James Patrick<br/>c/o Mcgrath Shipping Co.<br/>10 Kings Street<br/>South Carolina<br/>United States<br/><br/><div style="text-align: right;">14 December, 1845</div><br/>A Ghrá mo Chroí James,<br/><br/>How terrible that a man was lost on your journey! I would have been very afraid, I am sure. I cannot imagine how terrifying a storm like that would have been. How long did your trip take? What were the things you had to do on the ship? I am terribly glad you did not get whipped. What a horrible thing.<br/><br/>How exciting it must have been when you got off the ship in such a new place. What things do they have to buy? Were they very different from here? How do you mean, take them home? Did they not have homes?<br/><br/>A slave market? Do you mean, human slaves? How awful! What kind of place is that, that would treat people like that? Did you see them? The slaves?<br/><br/>What is your boarding house like? Is it comfortable? Are there many people there? What do they eat in Americay?<br/><br/>I am sorry to say the harvest this year was indeed terribly poor. More than half the fields were worthless. The potatoes looked fine when they were dug up, but in a few days they turned black and rotten! I have never seen anything like it. It will be quite a hard year I am afraid. Da said there were some people going to speak to some of the landowners about getting help sent over from England. I do hope they will do something.<br/><br/>It is almost Christmas, and I do think I will miss you even more when you are not here for that. Do tell me all about how it is over there. Do they celebrate Christmas in Americay?<br/><br/>What of your new job? What do you do? Is it better than it was over here? I cannot wait to join you, although I believe I shall miss home when I do.<br/><br/>Logan Donahugh passed in November of consumption. His wife is broken hearted. They are expecting their first child in the spring. How hard it must be for her. We have been doing all we can for her, but we fear it may not be enough. There is talk that she may be evicted from their land.<br/><br/>Do you remember Siobhán Boyle? Well, she and Darragh Brogan were wed just last week! Is that not wonderful news. And Liam Connelly is courting Maeve Casey! Can you imagine! Do you remember when he used to pull her braids and tease her terribly about her freckles? And now they are madly in love! Lie can be so funny sometimes.<br/><br/>I do hope I hear from you soon. All about your new life. I miss you terribly, but I am also very glad you have such a wonderful new opportunity.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: right;">Tugaim cion dui, <br/>                          Moira</div><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>