Derwent Lighthouse,
March 20th 1885
My dear Mother,

Glad to hear by yours of the 20th of January that you were all well notwithstanding the severe weather. This has been the coldest summer that has been since I have lived here and a great deal of wet, and has not been like summer at all. We are about to have another bother here. Both the assists and myself are to have new quarters and the old ones pulled down. I do not know yet how it will be but suppose that Chris and family will have to go to lodgings for some time but I hope that the comfort afterwards will make up for the inconvenience. I have had to bring Willy home as the expense was too much for me and has put me back a good deal but I suppose I will get over it, and he will have to go to school when he can on the Arm with George who is getting on very well and seems to takes to his books more than Willy, who I think is like his father fonder of hard work than learning but very smart at anything mechanical and is a first rate shoemaker. George puts me in mind very much of dear brother Willy in his ways. The children are all in good health thank God and Chris does not complain of her head so much. She received your letter but will not write this time and thinks her leg is getting better. This has been a wonderful year for growth of vegetables but too cold for fruit. I have some of the sunflowers growing on the rock that George sent the seed of and about 12 fine cabbages and some beans. There has been a great many visitors here over this summer from the other colonies. Miss Shields has a very good situation in town with a Capt. Bodham and her brother is in employment but I have not seen either yet, but have told them to come down when they find it convenient. I will not write you a long letter this time but hope that this may find you all well. I did not get the Belfast weekly news for the first week in Jan. but suppose that it was mislaid. I am glad to hear that George is well and happy with his partner but I think that he might have answered my letter but I suppose he leaves the correspondence to you. I cannot find any more to say but earnestly hope that you will be preserved through the winter and with kind remembrances to Joe and Sophy and love from Chris and Children to Grandma, Aunts and Uncles.

I remain dear mother,

Ever your affect son,

J.C. Parkinson

I hope that I feel the necessity of endeavouring more than ever to live to purpose. I recd the card safely

Photo of Hobart from the river with American Corvette ‘Iroquois’? in foreground.