The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-30
AN EXTRAORDINARY MISER.

I Perhaps there never was more perfect miser
than sold Hunks" one Of the richest men in
London, who died some years since. Though
possessing wealth to the amount Of an hundred
thousand pounds sterling, he frequently absiained
from food for a number of days together, saving
that hunger was the very best source. Some
times he INDUCED himself in the luxury of boiled
meat purchased at the SHAMELESS, giving as
reason for choosing such, that meat was good for
nothing except ithad smell as well as taste. At
other times he lived wholly upon scraps Of craEk
ers salt fish, and candle ends which he collected
at various places in his wanderings about town,
frequently passing himself off as a beggar OF
his attire it was impossible to give any descrlp-
ton, being SO patched and darned that it would
puzzle tailor to decide whether any Of the
original fabric remained. He used TO boast that
his raiment lasted as long as that Of the children
of Israel in the wilderness. having purchased il
more than forty years ago OF an old clothes dealer
The nearest approach 10 any sort of charity ever
observed in him was, when once seeing couple
Of Migrants in the stocks, he gave them some
good advice, remarking that he had done BUSH
ness ID stocks, but always found it profitable to
sell out on the slightest advance. 81 os
Finding debtor unable to repay small loan,
he received in payment a coffin Of refuse wood,
which, by happy thought, he used as cupboard
In his old age, his economical habits led him TO
lave recourse TO expediens which frequently
brought him into danger. Once, in the evening,
when pinched by hunger, be intruded himself In
to cellar at Mile End, the resort Of club OF
Migrants, who there spent nightly their earnings
Of the day in nocturnal orgies; buthe was sPeedl-
ly detected and expelled with SO much rudeness
that one of his legs was seriously injured. The
wound, for want of medical attendance, soon
gangrened, and he found himself forced to apply
under a fictitious name, to Q charitable hospital
for reiief where the injured leg was amputated.
This he considered as rather godsend than a
misfortune as it saved him the necessity OF pro-
curing more than one boot or shoe at a time, and
enabled him frequently to feign himself dis
abled sailor or soldier, and obtain charity under
those characters. 4f
Overcome at last with the infirmities Of age
and sickness, he was found by distant relative,
perishing on heap of straw, but too late to be
benefited by medical aid. He retained his love
Of economy to the last, rebuking attendant
for extravaganza N lighting two talow candles,
observing that he had lived long life without
using candle, and one was full enough for any
man to see to die by. At the hour OF death he
was visited by clergyman OF the parish, who
reminded him of his approaching dissolution, dis
coursing upon the vanity of life, the Importance
Of riches, and the hopes OF another stence, and
exhorted him to show his benevolence in pious
beouess to the church. The old miser died
game, and exhibited his ruling passion strong IN
death Clutching his rags IL his attennated fin
sers with convulsive grasp, he exclaimed,
Could live my lie over again, should do
very different from what have done; yes, sir,
ith thai knowledge Of the totles and errors Of
mankind of which you have spoken Shontd then
make tacenty per cent. 'ohere haze no~ made
oaiv tenn The intensity OF his emotions as he
uuered this declaration overcame hun, nature
rave way, and he sunk back corpse upon his
nIluW. M. EN 49, N. u. l.L-L ~ - sl-N