Derwent Lighthouse,
September 30th 1884
My dear Mother,

I hope that you will not be uneasy at not getting a letter from me, but as I wrote to George I did not think it necessary to send you one so soon, and hope that your finger is better so you may write yourself.

We are all in good health "thank God" and had a visit from W. Purdy nephew of the coast guard, as H.M.S. Nelson is lying a short distance from this station. He will be going home in six months and will be sure to see you as his people live a short distance from Killough. This winter has been pretty severe but we are over the worst. I hope you would be surprised to see Baby Tassie sit at the table and to have a bit of whatever is going. He is a fine little fellow and promises soon to walk and has 4 teeth already. We have had no trouble with our children in teething like what I remember at home. Frances asked what the seeds were in the tin box. They are seeds of Cape gooseberries. Willy is getting on very well at school and is growing very fast lately and is in a special class in order to make up for lost time. Annie is going up to Hobart tomorrow for a few days should the weather permit so that our family will be small for a while. She will post this and send a newspaper also. I had to give Purdy all my "Weekly News". I enclose a photo of Maria which I suppose you will like and Annie is to get hers taken when in town. George will have to be nurse as indeed he has been all along. I will have to do my best when I have time with him and the others but they teach one another and have plenty of books. I will be glad when the weather moderates so we can have plenty of fish as meat is an enormous price at present. We received the box with George’s wedding cake safely and I suppose he is fairly settled down by this time and hope that he will enjoy happiness and prosperity in his wedded life. I hope that you got the jam safely. I am afraid that it will not be as nice as usual as it was too much boiled but all the better if the jars are cracked. I had very little time last season to attend to gardening, and this year these promises to be an abundant crop of weeds, but I must endeavour to keep them down. All the youngsters as well and Chris’ leg is better but hard about the place when (where?) it was affected. Give my most affect love to brothers and sisters also kind remembrances to Joe and Sophy. Chris and children send their love to Grandma and Aunts and Uncles. They says their new Aunt must be called Dora to distinguish. So hoping to hear that your are all at home are well and enjoying happiness,

I remain, My dear Mother, Your affect son,

James C. Parkinson.

I received a letter from Uncle E with an accounts of Aunt’s death but have not had time to answer it but sent a newspaper.