin Alex. Gray has asked me to ask you how much it would take to bring a rocking chair home with you if you can bring one he will pay you when you come or if you write and tell us the cost we will send you the money. I will now close this letter by sending you and your family the kind love of Cousins Margt. and Annie and Alex. Gray, from Aunt Mary and all enquiring friends. My son James sends his kind respects to his cousins and will be happy to welcome you all when you come. My husband also joins me in sending our kindest love to you and allow me to remain, your affectionate sister,
Mrs. James Clark
Don't forget to write by return of post. I sent you a paper about 3 weeks ago.
The Mrs.Morrison of the above communication was Isabella, wife of James Morrison, threadmill foreman of Bridge Street, Paisley who died 18 Jun 1870. His brother Daniel Morrison married 29 Oct 1841 Christina Stevenson who, was a sister of Captain Walter Stevenson, and the aunt whom RRS went looking for in 1872 at Linton, Victoria and so met Maria Nicholls. The Daniel Morrisons had emigrated to Victoria 1852. The next letter from nephew James Clark was one he wrote almost 12 months after receipt of hers.
64 Canal Street
Paisley
18th. December 1873
My dear Aunt,
Your very welcome letter arrived here just before the New Year and as I was enjoying myself during the holidays I have just got time to reply. I was very sorry to hear from you that times were so bad in New York but they have also been bad here. Coals have been selling as dear as 40/- per ton and all other provisions are at an equally high price. My dear Aunt, I thought when I wrote you the last letter that I would have to write no more as we all expected to have seen you before this but I suppose we must wait patiently and be ready to receive you when you come.
You tell us that you wrote to Robert about 9 months ago and where you wrote as you got no answer back. We have got no letter from Robert either since we wrote you last and the only address we know is the one we sent you. We asked Mrs. Morrison if she knew any address but she has no correspondence with Austraillia since her husband died. We are all very happy to hear that your family are all working and getting along nicely, long may they enjoy good health to work is the earnest prayer of their affectionate cousin.
My dear aunt, I don't know how to thank you for your promise of a gold dollar to hang on my watch but perhaps I should not thank you until I get it as you might disappoint me, but I will wait and watch patiently for your next letter and if you do send me one there will not be a prouder young man in Paisley, for as often as I look at it, it will always remind me that even across the deep blue sea there is one who has a respect and love for her nephew James Clark. My aunt Mary and family are quite well and all working away the best way they can and Aunt Mary bids me tell you that she will write you when she can get an opportunity to do so. Tell my cousins that I received the paper they sent and I love to read them.
We would have written sooner but Aunt Janet's daughter (Mrs. Risk) was very bad and mother had to go down to see her often. I will now conclude this letter with the compliments of all our friends also Father and Mother send their kind love to you and hope to hear from you soon again.
I now beg to remain your affectionate nephew,
James Clark.
The 1872-3 period when Robert did not write to Scotland or answer his mother was the period that he led his own gold mining expedition to the Northern Territory and followed on the Darwin expedition under Goyder. There are no copies of 1874/5 letters, only the funeral card of William Gray, brother-in-law of Margaret Burns.
In Memory of WILLIAM GRAY - gardener - who died here on Wednesday 28th. October,1874 at a quarter before 10 o'clock a.m. At West Craigielea, aged 64 years.
Only three of James Clark's letters to his cousin RRS remain, the first was dated 1876. (Kept by Blaine Stevenson.)
64 Canal Street,
Paisley,
January 14th. 1876.
My Dear, Dear Cousin,
Your very welcome letter bearing date July 15th. 1875 arrived here in due course and gladly did we note its contents. You must bear with me a little in not replying to your letter a little sooner but my time being very much taken up it is only in spare times I can think of taking up the pen to write a few lines to any of my friends. But I will console myself with thinking I hear you say "Better late than never". I take particular notice of the remark you make that many and varied must have been the changes I have witnessed since I shook hands and parted with you some 14 years ago on Glasgow quay. Old faces have passed away and many new faces are grown up amongst us making good that ever true scriptural text "One goeth and another cometh." I notice with pleasure that remark that oft in Fancy's dream you see some well known scene about your native town.
But if you could see it in reality how changed it would seem to you, what with its "Public Library", its Public Parks and its very great increase of Public Works you would be forced to exclaim "How changed! how changed!", even Gleniffer of which you so kindly speak would assume for you a new and changed aspect could you but go back in imagination to the 3rd. of June 1874 and see Paisley as it looked that morning, had you seen your native town decked with arches and every house decorated with flowers and flags of every conceivable size and colour, you but fancy the thousands of your townsfolk all dressed in their holiday attire marching in gay procession with countless brass bands, could you but march with them up street after street, and at last find yourself standing above Glenfield Works at Tannahills Well, methinks as you would have listened to the many speeches in praise of your native Bard, you would also have raised your voice in hearty cheer to commemorate the centenary of Tannahill's birthday.
