y separately published work icon Tales of the Dandenongs : (Fourth Series) selected work   short story  
Is part of Tales of the Dandenongs James Hume-Cook , 1935 series - author short story
Issue Details: First known date: 1940... 1940 Tales of the Dandenongs : (Fourth Series)
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Contents

* Contents derived from the Melbourne, Victoria,:James Hume-Cook , 1940 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Tales of the Dandenongs : Molly's Prayers, James Hume-Cook , single work short story
Molly Brown, at 24, is a poor and lonely orphan. In order to better her position, she opens a small guest house at Ferny Creek, but is unable to afford staff and finds working for herself an arduous business. One night she prays tearfully to God to alleviate her circumstances, and a man standing near her window, James Whyte (Jim), overhears her plight. He strikes up a conversation with her and tells of his time in the Army and relationship with his wife Cicely, who lorded her wealth over him and treated him so badly that he had left her and his home in Melbourne to come to the Dandenongs to find work. He decides that he will work for Molly and keep her company, and after five happy weeks, his wife arrives to find him. She is ill, and repentant of the way she had treated Jim. They reconcile and Jim returns home with her just before she dies. He eventually returns to marry Molly, now a wealthy man having inherited his wife's wealth, and they have a son. Molly realises that her prayers have been answered.
(p. 5-17)
Tales of the Dandenongs : Good-Bye! 'Sunset', James Hume-Cook , single work short story

A fourteen year old boy, Victor Kennion, is wandering through the bush near Warburton in the Dandenongs looking for lyre birds, when he bumps into a girl with red hair whom he dubs 'Sunset'. They chat and he offers to show her the lyre birds the following day.

The following day, 'Sunset' and Victor meet, and Victor explains that he does not want to work in the mill like his father, but rather wishes to become a doctor or a lawyer. At their next meeting, however, a timber trolley breaks its coupling and injures 'Sunset' and Victor, who tries to protect her. Victor is injured severely but is glad he has saved 'Sunset' and manages to farewell her before he succumbs to his injuries.

Forty years later, 'Sunset', who had remained unmarried, is dying as a result of the injuries sustained so long ago. She finds herself glad to go, and on the moment of death, believes she sees Victor waiting for her in heaven.

(p. 18-29)
Tales of the Dandenongs : 'Pin' Money, James Hume-Cook , single work short story

The Mitre Tavern in Melbourne is one of its oldest buildings, and in this story the author recounts a tale that may have taken place there decades before involving Peter Pinsent Money, a well-known solicitor dubbed 'Pin Money' - 'Pin' being short for 'Pinch' - so called for his habit of stealing from his clients. An English client, Henry Withers, eventually catches up with 'Pin Money' at the Mitre Tavern and demands the return of his money. The case goes to court and judgement is awarded against Pinsent for the full amount. Soon after, he is struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners, and his wife dies. However, years later he rises back to a position of esteem. Conincidentally, Pinsent's beloved granddaughter Beryl, meets and falls in love with Henry Withers's grandson Herbert! Pinsent, keen to make amends with Henry for Beryl's sake meets with him and the two young lovers are married with the blessing of both the elderly men.

(p. 30-48)
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