Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.1. Correspondence, Private letters
1967 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to May Beveridge, 03.11.1967
Source: Archives of Rural History (ARH), Elizabeth McLoughlin Papers
My dear May. I have your grand long letter of 27th September beside me it took over a month to come. I know I have left you a long time without a letter, but I have been busy as I had Paying Guests up to 3rd October and then had an old friend staying with me till 31st October I cannot settle down to write letters unless I have the house quiet, I usually start my letters about 10 pm to mid-night. And with people staying, I cannot remain up that late. I am out so much during the day with the animals on the farm, that I feel I must me sociable and chat or play cards when I am in with my guests.
I had to read your letter several times to get to know “who is doing what”. Am glad Elizabeth got the car and hope it is a success. And that your old one will last over the winter. It is wonderful how children out there are able to get small part time jobs and make some cash. You certainly had a very worrying time in getting all their Health records in order for their new schools. I sincerely hope that you and Jim have had a little more rest, and better news of dear Josie. I did not know of her accident, how many years ago did it happen. She never wrote to Kay from the time she was here with Jim. And Kay often wondered at that.
I hope Peter, I don’t know his other name, has settled down to his job and house. You always seem on the move out there. I have a couple of Divine Words to send you but did not read them yet. Yet they are the best of all the religious books. I will send them on during the week, but they go by ordinary mail so will take a long time to get to you.
I cannot remember if I sent you the Memoriam cards of darling Kay, so I enclose two now. They are very nice. I got 60 printed and have only four left now. I have only finished answering all the letters and Mass cards this week. I send you a list of the Mass cards this week. I send you a list of the Mass Cards you might like to know who sent them.
I am calling to see Mr Cullen the solicitor when I go to Dublin next week as I have to give him my list of small expenses, and he wrote me yesterday to say he was ready to complete the business. I sent a large suitcase of her clothes to the Sisters of the Holy Rosary (Killeshandra) Sale of Work, and I have some more odds and ends to send to the Medical Missionary of Mary Sale of Work.
There were 8 Sisters of the Holy Rosary at Kay’s requiem Mass here at Kilbride, as it was their Chaplin who said the Mass, they were on holidays at Brittas Bay at the time and some of them came back here to breakfast.
I will get my cousin Kevin Kelly who is a Jeweller, to post out the few bites of jewellery. I showed him all she had and he said there was very little of value only her gold watch. But I know you would like all that would be useful as you have so many girls in the family. There were some strings of beads white and yellow and glassey ones which I sent to Sales of Work as there were not worth the postage.
I believe Nuns can dispose of anything at those Sales ant it all helps the Missions so will bring prayers and graces for Kay. I kept one of her coats and a tweed frock and some cardigans and winter blouse for myself, and I gave Eileen Beveridge a coat and few other articles she liked.
So many friends used to send Kay cardigans, bed socks and scarves at Christmas she did not know what to do with them. I never wear scarves. The little white jewel case you sent her, I gave to Diana McElligott. Jennis and Hugh and Diana often come to see me; the son Gerald does not come often he does not like me, because when he was very small and bold one night when I was staying with them I gave him a good smack which he never forgot.
Excuse my typing mistakes as this machine takes on odd jump at times particularly when I hit the “a”; and it wont spell for me.
I am a bit tired to-night so good night and a big God bless you. With fond love to you all from
Lillie
Monday 6th November. Am feeling fine to-day had a good sleep two nights. Thanks a thousand times for suggestions that I should go visit you next spring. But it is completely out of the question. I can never take more than two or three nights away. Have no one to look after the animals which are my livelihood. Now May dear, you very kindly asked if there was any little souvenir of Canada that I would fancy? You sent me that lovely Maple leaf coat ornament which is very often admired. It is one of the few bits of jewellery I wear. I sold a lot of my jewellery and also most of my darling mothers’ some years ago when I needed cash to buy a car, also years ago I had to sell some to help pay my Rates. I am too old now at 69 last October to be collecting things, in fact I am going to start getting things in order like Kay, so that when God calls me, there won’t be much to annoy my friends.
When my cousin Moya Malone died a few years ago, I got a lot of her shoes and things that fitted me, and now some of Kay’s so I have enough clothes to do my lifetime.
I shall send you my photos soon. Lil.