“ TOO LATE TO BE OF USE.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 394, 26 March 1908, Page 4

“ TOO LATE TO BE OF USE.”

Mrs Alexandra Albion, 77 years of age., and an inmate of tlie Coast Hospital, has received word from Ireland that she has been left a large sum of money. The old lady is not certain of the amount, but it may be “anything from a million to a million and a half.” She bears the news with puzzling coolness. In her youth she was reared in the lap of luxury, but in her later years she has been obliged to face some of the ups and downs of life. The story told by the old lady is decidedly romantic. She is the youngest daughter of the late Mr Lawson Whitley, a member of one of the leading . Irish families. Rachel, for such is Mrs Albion’s Christian name, was born in the parish of Kilmore, Co. Armagh. Ireland, and when quite young she fell in love’with Alexandra Albion, to whom she was married in the church of her birthplace by Rev. Jones, the rector of the parish. “My husband ran away with me,” Mrs Albion told a Sydney Daily Telegraph representative, at the Coast Hospital ' recently, ‘ ■ when I was only small. I was a disgrace to the family,” she added, “so I had to get away somewhere out of the road of my people. They are the heads of Ireland, and a very ancient family. My husband and I decided upon coming out to New South Wales, and something over 50 years ago we were lauded here by the ship Cressy. “You can find full particulars about my arrival in this State, as well as other details, from the Old Age Pension Office, for up to the time of ray admission here (meaning the hospital) early in February last, I bad been in receipt of the pension for eight years, but I gave it up when I came in here.” For the last 13 or 14 years a close search has been made for the old lady, but her whereabouts, until quite recently, were unknown, even to her son George, who lives in Surry Hills. She is of a taciturn disposition, and never at any time vouchsafed any information to her family as to her antecedents. All they could at any time elicit from her regarding herself or her parents, had to be “dug out.” Mow that the news of her good fortune has been made known to her, she placidly declares that she is not anxious about the money. “I have my life pretty well spent, ’ ’ she calmly remarked. ‘‘ I won’t live another year, and as it is I have had a long life. What is the use of the money to me now? It’s too late; I can’t do anything with it. Before I came in here I was very comfortable. I gave up my home. I had a room, and was getting along nicely on the £2 3s qd a mouth I received from the Old Age Pensions Office. What is the use of this money to me now?” asked the old lady. “I am too far gone now ; it did not come in time to do me any good. It will do those who follow me some good if they should get it.” Mrs Albion has two sons alive out of a family of seven boys and girls. The names of the sons are Hugh, at present residing in Queensland, and George, as already stated, a resident of Surry Hills. The nurses at the Coast Hospital speak in the most .affectionate terms of their patient, and refer to her as a “ dear old body.” Her complaint is an affection of the heart. Mrs Albion, it is said, always moved in a mysterious way, and kept her family in complete ignorance of anything relating to her girlhood days. “ Indeed, it was not until lately,” said Mr George Albion, “ that. I knew she was a Whitley, and when I did find out it was only by accident. She has had no fixed place of abode for the last three or four years.” His mother, Mr Albion said, always had to work for her living since she came out here. It is more than likely the family will take some steps to come into possession of the substantial windfall.