And even now far away from this bright picture you will admire your countrymen for acting as they did and say in Thought if not in Words "Honour to him whom Honour is due - I say Tommahills, what say you?"
And now for a word connected with family matters which may perhaps interest you. To begin with ourselves. Father, Mother, and myself are still living in the old house in Canal Street and it seems as if we are afraid to leave it, and I can assure you that it has considerable interest to us for many and varied incidents that have happened during the lifetime we have been it. And now to your cousins.
Cousin Jessie Millar has been married for some time, has three children living. She married Andrew Whitelaw, foreman baker and now that Andrew Millar has retired she and her husband have the shop he was in and are doing a good business and seem to be in a fair way of making themselves a comfortable home. Cousin Jessie Robertson is also staying in Glasgow so as to be convenient for her husband who is an engineer in a steamboat running between Glasgow and Spain, and the last time she was at our house they were all well. Cousin John Robertson is also married, to an English girl, has three of a family. He has given up his trade of a Joiner and is at present one of the Sanitary Inspectors of the city of Glasgow, and I believe is getting on well, but it is not often we see him unless when business calls him out to Paisley.
Cousin Willie Robertson was at Craigielea up to the beginning of June last, but left, he was a while working with Mr. Risk but again has gone back to the country life and is at present with some farmer about old Kirkpvitrick. He was up here at the "New Year" and is enjoying good health. Cousin Maggie Gray is permanently staying at the shop in Causeyside Street since her father's death, is in good health, and seemingly doing a fair business. Cousin Annie as I told you in my last letter is staying at Craigielea, has one little boy and she and her husband are doing very well. Cousin Alexander Gray is still staying the West End, and is still toiling away as hard as ever and his wife and family are in good health, he particularly sends his kind regards to you.
Mr. and Mrs. Risk are also doing well and they have six of a family living. Mr. Risk is still in the Coal Trade, has a very good business being able to employ three horses every day. And now for a word about Aunt Mary Millar, she is still out in the country and enjoying good health, she comes into our house every Saturday. Her youngest son Willie is in H.M.S. Resistance and is doing well, he was as here and stopped with us a fortnight at the end of last year. He is at present cruising about the coast of Spain which is the winter quarters of all manor ships.
Her other son, Andrew, is at Wolverhampton, England, and is doing well. We have occasionally a letter from him. And now, methinks, I have given you a report on all your relatives and friends and one 3ad all join me in wishing you better health and every prosperity. In reference to the request you make about cards (photos) I am sorry that I am not able to send you any with this letter but trust the next time I write to be able to send some. And now allow me to close this long epistle and trust when it reaches you, you will be enjoying good health and able to work away.
And may every blessing, temporal and spiritual be yours, and leaving you in the hands of a Higher than us, Who is able to keep you in good health, is the prayer of all your dear friends and especially,
Your affectionate and loving cousin,
James Clark, jnr.
It was believed by the S.A. Stevenson family that Margaret Burns kept a boarding house in New York as her source of income, but included with the letters are receipts for rent paid for living quarters by Margaret. Even if she sublet a room or two, it still remains something of a mystery how she accumulated over $5000 by the time of her death in 1888.
1 Oct 1880 - received from Mrs. Margrethe Burns - $6 - being one months rent in advance for apartment on the 5th. floor rear in house no. 546 W.47 St. signed Henry Ronner.
1 Sep 1881 - it was to Mrs. Mag. Burns - $6.50 [- the same address]
and again on
1 Mar 1882, and to Henry Ronner [obviously a German gent.]
1 May 1885 - Mrs.Burns - $13 for one months rent - a flat at 217 East 107th Street and signed John Brady.
1 Feb 1886 - $14 - for the top floor apartment at 244 East 106th. Street and signed by Daniel Miller.
1 Mar 1888 - Mrs. Margret Burns $9 - for 3 R.E. in no. 106 East 113th. Street and signed by Walker & Armstrong, agents on Third Avenue, New York.
Again from James Clark to R.R.Stevenson - the surprising news was possibly of the legacy from Walter's estate ("Glen-Darrick") dated about 1881.
64 Canal Street,
Paisley.
June 26th.1882.
My dear Cousin,
Your letter of date 22 April 1882 reached us safely and can assure you that its contents surprise us very much. I answered your last letter and also sent you a paper and enclosed a photograph of your cousin Willian Robertson. And it is also strange that Alexnnder wrote you also and sent you two papers and still you have not received them either. The reason of this we cannot account for, but hope and trust that this note will reach you. And now allow me to thank you heartily for the photo of your little Maggie which has been placed in my album along with many other friends. I would have forwarded you our Maggie's photo but have not got them yet taken, and circumstances are not very favourable in the meantime for me to get them done, but rest assured that when we get them we will forward you one. You wish to know very much if we forwarded those photos of your little lassies to your mother. This I did, and have not received any reply yet, and as for sending you a photo of your mother, we have not got one ourselves, and do not think she has got them taken, but when we next write we will see if we can get it and it will be sent to you.
