His parents were instructed to read him the note's contents (a 100-word-long fairy story), and retain only the inner bag.
Each Friday thereafter revealed another 100 words, plus another bag. Eventually, he read the notes himself – stories, advice on spending or girls, recipes, anything at all.
Exactly 4,253 Fridays later James Milverton Wilson was found slumped in his armchair. On his lap sat a black bag – and a blank note.