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Show Lochee December 25th 1852 Dear Brother John It is now long since your wrote to your father, and as he answered you at the time I did not mail you a letter wishing you would write us soon again. But, dear John, I cannot delay any longer writing you owing to what has befallen your aged father, when I must tell you that he is no more with us. His illness [was] like a cold and after 10 days under a heavy sickness, died on the 16th and was interred on Tuesday last in Lochee burying ground beside my own little boy, David. Your father and him is lying side beside in the cold grave. But I hope that their spirits are with the redeemed in glory, singing the praises of Jesus who has laid down his life for us. Your father showed great signs of repentance and submission before he died. It is only by hope that we can speak, but we trust in God that his soul may not be cast away. Your brother and sister was both here at his death. Your brother William is in Australia, which you would know by this time if you have got your father's letter. We have got word from him lately. He stated that he had a good passage and was working in Melbourne at his own trade. Wages is 15 shillings per day provisions [illegible] and stated at the finishing of his letter that he was going off to the gold diggings tomorrow to try his hand, I cannot give you his direction now. I wrote to him myself and he may write to us again. Dear brother John, as it was the dying words of your aged father that every one of his family should share of the whole of his substance equally, there will be to each of you about 50 pounds sterling. You will write and state to us what you want to do with it, whether you want it sent to you or if you ever intend to come home. We will save it in the bank in the meantime until we hear from you what you want done with it. Dear John, knowing the distance that is between us, and my inability to convey by writing my best feelings to you, hoping by the blessing of God that this may find you in the enjoyments of good health and in comfortable circumstances and happy is the sincere wish of your brother-in-law. Your sisters and brothers are all in good health at present and our family are all well. Nothing transpired of any moment since you left us worth writing you. James Fife and --- are well and send their best wishes to you. Trade here is pretty brisk at present, but very little for it … rather high. Dear friend, it is on my mind at present to emigrate to America as soon as I can muster the means to convey us thither, as I think I could benefit our rising family much more than by staying here. [Illegible] I have nothing more to keep me as my own father is gone the way of all living about three weeks since. Dear friend, write to me with return of post. I remain your affectionate brother till death. David Annand |
