Mr. Powell was
welcome to the Use of Half the Money without Interest; his Son, and
all his Neighbours were called; he kept open House, set the Bells
a'ringing, and came to the following Resolutions, viz.: That the
Messenger that came down, and the two Blue-coat Boys who drew the
Prize, should be handsomely rewarded; that he would give Mr. Blewitt,
Owner of the Abingdon Machine, at least a New Body for his Stage, on
which should be painted the Cooper's Arms, together with the Number
of his Ticket, 3m379; that he would clothe all the Necessitous of his
own Parish; and likewise give a Couple of the finest fat Oxen he
could purchase to the Poor of Abingdon in general, and lay out the
price of these Oxen in Bread, to be distributed at the same time. To
the Ringers, in Number, fourteen, he gave Liquor in Plenty, and a
Guinea each; and calling for a wet Mop, rubbed out all the Ale Scores
in his Kitchen. In a Word he displayed a noble Liberality, made every
Body welcome; and what is highly to be applauded, showed a charitable
Disposition towards the Relief of the Poor.
We could imagine the joviality of Mr. Alder's customers when they found
their ale scores so generously cancelled, which must have been fairly
extensive, seeing that it required a "mop" to remove them from the
inside of his kitchen door.
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