An Absent-minded Beggar.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 67

An Absent-minded Beggar.

"It is an unpleasant reminiscence." says a writer in Pearoon'c "how I once burnt a . £20 note, and I hardly like recounting the j mournful epi=odc, for fear you will say I ; ought to have been immured in a lunatic asylum. Theio I'Vie times even now, when I take a retiospect and vainly contemplate my iclior y— sail it absent-mindedness if you will — • that "I feel like dashing my head against the wall. It happened one Christmas morning. | I had just received by post a £20 Bank of i England ncte for a 'box,' ancl stood beloie I the fire, letter and note in hand, feeling «->t | peace with all mankind. I coon became buried in profound thought, formulating 1 plans for the disposal of the precious bit of pflpGl*. I "At l^st mv pLm«- were completed, and, with a self-satisfied chuckle, but still like one in j a dream, E tossed the letter into the fire. I Then, without looking, I carefully replaced j the bank note in the envelope and transferred i it to my breast pocket. Next day I called , upon ail old friend, who I knew had always j a plentiful supply of cash in the house, and, after acquainting; him with mv good fortune, I a-ked him to oblige me by changing the note for gold. Thip he readily consented to do, at the same time offering his hearty congratu lptio-.is. . . "Smilingly I pulled the envelope containing the precious document from my pocket, but , upon extracting the note, as I thought, what ; met my horror-stricken gsze? Not, the £20 ! note. oh. nc — simply the letter that had accompanied it. For a few seconds I was com- I plet-ely paralysed. It was manitest what I ' had done. In a moment of absent-minded-ne--: I hud actually incinerated the £20 and preserved the worthless letter." ,