Meanwhile, Marion Brown is unwell, again, still. She's having double vision as she writes her part of this letter; John Glencross's generosity has allowed her to pay her doctor and bills for her medicine. Aunt Agnes wants very much to get back to dairy work, but Marion is convinced she is too old to manage such work now.
Castle Mains
Sanquhar
Oct 25th 1879
My Dear Uncle
I lift my pen to say that I got the draft all right for which I thank you very kindly but I am very glad to say that Trade is getting a Grate deal Better hear miners has Got 2 Shillings a day of a rise and the Furnaces is Set a going again which was Blown out this long time and I think If trade continues as it is doing we will have Good trade in about 9 months but Provisions is rising to a aful ransom, Potatoes is now 7 Shillings a Hunderwight and oats is very high and flour is very high and is still rising But if the wadges rise it is not so much [????] that Been an aful Bad harvest hear abouts and worce in England 6 and 7 weeks is about the General thing this year I think I will try the Coles this winter as their is nothing else hear abouts Going on just now I may say that the Sanquhar People has lifted their water from Clenneries Burn above Moseholm and is not going to take any more of Lochburn it was a short job you may tell Uncle Joseph that the black Loch is enlarged to a grate size now the Embankment is 39 Faws 9 Feet and the Embankment starts at the end of the Lochlee Dyke that is just strait for the Island and goes in a half moon turn about all the way across the common and it is a long way below the old run of it i may say that the Green Loch is all deep drained and Put into the Farm river to be used for curling more you may also tell him that old Purdie was asking after him I fell it rather difficult to raise a Topick as I never have had any acquantance I think I can not say much more at Present But I may say that my name is not Thomas J. Scott but Thomas Glencross Scott which is T G Scott But I Begg to thank you once more for your kindness to me at Present which I hope i will Be able to Replace in about 9 months if God Spares me my helth and strenth I Bet To remain your Loving Nephew T. G. Scott
Dear Uncle
Tom has commenced this letter so it is left for me to finish it. We got our money all right and I was very thankful to you for being so kind as send it to me at this time. I paid my doctor and medicine and has given what remained to Aunt and I hope God will reward you for your kindness for I can not say that I ever will as I have been so long ill and not like to be strong but we dont known what is before us and it is no use always to look at the dark side of the cloud for that does us no good. Aunt is always wishing she could get another dairy but the truth is Aunt has made cheese long enough she has a great spirit to go about and work but she is not strong now poor body I am many a time sorry for her and can do nothing to help her. I cannot write much today I have had sore eyes and while I write I see two pens so I cannot get on very well I hope this will find you all well. Aunt bids me say you are not to be long in writing Uncle William and his family are all well. Cousin Mary Glencross at Mennock has been very poorly and is not any better yet I hope this will find you and all friends well with kind regards to you all in which Aunt joins I am your loving neice Marion Brown
[The upper left corner of the front page of this letter includes a small basic map drawn by Tam Scott, centered on Black Island and showing Loch sides and embankments as described in his section of the letter.]
