Luzerne County PA Archives History - Letters .....Michael Harrington's Letter To Mary Ellen Murphy In Wales July 5, 1886
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katrina coopey katrinacoopey@hotmail.com May 23, 2010, 10:40 am

Miners Mills, Luzerne County, PA
July 5th 1886
My Dear Friend,
I received your kind and most welcome letter and I was highly please to hear 
from you.  I should like to have heard from you before but I suppose you did 
not know my directions which made it impossible for you to write, but I hope 
when you receive this you all will be enjoying the best of health.
To commence with the news I am about to disclose, of course you know of my 
Mother’s death which was quite hard on me and the children.  The children have 
missed her because she was like a mother to them whenever she had anything 
nicer than another they all had their share.  No grandmother was ever kinder 
to children than she was and the children spoke of it when she was gone.  Of 
course they lost a good mother when your sister Margaret died but thank God 
they has as kind-hearted a grandmother as ever lived to take care of them but 
now the mother and grandmother is gone,  I believe to the glorious heavens 
above.  Margaret was a fine mother to her children when she lived and also a 
kind hearted sister-in-law to me which I have not forgot and which I do not ...
[top of page missing] ...died on the twentieth day of March 1879, which made 
only a difference of around fourteen months between them.  He died from a lump 
which grew in his insides, and my dear mother died this year in the month of 
February on the twentieth day.
My dear mother had been a sufferer for years but always kept working around 
the house and did so till the last.  She was not bed-sick to very long and 
died very peaceful.  She left me... [top of page missing] ...bottom of my 
heart for sparing her to me as long as He did, for in this wicked world there 
is nothing like a good mother to look after a child, but now my dear mother 
has gone and left us, also Margaret and Cornelius.  The three of our nearest 
and dearest friends on this earth, but I believe and hope it is to the 
Glorious Heavens above, and it all depends on ourselves for by living a good 
and holy life in this world we may have the pleasure of meeting them in the 
other world when we make our departure from this one.  I am much pleased you 
told me about your family for I am glad to hear how they are all getting on.
I am very sorry for your poor sister and I hope God will have mercy on her and 
give her back her health.  You will please tell your mother not to trouble any 
more as her daughter Margaret is alright in the other world we believe, and 
the children are all right while I live.  There are four of them, two boys and 
two girls.  The oldest is William, a nice intelligent boy who appears to be 
very sensible.  He works in the mines at present but I am going to try and get 
him something to do outside of them.  He is a reasonable scholar and all 
considered a fine boy.  He was fourteen years old the 24th of last April.  The 
next one is Ellen, the adopted child.  She is a splendid scholar for her age 
and has a fine home.  She is with a catholic lady who thinks a great deal 
about her.  They lived close to us one time so we used to go to the one church 
and I used to see Ellen dressed splendid.  Believe me she will be a credit to 
all who belong to her when she grows up a young woman.  To the best of my 
knowledge she is between eleven and twelve years old.
The next is Daniel.  A smart boy who goes to school every day and I mean to 
keep him at school if I can.  He is ten years old.  The next is a namesake of 
yours, Mary Ann.  A fine child for her age.  When her grandmother and her ....
[part of page missing]...you would not wish to see a nicer looking child.  We 
had her until over a year ago.  My brother Patrick wanted her so I let him 
have her, but of course I could have her when I wanted her.  I have the two 
boys William and Daniel to look after.  Mary Ann is eight next fall.  Brother 
William had four children, three boys and one girl.  Brother Patrick has two 
children, one boy and one girl.
Tell your mother to cheer up.  If God spares me and fortune favours me I will 
see her yet and take Willie with me and any more I cannot promise now.
I am glad you have got a fine family and hope they grow up and be a blessing 
to you in your old age.  You asked me not to be offended for you writing to 
me.  It is only glad I am that you did write, and I hope it will not be long 
till I hear from you...[part of page missing]...
When she did not hear anything of those whom she would give the world to see, 
she can rest assured that she will hear often from them now.  You asked me to 
give you the address of the lady that got Ellen ...[part of page missing].  
I must bring my letter to a close with every wish for yourself and family.  
Allow me to subscribe myself [missing] Harrington [missing] ..your letter to 
Michael J Harrington, Miners Mills P.O, Luzerne County, Pen.


Additional Comments:
Michael Harrington took charge of Cornelius and Margaret Harrington's children 
after their deaths in 1879-1880.  The original letter is still in my family's 
possession

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