Derreens April 24 1887
Dear Brother John
I tender you my heartfelt Sympathy in your great affliction. I would have written at once when I heard of your wife’s death but I could not express how I felt for you in your bereavement & then writing no help to you. I believe there is no real happiness on this earth for mortals It gives me great pain to tell you that Sisters Kate & Annie left home on Monday morning last, 18th April, for America They left from Liverpool on Tuesday evening at 5 O’clock on board the SS “City of Chester” & in all Sincerity there was nothing grieved so much in all my life as to see them leaving but all that all of us could do would not stop them May God speed & guard them in their travels
Brother Tom was married on the Sunday before Shrove Tuesday & Annie felt lonesome but it was heartrending to see them leaving their old home & heaven only knows will they ever visit it again I forgot to say that Tom’s wife is a daughter of Ned McHughes. They are very quiet people. There is a great change since yourself was here on the visit. Until they left I thought the time long from Sunday to Sunday until I’d go back home to See them all but now I don’t care I even would not like to go back home I think I never will again have any nature for the old home. I greatly fear too that my poor father & mother will not be long alive I’m quite certain that their going will Shorten their lives
I was sorry to hear of Uncle Toms death I always hoped I would have the pleasure of seeing him before he died but this world inso uncertain that a person cant be sure of anything almost
Brother Luke is in a very bad fix he has no one to do a turn for him Since Katie left I know if you lived anywhere in the Northern States they would be right enough but there is nothing for it now but pray that God my protect them and guard from all danger.
Remember us to all our relatives Aunt Ellen in particular Accept for the little family and yourself our fondest love
I remain Dr. Brother
You afft Brother
James Armstrong
John F. Armstrong
Please write soon and frequently JA