Dear cousin, are you getting homesick that you wish to see your native land once more? No, I think it is the wish of all people who are far from home that they would like to see it once more again before they die. And if you are fortunate enough to save the five hundred pounds and I hope with all my heart you will, and come home. What changes will be yours to see, old landmarks removed, old faces passed away never to return. You will be inclined to say, to quote from scripture, "old things have passed away and all things have become new"
The last paper I sent you about three months ago contained a large and full account of the opening of the New Town Hall, the gift of the Clarks of thread fame at a cost of one hundred thousand pounds. In fact it is the finest hall in Scotland, and I am sure that if your wife saw Paisley and its neighbourhood she would be delighted.
In reference to your enquiry anent the "Glen-Darrick" property,my Father has repeatedly enquired after it and I am sorry to inform you that there is no foundation in your having any legal claim to it. Since starting this Mother has got a photo of your mother which your mother sent her and she (your mother) wanted it sent to you, and she now encloses it to you. Your mother wanted to know if the photo you sent was sent direct to her and we told her it was. Your Cousin John Robertson purposes writing you, if you get this letter first be sure and call back at the post office and see if there is one from him.
And now you must allow me to conclude, and trusting this will reach you, Your cousins Alexander, Maggie and Annie Gray, Father, Mother and all friends send their kindest love, especially my wife and Myself and little Maggie and James send their Best Love to your wife and Self and little ones and trusting to hear from you soon again,
Your affectionate cousin,
James Clark.
The above was the second of the three letters to RRS from James Clark which Blaine Stevenson preserved. There is a correction on the remark of EMS concerning the RRS legacy and "Glen-Darrick" property made above this last letter and therefore was not the "surprising news, but we have seen in the RRS history that he did benefit.
The photo of Margaret Burns passed on from the Clarks to RRS shows her in a bonnet, but the one sent by Frances Ryan shows her hatless and in both although aged only 57 she looks much older. The next item in chronological order was a card enclosed by Robert Risk.
"IN MEMORIAM
In affectionate remembrance of JAMES CLARK who died here this morning at seven o'clock aged 71 years - 64 Canal Street, 27th.January 1885 - Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
Robert Risk, husband of Catherine Gray niece of Margaret Burns, to New York.
Abbey Parish Poorhouse
8 Buchanan Terrace,
Paisley.
6th. December 1886
Dear Aunt,
We duly received your letter of date 12th. October, and would have replied to it before this time but I was very busy. As you will see from the heading of this paper I am engaged in a new sphere of labour. The coal trade that I was in has been so bad for some years that I resolved to get out of it. I tried for several things and failed. There was an advertisement for a teacher and chaplain to the above board. I applied for the same and got it. My salary is not large but it is sure, and it may increase.
With reference to any of us coming out, my boys have talked about many a time, but Willie the younger one has talked of going to Canada. Robert the eldest wants a year of his time being out so he will not do anything till then. Too, we shall see how trade does. The engineering has been very bad here, but otherwise Paisley has not suffered so much as other places. Coats people have built a new Mill. So have Clarks. The canal has been changed into a Railway. Gilmour St. Station is all being taken down to be rebuilt. The river is to be widened and deepened so that the town is really flourishing.
About your son Robert, we can give you no information. There has been no word from him for a long time. We asked Aunt Jeanie (Clark) and she has none either. Speaking about Aunt Jeanie, as you make no allusion to it, did she not send word about uncle's death? If not, I enclose a card for you of the same. Since his death Aunt Jeanie has been very dull. She spend, most of her time at Ann's (Mrs. Watson) helping her with the children, but she is failing very rapidly. Aunt Mary is also failing in health fast. We are all well at present. Mother sends you her good wishes. Elizabeth and Maggie are still at the photographing. All the others are doing well. Give our complements to David and the other members of the family and know that we wish you all well. Nothing further at present, but remain,
Yours affectionately,
Robert Risk.
The next item in the collection is a copy of a steamship ticket purchased by Margaret Burns, but in the name of Mrs. Margaret Stevenson on 3 Nov 1887.
Frances Ryan wrote across it, "why Margaret Stevenson and not Margaret Burns?" which would seem that either Margaret was aware that the Burns marriage was not legal, or that by reverting to her former surname she could push back memory of the unhappiness Burns caused her. There is no way of knowing now. The quite large ticket, marked "this to be kept by purchaser of the draft", was for the Anchor Line of Trans-Atlantic steam packet ships, with a reproduced picture of a three masted vessel that also had a large central funnel with streamer of black smoke and plenty of flags flying. Henderson Brothers were the agents, with head offices of the line at Glasgow (45 Union Street), Liverpool, London, Londonderry, Dundee, New York, Christiana (Sweden), Gothenburg (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark), Paris and Chicago. It also stated that "We have this day issued our Draft No.1069 on Messrs. Henderson Brothers, London for 82 Sterling in favor of Mrs. Margt. Stevenson - dated 3-11-1887. This date could have been either March 11 or November 3 as American dating is often opposite to ours. In any case the ticket remained unused as all too soon symptoms of the cancer (of the bladder) which took her life were to be apparent.
