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Southland Times, Issue 643, 13 March 1867, Page 3

A Bich and Eccbntbic Lady. — A few days ago there died in Upper Brook-street, Manchester, a lady named Crosier, whose eccentricities had long made her remarkable to the few neighbors to whom she was known. She occupied one of the best houses in the street, detached, surrounded by a garden or pleasure ground, and large enough for the ordinary requirements of a person moving in the best circles of society, yet she lived alone. Abour 15 or 20 years ago an old female domestic servant, who had been her most intimate friend for many years, got married, and Miss Cro-ier could never, be induced to supply her place with another. Faithful to her old mistress, the servant visited Miss Crosier daily up to the time of her death, attended to her wants and the cleanliness of the house, and at night locked the old lady in till she returned the following morning. Miss Crosier had few relations, the nearest of whom was a married niece at St. Helen's ; but these, like everybody else, were practically refused admissiqn to the house, and, except the old servant referrred to, it is said that no one has been in the place for years. A taxgatherer was once privileged to step into the vestibule, but the old lady very naturally got rid of him as soon as possible. It is also said that Miss Crosiers eccentricities developed into an affection for a colony of cats, of which she had about ten or a dozen at the time of her death. When she became dangerously ill a few wesks ago her servant recommended her to make her will, and in the end Miss Crosier consented to do so, and devised her property and effects to her niece. After the old lady's death the house was searched, and in the attic there was found an immense quantity of silver plate, the value of which is variously estimated at from £2000 to £3000 ; and stowed away in various parts of the house, but mostly among the plate, was' a sum of not less than £10,000. The money almost entirely consisted of Bank of England notes, many of them of old date, and among the cash ' was a large number of spade-ace guineas. The house was well stocked with a large quantity of valuable furniture and articles of domestic use, most of which were carefully wrapped up so as > to preserve them from the dust. Miss Crosier was more than 80 years years old at the time of her death. Though she so effectually excluded herselt from the outer world as to be seldom seen even by her nearest neighbors, it is said that she

performed many kind actions to a favored few, and that more than one person in the city has received assistance from her in times of peouniary difficulties. — "Manchester Guardian." Disappointed Ceeditoe. — " Well," said an old gentleman the other day, " I have been fortyseven years in business, and can say what very few can after such experience ; in all that time, my friend, I never disappointed but one single creditor." — Bless me, what an example for our young mercantile community !" replied the person addressed. " What apity that thatonetimeoccured. How was it ?" — " Why," responded the old gentleman, "I paid the debt when it became due, and I never in all my life saw a man so astonished as the creditor was." Two worthies, rather fond of their beer, retired from their regular house of call to a field, one fine evening, and sat down at a bench to enjoy their favorite beverage alone, having previously supplied themselves with a fair stock. After iinbibiag it pretty freely, they both fell fast asleep. About midnight one of them got up for the purpose of retiring, but not knowing his whereabouts very well, wandered about for a while, and then stumbled upon his companion, whom he ;iwoke, remuking," Surely, this is an awfu' size of a room, for I canna find the door, an«i I've been lookin' for it more than half an hour." "I ken naething about the eize ol the room," hiccupped his companion, " but ae' thing E see," iookiag up»