Oor ain folk times

CIRCULAR LETTERS 263
At one time there were four of us in India together,
and on the suggestion of my brother Jack we wrote a
joint letter as a sort of New Year's card, which we
forwarded to the others of the family, and this gave
such pleasure to the old folks that it became a yearly
custom. Thinking the custom a good one, and that
it may prove a little interesting, I give here two
specimens verb, et lit. of this somewhat unique corre-
spondence.
I hope that the reader may make some allowances
as he runs his eye through what was certainly never
intended for publication of this sort ; my only excuse
for now reprinting these old circular letters is the
belief that others may perhaps be fired to follow our
example ; and if the pleasure given to some loved ones
be even measurably near to what our random letters
gave, I will not have given the hint for naught.
The first is as follows : —
Write your Name and pass it on to the Chief o'
the Clan.
1st January 1874.
Faizabad, Oudh.
My dear Jim, Tom, Alick, Jessie, Robbie, Ethel, Baby,
Bob, Ellen, Will, Hen, George, Davie, Annie — a' yer bairns,
for I dinna ken their names — Andrew, Jeanie, Nelly, Bob,
Tatie Tarn, Curly Pow — an' a' the rest, for I forgot them
too — Lizzie, Papa an' Mamma — the twa Patriarchs — a very
Happy New Year to you all, an' mony o' them.
Always your very affectionate brither, uncle, half-uncle,
an' son, Jack.