The St. Johns herald., 1896-11-28
THE High street of Moxford wa

fur eral or ole Carmel bdlteISuS, whose picturesque hobble and long gray locks would never again enliven the street
 He had kept the curiosity shop TOT about fifty years. The old spinning wheels, sparrow-legged chairs. carved oak bureaus, china of all sorts, war medals, watches, coins, etc. Would I'D doubt now go to the hammer. MoX- ford would miss the attractive window of No. 9 almost as much as the quaint form of its late owner.
 Peter Battersby and Mrs. Peter were early on the scene, ill decent black.
 They Bad extremely comfortable eX- pectations. To be sure, for the last ter years they had not interchanged many words with the late Carmel, who was Peters only brother; but as Mrs. Peter remarked when the news of her broth er-in-iaw's death arrived, ''he couldn't for shame leave his money to any one else.''
 Young Walter Battersby, MT. and Mrs. Peters only son, did not conceal his joy in his uncle's demise. He told his boon companions at the Hen and Chickens that he was in for good thing.
 "BloOd, you know, as the saying is, is thicker than water" he said as he drained his fourth pint on the evening of his avuncular bereavement.
 Nor were the three daughters of Mir. and Mrs. Peter without discreet maid- enly elation. Their uncle while he liv- ed. was such a figure that they never cared to look at him. Besides, he hadn't a very civil tongue; liked to be caustic about their high-heeled shoes and eX- tensive bonnets and hats, and to be very rude with his inquiries why three MT. Rights did not press for the honor of their small glOved hands. It seemed unlikely, indeed, that a single tear would be shed for the old curiosity man.
 Of course there was his little servant girl, Joan Smith, But she was only "a workhouse hussy," to borrow Mrs. Pc ter'S elegant expression.
 With his usual eccentricity, old Car mel had taken girl from the MoXtord | Union after the death of his elderly ! housekeeper, Mrs. Roberts. Joan was 1 that servant. and She had served him truly for the last six years, being now 1 but % A quiet, shrinking, dark-eyed little creature, who had revered her | dead master quite unaccountably, and devoted herself to him heart and hand and SOUL Save for Seth Perry, who worked for the M0Xford Tin Plate Com pany, she had had no one else to care 1 for.
 NIT. and Mrs. Peter found No. 8 nicely prepared for the funeral. There 1 was also rather clumsy wreath of wild hyacinths and buttercups on the coffin
 'sFhe idea of such thing as that!' | exclaimed Mrs. Peter, touching the wreath with the tip of her parasol.
 Joan was near at the time. She burst into tears at these words.
 Please, ma'am," she said, 'I should so like it to go with him. picked them all myself"
 Ut shall do nothing of the kind, then; and your place is ill the kitchen, not in the parlor," retorted Mrs. Peter.
 Joan retired, crying bitterly; and Mrs Peter flung the wreath into a corner.
 "The wench ought not to be allowed to leave this house, Peter" she said se- verely, without being searched. The idea of her being with all these vally- bles-all alone, too"
 But Peter was not as cruel as his wife.
 Cameron says she is entirely to be trusted,'' he replied, 'and it's for him to act as he pleases, he says"
 MT. Cameron was the Moxford law yer who had charge of the old curiosity mans affairs.
 Two or three others now arrived, in cluding the lawyer Mir. Hurst, the Methodist New Connection minister and old Craven, the silversmith.
 Then High street enjoyed its lit tie sensation as the hearSe and threi coaches solemnly passed along to thl cemetery on the hill.
 Joan viewed the start from the back entry with fearful eye. She was peri odically convulSed with sobs. She watched the procession as long as eve she could. The void in her life was i'm mense.
 So much so, indeed, that even tn, soothing voice of Seth Perry, who hat come upon her unawares, had no effec on her at first.
 Never mind, lass" said Seth "things'll all come out right"
 She answered him with tears. Hes boun' to ha' left you summat Joan. my lass, to remember him by and, whether or no, you've only II speak the word, and theer's one as ' be proud to have you"
 Seth. can't talk with you now, she said. showing him her damp fac and bright eyes.
 "Nor come home and take your din ner with my mother, Joan?' "No, no. l mustn't go yet. They! turn me out soon, know; but mus stay till then"
 well, lass" said Seth. "you kno' I best; but I'm fair aching for you, an T this night as is I'll fetch you to home. He took her in his arms in the pas sage. up which so many antique article f had travelled during the last half ceI tury, and kissed her wet cheeks. . And now 1 nun get back to work, . he said.
 It was q hot day even for June, an