Letter from James Burns to his eldest brother John Burns.
Los Angeles,
California.
Thurs. March 29th.1888.
I am lodging at 323 South Spring Street.
Dear Brother,
I received your letter of the 19th. and was very sorry to hear that Mother was sick but I hope she is better now. I did not receive your letter until the 29th. of March. In your letter you ask me to let you know about San Francisco. I was only in San Francisco 5 days but during that time I went around every place where I thought I might get a job but the only answer I got was that we are full and some of the mills that I went to were stopped altogether.
When I left San Francisco I wrote back to the lady who I had hired the furnished room off to send me all letters and she kindly did so. The place that I am in now is 482 miles from San Francisco. It is a very nice place but work is very hard to be got here but I got work in a lumber yard at $2 a day but it was not steady. I could only make three or four days a week but I have started today to work in a sheepskin factory, the same kind of a one at Waths in 57th. Street, New York.
Things are very dear here. I have to pay $1.50 a week for a furnished room with a young man in the room with me. But as luck would have it he is a very nice young man. You can tell mother to sell them things of mine unless you want them yourself as I would not want her to be bothered with them. In your letter you did not tell me if you got that $14.50 off Mr.Donovan. This is the place for oranges. I go out every Sunday morning and pick all I want. If I get along in the place where I am working I think I will stay here three years, that is, if mother gets along all right. When you write, address JAMES BURNS, Los Angeles Post Office, California. (There was no ending to this effort.)
From Robert Risk, husband and of Margaret's niece, Catherine Gray.
Abbey Parish Poorhouse,
Paisley.
27th. August,1888.
Dear Aunt,
Your letter of the 13th. has just come to hand and Catherine and myself are exceedingly sorry to hear of your illness, and at her suggestion without waiting to make any enquiries I write at once to let you know that we have received your letter and to assure you of our sincere sympathy with you in your illness.
We did not think that you desired so much to see us and your old home, and we can hardly expect it now seeing you are so ill. But 0! dear Margaret, let me say to you as a friend, put your trust in Him who is a friend that will never leave nor forsake you in your time of need, for when on earth the Lord Jesus said to His sorrowing disciples, "Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world." He is, dear Aunt, the only one that can and will be with us as we go through "the Valley of the Shadow of Death". And as it is not likely that you and I shall see each other, in time I trust that we shall meet in the land where there is no sorrow, no pain, and not death, because the Lord Jesus shall have taken them all away.
I do not remember hearing of Malcolm for many years, and the letter that you allude to from Robert, I do not think that I ever saw it, but may have been told about it. However, Catherine will go to her sisters this very night and make enquiries about them both, and I will write again in a few days. I shall convey your kind love to all those you were enquiring after, and at present we are all well.
And believe me to be your friend,
Robert Risk.
Robert Risk wrote again as promised:
Abbey Parish Poorhouse,
Paisley.
1st. September 1888.
Dear Aunt,
According to promise I now write you again and give you what further information I am able about those friends that you were making enquiries about. And first of all as near as we can learn that Malcolm is dead about 24 years ago, and that after full enquiries, we find that he has left one son who is about 27 years of age. He is a labourer in an engineering workshop, but well doing. He is married and has several children. As for Robert,we have not heard from him for many years as you will see from the enclosed letter, although we believe that some correspondence has passed between him and young James Clark, and we believe also that he is in possession of his photograph and that of his children, but they have kept them secret from us, and never even showed us a letter or gave us an address, and if Robert Stevenson was to come to Paisley, the only persons that would give him a bed or a meal would be Mrs. Watson and my own wife. And any time that we enquired about him they told us that they had sent you his address and so we made no further enquiries.
As for your sister Jane (Clark), she has been living with Mrs. Watson for the last three years since her husband died. As for her son James, he has been married for eleven years, has always had a good wage, yet he could not buy his mother a half pound of tea, so great has been his own needs. And yet she has been staying with Mrs. Watson, and hoarding up everything that she may leave James her own household furniture and furnishings intact, while Mr. & Mrs. Watson have really been a good son and daughter to her. And as for your other sister, Mrs. Millar, she is still alive, although at times very foolish, yet her daughter Mrs. Whitelaw has been a good daughter to her and gives her a weekly allowance. Mrs. Whitelaw is still living in Glasgow, has a large family, but is very comfortable.
My brother Alexander (i.e. brother-in-law Alex. Gray) has just the two of a family, son and daughter (Willie and Mary) and they are pretty well meantime. My sister (Ann) Mrs. Watson has now 6 of a family, the eldest 13, the youngest 2, and she is very comfortable. (Note: Ann, nee Gray, so a sister-in-law). My own family is 6 in number, all well, and we are battling away, striving to set the boys to the best trades that we can.
