To Emma Tyndall   Saturday night, Nov, 22, 1840

Youghal | Saturday night | Nov. 21, 1840

My dear Emma

Weary and worn after my week’s work I have just sat down snugly, contentedly, and comfortably by a roaring fire to pay the debt which has been so long owed to you I mean that of a letter. You no doubt expected a doleful catalogue of calamities when you read the commencement of this letter, however I have no such catalogue to relate. I am quite contented and comfortable, the whistling of the wind out-side makes me doubly so, you know it is very sweet to listen to the howling of the storm when you have nothing to dread from its effects; such is my present situation – the blazing light of a cheerful fire is a pleasant contrast with the howling dreariness of a November night. I got a letter from my father this morning,¹ it precludes all possibility of my seeing you during the ensuing election. I was surprised to find that Mrs Payne intended to leave Bagnalstown so soon, as she did not intimate to Joe² her intention of doing so. I received the letter just a little before breakfast time but judge of my surprise when I was just leaving the office to come to breakfast when I saw the self same Mrs Payne passing by on the Dungarven Car.³ She looks remarkably well, she appears to have got even fatter than she was when I saw her last. She is now settled quite comfortably and I think if she manages properly she ought to be able to continue so. Joe’s and Tom’s pay together amounts to £1 a week⁴ this I’m sure ought to support her well. She was telling me that Jim Walsh⁵ and my father had a great fight lately tell Jim I’ll trash him when I go home if he does not be quiet. Has he the medal yet? I hope he uses my old hat well. Mrs Payne tells me that he has preserved it like a sainted relic, she also told me that my mother was knitting some stockings for me, when I see her I’ll let fall a shower of thanks and blessings on her, however my stock continues very good. Why did you not go to Bagnalstown on Halloweve⁶ as I’ve been told you were invited there. I suppose you think that I have forgotten the subject which was the chief cause of our present correspondence – I mean your history. Though I have kept silent on that subject to the end of my letter still if the first part should be appropriated to the most important subject it should be placed there, however I think the end of a letter is as good a place as can be to impress a correspondent with the importance of any one thing. This is the reason I have reserved it for that place. Persevere! Persevere!! Persevere!!!

Your affectionate brother | John Tyndall.

RI MS JT/1/10/3196

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