Derwent Lighthouse,
December 26th 1885
My dear Maria,

Your last letter was overweight but the photo was worth the extra 1/=.

As I now have two letters to answer from you I suppose Mother will not be jealous if I write to you this time. Your first dated Oct. 12th that you received the photos safely and that George, wife and bairn are all well. Sorry to hear that you suffer from rheumatism. I got rid of mine altogether. I fancy it was by rubbing it with the strongest Bay Rum and it was in a very bad place, in the hips. I shall make some jam and send it to you when I get the opportunity. I wonder if Galloway has any relation in this country as the Head Keeper at Cape Wickham, King’s Island off this coast is of that name and came out from England a few years ago as seaman, but I see that the name is differently spelt Garraway. I remember going to see Lieutenant Carroll? when at home last and Bessie was old enough to be married then. In answer to yours of Nov 6th we are all sorry to hear of Mother having a sore throat and you can tell her we are all well and endeavouring to enjoy ourselves in a moderate way. I went on Tuesday last in whale boat to North West Bay where Chris’s sister resides. Her husband has about 600 acres on the side of the side of a range of hills, we that is myself Willy, one of the assists and a friend left this place at 2am and had to pull about 10 miles. Landed at 5 o’clock and had our breakfast, then had to walk about one and a half miles to the township and then 3 do. up the range. It was a beautiful morning but rather hot and we arrived at the farm at 7 am had breakfast and had a look over the place. A great deal of it is not cleared and several of the dead trees stand 150 ft. There is two or three acres under raspberries and one or two strawberries ..... my brother in law had 6 ton of the latter last year but there is no demand for small fruit this year which is a great pity for it is very slavish work. Some of the strawberries were as large as a hens egg. Well we left about 2 pm. We got to the boat about 4 and then had to pull against a head wind, and finally arrived at 8pm thoroughly tired. I was very glad to see the old familiar face once more and recognised him at once. I fancy he looks stutter than when I saw him last. I am very much obliged to him for it and as soon as a photo is taken of our grand house I will send him one. By the way I have not received any Belfast papers this six weeks. Tassie is what is commonly called a ‘little cure’. He tries to imitate any one and any thing he sees. Very fond of the Album and he will take our hands and drag us along to see the ‘Doctor’ meaning Sam

I remain dear sister, ever yours affect,

J.C. Parkinson