Mary Malone ( May 12, 1898 ) |
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Mary Malone |
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*********** Letter: two pages, both sides Paper: lined paper 7-7/8” wide by 10” high Envelope is addressed to Mrs. Wm Fitzpatrick, Dennison, Mich. The front is postmarked Midland, Mich., May 13, 8681, 8 AM The back is postmarked Dennison, Mich., May 14, 1898 The back is also postmarked Midland, Mich. Notice that the front postmark say 8681 rather than 1898. The date is upside down The envelope is 4-1/2” wide by 3-3/4” high and it is stamped with two 1-cent stamps. ***********
Midland, Mich. May 12, 1898 My dear cousin-
Hoping you will not think I have tried to repay your negligence in answering letters, I will try to interest you for a few minutes. Joe have been papering the Parlor, Hall, Sitting room and dining room so that has kept me real busy. We have a new carpet on the sitting room and things look quiet swell around here. The sidewalks have all been repaired so it makes quit an improvement around the parochial residence. The hall and sitting room has in grain paper on them. I have the house cleaning nearly all done except the kitchen. It is a little early but we were torn up while they were papering so I cleaned house then.
I haven’t taken a music lesson since the papering began but expect to take one to-day. His Lordship Bishop Richter is coming here the fourth of June to give confirmation so that will make some extra work. I forget to tell you Mrs. Miller helped me clean house and just yesterday she was asking about you girls. Father Malone went to Grand Rapids Monday and returned Wednesday evening so did not have time to go home. I congratulate you on your little niece if it isn’t too late. What did she call her baby? I saw in the paper Al Johnson from Coopersville had gone to the war. Was it Katie’s husband? How do you people like the war? Is their and danger of your neighbor on the west going. If so you should use all your influence to prevent him for my sake. How is that party and his Berlin Mary getting along. I presume it is nothing to me but just for something to say I thought I would ask.
I presume you know Mary and Helen Duff have gone to Grand Rapids to do dressmaking. Marcella is here and she and I went for a walk Sunday and called to see a sick girl. We have catechism here every Sunday now and May Thompson, Mary Duberville and myself teach so that makes Sunday seem shorter. The little choir practice after catechism. They sing at 8 o’clock Mass during May. We also have May devotions every Friday night. We have a new organ in the church. They had it for Easter and the choir learned a new Mass, one of Battmaus Masses. It is beautiful. Do you sing in the choir down there? I hope you did not give it up for they will have a slim choir after a while and you know the greater part of this choir is married people.
Well Lizzie, how does it seem to wring the bell for meals instead of school? I can picture to myself you flying around over there. I presume it is busy just now. Our folks at home have a girl but they do not like her and Mike said they are going to let her go. I wish they could get a good girl for the summer but they are hard to get.
Well as I am out of news, I will bring my letter to a close hoping you will be more prompt in answering and I will try to do better next time. Give my love to Will but keep a good share for yourself also. Please remember me to all inquiring friends.
Lovingly your Cousin Mary Malone L.B. 31
P.S. I promised to tell you when Mr. & Mrs. O’neill went keeping house but forgot. They live on our street and appear to be very happy. I was there Sunday. He has been sick but is better now.
**** “Joe”: In a letter written from Midland, dated Aug 11, 1897, Lizzie mentions the name “Joe O’Connor”
“Father Malone”: Mary Malone had two brothers that were priests, James Malone and Dennis Malone.
“Al Johnson”: Lizzie’s sister Kate was married to Al Johnson.
“Is their and danger of your neighbor on the west going”: The McGrath farm was west of, and adjacent to, the Fitzpatrick farm. Thomas McGrath is in the 1870 Census. He was born in 1867. That makes him about 5 years older than Mary Malone. In a letter dated March 14, 1897, Mary Malone says “How is T. Mc? Do you ever see him? I presume the poor fellow is expecting a letter that never comes for I cannot make connections and perhaps it would get lost. Do not mention this or anything I told you before to Frank or anyone.”
“Marcella”: Mary Malone had a double first cousin named Marcella Malone. Marcella Malone was the daughter of Mary G. Golden and Thomas Malone.
“Mike”: Mary Malone had a brother named Mike Malone
“Will”: Lizzie Golden was married to William Fitzpatrick
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Envelope Front |
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