Penticton
Sunday 11th Nov. 1888.
My dearest Wife
It appears an age since I wrote to you, & much more since I heard from you. My last was, if I dont mistake, a shabby note, written to send by Mr. Green who was in a hurry to start for Victoria. I fancy he is married before now. Since then, on the 5th I wrote to Kit, & enclosed in it a letter to Frank. The opportunities for sending letters to the post from here are few, this I intend to post on reaching the Railway as I will leave for Victoria tomorrow or next day, the little Str is expected to arrive at any moment.
Both Tom & Georgia have been most kind & attentive to me in every way, & I have been glad to remain with them. I have promised her a photo of our trio, which I wish you would send with a nice letter from you. Tom has done his very best to get me some deer shooting, but I have made a bad hand of the Rifle, besides I find it hard to walk fast enough when the deer are in sight. They are all fond of talking about Frank, he appears to have dropped into their ways very quickly. I have very often wished that he could be here this time with me, your next will, I hope, bring me good news of him. It is hard to hear from Mr. Compton that Jack is still so backward – but it would not make it better to repeat it to others. I have written to Jack today to urge him to great exertion but have not alluded to his backwardness. The Monkey says he now gets but 600 per week pocket money, & after ___________ & for a newspaper for me, he had not much left. I thought an arrangement was to be made with Mr. Compton for that he was to be provided more liberally, I forget exactly what was settled.
I am afraid from what you say, that my telegram to you was not as intelligible as I intended it to be viz that your mind should be set at rest without loss of time. My letters since will have explained all I wished to say & I can but add, or repeat, that if you have remained away from me to make yourself miserable, I shall be greatly aggrieved, so pray dont worry, but try to enjoy yourself, and let Kit do so, but I wish either you, or she would write, & tell me that she is learning music, taking lessons in singing &c &c and thus improving the occasion, this would not interfere with her enjoyment, but on the contrary would add to it. I hope sincerely that you will be able to tell me that she is quite well again. You dont answer my questions, or allude in any way to many things I wrote to you about. Have the Kox Knoxes renewed their invitation?
Before now you will have seen the Wards & no doubt you will have had the Victoria news in detail. Joe & Julia will, I suppose, be in London ere long. I have not heard of him since I left Victoria. I hope you will be able to make some arrangement as to where Jack will spend his vacations, dont put off the consideration of this matter too long, it is very important that we should know where he is to go on these occasions.
Have you got a sponge for yourself? if not I want Kit to buy one, & present it to you with my compliments. I also wish you would procure a good warm outfit that you want in future, when I want you to come out with me, say “I have nothing to wear.”
—— 12th Nov.
The little Str. has arrive & will, I believe, start in the morning. Georgia is preparing a box of eatables for me, enough to last a week, the journey to the head of the Lake will occupy two days. As far as I can make out their plans the two boys, Eileen & Carry will go to England in the spring with their present governess, who leave, very much to their regret, she appears to be a most excellent person. I doubt if either Tom or Georgia will go, she is afraid to leave the four younger children, they are trying to get a nursery governess for them ===== The stupid fool, the Postmaster at Vernon did not forward my mail as ordered, as he said he heard I would be there in a few days. so I am without news of you, & our dear ones. at Vernon I shant have a moment to write, I must go on without delay so probably after this you may not hear from me until I reach Victoria.
I am constantly interrupted & cannot write comfortably. I do hope and pray I may have good news of you, my dear one, and of our dear children ——- I wrote to Kit to get you something from me, for our wedding day. I hope you will assist her in the selection as I would ask you to assist me. God bless you my darling wife may you be spared to me, and our children for many years.
You amuse me about the “wind” I think if she knew of the Ashley grievance about nutty, she might have told you when you had an opportunity removing it. Give my love to E.W. to Carry & to all also to the Wards. Always say something nice to Mr. Hughes & Sir M. for me. ———
Kamloops
9 O.C. P.M. Sunday night 18th Nov.
I have arrived here an hour ago, nearly frozen but well thank God. I must send this as it is, better than miss the chance of the Cunard on Saturday. Three letters from you with enclosing from Frank, Puss, & Jack were handed to me. I have barely had time to glance at them. It is indeed good news to hear that Frank has got employment. I thank God for his goodness to him. I most dreaded his loafing about with nothing to do. You dont say definitely how Kit is? I wish you would. Dear wee man, I am very sorry to hear that he is such a suffered. I never heard of water on the foot before.
I dont know what to say to you, my dearest Carry. it distresses & grieves me immensely to hear to your worrying yourself as you do, still I should not like you not to tell me everything everything. Do try to be cheerful & go about & see everything on Kits acct. I hope the dear girl will enjoy her visit to her friend Garrad? Dont mind what E.W. says or what J.W.T. says if that are not disposed to be nice to you. My whole heart & sympathy is with you, & I long to be with you but it would be impossible for me to get away as you suggest. I wont attempt to answer your letters now. I will commence tomorrow.
Tomorrow I go to Ashcroft for a couple of days & expect to Vic. on Thursday or Friday.
My love & best wishes to you all
Always your devoted husband – P. O’Reilly
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This collection of letters has been digitized from an earlier transcription project and is for informational purposes only. This transcription has not been verified against the originals. Researchers interested in these letters should consult the original documents housed at the BC Archives.