Iron Pot
September 15th 1882
My dear Mother

I received your ever welcome letter dated 21st July and also one from Bessie and a few lines from Frank on the 26th and am glad you got the box at last, but you did not say how you liked the contents. I was sorry to see the account of Mr Gordon’s death and also of Daniel Teer. I should be very much in the same case of Rip Van Wincle were I permitted to revisit old Killough from the account of the changes Bessie tells me of but I am afraid that it not to be. I do not think I shall trouble Capt R this time but will ask someone else to take a box if I can manage to send one this time, and I hope Harrison will look after the box. His father was here a day or two ago and I told him what he did not know the date of sailing of the Windward. We are thinking of sending Willy to Mr B’s the beginning of the year to go to school as we cannot do so well before as the workmen will be here soon to give us another room and to make the place more comfortable, and Willy is very useful when we are in a bustle. In fact I can man the boat with the boys now. Time flies, but works wonderful changes. We are all pretty well except slight colds. The winter was very severe but the changes to warmer weather and then a cold day or two seems to affect us more, and I should say that you would be better inland in "Tyrone among the bushes". I wonder if Mr J R Darley has a nephew in Sydney a solicitor as I see the name of F Darley as such there. And there was a Fred Darley at Dungannon when I was at that school. Also I see the name of D. Lee organist in Melbourne. There was a boy of that name in Armagh son of Lee base singer in the Cathedral choir. George was not content until he sent you a letter which you must excuse as it is his first. I wonder it will be until "England awakes" and turns Gladstone out, it wants an Oliver Cromwell to deal with Ireland. All here send their love to you, Aunts and Uncles and hoping you may be preserved to us and that we all may enjoy the blessings of the Gospel of Peace. I remain dear mother your affect son

J C Parkinson

Love to all and kind remembrances to Aunt E, Joe and Sophy.