CENSORED

    The outside of the envelope is stamped:  OPENED BY CENSOR 3820. The envelope bears a one-cent stamp, the year is 1917, and the address is to Mrs. John Donovan, 21 Orr Street, Troy, NY.
                                                                           strand
                                                                           Garrick on suir
                                                                           Jan 31/ 1/ 1917
Dear sister I received your very kind and welcome letter and was ever so glad to hear from you and Father also as he is old and Feeble now so he cant get out of bed at all this 3 years since he buried the old one and he have nothing now but the old pinsen (pension?) and that would not keep tobacco with him now  and the way everything is in Ireland everything is so dear but when he had it he did not want me or come near me    Now he is glad to come to me when he have nothing and he is always speaking about you and William that he would not think it worth ye while to write to him   Dear Sister I was sorry to hear about your boy it was a terrible death he got but we must be satificed  with the will of god  Dear Sister I am after meeting my own share of trouble   I buried the 2 eldest girls and there Father and now poor Pat in that country and while Pat was in that country he was no good for me  he only send 5 pound in 13 years   whatever he was doing in America I don't know  he must be with the Briens all the time and my other boy Jack is in England and Mary is married this 3 years and have one baby  14 months  her husband is in the war he is in Salonilnd (No clue as to what this is)  at present and she looks after the old man while I do be working out and as for friends they are all gone Aunt Mary and all   Well Dear Sister if you see me now you would not know me do you see William at all   I had a letter from him about 6 months ago and he told me his eldest girl was going to be married   I suppose he is all right   Dear Sister since we got your letter Father is crying he felt lonely   Dear Sister I have no more to say till I hear from you again  hope it wont be long and if you have any foto of yours and the children send one on and remember us to your daughter ellen 
    I will now say good bye till I hear from you again  from your fond Father and sister
                                                                                                With love to all
     I will send you along letter in the nesat  (next?)