Gambier, Knox. Co. Ohio
1/25/05


My dear Frances,

Your always welcome note and Belfast News Letter came safely to me. I thank you very much for so constantly remembering me. I hope that you have had a merry Xmas and a happy New Years day. I am still much obliged for the pictures of the old places so familiar to me. I expect Johnnie and Josie his wife early n the spring. I anticipate pleasure in reviving old memories, in looking over them. I dreaded enquiring for Annie and was much surprised and glad to hear she was so usefully and actively occupied. Bessie sent me a picture of Uncle William's house. The corner the back is our grandfather's. I read a good deal of Aristocratic news in the St James Gazette. I receive from a friend six in the week. We have every cold weather now. The snow lies thick and beautiful over everything. My two sisters in law and Johnnie are in St Agustine for winter. As John grows old he becomes more helpless and it is hard to keep comfortable in Chicago in winter. The immense lake increases the cold. Both Josie and Emilie write me it is delightful in a southern climate. Everyone out of doors without a hat or bonnet, the grass so green and tropical flowers and shrubs flourishing to the delight of ones heart. The hotels are built Spanish fashion with a large court and fountains playing sending sparkling water far and near. Oranges ripen on the trees. Sudden frost killed the bananas. I need scarcely assure you that I am happy to hear that Samuel has improved in his native village and hope he will continue. I remember William Donnans cottage. Not much I forget about Killough. You give me more detail of persons or things than Bessie or Kate. Is Kate's position permanent. I have mislaid her address so if you write soon send it to me. Is Bright church in being and services kept up in it. I remember Edward was clerk of it like the Nelson was clerk of Killough church.

I hope your friend Mrs Hunt keeps well for her age and that you have pleasure in being of such use to her. Old persons are so lonely and dependent on younger persons if they have no daughters. Have you leisure for reading. How was you estate settled. I think you or some of you family had written to James's children in Tasmania for consent to sell it under the Land act.

This prolonged war by the Russians is dreadful!. How I long for powerful governments to settle differences by arbitration. War is a dreadful thing. When you write to the kind ones in Killough give them all my love. I see I have made some mistake but I cannot go over it again so you must ever take the will for the deed and believe me my dear Frances with unaltered affection

Kate Trimble.