Letter from Fanny Cook to Catherine Munday 29 November 1875

Nov 29/75   Corner of Abbotsford and Arden Streets Hotham Melbourne

My dear Mrs Munday

It is with a sad heart that I again take up my pen to write to you, your dear Son James got worse instead of better after the last mails left, the doctor gave but faint hopes from the first but I was in hopes he would have been spared to reach England once more, I send you a note with the doctors account of his 2/ illness in addition to what he mentions the poor fellow suffered from dropsy and a carbuncle in his back which was lanced but the core never came out his sufferings were dreadful the last week he lived it pleased God to take him to himself on the 11 nov at ¼ past seven in the morning I hope dear friend that it will please God to help you bear this beavy blow, it has fallen heavy on all of us I mourn for him as though he had been my own Son 3/ he was always kind and thoughtful for me He often spoke and talked of you all at home but only for a few minutes at a time as he had such nervous fits and the least excitement brought on palpitations of the heart, so could not talk to him about Alice as hearing any particulars about her, that I had asked him to enquire about for me I am very glad he got home as he was able to get nursed and we did all that was in our power to comfort and help him to bear his pain and trouble. The last Sunday he was alive I was sitting on the side of the bed and he said, oh Mother I am so glad I got home to see you once more but I would like to see my dear old Mother once 4/ again but that will never be, well James you must ask god to give you patience to bear whatsoever he may see fit and he may spare you to see her if you ask him but Mother I cannot pray shall I send someone to pray with you, and for you, yes send for the Gentleman who called the other day that I would not see so I sent at once for Rev Dickinson and he came directly service was over and only missed one day till he died and that seemed to comfort him he joined heartily in any short prayers or hymms I would say with him and liked me to read the Bible to him Thy Will Be Done, was one of Dear Alices favourites I asked him when repeating it, if he 5/ remembered who used to sing that he said oh yes Mother he would repeat the words after me with such fervour. He used to say I am so wicked you don't know Mother, but God does James, and he will help you and I believe he did, for I could hear him often repeating the words God be merciful to me a sinner so Dear Friend try and think of him as not lost but gone before, let us both pray that God will prepare us to meet our dear ones whom he has seen fit to take away from us

6/ Just before he died I asked him if he was glad to go he seemed to say happy but oh so tired, the last word he spoke about ½ an hour before he died, where is Mother, I am here, dear Father? Yes, my boy, and then with a sigh, Mother. I kissed him but could not speak and then he laid quiet till the end came Often the last few days he would say kiss me Mother and let me kiss you God bless you Mother We buried him in our own grave with our youngest daughter Emily 7/ in the Melbourne cemetery, the last Tuesday he called for me in a great hurry to bring some paper and write what he told me before he forgot, he said I should like my own dear Mother Mrs Munday to have Alices engagement ring and her broach made of alligators teeth with my best love, my Brother Walter Edward diamond ring and Baby clothes, if you don't mind Mother, I am willing to do just as you wish James with everything.

Sister Anna Maria Alices best work box to Nelson Munday my silver watch hair guard and appendages. My Brother John gold Albert chain. My sister Adelaide Alices broach and earring that I brought back from California

My sister Louisa glove box with A M on top with love to all.

He made a will the first week he was home Mr Cook will send all the particulars to Mr Munday

He told me a great many little things he meant to do if he was spared saying if I am not Mother will you do it, so if it pelase God to help me I will do all he wished as far as lays in my power, there are a great many things I would like to tell you but my head aches if I thnk too much, and my back is still very bad from the effects of so much lifting, hoping you will excuse the mistakes and may God help and comfort you under this heavy blow is the prayer of your sincere friend

Fanny Cook