A CRUEL HOAX.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3272, 28 December 1881, Page 4

A CRUEL HOAX.

In a fashionable resort in Sussex-street a lottery was recently brought off for the benefit of a local place of worship. Among the prizes advertised was "a comfortable cottage with garden in thecounty of Sussex." A young working man heard of the chance, and was tempted to buy twenty shilling tickets, in tbe hope of getting it. He and his Bweetheart talked it over day after day. If he should have the luck to win the cottage, they would get married at once and live in it. At last the drawing took place, and the young working man received the joyful intflligenco that the coveted prize was his. Picture his joy! Imagine how he rushed off to the girl of his heart, and told her the glad news! You can fancy how gleefully they talked the future over, and how with a hearty kiss she named, the happy day. In the afternoon, when work was over, off went the winner to claim his prize, and to inquire where it was, that he might go and view his future home. He had not need to go far to see the cottage and garden. It turned out to be a toy—a painted model of wood and cardboard, with a few imitation trees in front of it, such as children have for playthings! The disappointment of the poor fellow was intense, and, almost broken hearted, he returned to tell his sweetheart of the shameful hoax of which they had been the victims. If money can only bo raised for churches by such means as this, I fancy it would be better for the cause of true religion that men should do their worshipping at home. It is high time the Archbishop of Canterbury left the weather alone, and looked after matters so nearly under his control as church fancy fairs, bazaars, lotteries and clerical swindles generally.— >he • eferee.