My wife and I were very sorry to hear of your dangerous illness, but we both hope and pray that you may ere this have received the pardoning mercy of God, which is infinitely better than anything this world could give. And we assure you that our sympathy goes out to your three sons who are to be left alone and friendless, and we would venture to suggest that if you have any more means than you intend to leave to your three sons beside you, that you might remember your grandson Malcolm Robertson here, who is not well off. This is the name his father went under, and he is known only by that name. Then as for Robert who is abroad, we believe that he is in comfortable circumstances. And with reference to the enclosed letter which he sent to me enclosed in one sent to James Clark, and my wife says of him, that his love to her was like the morning cloud and the early dew, it soon passed away.
Hoping that this may reach you in time to be of service to you, and that it may be a blessed privilege to meet in that land where partings are unknown. If not, perhaps David might return them, and we shall be glad to hear at all times how they are all getting on, and in the mean time, Believe me, Your affectionate Niece and Nephew,
Robert Risk.
Some notes by EMS.
Although Blaine Stevenson mentioned his father's correspondence with Robert Risk (to Frances Ryan) no letters were with the few preserved by Blaine. Whether the Risk letters just quoted were a comfort to the dying Margaret, so desperately homesick and longing for comfort from her "ain folk", is a moot point. That she did receive them "in time" is certain, as they were in the David Burns collection. Concerning Malcolm, nephew James Clark told Margaret in 1871 without the least compassion, that Malcolm had perished at sea in December 1870. Perhaps in her state of health she forgot. It was close to 18 years earlier, not 24 as Robert Risk said. Some simple arithmetic would have shown him that Malcolm the second, could not have been more than 23 or 24 in 1888, so that his "several children" would be 3 at the most. The plea on his behalf was too late for grandmother Margaret to include him in her Will.
Robert Risk might have thought a little more sympathetically of RRS who was left to fend for himself aged 12, whereas the Burns sons had each other and were aged 34, 32, and 27 when "left alone and friendless" at Margaret's death. Those letters which reached Scotland or New York from Adelaide in times of most uncertain mail delivery were not answered for many months, if at all, so that it is understandable that the youthful affections of RRS waned. It is of interest that his 1867 letter to "Caty" Risk (nee Gray) whom he addressed as "dear sister", from Adelaide to Scotland should have returned to Adelaide in 1967 via New York, for it is obviously the one Robert Risk enclosed to Margaret in his last to her.
Margaret Stevenson Burns could not have been living with either of the two sons resident in New York when she died as can be seen from an account dated October 1st. 1888. James Burns debtor to William James Matthews, Undertaker & Embalmer of 661 Ninth Avenue, New York for:
On September 30,
Removing body from 537 West 49th. Street to 741 10th. Avenue $5.00
Coffin and Trimmings $25.00
Nameplate $2.00
Hearse $10.00
Shroud$8.00
Six mourning carriages $36.00
New Grave $12.00
For funeral of Mrs. Margaret Burns. Received Payment of $98.00
The sons' addresses were:
John at 560 Lexington Avenue. James and David both at 213 East 102nd. Street, New York. A citation - dated February 14 1890 from Robert Auld the Executor of Margaret's Will - required them, together with Robert R. Stevenson of "Borden" Town, Australia, to appear in person at the Surrogate of the County of New York on February 27 for the judicial settlement. As was seen in the history of RRS he was satisfactorarily represented and the estate was duly settled. James Clark in his usual inimitable style wrote:
14 Canal Street,
Paisley,
25th. May,1889.
My Dear Cousin,
I duly received your letters of May 1887 as also yours of February 1889 which were truly welcomed. I wrote to you in August last but am sorry you did not receive it. In that letter I acknowledged receipt of the photo of your little Maggie which has an honoured place in my album. In the same letter I enclosed a card of the death of your Uncle which took place on the 27th. January 1885. I may state that father, before his death was for six months in a very poor state of health and his death did not take us much by surprise. He was buried on Saturday 31st, a large party of about 130 following his remains to the place of burial in the West Relief Church Yard, and on the Sunday following his funeral service was preached before a large congregation in the Old High Church (of which he was an Elder), the text being taken from Numbers, 23rd. Chapter, 10th. verse, and you will allow me to say that he now enjoys the rest that is for the people of God. Mother is still stopping herself in the old house and still is enjoying fairly good health.
Aunt Mary is keeping fairly well (Mrs. Millar) and is stopping with me for sometime back. I am also sorry to inform you of Maggie Gray's death which took place on the 11th. of October 1882 after a short illness. (Note: RRS had then received no communication from James Clark since his letter of June 1882 until this present one). Annie Gray is well and has a large family. Sandy Gray is also in good health and still going with the baker's van. Willie Robertson is married and has two children and seems doing well. Willie Robertson is still one of the Sanitary Inspectors of Glasgow and is also doing well. Jessie Millar (Mrs. Whitelaw) is now the mother of a large family. Her husband has three large businesses in Glasgow, and I believe that if they wished it, are in a position to retire and live on their money.
