Kenmare
Eglinton Rd
Ardrossan
May 19th 1919

My Dear Nephew

I feel charmed to receive a fine long letter from you and to know you arrived safe home.  All through your letter I see you are very happy a reward so far for the disappointments & trials of the war.

Gr. Pa was very un well in the month of March but about Easter he gradually recovered and the Cormack Family came for their usual Easter holiday.  I had a lively time with Corrie’s children, for as soon as they heard me about in the morning they were down.  The weather was ideal, sunshine every day so you can guess how lovely it would be in the early morning with little Agnes and Will pattering around asking no end of questions.  We had got in two carts of char for the cold march weather and this afforded great pleasure to those little children.  They get up to the top by the pallings and slid down.  Will talked kindly to Carty but loved to pull his tail and almost bury him with the sandy soil in the garden.  Burt was so fond of the company he did not care what they did.

One day we went up the hill at the back of our house and had a pic-nic in a field.  It was good fun and Corrie and I had knitting with us.  Just as we had finished our very good lunch we noticed a crowd of cattle coming in at a gate so we hurried up, got over the dyke and on to the Dalry Rd.  Gr. Pa was pleased to see us arriving thinking perhaps that we had been long enough away.  Another day Corrie wanted us all to come down to Mr. Brown the photographer and have our photos taken just P. Co[?] as Mr. Brown is not first class but it is all we have in Ardrossan at present. I dressed in a hurry my hair is rather flat but all together it is not bad.  I am en closing one for you.  It was a great day on Saturday when Papa came they were all down at the station to meet him, while I was preparing in side.  He brought so many nice things and the children were delighted to run with something to me.  They were good speakers and could shout out Aunt Maggie so plain.  They were here twelve days and they all left looking splendid after their change to Ardrossan.

I wish you could see our garden just now.  The three apple trees are loudened with blossom and the walls are covered with leaves and the red currents are formed so are the goose berries.

Plenty of fruit this year and I can see the potatoes and vegetables coming up.  A man brought up a few barrow fulls of shells for the foot path and all round the back of the house which gives a tidy clean look.

Arran people say it is lucky to get up early on May morning and wash your face in May dew.  A friend was staying over the last night of April and I had to be up to prepare an early breakfast so came down just after five.  I was up early but forgot to wash in May dew but I think I have been lucky in having plenty of good company.

Your Aunt Susan and Miss Maggie Weir have been here for the weekend and got the pick of weather also.  Miss Weir and I went to church and in the after noon had a walk up Dalry Rd over the hill past Mont Fode farm where we got such a lovely view of the sea, miles away.  We saw Arran hills so plain and the sleeping giant, then Ailsa Craig in the distance and round to Millport.

This fore-noon we all went over to Saltcoats and had a look at the shops, returned about 2 p.m. had dinner and tea, then left with the train about 5 p.m.

They were greatly interested in the garden and were out often looking to see the different seeds coming up. 

Aunt Susy was looking well considering her severe illness and walked over to Saltcoats with Maggie and I nicely.  Gr. Pa said she was [?] with her new costume.

Mrs Kerr next door has got her son Robert home and he is down finishing his time at the ship yard.  He is learning to be an engineer and may go to sea.  Mr Zuack is manager of the ship yard and his beautiful up to date house is along the shore a bit from us at burnfoot.

They are very busy and a great number of a men and women employed.  I would not be surprised if Ardrossan shores would become a large shipping docks.  Since Easter I have been very busy in my own bit and last night I was dead tired.  I feel I must take a leaf out of the Misses Murchie’s book and retire early at night. 

I have no doubt you will spend an enjoyable evening when Norman Rippon and Orvil Elliott come up to the house.  They are both very fine young men but they might unconsciously steel the affections of one of your sisters.  I often remember Norman Rippon with the nice little dimple in his cheek when he smiled.  No wonder the girls at the store brought out the matches even when they were so scarce.

When I think of it you are three lucky fellows compared with these you speak of who arrived home with an English bride

When you wrote to me I was reminded of Sir Walter Scott and Sir William Tell.  The same feelings of freedom promped them to write their grand poetry and addresses on love of their native land.

I feel it is time I had a day up to see how they are at Moss St. Perhaps Gr. Pa will go too.  I have not seen Joe and Nan since they spent that night with us and I was disappointed at not seeing you.

I heard they made a good show at some of the dances.  I have not doubt they will practice often together getting up all the nice steps.

You remember Mary [?] up at the corner house now Mrs Richie Wilson. They sailed last Wed. from Liverpool in the “Grampian” to Quebec then on to Calgary where they mean to take up their abode.  They are a very nice couple and have a little baby girl of three months.  She is known here so well as she was a lovely soprano singer and took a prominent part at many entertainment.  Her father and Mother were sorry to part with them and what a preparation and such an amount of luggage they wont require anything more for a life time.  Although he got home often on leave yet he was not allowed to travel with her to Liverpool. It was sometimes rather funny when he was having another few days leave we would bid him farewell then he would turn up once more.  It reminded me of the soldiers farewell on the La Seale in Saltcoats on night we all went

There ever I was sorry to see they going

Now a must finish and hope this finds you all happy and well

Grandpa join me in sending best love to all

Your Affectionate Aunt

Margret M. Law