Derwent Lighthouse,
December 26th 1884
My dear Mother,

I received your letter dated October 24th and am glad to hear that you are all well. As the mail go tomorrow I will endeavour to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well and I have seen another Christmas. Annie went up to town for a day or two and it was not very pleasant as it has been raining nearly every day lately. In fact I have not seen so much wet since I have been here so she had not much pleasure but brought Willy back for his holidays. I am glad that you got the photos and I will send George’s as soon as possible. Jim, Maria and Charley could not understand about Santa Claus coming down the chimney and putting such nice things in their stockings which were hung up the night before. What a wonderful amount of Xmas cards must be flying about. We had I think 7 separate packets. We forgot to get any to send home till too late but hope that never the less you have all passed happy Xmas. I will try and get a card with a photo of this place and send it to you. If we are isolated we can see steamer and pleasure parties passing and have many a friendly wave. We Received the little book for Willy safely. I have sent a parcel of gum leaves by the "Ethel" brig in charge of a Mr Toby who is an apprentice on board. She is to sail in about a week and I have asked him to write when he gets home and to tell you if he is coming out again. He is from the north of England and was over here one day with the pilots. I gave him a ............ and he said that he would take the parcel for me. Perhaps he will be a little more thoughtful than Capt. R and then Sam can distil ‘Eucaliptol’ when he gets the leaves. It is a wonder you never set any of the gum seed or Cape gooseberry. I sent some of them in a tin box. They should require to be kept from frost. We received the papers with account of great doings in Downpatrick. Do you ever get a paper from me as we send one occasionally? Willy has got on pretty well considering he was so backward and George endeavours to improve himself as much as he can and perhaps our way will be opened for them in good time. May God enable us to become Christians indeed that we may be enabled to look with confidence for that help and assistance which we all require. I have too many of a family to give them the advantage Annie had but we must make the best of it. The weather has cleared this last day or two and now we will for a change have a hot and windy time of it. Then there are numerous of number of visitors this summer coming over from the other Colonies to enjoy our bracing air. I am sorry to hear that Sophy is feeling the effect of age. I am beginning to think that I am getting old myself. When I see my son within an inch or two as being as tall as myself although that is not much to boast of. So hoping that this may find you all in good health and with love from Chris and Children to Grandma, Aunts, Uncles etc. and kind remembrance to Joe and Sophy, by the way I hear the gum leaves are good for rheumatism,

I remain, dear Mother, ever your affect son,

James C Parkinson.