Mr. Risk and family are all well. Mr. Risk has given up the Coal Trade and has been appointed Chaplain of the Abbey Poorhouse, Paisley. And now to finish. I, along with all your friends condole with you on the death of your mother of which we have had notice, but why let me dwell on this as this letter contains two notices of death besides your mother, but let us cherish the hope, that a blessed reunion awaits us all, in that brighter land where "death divideth - friends meet to part no more". Before I finish I may note that Mr. Risk sent to me for your address at the time of your mother's death, which I gave him, and he sent it on to the solicitor in New York.
And now I must finish, and the whole crowd of friends wish you every success, and this includes your wife and family, and hope to hear from you soon. My little Maggie wishes your little Maggie to kindly remember her and trusts to meet her some day,
And believe me, your affectionate cousin,
James Clark.
James may or may not have been telling the truth in saying his mother (as well as Aunt Mary Millar) was "stopping" with him, as Mr. Risk had said Jane Clark had been living with her niece Ann Watson (nee Gray) ever since 1885 when her husband James senior died. James junior's good opinion of himself does not appear to have been shared by Paisley kinsfolk. There are no further letters either to or from James in the collection. The youngest Burns son, David, and his wife Mary Jane, went on a visit to Scotland during 1890, in all probability their honeymoon. Did they, one wonders, make use of that ticket Margaret purchased but could not use. The next series of letters followed this Scottish interlude.
17 West Street,
Paisley.
4th. November, 1890.
Dear Mrs. Burns,
It gives me the greatest Pleasure in writing you these few lines to let you know that I received your very welcome letter all right, & I was very glad to hear that you got home safe and I am sure you were yourselves. We are all well at Present and hope David and yourself are the same & none the worse of your voyage & now Dear Friends a few words about The Marriage as I suppose you know we are spliced before this & we had a very good time of it you may be sure & I was sorry you had to go away before it took place as we had a very good nights fun. There were no strangers at the Wedding, all the Friends you visited were present and some came from a distance and the place was as full as it could hold & we have been getting on splendid ever since & doing well.
Dear Mr. & Mrs-Burns we both thank you very much for your kind wishes, but it is your turn first to sing Rock the Cradle David & as you say that will be where the fun comes in. Mr. & Mrs. Robertson send their Best Respects to you & are glad you got home safely. Aunt Jean (Clark) & Aunt Mary (Millar), Mr. & Mrs. (Alex.) Gray & Master (Willie) Gray send you their Best Respects & are glad you are well & will have a good big bunch of heather for you when you come back to see us all again. Mary sends her kind love to James (Burns) & wants to know when he is coming over to Scotland. So now dear Friends I will draw to a close & bid you Goodbye for the present - so with kindest regards & best wishes & hoping to hear from you soon, we remain yours ever,
Mr. & Mrs. Christie.
The writer of this cheerful effort was Robert Christie who had married Mary Gray, the only daughter of Alex. Gray, and she was a granddaughter of Margaret Burns' eldest sister Janet Gray. Mary's handwriting is quite unlike her husband's though also signed the same way. They were married September 1890. This is the 3rd. generation of the Robertson clan, as was Jenny Watson (aged about 16) whose mother was Ann Gray, sister of Alex. Jenny's letter to America comes next.
13 Wellmeadow Street,
Paisley.
6 Nov 1890.
Dear Cousin,
We were glad to here that you had arrived safe home but still we were sorry to hear that you had so rough a passage. I hope that you will forgive me for being so long in answering your letter. We are all keeping well, hoping this will find you the same. Aunt Mary (Millar) has got her cards taken (photograph, referred to as a carte de visite then) and she is going to send one to you, and so has Aunt Jeannie (Clark) whenever she gets them. We are glad to hear that David is keeping well and that he got his work back so easily. About a week after you left a letter came from Ireland for you and I enclose same, hoping you will find it all right. This is all I have to say at present and give my compliments to Johnny and Jimmie (Burns),
I am, yours sincerely
Jenny Watson.
Jenny's cousin Elizabeth Risk, eldest daughter of Robert Risk to Mrs. David Burns, New York.
Lylesland Terrace,
Paisley.
21st. November 1890.
My Dear Cousin,
The reason we have been so long in writing was we were waiting to get a photograph of Aunt Jeanie Clark to send you. I am sending along with this letter one of Aunt Mary, also one of Aunt Jeanie taken by my brother, also one of my Father & Mother. I do not know when I may have one of myself and Maggie (her sister) but will send them as soon as we get them taken.
We were glad to hear that you had a safe passage and that David got work so soon. We are all well here. Aunt Jeanie is troubled with a very bad cough but is well otherwise. Cousin James had a slight accident at his work some time since. An iron plate fell against his leg he was confined to the house for several weeks but is all right again now. His wife, Mrs. Clark, and children are well.
