1 3 Munster St Phibsboro 24th July 1916 My dear Mother I had a letter from Lizzie on Sat
morning saying you asked them to tell me to
write to you. I hope you have got the two
letters I wrote lately. I fear you are worried
about us here. Now please do not be in
the least uneasy. This day week I wrote
to you I hope my letter has reached you
alright. When Ed was first sent away
I did not like to bother you with bad news
and I told Tom I was keeping it from you.
But you seem to have heard it from some
other source. Now don't be troubled about
us. God is taking great care of us all.
Ed was sent to Dartmoor prison in
England on the 18th May. He was allowed
to write to me on the following day and
then I got a communication from the 2 governor of the prison saying he would not
have permission to write again till 10th September.
You can imagine what a pleasant surprise it
was for me then to receive a letter from him
this morning. They are entitled to have a
visitor every four months as well as a
letter and if they cannot have the visitor then
they are allowed to write every two months.
Ed prefers the letter to a visit. The visits are
very unsatisfactory. Viv, Mairin and I saw
him for a short time in the prison here
before he went away but there was a warden
present all the time. Ed told me to give the
enclosed letter to you. Of course his letters
and all he receives are read by the prison
authorities. I can only write to him once
in two months. It is a long time to be
without a word from him, but he is
in good health from all I can gather
and I am very hopeful that when God
has so mercifully spared his life he will
do much more for us. I know he will 3 keep strong and well by looking forward
to meeting us all again. Have no anxiety
about me or the children, we have everything
we want and I shall be able
to get along even if Ed is a long time
away. But he won't be with God's help.
I form my intention for the masses as you
told me. What a noble soul dear Tom is!
He wrote some lovely letters to me. I am
sure with all your prayers and help
everything will soon be well. Of course it
was the American influence here that got
Ed's sentence commuted. Now please don't
fret. Uncle Charlie, I am sure, will take the
same hopeful view of things that I do.
Perhaps you might be let write to Ed as
you may have some important news to tell
him. They get letters containing any special
information. Or perhaps Tom or Ed's Uncle
Ed might to allowed to communicate
with him. Now my dear Mother be of
good cheer. I am asking the Holy Family for
a Christmas Gift and wait till you see won't I
get it. Sinead 4 (At top of page one) If you can furnish
Ed with the particulars
he asks
will you send
the same to me
I hope you will
be able to read his
little note Ferdinand
and Isabella
are the words I
I nearly cut away
the letter was
very closely written. (Written up left side of letter) Please do not be uneasy - all will be well.