A RICH BEQUEST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 22, 9 November 1943, Page 7

A RICH BEQUEST

FROM A POORHOUSE (In the pocket oT :t ragged coat I elonging to one ol* the inmates of a poorhouse there was* louncl, aftcr his death, a will. The man had been a lawyer. So unusual was this document thai it was sent to an attorney. who was so impressed Avit.li it thai he read it before the bar Association. Later it A\*as ordered probate. This is the will): I, Charles Lounsberr-yf being of sound and disposing mind, and memory, do hereby make and publish Hi is my last will and testament in order to distribute my interest in the world among succeeding men. That part of my interest Avhieh , it, known in law as mv properly, being inconsiderable and of no ae-< count, I, make no disposition of. My right to live, being a life, estate, i.s not at my disposal, but. these things I excepted, all else in the Avor.ld jl now proceed to devise and bequeath : litem: I give to good lathers ami motliers, in trust J'or their children, all good, little words of praise and encouragement, and all quaint pet names and. endearments; and I charge said parents to use them justly. hut generously, as the deeds of their children shall require. Jlem: J leave to children exclusively, but only J'or the term of their childhood, all and every flower of Die Held and the blossoms of the woods, Avith the right to play among them freely according to the custom of children., warning them at the same time against, thistles and thorns. And I devise to children the banks of the brooks and the golden sands beneath the waters thereof, and the odours of the willows that dip therein, and the Avliite clouds that lloat high over giant trees. And J leave the. children the long, long days to be merry in, in a thousand way:| and the night and the train of the Milky Way to Avonder at. but subject, nevertheless,, to the rights hereinafter g"iA*en to lovers. I'tem: I. deAise to boys, "jointly, alt the useful idle fields and commons Where ball may be played, all plea* sunt Avaters where one may swim., all snow-clad hills where one may coasty and all streams and ponds where one may fish, or Avhere, when grim winter comes, one may skate, to hold the same for the period of their boyhood. Anil all meadows, With the clover blossoms and butter- - Hies thereof; the. Avoods with their beauty, the squirrels and the birds and the echoes and, strange noises, and all distant places) which may be visited together Avith the adventures there found. And Ii give to said boys each his own place- at the fireside at night, with all pictures that may be seen in the burning wood,,to enjoy without let or hindrance or without any encumbrance or care. litem: To loacis. 1 devise their imaginary world, with whatever they may need: as the stars of tlie sky. the red roses by the wall, the bloom of the hawthorn, the sweet strains of musio and aught else, they may desire to figure to each other the laslingness and beauty of their love. litem: To young men jointly 1 bequeath all the boisterous inspiring sports of rivalry, and 1. give to them the disdain of weakness and undaunted confidence in their own strength. .1 leave to them the power to make Lasting friendships and of possessing companions, and to them, exelusiA'ely, 1 give all merry songs and choruses to sing with lusty voices. I'tem: And to those Avho are no longer children or youths, or loA'ers., I leaAe memory; and bequeath to them the Aolunies of poems of Burns and Shakespeare and other poet si if there be others, to the end that they may liA-e the old days over again, freely and fully Avithout tithe or diminution. Item: To the loA r ed ones Avith snowy crowns 1. bequeath the happiness of old' age, the .kn e and gratitude of their children until they fall asleep.; A unique document Ave II worth studying.