gathering dust

As a codicil to the post  Burial in the Bush , I offer the poem written by M.L.M in remembrance of the departed Eliza. "Advertising." Goulburn Herald (NSW : 1881 - 1907) 11 Dec 1886: 5. Web. 14 Oct 2013 < http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article99908550 > In Loving Remembrance OF ELIZA MUFFET, Who departed this Life on November 9th 1886; Aged 27 years and 11 months, A life of suffering she bore From infancy till death, But now she is set free from all - A home in heaven she hath, Through all those many years of pain Her loving parents o'er kept A watchful eye, when she awoke And also when she slept. It would be very wrong to grieve, To wish to have her here again, For now we know she's safe above, Where sorrow is unknown. And when our life on earth is done,  We hope to meet her there, And with the angels praises sing - In that bright land no partings are. November 17th.        ...

In amongst the certificates and photographs documenting the family is two pages of hand-lined yellowing paper, covered in a careful script. My Nana gave it to my Father and I when I was 15 and first asked about my Grandfather (Walter Thomas Muffett, 9/4/1916-13/3/1958) and family history. She'd kept it for how much it represented his sense of humour, a trait that is certainly evident amongst his children and grandchildren. It is Old, but Still Good On the assumption that "a laugh will always win,"I am indebted to Albert Falk for the following. If anyone can read it without a laugh, I'll go quietly I had twelve bottles of whiskey in my cellar, and my wife told me to empty the contents of each and every bottle down the sink or else -- So I said I would, and proceeded with the unpleasant task, I with withdrew the cork from the first bottle and poured the contents down the sink, with the exception of one glass, which I drank. I extracted the cork from the second...