Iron Pot Lighthouse
Feb 15th 1877
My dear Mother

I received your always welcome letter and 3 newspapers by this mail and am glad to hear that you and all at home are in the enjoyment of health which is one great blessing.

We are all very much obliged for the Christmas cards which are very pretty and also for the leaves of verbena? which smell quite fresh.

The box of "Et ceteras" passed this place in the "Lufia" on the 5th of this month. So that you should receive it in May we gave it in change to the 2nd mate Mr C Matthews an old acquaintance of Mrs Uptons and he has promised to be careful of it and forward it to you on arrival. Luke was down here last Thursday in the harbour boat with Mr Babington and an engineer to place a lightning conductor on the Tower. They were here about eight hours, and from some little news dropped I fancy that our time here will be short, but we are pretty contented and comfortable, and I know that I am better off than I deserve or had any idea of a few years back. Luke had a letter last mail from one of his relations in London Mrs Simcox, and I had one also from Chris’ cousin Thos Harris in Sydney.

I gave Mr Babington one of the pictures of William III nicely framed which pleased him very much.

The children are all pretty well and Maria promises to be a little beauty and seems very intelligent. The weather has been very stormy until the beginning of this month, and we are having it fine and hot and there is a great want of rain throughout the country. I am glad to hear of George’s welfare and hope Sam will soon be successful. Give my love to sisters and brothers, Joe and Sophy, also Miss L and Aunt E and believe me dear mother ever your affect son

J C Parkinson

Love from Chris and children