BUN IN A WILL

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6918, 25 May 1929, Page 3

BUN IN A WILL

W'hat is claimed to be the oldest hotcross bun in existence —its ago is 130 years— is in the possession of Miss Louisa M’Lean, of Albert road, Dalston, says a London paper. Carefully unwrapping the treasure from a check cloth in which it had reposed since it was made, Miss M’Lean, who is sixty-nine and has lived in the same house" for sixty-three years, said recently: "It was made by my father’s first wife’s mother on Good Friday, 1799, and when my father died it was left to me as a heirloom.

"Just look at it,’’ she said. "It looks as tempting as any bun of to-day, but it is as hard as a brick. It will never go mouldy, because it was made on Good Friday, and legend says that a bun made on Good Friday will not go mouldy. It smells now as sweet as a new eake. ” When Miss M’Lean’s attention was drawn to the fact that there were no currants in the bun, she exclaimed: "Certainly not. When this was made currants were considered a very great iuxurv.

"I shall keep it as long as I live,” Miss M’Lean added, "and shall leave it in my will to my nearest living relative, a cousin who is over sixty, and who lives at Chatham.”

Looking suspiciously around, Miss M’Leau returned the treasure to its wrapping, and put it among other family relics in a wardrobe drawer, which she carefully locked.