The weather here is very miserable, we have had rain almost every day for a long time now. Trade is very slack, how is it with you? Father and Mother send their best wishes to you and David. Remember us all to John and James,
With kind regards, I remain,
Your affectionate cousin,
Elizabeth Risk.
Jenny Watson, Paisley to Mrs. David Burns, New York.
13 Wellmeadow Street,
Paisley.
10 Mar 1891
Dear Cousin,
Please excuse me for not writing sooner as my Father has been unwell but I am glad to say that he is better and able for his business We have had changes since you were here for we have got Mary Gray married to Mr. (Robert) Christie last September. She had a baby but it only lived for about three weeks. Mr. James Clark got a place in Falkirk and they have all removed away there. Aunt Jeanie and Aunt Mary are just about their usual. All my Cousins and Aunts and Uncles are well. We have very cold weather here at present whatever kind you have in America. This leaves us all well hoping this will find you the same,
I am your loving cousin,
Jenny Watson.
From Mary Christie (nee Gray) to Mr. & Mrs. David Burns, New York. It is undated but was obviously about April 1891.
17 West Street,
Paisley.
Dear Friends,
I suppose you will be thinking we have forgot you altogether but we were only waiting to send you all the news we could, & now that you have got a little settled again I will write you a few lines to let you know that I was safely delivered of a baby (such a bonnie wee lassie) & a strong healthy child. Both the baby and me were both doing well but I suppose there is never one hour of joy but there are two of sorrow so we had to bear the parting with her after she had been with us for three weeks all but one day. She had a little cold in her head which made it difficult for her to breathe through her nose, she got a little worse although nothing serious as we thought. Still we got the doctor who came at 11 o'clock on Tuesday night & he never even told us the child was weak & she did not look like it, she died next morning very suddenly and not being very strong it knocked me all wrong & I got a little cold inwardly & it turned out inflamation & for the next three or four days I was in bed. My husband was very much put out at losing her & I think I will never get over it, although we are very thankful for the time she was spared to us was so very short for Mary, we knew the full love of a father & a mother. She is buried in the churchyard where Aunt Jeanie goes, lying beside her great-grandparents.
We have had extra cold weather here which is against me a little, but Bob is quite well, hoping David & you are enjoying good health at present. Mr. & Mrs.Gray (her parents) also Willie (her brother) send their kind love to you, my Father got his leave from his work on Christmas week & has been idle since. Willie was also off work for about six weeks with a slight attack of diphtheria but he is all right now. We join in sending kind love to James, David, yourself & all your friends.
I will now draw my letter to a close, hoping when your wee Mary comes she will not be taken from you. Please excuse us for not writing sooner. Remember to write soon & let us know how you are getting along.
No more at present, but remain, Your loving friends,
Mr.& Mrs.Christie.
Note: The David Burns did lose their "wee Mary" as their only daughter, Margaret, who arrived after two sons, was born and died in 1896. Mary Christie again to Mary Burns, at New York:
17 John Street,
Paisley.
July 9th. 1891.
Dear Friends,
I take much pleasure in writing you a few lines to let you know that we received your long looked for letter, we were beginning to think that you had forgot us, or that the letter had been lost on the way. However better late than never & you are quite excusable. We have removed as you will see by the address & so have been longer in writing to you. We will have to stay for a year in it but we like it very well but it was an awful work, the removal.
We were very sorry to hear you had been laid up but hope you are keeping all right. Bob & I were very thankful to you for your kind sympathy to us, I sometimes think we don't know what a blessing good health is till once we lose it. We have had very hot weather here for a week or two but I suppose it's nothing to where you are. We were at our nephew's marriage about a fortnight ago in Beith (David will know where that is about) and enjoyed ourselves very well it being a real country place. Willie has got over his trouble and is all right again & Father is working in J.&P. Coates mill. We are both well hoping you are all the same. Mr.& Mrs. Willie Gray send their best respects to you. All your friends here are well that I know of. Give David our kind love & James also John, although I only know of him by name, perhaps we will live to see each other & his wife & family. I must now draw to a close but I cannot help remarking how time flies, for you would hardly think it will be very near a year since we all met together. Willie Gray says the heather will soon be blooming again & David & Mary will have to get not a bunch but a sprig of real Scotch heather. I must now stop as it is dinner time. With kind love to everybody specially yourselves. Goodbye for a wee while. Write soon. XX - We remain your loving friends,
Mr. & Mrs. Christie.
It is clear from the above that bachelor James Burns accompanied his brother David and sister-in-law Mary to Scotland in 1890. The next letter was from Robert Christie.
17 John Street,
Paisley.
June 10, 1893.
Dear Friends,
Just a few lines to let you know we are all well hoping this will find you both enjoying good health. We received your letter & beautiful cards all right & hope you will excuse us for not writing sooner but we were waiting to get the baby's cards taken and were disappointed two or three times not getting them so after we waited so long we did not like to write till we got them. Mary says she had an awful bother to get him for to sit & he had to be taken three times, but it is just like him as can be, he will soon be 12 months old & is getting on fine & getting that heavy that Mary says she can hardly carry him.
