Description Thomas Mockler

Victoria March 30th 1885

My Dear Wife

I have so longed to hear from you, the only letter I received was dated 25th February and I expect the letters I wrote have also missed to reach you.  I hope you are not ill Dear Wife, the time is so long since I had news from you.  I often think you cannot be well.  I have had a bad cough for some time and far from well though I expect it will get better soon after getting to sea.  We finished loading on the 28th and arrived here the same evening, Expect to sail tomorrow Moodyville is a miserable place much like Port Gamble  Mrs

Kelly remains there for sometime  Mrs Cameron is well, and Laura is still at the Convent.  Capt. P. will start for home soon and he will likely see you  I have made arrangments to place any moeny you require with him, my only consolation with the sea is now that it will bring me nearer to you Dear Wife, and I hope never  again to be parted from you.  The prospects in this country at present are poor for anyone to make an easy living crowds of idle men fill the place and one would wonder how they managed to live, of course a tradesman has always a better chance.  Capt. P. gets more fussy every year and I will not stay much longer with him, of course it is hard to get a situation without capital, so if you think of corner lot or any other business let me know, I rely so much on your

good sound judgement Dear that it will be the means of working an easy future, their is no money to be made at sea even with an interest freights decline year by year, and the long lonely days and nights with the care and anxiety ages a man more than any other business.  A farmers life offers less care but without means it is a hard one   Father and Mother are anxious for a milder climate than Nova Scotia, this climate though so beautiful in summer in winter is disagreeable overcast with rain most of the time.  Mrs Cameron seems well satisfied only longs to have more of the family near.  Mrs Woods has had several bad turns lately  I think she is very delicate.  I have not seen the Jennings in fact the only one I feel friendly towards is Mr Jennings.  I know Darling that you will fret fret and this 

may in your weak state bring on searious illness, I pray God will spare you to me Dear Wife how much I want your kind sympathy daily I reproach myself when you were by my side, why I was not more kind and considerate.  I think of the many little pleasures that I withheld  I trust to be more careful in the future.  We should reach Buenos Ayres in eighty days which would be the middle of June.  Write me a long letter Dear Lottie of your journey home   I have heard nothing if you were seasick  I met the stewardess on my way from the boat and asked her to be kind to you  Write to care of the British Council Buenos Ayres, I will tell you of Mr Younger.  God Bless you my own Dear wife.  with sympathy to you and all yoru family

Your loving and affectionate husband 

Thomas Mockler