The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-08-19
MANY QUEER REQUESTS.
Unexpected Lesacie> That Have Civ
en- JOY.

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sum of 20 shillings by the will Of
the late we'll known geologist. Most
every week he'd give me a shilling
for luck. And now it's nice 10 feel
, he hasn't forgot me-"
Two other beneficiaries under the
same will were an old woman in the
I the city who sold bootlaces, and
one-armed newsboy. who were equal
ly surprised and pleased at receiving
a sovereign apiece.
Wills are. as rule. the dullest
documents. In most cases the prop
erty goes to people who have right
to expect it. Now and then wills,
like that of Mr.. Louis. leaves be-
quest to some person who least eX-
poets it.
Some - years ago resident Of
Walthamstow went mad, killed his
wife and child, and committed sui
eide. There was no money left, and
a pauper's funeral seemed the fate
of the poor remains, when local
undertaken stepped in and carried
out the funeral at his own cost.
An elderly gentleman named Simp-
som happened to hear of the under
takers kindness. He has a good
heart" he said; 'he shall be repaid
one day"
Four years later Mr.. Simpson
died, and it was found that he had
left sum of no less than 5000
pounds to the kind-hearted under
taker.
Little more than year ago, in
the will of an elderly colonel, the
rather odd sum Of 412 pounds was
left to his great-nephew. The reason
of this bequest was thus explained
by the deceased:
Il am leaving you this money. he
wrote, because on no fewer than
103 different occasions you listened,
always with courtesy and interest. to
an old soldiers account Of his one
big battle"
The legacy, it will be noted, is cal
culated at the rate of pounds for
each repetition Of the ancient yarn.
The life of a newspaper editor is a
hard and not particularly happy one.
He meets with plenty of blame and
little appreciation, Imagine, then,
the surprise of the editor of Swiss
paper in Geneva, when a lawyers S
letter apprised him of legacy of s.
900 francs GOO pounds.) left to him
by "a regular reader"
Il have always enjoyed your pa
per-" wrote the deceased, "and l
wish the interest of this money to be
paid to you twice year, the only
condition being that on each occasion
YOU drink mug of beer to my men,
ory in the presence of witnesses"
Two years ago a widow named
Ward. living in the American town of
Peru in very poor circumstances, re-
ceived a legacy of a thousand dollars
GOO pounds from man whose
name she had never even heard.
A letter inclosed with the check
explained that the donor had visited
Peru on a bicycle "a years previous
ly, and had been robbed of his money.
Mrs. Ward, it appeared, had taken
him in and given him a meal, and
asked for no payment.
A somewhat similar case: occurred
near Belfast. Years ago a young
sailor. who had been drinking more
than was good for him, was run over
by dog-cart, and found lyings in
the road.
A poor woman named Cronin pick
ed him up and took him into her cot
tage. where she and her husband
looked after him until he was bet
ter.
I'll never forget your kindness
he said, as he went away.
Years passed. Then, one day III
September. 1912, came the amazing
naws that they had been left the sum
of 1900 pounds.
The once-drunken sailor had risen
to be captain of ship, had saved
money, and, having no relatives, left
it all to his benefactors.
One more "surprise'-this of
different character.
After the death of his patient,
Miss Mary Marchant. doctor whom
as he is still alive-we will call
Smith. received large box. With
it was a letter:
This box and all its contents |
leave to my dear physician, DR.. John
Smith
He opened it eagerly, to find with
in it all the medicines which during
the past 19 years he had prescribed
for Miss Marchant!