Iron Pot,
June 14th 1883
My Dear Mother

You may well say that I was surprised to see the enclosure in your last letter and hope Aunt Ewart may live to see a good many more Easters, you will tell her that I am very thankful for her kindness and I will endeavour to lay it out to the best advantage.

I see in one of the last papers the death of Mr West. I had a desire sometime back to write to him but did not, and now he is gone. May we hope to a better country. I was very sorry to hear of Mrs Knox’s death. I fancy she looked very feeble the last time I saw her. From what you tell me Frank will be pretty certain of something good and I am very glad to hear it. I am afraid the singing in the head that Chris complains of proceeds from weakness. She has tried the remedies that you speak of without effect. I will try and send you a supply of C.G. jam from the winter crop as the bushes are loaded and just getting ripe. That will tell you what a climate we have. I will endeavour to send it the first opportunity so as there will be so little of this consignment for your own use. The boys are getting on very well at school. I take them over to the Arm at 8 a.m. and they have to walk about three miles to school and they generally get back to the garden at about 4p.m., where I generally am, and then we come home, so we have only to go three quarters of a mile by water.

Chris has been over at the Pilot Station for a few days and Charly it is 4 miles across but we can see each other plainly with the telescope. Annie is to go shortly for some time to take music lessons and I told her what you said about her writing. She must endeavour to improve herself as the boys must get their share. Mrs Cunningham is still in Melbourne. Mr Babington’s sight was improving when we last heard from him. We have been very busy at the garden lately and have got it fenced in and the ground nearby all ready for next crop. Fancy setting peas and beans at mid winter and the cuttings of geraniums lying on the earth in flower.

I hope to be able to get this up in time for the mail as the weather looks rather unsettled and my last was a fortnight late, but you must allow for that when you do not receive my letter as usual. All the youngsters are pretty well, only for slight colds now and then, so hoping this may find you all in good health and with love from Chris and children to Grandma and Aunts andUncles not forgetting Aunt E. kind and remembrances to Joe and Sophy,

I remain, Ever your affect Son,

J.C. Parkinson

P.S. Chris says she will not forget Bessie this time if possible

(Map showing Iron Pot, Pilot Station, garden and school at end of letter)