AN ORANGE FOR HEALTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1939, Page 10

AN ORANGE FOR HEALTH

EXTRAORDINARY STORY. Ninety years ago, when Alfred Purse, son of a ship’s captain, was a baby in arms, a monk in a monastery near Mount Calvary plucked an orange, dipped it in Holy Water, and placed it m his hand. The monk prophesied that so long as the child remained in good health, the skin of the orange would stay intact. When Alfred returned to England the orange came with him in an embroidered bag given to him by the monk. As Alfred grew up he beprophecy. His first illness was the good and he watched the orange and found no change appeared in its skin. The First Break. Two years ago ne suirerea a Stroke. His family examined the orange. The first break had appeared in the skin. When Mr Purse was buried last month at Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, there were two breaks in the skin. His daughter, Miss Edna Purse, said: “As father grew old and found himself with such wonderful health, he became convinced of the truth of the monk s prophecyy. His first illness was the stroke two years ago. We then found the first small breach in the orange skin. Ten days ago he had another stroke, which brought his death. We then discovered a second small breach in the skin near the first. We shall keep the orange to see whether it will now crumble into dust and thus fulfil the legend.”