SAFER THAN A BANK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 287, 15 September 1933, Page 8

SAFER THAN A BANK.

NEGRO WOMAN'S MONEY. LIFE'S (SAVINGS IN MATTRESS. An amazing story of the bank crisis comes from the United States. Belinda was the old and valued negro servant of the Browns. When she went for her annual holiday the family arranged a happy surprise for her return they had her room transformed, painted the furniture and bought her a new bed.

When Belinda returned the family crowded round to see the smiles on her beloved face; but, to the great distress, she looked panic-stricken and burst into tears. Where was her old bed? She had stuffed her life sayings 900 dollars, into its mattress! There was a great commotion while the mattress was traced to the shop of a dealer, and his permission was secured to rummage inside it. Belinda's money was found finite safe. Then Mr Brown carefully explained lo the old servant that a bank was the proper place for so much wealth. She let him take it, as he insisted, and deposit it for her. He brought her a pass-book and explained that she could have her money back at any time she wished.

Soon, along with many others, that bank failed. The first thing Mr Brown did was to rake and scrape in every possible corner to get together 900 dollars for Belinda. She had lost her money because she had acted on his advice, and he felt responsible. It was hard enough to get the money, but it was harder still the face Belinda and admit that he had been wrong, and that all the complicated white man's structure had broken down.

Haltingly, Mr Brown explained to Belinda what had happened hastening to assure her that she would not be the loser. Instead of being upset, the black woman burst out laughing. "Yo don't owe me no money, Mr John," Belinda said; "yo needn't have thought I was going to trust no bank. I drawed dat money out de day after you put it in and it's right yere in ma mattress!"