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[Abraham de Vahl Davis, letter to his son Gerald, 20 April 1910, aboard Koombana, Original held by Graham de Vahl Davis, Sydney.]
Broome WA
20 . 4. 10
My darling old laddie,
I suppose you are in a state of joyful excitement on account of your approaching Bar Mitzvah which, P.G., you are to celebrate in a few days. I only wish I could have been with you, and shared in your happiness, but of course we must all do our duty first of all, even if we personally suffer by it. Well, dear, I am quite sure that you will acquit yourself worthily: and I am proud and thankful that God has blessed me with a good and faithful sonnie, who will do his level best to do all that becomes a Jew.
I hope you have settled down to good steady work at school, & now that your barmitzvah is practically accomplished I want you to go in for music, carpentry, physical exercise, drawing (also chocolate eating). I need not tell you once again to be watchful to help Aunty & Uncle in every way & not to make their labour of love in looking after you any greater by want of consideration. I hope Auntie Min is a stringent Comptroller of your Exchequer, and that when I come next year (P.G.) to Sydney, you will have a huge accumulation of gelt to add to your deposit of £20/-/- in Melbourne Savings Bank. I have an invoice of books, silk Tallis &c. for you which should arrive this week from London. I will either send them or bring them over when I arrive.
I trust your military ardour is as hot as ever, & that you will lead your gallant men with frantic signals right into the very jaws of the tuckshop!
Write and let me know all you have been doing since I left. Don't send me such tiny scraps of letters, or I shall be compelled to double your income.
I am very busy this week, dear old boy, so will now conclude.
Praying God's blessing on you, now and for ever more.
I am
Your loving Father.