The Cottage
Rattray
Dec. 29. 1913
My dear Anne,
What a delightfull interesting
letter that was you sent me. we all enjoyed reading it so much.
it was sent to my brother in hospital & he was greatly interested
in the reading of it. I have looked over some of the old letters
& send with this a few that I think will interest you. Strange
to say the first I took out of the box was one from the Revd Thos. Durfee.
I did not know there were any from him. You will be amused as
I was at the letter from Mrs Durfee to her sister - my grandmother -
she is telling of her marriage & the description of her husband
is, I think killingly funny. She tells that he is twenty six year
of age "And although so far advanced in the decline of life
his teeth are quite sound, the most of his hair yet remaining on his
head" !!! Well, I suppose to the sixteen year old girl (that
was her age) twenty six would seem quite old. though now-a-days
- in this country men are considered mere boys at that age, & not
many of them marry until they are over thirty.
Then there is another letter which I'm sure you'll find most interesting.
it is written by my great grandfather - your great great
grandfather - to his father, the first evidently sent after the emigrants
landed in America, it is a description of the voyage & first impressions
of the new country. Just fancy they took three months to cross
over to New Your. six weeks when they returned six years or wo
later. You will find the reading rather a tedious business, the
writing being so very small, & no wonder when we see 25 cents stamped
on the cover, letter writing was a serious matter in those days &
every inch of space would be used up. We have been looking over
some of the older photographs & are a little puzzled about two of
the, both are Mrs Borden & we wonder which is Jane Amanda - your
grandmother's sister. I shall enclose them & you can explain
when next you write. just put the names on back of photo.
We have also a photo of Lizzie Johns - your Mother taken when she would
be quite a young girl. We are all agreed that she must have been
a beauty.
Then there is a photo of Shirley Borden, a little fellow in a velvet
suit standing on a chair. Do you see much of him. By the
way, a good many years ago when I was quite a young girl I was staying
with some friends in Oban[?Obau] they had a house there for the season.
I was looking over the visitors list one day & noticed that there
was a party from St. Louis in one of the hotels. I forget now
how many, but their name was Johns. I wondered very much if they
were our cousins & thought of calling at the hotel to enquire, but
I was young & shy & let the opportunity slip. I wish now
that I had called. But surely if they were any of the clan they
wouldn't be in Scotland without coming to look us up. Then
although we have not heard the name before it may be common enough in
your country.
Now I must turn to the fire. my hands are cold I hope to
hear from you soon again.
With kind regards to you all & our best wishes
for the New Year.
I am
Yours affect--
Ada Butchart
I quite forgot to say that my brother is getting on very
well indeed & we hope to have him home soon. I have not read
the book you speak of "The Crossing but my brother has, I must
try & get it. no hurry returning these letters we would like
all the friends to have a reading of them. I shall look over some
more & any I think would be of interest I shall send later on.
I enclose seven in the meantime.
A. B.
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