THE MISER'S PRAYER.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXI, Issue 6365, 28 March 1889, Page 2

THE MISER'S PRAYER.

The great Hackney miser, John Ward, who died many years aijo, was once a Member of Parliament, and worth over £200,000. Pie is said to have left among his papers the following remarkable prayer :—

" Oh Lord, Thou kuowest that I have nine estates in the City of London, and likewise that I lately purchased one estate in fee simple in the county of Erax ; I beseech Tbse to preserve the two counties of Middlesex and Essex from fire and earthquakes; and as I have a mortgage in | Hertfordshire, I beg of Thee likewise to have an eye of compassion on that county, and for the rest of the counties Thou mayest deal with them as thou art pleased. 0 Lord enable the Bank to answer their bills, and make all my defers goxl men. Give a prosperous <t/age aud return to the Mermaid sloop, because I have not insured it; and as Thou hast said the days of the wicked are but short, I trust iu Thee that Thou 1 'ilt not forget Thy promise, as I have purchased an estate in roversion which w ;i l be mine on the death of that profligate young man Sir J. L, -—•. Keep my friends from sinking, aud preserve me from thieves and housebreakers and make all my servants honest and faithful that they may attend to my interests, aud never cheat me out of my property night or day. ,.