AN ECCENTRIC DAIRYMAID.

Kumara Times, Issue 703, 30 December 1878, Page 2

AN ECCENTRIC DAIRYMAID.

Some excitement has been cattsed afc Eastbourne by the sudden death, and the singular circnuistauces following it, of an old woman named Ellen Carpen* ter, seventy years of age, who for the* greater part of her life had been maid at Compton House, the seat of the Earl of Burlington, near Eastboiinie. Although long unfit for work, she refused to give up her pout, and

always claimed as one of the perquisite* 7 of it the flannel and coarse towelling Used in cleaning the dairy, and whiclu it was afterwards discovered, she used as underclothing, and wore for Btockv. ings any old pieces she could pick.up. These and other penurious habits in & member of so liberal a household as thd Eavl of Burlington's caused the old lady to be looked upon as a miser; but ahV carefully concealed her hoards from all her fellew-servants, except so far as tdencrust a bank-book to the man who milked the cows. One day recently she wasfonnd dead in the dairy; The—body was taken to a small cottage in which her mother had lirdd, and which deceased continued to.rtJnt, though she; did riot occupy it In.:the bed-room was fount! no less a sum' than £1578, besides receipts for money in theßanX of Ungland* The news of this /disco* Very caused fl© little sensation among . the relatives of the old dame, who; now, .made their appearance in the shape 1 seventeen cousins, of whose existence) we belief e, the otd dairymaid had no kno wledgei—Brighton OuardiaU;