Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-05-28
A CurIous WIZ.

Inc baItlmOre Am6TlChu says L0hl
Israel S. Atkinson, by his will, which was
admitted to probate in that city on Fri.
day last has left to the Baltimore HUI
name Impartial Society and to the Aged
Women's Home all the miscellaneous
books of which he died possessed, and
the pamphlets of which he died pos
sessed he bequeathed to the Aged Mems
Home. on condition that on each book
and pamphlet shall be written or printed
the words: Bequeathed to the Balti.
more Humane Impartial Society and
Aged Women's Home, for the use of the
Aged Mems Home, the inmates OF that
benevolent institution, by Israel Silver
Atkinson, born at Ellicotts Mills, Janu-
arv. 1901, who died after residence
therein and thereabout for more than
forty Years in the city Of Baltimore
Another itsm Of interest in the will is
the following:
Whereas, In the year Of our Lord,
eighteen hundred and twenty-five, | was
living in Richmond, Va, and working at
the printing business for the sum of three
dollars a week, out Of which paid two
dollars and fifty cents per week for
boarding alone, without lodging, and
sleeping in a work room of the printing
Office on a borrowed cot, without bed
or pillow, with, however, two small blank
cts for covering, and paying at the same
time at the rate of fifty cents per dozen
for washing my clothing, not having,
however, much to wash, under these cir
cumstances, a Just claim against me
was forwarded to Richmond from Balti-
more city for collection, and |, in my
distress, accidentally mentioned the mat
ter TO a benevolent middle-aged lady, a
Jealous member of the Methodist Epiis-
copsl church, who taught school Tor
poor children free OF charge, ana VINO
went about doing good-the name OF the
lady was Mary Bowles-and having been
introduced to her sometime before, sne
had become much interested in my spir-
itual and temporal welfare and gave me
much good advice which | have not tor.
gotten: and when / happened to speak OF
nv dilemma, she gave me twenty dol
lars Il think | see her now saying as
she handed me the money. Take this
and pay your debt; / shall not expect
YOU 10 return it to me, but 1t you ever
are 10 nav il, then hand IL over TO any
distressed Methodist preacher that you
may meet with ! promised to. do es
she desired me, but have never had the
opportunity OF doing so, and | now now en-, en-
| Join il upon my executors to tulhll her
request By paying said sum OF twenty
dollars to such distressed Methodist
preacher as in their Judgment they may
/ deem most deserving.
A curious bequest is the following
with a whereas relative to his wife:
Whereas, Ann p. Atkinson has in her
own right, and secured by marriage con-
tract. an income Of about 5000 per year.
and whereas, ] have never exercised and
never attempted TO exercise any control
Whatever. either over the principal or
he interest derived therefrom, the same
| having been at all times subject entirely
to her own control and management
and whereas, the said Ann p. Atkinson
bas AZ various times said 10 me that she
never expected or desired to derive any
benefit from my estate 10 the event Of
NV death previous TO her own; now
therefore taking Il Tor granted that sne
meant what she said, and nothing else,
hereby proceed to dispose Of my estate
according 10 my own Judgment ano
wishes. Although il is net probable. ye'
it is barely possible, that Ann P. Akin
son may forget her promise made 70 me
that she did not desire or expest any
share Of my estate or may change hei
mind in that respect; now, therefore, IN
the event Of her making such claim after
ny aecease, it is my will and desire that
/, my executors pay over TO her such por'