A CHILD'S WILL
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I think the following document may interest and amuse you. It is a copy of the will of a child of nine or ten and was found among some old papers. It was written on half a sheet of paper and sealed. The writer is now well past middle-age :— MARY GREY'S WILL.
"My money to bs equely divided between my sisters Alice and 'Anna and my brothers Auther and Charles. My desk my mother is to have and my work box for my sister Anne. My work basket with the lid to my sister Alice and some of my books to he.4. also some books to Uncle Harry, also to Amy, some books to Anther and Charlie my album to Anther and dog book to Charly. My dolls • to my nieces if any and my stone ware to my nefeus. My cloths to my sisters all else for Aunty and Uncle and I should like them to take my sister Anne as their child. This is my will if I should die suddenly I wish this to be strictly attended to and seen to by my mother.
Signed by MARY GREY. Also by A. M. GREY. and H. GREY."
I am, Sir, &c.,
9 Desmond Road, Clecedon, Somerset.
F. B. PRICE.
[The writing of wills is, we imagine, a very rare amusement among children. They prefer to play at weddings, christenings &c., which have to do with life. But wills have to do with death, and though children believe in death they believe in it rather for others than for themselves. The fondness of boys for playing at hanging—the sequel to which is sometimes enacted in a coroner's court—may seem to be an exception ; but probably it is the drama of an execution more than a ,contemplation of death and its results that appeals to them.
—En. Spectator.]
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