Description Hector Campbell

Drumlemble, 4 September 1860

Dear Brother and sister

you will learn by this that your letter came the house and I got a reading of it and was very happy to learn by it that you and all your family was well,   I am also happy to have to state you that this leaves me and all my family in the enjoyment of the same great blessing I understand by your letter that brother Arch. states in his last letter to you about the Death of My Dear Compainion she Departed this life 3 years last febuary she had fuly a year of trouble before that time  I had 8 of a family born to me but it pleased the Lord to call 4 of them away and the other 4 that has been spared in the Land of the Living and in the place of hope I may let you know how they are all placed [Mary] is at service in Glasgow these 3 years last  Janet is married nearly 6 years to a son of Angus McQuilkans that was stoping for many a year beside me they are East of Glasgow about 6 miles and has 3 sons of a family he works at Boating Coals on the Canal to Glasgow  I was out seeing them for 8 Days about a fortnight ago  they are all well they were very happy to hear the news that was from you last spring  they have not heard about the last letter but I mean to let them know some of the contents the first letter I send them  so Janet is Quiet Comfortable as yet he is a steady well doing young man  I am well aware that they would be happy to know

that we mentioned about them to your Son  they were very happy to hear what I could tell them at that time about your William is at service in Macherachanish with a Mr. Smith from Ayrshire  he is with him these 8 years past his wages was but £4··10Sh when he went to him first  I mean the 6 months it was still adding up every half year for 2 or 3 half years and these Number of years past he has £22 yearly so you will learn by that that Servants wages is much higher than it was when you were at Service in the Old Country  he would not stay so long in this Country as he has --- he would be of either to America or Austrilia before now only for me  he does not like to leave me now in my Old Days  I may let you know that he is very kind and attentive to me  he is a temperate young man although not a tea tottler  he put a headstone after his Mother Died in the Old burying gound at Killkirean in memory of our father and Mother and his own Mother and his 2 Brothers and Sister  it cost him £3  many a time he wished to send a letter to his Uncle to Picto if he but new the adres were wondered very much that you were so long in writing us for that is all the correspondance that we can have with each other now is a few lines at times  Ann is still keeping house with me since her Mothers Death  she can not get to service  she is very attentive to me  she works out with the farmers round her on Days wages when work is to be got  I am Quiet Comfortable as yet as long as the 2 that is with me keeps single but I hope to be provided for should

that be the (that they would Double) Case Ann often says that she would wish to see her 6 Cousins Coming in here at once alll dressed in the Yanky fashion  she thinks she could enjoy herself well with them  she is not out of the notion but she may see them yet  Dear Brother and Sister I have now to state you another Subject what will grieve you more than my first  that is the Death of your Brother Archibald  he was ploughing a head ridge him and a Neighbour man on the 23 of June last  Archibald was Driving the horse and some one thing or another started the horse and Archd. was knocked down and was tramed on by the horse but he was able to get up himself and walk hom but he was so severly hurt that he Died next day about 3 oclock in the afternoon  his Daughter May came for me but he was not able to speak to me after I got there  he lived about 5 minutes afterwards  Dear friends the lesson is to each and all of us be ye also ready for in such a time as we know not the son of man cometh and happy happy are those who is ready with oil in their lamps when the messagar of Death cometh, he was very proud when he got the letter from you last spring  he sent over for me to hear it read but when your next came he was in the world of Spirits, you mentioned in your last letter that you wrote his Son William but got no answer there is not letter from him here yet which causes them to be very uneasy about him so I cannot send you his adres this time  I may let you know that it was on Archd. place they were ploughing for fitches when the accident that termed in Death happened

May our Sister and John Mc Kinlay is living in Drumlemble these 6 years back  he is Driving Coals with a pair of horse that belongs to the Duke of Argyle from the Coalwork here to Campbeltown as the canal is shut up about 3 years ago  May is not very stout at times they have [of] of a family in life 3 Sons and 4 Daughters  they are all wel  the Old Daughter (Mary) is married and the young Son William followed the same example  Janet and Alexr. Amy is at the Lags Near Knocknaha  they have a hearding there  Janet is faling very much  they have 8 of a family 5 Sons and 3 Daughters  they are all married but 1 Son and Daughter  James is in America and John is at Sea  they have been of very little help to their parents any of them  I may also let you know as I understand that you have not heard it yet that Neil Mc Callum is Dead a year last June he was married for 6 years before he Died  his 2nd wife has 3 of a family  her family and some of our Sisters Ketrins family is putting up together yet in the one house  The old Son John was very proud when I read your last letter to him  Brother Johns Widow is still at Campbeltown  her and the family is well as far as I can hear  I seldom see any of them  Dear Brother and Sister I felt the loss of both of you very much when I would go to the Campbeltown after you went away both of you was very kind to me and if you were within a days sailing from her I would see you oftenr than ever I expect to do  be sure and send Mary over with a burden of tobacco to some morning and I will send ber back with a burden of lembets and pans Cod fish  William and Ann joins me in their respects to you both and their Cousins  Meantime I remain your Loving Brother Hector Campbell

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tell Mary if she comes over to see us that we will get a sweetheart for her that will be clean shaved  that the hair will not touch the shear going in his mouth not forgetting the rest of although we do not see them

be sure and write me and let me know all the particulars and that I would know whether this comes to your hand or not

I am still in the old house I was in before you went away