Hobartown
Oct 7th 1870
My dear Mother,

Your two letters and three newspapers came safe to hand. The news of the war surprised the Papists, they cannot believe that the French are beaten. God grant that the Prussians may gain the victory to the end. The poor Pope ought to come to Ireland surely he would be all right there. I am glad to hear that you are all well and enjoying the bathing. You have heard before that Chris has a son and is safe over her confinement. Annie is a wonderful child and a regular little chatterbox. She will be a great help to her mother if spared. She is not so fat as she was but growing tall, baby William is a fine child and very troublesome like his father was but is strong and healthy. We are quite satisfied now with our family as these hard times do not suit large families. Things are very dull as usual but there is some talk of a railway going on which may make thing better for a while. Our garden is looking green now as this is our spring and the cabbage seed you sent was very good. I have about 150 set out and they look very healthy, and I set about 1 cwt of seed potatoes which are coming up besides other vegetables. I hope dear Maria is getting stronger. Tell her when she writes again to use blacker ink as I can hardly make out her writing. I am also glad poor Sam continues better and hope that something will turn up for him at home. We intend to send baby’s .Carte’ as soon as possible. Chris desires me to thank Maria for the pieces of Crochet. Was the 30th of July the latest paper you sent last mail? as that was the latest we received and we had the news of Nap being prisoner in Berlin by the mail. We had a letter from Luke Coates and he is all right and I suppose on his way home now. You must allow me to differ with what ‘people say’ about dear Grand Ma spoiling me. I do not blame her. I was a wayward boy and with kindest love to all I remain

Yours affect,

James C. Parkinson

Chris desires to be remembered to you all.