Hobartown,
Feb 24th 1873
My dear Mother,

I received your welcome letter and also Newspapers all safe and am very much gratified to hear that George has been so successful in his studies, and am also very glad to hear of his determination to enter the Church and turn his acquirements to the noblest uses, by endeavouring to benefit his fellow man. The Bible is right "seek ye first the Kingdom" and by obeying it we will be surer of all things that God sees good for us, than if we were on the richest goldfield in Australia, as I can testify by proving the ..... course.. I wonder if Mr Douglass with whom Kate is, can be any relative to the Major Douglas of the place, who is from the neighbourhood of Belfast. I hope she will like her situation and that times may mend with all of us. The account of the petty session in Killough given in the Down Recorder brought me back to the old and once familiar names. It is a pity of poor old McM. This summer has been very trying as the weather has proved so uncertain, and changeable. We are all pretty well. Annie is growing very much. Willy has not been quite well lately, his stomach swells in the afternoon and seems foul and sour. We thought that potatoes did not agree with him but Baby is a bouncer, and very lively and healthy and will be fairer than the others and has not got dark eyes. So all I want is full sufficient to keep them all going which I find rather hard but still remember the meaning of "Spero Melioran". I hope Sam will continue better and get strong again. Chris says that she will try and send Babys ‘Carte’ next mail. Mr Upton is still alive but confined to bed and very weak. Mrs Upton is wonderful considering what she has to go through, and your opinion of Luke is quite correct I am sorry to say, and with love from all to all I remain Ever your affect son,

James. C. Parkinson