JET. 16-18.] VISIT TO BROSELEY. 25 



her only daughter, to whom she was greatly attached, 

 the young Prestwiches were all away from home. 

 Kate, the second grandchild, happened to arrive one 

 day at " The Lawn " before the departure of her grand- 

 mother, whose exclamation, " Snow in harvest," testified 

 to anything but pleasure when she was told of the home- 

 coming of the young girl. Doubtless Mrs Blakeway 

 felt disappointed at the interruption to the quiet of her 

 visit, and at the distraction that a child in the house 

 must cause to the mother. On her visits to " The 

 Lawn," Mrs Blakeway's custom had been to give a 

 present in money to each of her Prestwich grand- 

 children ; but to Joseph, the eldest, when a boy, she 

 only gave half of what she bestowed 011 his sisters, 

 saying she knew " that his money would be all spent 

 directly " ! 



Yet although she would have nothing to say to chil- 

 dren, this very original old lady had keen pleasure in 

 the society of her grandson when he was no longer a 

 child. His name must have been made widely known 

 throughout the Broseley district by the miners. His 

 youth, his enthusiasm in descending and working among 

 their coal-pits, and his characteristic courtesy to all 

 with whom he came in contact, must have won their 

 hearts. 



His grandmother often declared that she intended to 

 live as long as her husband, who died in his ninety-third 

 year, and she actually attained that age. 



