Hobartown
June 15th 1870
My dear Mother

I received your letter and 5 newspapers all safe. I suppose you now have nice weather while we are in the middle of our winter. Although it is not so severe as yours, yet we find it sharp enough. Vegetation is not stopped as immediately after summer things spring up and peas are now about 4 inches high and cabbages are planted. Your C seeds were very good as they are up long ago. It is a great pity of Mr C but I think Frank acted just right. I hope George will succeed in his examination, in fact I am pretty confident of it. I am glad to hear that Sam is better, and hope that he will continue to improve. I hope Frank and Bessie had a pleasant time at the wedding and that they made some substantial conquests. I expect that Chris will have her trouble over before this reaches you. I hope that all will be well with her. This place is something like Canada, dull in winter. I’ve had very little to do lately, but hope that something may turn up soon but it throws one back so. Mrs Upton says that Mr Coates is a very bad correspondent as he has not written to her this many years. Annie is the most engaging child ever I saw. She says such queer things. As I write she is sitting by the fire and says she is cold, and tells her mother to get a chair for herself and she is very often writing to her Grandma. She thanks Aunt Frank for the nice collar, and sends her love and kisses to all. Remember the O scarf is to be orange and purple as I have taken that degree. You saw the notice of our Lodge in the paper. Chris is pretty well and sends her love. Please ask Sam to inquire the price of a strand of orange colours of the usual size, banner and flag and tell me in your next. Annie says Tom Thumb is here.

Your affect son

James C Parkinson