OLIVER GOLDSMITH STORY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 43, 6 March 1937, Page 17

OLIVER GOLDSMITH STORY

Holiday on Empty Puree

Oliver Goldsmith we# Once Invited to spend a week-end at the country ©state of Lord Nugent, an invitation which he accepted with great enthusiasm, since it came at a timo when his purse was literaRy empty excopt for one lonely shilling, It usually was, indeed, due to habitual extravagance and eareless generosity. The food was excellent, the wine even more so, and Goldsmith found it very easy to overlook the fact that his week-end was soon over. A woek paesed, a secodd, a third — and Lord Nugent began to talk of a long journey which he was absolutely compelled to make Ih the very near future. Hie guest flnally realised that he could delay hir own departure no longer — but certain dxffLculties were involred: he had *io money for gratuities for Ms lordship's twenty-four eervants, and naturally it was unthinkable that he leave without adhering to thia necessary formality* Nor was there .time to turn for help to his London friends What to dot | Suddonly a thought struck Mm. He

went to ihe village thopkeeper and, had his shilling changed into twenty-four shiny new halfpennies, The next'morning as he was taking Ms leave, the twenty-four servants lined up On the front steps each standing atiffly at .attention with right hand outstretched to recei.ve their tip, according to ' tho dictates of cusTosn The writer, wilh expression , ©f gracious b'enevolence, presse.d one of ihe shiny coins into each hand~and ascended the waiting carriage with princely dignity. Suddenly one of the servants noticed that instead of the usual goldpiece he had xeceived a copper halfpenny, and he Tushed down after* the moving cab. "Sir," he crie.d breathlessly, "-—you, you made" mlstakel " "How sof" asked the writer. innocently. "Sir," went on the lacke^ pale under his powdered wig, with .trembling voice, "Sir, this is a half-pennyl Goldsmith nodded. i "Certainly^ my good man. I never give less!" And the carriage rolled on.