doubts in sentence

[mohamedkarni]

If your father had not died when he did-Don't be frightened!How you start!'

I have received this in story book.

I'm not able to understand this sentence.pls give sugesstion.

[byron]

If your father had not died when he did-Don't be frightened!How you start!'

I have received this in story book.

I'm not able to understand this sentence.pls give sugesstion.

It doesn't make sense. There must be more to the passage than what you have given. The exclamation marks confuse the sentence even more