“Earnestly I endeavor to follow your honorable counsel about the house, and it is unworthily clean to your honor. I am become like Marion. Always my eyes those tears in them when I think about you, and several times I make my pillow wet. Therefore I praying until you please come home with us. Tha’s very sad that our father die and go way, but tha’s sadder that we lose our mother also.
“Unworthy and insignificant,
“Plum Blossom.”
“Dear Mam,—I thought I would write you a letter, hoping that you are well. i like you very much, mam, and i love the precious lambs, both the babby and Juji, but, mam, i cannot bear any longer so much sorrow, and it’s a letter to you i’m writing to say i must go back to the old country, for i cannot bear so much trouble and i have heard the banshee cry at night and it’s afraid i am that there’s death hovering about. Will you buy my ticket, please, mam? And it’s breaking my heart sure to leave you and the lambs.
“Respectfully,
“Norah O’Malley.”
