The Duty of Benevolence Enforced.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 121, 30 May 1885, Page 5

The Duty of Benevolence Enforced.

A wi'iTJ'H in a London newspaper says : — I Among stories of gonorosity repaid, ono ' which is nowgoing the rounds is by no moans a bad ono. It is said that somo timo ago a lady noticed a crossing-sweopor near the Mansion House looked very ill, and goodnaturedly asked him if he were not so. His reply was that he was vory ill indeod. The lady asked ugain if she could do anything for him. Tho answer was, " Yes, call a cab and tako mo homo." Sho did so, and on arrival at tho crossing-sweeper's homo sho found one room, this being scrupulously clean and everything tidy and in ordor. The lady askod him whether ho wished to soo a doctor. Tho reply being in the affirmative, sho askod him if he could pay tho doctor's foo. He could, but asked her to pay it, and said that he would refund it. Sho did so. Tho doctors came, prescribed, and told the lady the old man was vory ill. From this timo sho took quite an interest in her protei/r, aud frequently called in her carriage und pair) to sco how he got on, One day sho observed a great chunge come over him, and saw that ho was dying, and told him so. His reply was that ho know it. She asked him had he no frionds to communicate with, or was thoro anything further she could do for him. His answer was that ho had no friends in tho world, and his last wish would be that ho might be buried plainly in Word Cemetery. This tho lady promised should be dono. The old man then beeamo tho questioner, and asked in succession the lady's namo, her ago, her place of residence, and lastly the names of her solicitors, and thoir placos of businoss. Those queries were, wondoringly on the part of tho lady, fully answorod. Tho oud camo rapidly. The old man died, and under his pillow was found a will, probably authenticated and signod, by which he left tho lady tho whole of his froohold proporty, consisting of two houses in the City, ono being in Moorgatostrcot and tho othor in Birchin Lano, and estimated to bring in £1,500 a year. This ia tho kind of crossing-swecpor whose atfoctions I hopo myself to gain one of theso fine days.