NOVEMBER 



Nov. T HAVE been placed in an awkward pre- 

 6* JL dicament, and have overheard an offer 

 of marriage, or what practically amounts to it. But 

 there is a story attached which involves a retro- 

 spect. 



Three months ago there died in our village a 

 blacksmith named Bill Werge, the brother of Ster- 

 culus and of Meshach. He was just over middle 

 age, and had not married, and as he was a saving 

 man he had amassed a little fortune, as village for- 

 tunes go. At any rate, he owned his forge and the 

 cottage he lived in, as well as the one occupied by 

 his mother, and another that adjoined it under the 

 same roof. He left the forge to Sterculus, who 

 promptly sold it and put the money out at interest, 

 being more enterprising than other villagers who 

 have not travelled so far as Northumberland. The 

 cottage occupied by his mother he bequeathed to 

 her, and the one next door to Meshach. Meshach 

 had always been his favourite, and he left him a 

 parting message as well. 



" Tell him he'll have the cottage that's let to Mrs. 

 Bidstraw wi' the apple tree a-hangin' over it. Tell 



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