Excerpt from Miser's Money

To the south-east, under Ter Hill, fragments of a house still rise; while at the other point Of the bow, where the hill descends from Nun's Cross to the south-west, habita tions cluster together at the hamlet of White Works and stare out across the Mire upon the ruin over against them.

A group of fallen walls and perished outbuildings, of which no more than the foundations remain, mark the grey spot in its desert Of green where once stood Fox Tor Farm. Respectable apparent age distinguishes these fragments and the weathered and shattered entrances, the empty joist-holes and fretted casements suggest antiquity. Yet one hundred years ago this place had but newly sprung into existence. Its entire life, its erection and desertion, its prosperity and downfall, were crowded within the duration of little more than half a century. Long years ago its brief days were numbered and for Six decades it had already written hope, enter prise and failure upon the wilderness.

The ruin was still linked to living persons, however, and from White Works and Nun's Cross Farm, on the hill above it, four human beings could regard the tumbled masses of stone across the valley as the birthplace of their mother.

In 1820, Mary Jane Worth first saw the light at Fox Tor Farm. She was the daughter of the headman and his wife, the dairymaid. In 1850, by which time her birthplace stood already deserted Mary Jane had wed with one John Mortimer. Johns father it was who created the first newtake croft at Nun's Cross and built of earth and stone a dwelling beside that ancient memorial. His son succeeded him, improved upon the original hovel, extended the cultivated clearings by many acres, and presently brought his bride to dwell at Nun's Cross Farm. Four children were issue of the marriage and Mary Jane bore two girls and two boys.

At the passing of John Mortimer, his eldest son, David, continued to dwell at Nun's Cross. He lifted the place to still higher prosperity, by breeding Of cattle, rather than cultivation of land erected a stout, stone house and used his first home and birthplace for a cattle byre.

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