ORDERING HIS COFFIN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XIX, 9 November 1895, Page 590

ORDERING HIS COFFIN.

A New Zealand anecdote is told by Mr S. A. Perceval, in the * Realm ’ : *On one of the lakes in the North Island, near Auckland, there was an hotel much frequented by fishermen. On one occasion, when a gentleman, whom I will call Mr X., was staying "there, he was taken seriously ill. and the landlord, supposing that he could not possibly recover, began to think of making preparations for his death. Knowing a man who was a pretty fair carpenter and had owed him money for some time, and seeing little chance of being repaid, ho told him to make a coffin for the sick man. The coffin was duly made ; but Mr X., instead of dying as he ought to have done, recovered, and there was, therefore, no use for the coffin. The landlord, not caring to be at the expense, included a charge for it in Mr X.’e bill, who, on seeing it, naturally enough demurred to paying for something which he had not ordered and did nob want. The landlord said it was very hard that the loss should fall on him, as he had only done it for the best; and Mr X. ab last agreed to pay for it. Determined to turn it to some account, he had a keel put to it, and used it as a fishing punt during the remainder of hie stay at lhe hotel.’