Langholm

Jan. 2 1855

Dear Thomas,

We received your letter and the bill on Christmas day for which we give you our sincere thanks. Indeed to tell the truth it was very much needed as times has with us for a long time been very hard provisions very dear, and likewise work very scarce frequently idle. The weavers here only half employed indeed many of them has had no work at all this long time back.  Your brother John idle between webs sometimes four weeks. James' Master was obliged to stop but now is begun again, he having compounded with the Creditors for 14 shillings in the pound. Indeed I think you did very wisely when you went to America. If I had been twenty years younger I would have gone too.  We would all have gone.  This is not a good country for a working man at present and not like to be any better for some time.  We told your Uncle David you would send him some money before long.  He was very pleased and said as he had no work he would make goods and send them to you if you thought you could sell them, and we could get them to you.  Let us know when you write whether you think it would do or not.

I must now tell you about your letter, that is our feelings and what we did.

Your mother was often saying will there not be a letter soon from Tom, and when I read that you were well and that Helen and her family were well it made her very happy, but when I read the bill she cried out, O my good Bairn, bless him, he was all good to his parents and I noticed the tears running down her cheeks.  She bids me tell you how pleased she is at the pious tone of your letter and to keep always in the same way of thinking that you are at present, and to take care of your health.  Both her and me are  much the same in health as when you left us, but a little older.  Remember us to Helen and her family when you see them.

Your brother and sisters and their familys are all well at present and send their respects.  We have not heard from Janet lately but would have heard if there had been anything the matter.  We saw Mary Young and told her about John Farrish's family. She was pleased to hear they were doing well and bade me tell you to tell John to write them a letter and tell them how they are doing and how they like the country and every thing that they think they would like to hear.  I was to give you the compliments of John and your sisters Mary and Jean and likewise James and tell you how pleased they were to hear you were well.  I think James and Jean would like to go to Canada but we cannot not do without Jean, your mother not being able to do the work of the house.  I took the bill to Mr. Wallace and said you can do anything with that.  He looked at it and said who was the John Murray.  I said myself. He told me to go to George Scott and beg a two penny foreign bill stamp.  When I came back he put the stamp on the back of the bill and told me to sign my name on the stamp, and the date, which I did.  He then gave me the money keeping 6 pence for his trouble.  You speak about a shop but we think it would not answer.  One could not sell unless you gave credit and in a very little time you would lose all together.  So I just went and paid debt to the amount of 4# (upwards of whole being house rent) and the rest we are keeping for the house. I went to Mr. Rome(?) and paid for the 2 papers and    (rest of letter missing)  

(presumed written by John Murray to his son, Thomas, in America.    J.M.S. 4/1998)