AMUSING DISCOMFITURE OF LEGACY HUNTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 435, 2 June 1871, Page 2

AMUSING DISCOMFITURE OF LEGACY HUNTERS.

In a village aboub four miles from Nottingham (a Jocal correspondent'writes)'an eccentric old gentleman, unmarried, and reputed to be very rich, recently made his will. He bequeathed £10,000 to the General Hospital; and a like . sum to the Society; for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. To one relative ho left'£looo, and legacies to the amount of £500 were-numerous. Tho total, amount bequeathed amounted .to £45,000. The secret leaked out. of the beneficent, acts of the testator, and the expectant legatees were very demonstrative in their expressions of thanks. Presents of wine, game, and other good things.were.sent in profusion to the unpretending but'obmfof table", cottage in which the recluse1 resided, attended only by au aged woman. Alt hough' extremely reluctant to leave the shelter of his own roof, he was frequently compelled to yield to the solicitations of his friends; and pay them long visits. A Nottingham cab and coach proprie-; tor placed his vehicles." .and . horses at his service in gratitude for having--been put down in the will for the handsome sum of £500. The old gentleman was courted by more than one lady whose early youth had.passed, but: who had no objection to a widow's oortion of a considerable fortune. It is difficult to imagine a" more comfortable existence than1 the generous testator Ted in his declining years, each of his friends rivalling the others in feasting him, aud smoothing his descent, to the grave. He died at ih'e reverend ago of 84,, only a few days since; and "the friend at whose bouse ho breathed " his last houpred; [his remains'with an expensive funeral. Tins friend had also the melancholy' satisfaction of paying the expenses, for the testator died, considerably in debt. The large sums he had bequeathed existed only in imagination.— Manchester Examiner,