We are having splendid weather in Scotland just now & crops are a month or two earlier than usual & every prospect of a very good harvest but trade is very dull due at present to the failure of so many banks in Austtrila, it is making things worse than what they would be but everybody is looking forward for better times. Aunt Jane & Aunt Mary are as well as can be expected for their age & send you both their best repects & hope you will soon be over here again. Aunt Jane says she does not expect to see many more summers. Mr. & Mrs.Gray & Willie are well & send you their kind love & hope you are both well. I suppose you are having fine doings at the Great Chicago Worlds Fair & there are a great rush for berths on the fast steamers just now & I suppose you will be visiting it before it closes but I don't think any of us will be there as it is rather too far away. I think I will now draw to a close & bid you goodbye for the present, hoping James & John & family are all well & that you are both well yourselves, so with kind love to all & hoping to hear from you soon, we remain, yours truly,
Robert & Mary Christie. Goodbye.
The last of the Christie letters (and any from Scotland for that matter) was eight years later, and there seems to have been a gap of that length with correspondence.
18 Broomlands Street,
Paisley,
May 25th. 1901.
Dear Friends,
We received your welcome letter although not at the address you sent it to. I am staying in the same property as my Father & Mother this last 5 years. We are all well at present as far as I know, although there have been a good many changes since you got my last letter. I cannot go over them all but the more intimate of these are old Aunt Jeanie Clark & Aunt Mary (Millar) have both passed away & Jessie Millar, that is, Mrs. Whitelaw of Glasgow, also my brother Willie's wife. Then there have been marriages, Mrs. Watson's son & daughter are both married & my brother is married his second time.
I am very glad to hear that you are all in good health for many a time when we were all talking we wondered what had become of you, the last letter I wrote I never received any answer and I thought you would perhaps have moved away from the place, I sent a photograph of my oldest boy Robert, to you. I don't know whether you got it or not. We are all very pleased to hear that you have got a family as we mostly all like to be a father & mother. I never heard of your baby girl's death & I know you would be in a state for fear anything would go wrong with the other two, but children gives you an awful cheat sometimes.
I am afraid I have not got the best married life I might have. Bob does not settle long in one job. I have had a family right enough, without a stop. I have living Robert, Maggie, Alexander, Annie & Mary & of course my first Mary died that would have been six and I can tell you I have more to do than I can manage whiles. I think I will tell you the rest of the news now. Bob is away in South Africa at the front fighting for his King & Country. He volunteered his services in the Lanarkshire Imperial Yeomanry & he has risen to a sergeant so that I think a soldier's life suits him best - how would you like to be left with 5 of them to look after. The last letter I received he was lying at Bloemfontein waiting on Colonel Pilcher's column to come up. This has been a dreadful war. 0 the widows & orphans that have been left, but Bob seems to be quite happy.
I forgot to mention that Aunty Clark's son James is also dead 2 years after his mother. I will now draw to a close I think. My Father & Mother & all the rest of your Friends join in sending their kind love. Accept the same from myself & the children. I hope to receive the pictures soon. I remain your friend,
Mary Christie.
James Burns has the last word:
To Mrs. David Burns, 732 Melrose Avenue, Bronx Borough, New York City.
General Delivery,
Beaumont,
Texas.
June 6th.1904.
Dear Sister,
It is with great pleasure that I now sit down to write you these few lines to let you know that I am in good health, hoping this will find you all the same. You must excuse me for being so long in answering your letter but you see I was out of work and was uneasy but have now started to work again though not at the same place. I am glad to say that my hands have got better again but I cannot tell how soon they may get sore again as I am back at the same kind of work. You have no idea how hard it is to get work when you are out of it.
I am glad you received the piece of cloth all right. It will be very hard for me to write to you now because where I am working now I do not get off in the afternoon at 3 o'clock and go back at 5 in the evening like in the other place. At the night time I cannot see very well to write so you need not be in any hurry to answer this letter. I will now close hoping this will find you all in good health as it leaves me at present. Address as before. (James did not sign off).
General Delivery,
Beaumont,
Texas,
August 6th. 1904.
Dear Sister,
I received your kind and welcome letter yesterday and was glad to hear that you were all well, which finds me the same. Do not be in a hurry to answer this letter as I find it very hard to write because I have to get up early in the morning as I cannot see to write at night. I am glad the Taylors are in good health. Also that Armstrong has an increase in his family. I wish him luck. I am glad that my brother John is in good health and working. I am glad the operation was successful on Robbie's eyes and I hope you will have no more trouble with them. I will now close hoping this letter will find you all in good health. Address as before.
This completes the letter collection. They are so much alike in style that one wonders if each had a copy of the same "Complete Letter Writer" to consult when at a loss for words. EMS apologises to the reader (if any) for not setting out the Paisley Robertsons in better detail ahead of the letters to prevent confusion concerning the various relationships though an occasional note was put in brackets in the text.
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