Iron Pot,
July 4th 1880
My dear Mother,

I am sorry to hear by your two last letters that Sam was so ill. I am greatly relieved by your last May 18th and hope that by this time he will be restored to health and strength again. You must tell him from me that he must take more care of himself as it serves neither ourselves or others to overtask our strength. I hope that by next mail I shall hear that he is all right again and feel truly thankful to the ‘Almighty’ for His goodness to him. We are all pretty well considering that it has been the severest winter that I recollect so if I miss a mail you must put it down to the weather. Annie is with us at present for a short time and I think is greatly improved. I enclose a short from her to Aunt Frances. You will have had the box by this time and I hope that you will relish the jam. We are gradually finding out the use of all the articles last sent, even the little boots with the wool inside. I have only one photo at present of myself but may be able to send one next time.

I was glad to hear the good news about George. I remember there were 2 young men at Dungannon of the name of Fiddes from that neighbourhood when I was there and I do not know if I told you that there was a son of the Hon Andrew Stuarts here in summer who formerly held a government situation over the Convicts. I think he left home through a mésalliance. I had a letter from Mr Babington lately. He is well and enjoys his leisure in the country very much. Mrs Upton also is pretty well, I do not know whether she will pay us a visit or not as Annie will soon be going back to town and she would miss her. We are having a very wet season all this last month has been wet. I enclose an account of the fate of a gang of Bushrangers that have evaded the police in Victoria for a long time. They began their career horse stealing and then shot three policeman that were sent to take them and afterwards robbed a bank. I have not been able to do much in the garden as it has been so wet. I hear that you will be able to get apples from Australia shortly as well as meat and they will come in when there are none with you. I sent a photo to Uncle E. and some Fruit trees to cousin James. All the youngsters are well and the baby getting on finely. He has such large eyes.

So hoping to hear that dear Sam is better and with love to sisters and George and with Love from Chris and children and kind remembrances to Joe and Sophy and also Aunt E.

I remain dear mother, ever your affect son,

James C. Parkinson

Dont bother yourself about old Grangecam too much. Hope that you all may enjoy yourselves this summer in ‘The Old Home’. I suppose the Gum seed was too late this season. I must see about the leaves. Thanks for the nice scraps and 2 newspapers. Mr. B enjoys them very much.