Mrs A.W. Smyth
1729 Coliseum Place
New Orleans La
U.S.A.
Ardcame
Dunamangh
23 Jan 1912
My darling Mamma
I have just
gotten David & Papa off to Derry - It is a
very cold frosty morning but clear & calm
You never saw anything so childishly pleased
as the old man to go to Derry. It took
him 3 days to prepare - one days washing
one days shaving and this mornings dressing.
He has gotten terribly childish & most doscil
[docile?] He had to make all the servants admire
his dimond [diamond?] studs & his entire get-up-
he was just like a three year old going into Derry
For the first time D. [David?] is having him made a
suit today - so he took in some of his old finery
to have it copied - This is the first time in years
that he has gone into Derry like a gentleman - D.
wanted to borrow a trap which was easier to get
into than ours; but the old man said he would
"borrow no man's trap" & so climbed into
ours - much easier than I expected.
I expect they will send the Dr. of Arthe to
you today - O'Hagan had to go to the sessions
at 11 o'clock so Papa & D. left at 8 o'clock
to drive right in to catch him before he left
his office - I hope things are getting settled
all right with you by now. Every thing is
getting nicely settled with us over here - I
have lived so long in the misery of poverty
& am certain that even the modest comforts
which we have now seem a great thing.
I would hate to pull up stakes & go back to
N.O. [New Orleans?] The memory of the heat &
strain of living there is not even pleasant to
remember - The cold here is grand
compared to the suffication [suffocation?] of
those N.O. days & the tired feeling that never
leaves you - When you get back you will feel
all right at once - N.O. [New Orleans?] is a dear
old place, but it kills early & I am so happy that
I would like a long life in Ireland - The days are
feeling nice & long now but of course the
cold is strengthening however it makes you
feel fine - I hope to get letters from you
today - Your devoted little girl -
Arthe
