12T 
Mary Noble ^ in the IQ'lth year c^'her age, 
person with whom slie is now living tells me, she would walk a 
mile to the field, carry her ridge with the other reapers, and walk 
home at night. From her youth her chief employment has been 
spinning and working in husbandry ; and she has been very ac- 
tive and laborious. Her diet has been of the plainest kind ; she 
generally lived abstemiously, but did not object to drink a little 
ale or spirits occasionally. For some years past she has lived 
chiefly upon tea, which she likes strong, and takes with cream ; 
but without sugar. Sometimes she has a little milk or broth, 
but tea is her favourite food ; and she has often taken it three 
times-a day. She began to drink tea about sixty-five years ago, 
when she had a present of some made to her by Mr Pattin- 
son of Melmerby. She used, at that time, to boil it in the 
kettle. She has always been accustomed to a warm dress, and 
generally wore flannel next her shift. Withiii the last three 
years she rose early in the morning, cleaned the fire-irons, put 
on the fire, and wrought all kinds of house-work. Until three 
months ago, she spun linen-yarn with a spinning-wheel, which 
is a common occupation among the peasantry of Cumberland. 
The yarn she span was fine, and of a good quality. I lately saw 
a very handsome table-cloth that had been made of it ; and it is 
worthy of remark, that this table-cloth was spun by her when 
106 years of age, and was woven by a blind man. 
Mary Noble has resided, for the last seventeen years, with 
Jonathan Nicholson of Penrith, who is now seventy-six years 
old, and remembers her from his youth. His wife,' who is sixty- 
nine years old, was nursed by her when a child ; which circum- 
stance gave rise to a strong attachment, and in return, his wife 
nurses her in her old age, and affords her every attention and 
comfort : they have lived together during the last thirty-two 
years. This old woman has been many years in great poverty, 
but never applied for parish relief : her own industry, the kind-^ 
ness of her friends, and the protection of Jonathan Nicholson 
and his wife, have provided her with all the comforts and con- 
veniences of life. 
It is the lot of very few persons to reach the age of this ve- 
nerable old woman ; few are born with a constitution so strong 
and healthy as she had ; many are cut off* in childhood by the 
diseases to which children are liable ; and many fall victims to 
