guvnor sent him on a job to Jones's place, an' they sent him back.
"Why, he's an old man," they says. "What good's a man of that age
for liftin' ladders about?" An' Jarvey's no older than me.'

Sidney knitted his brows. He had heard the complaint from too many
men to be able to dispute its justice.

'When there's twice too many of us for the work that's to be done,'
pursued John, 'what else can you expect? The old uns have to give
way, of course. Let 'em beg; let 'em starve! What use are they?'

Mrs. Hewett had put a kettle on the fire, and began to arrange the
table for a meal.

'Go an' get your wet things off, John,' she said. 'You'll be havin'
your rheumatics again.'

'Never mind me, Maggie. What business have you to be up an' about?
You need a good deal more takin' care of than I do. Here, let Amy
get the tea.'

The three children, Amy, Annie, and Tom, had come forward, as only
children do who are wont to be treated affectionately on their
father's return. John had a kiss and a caress for each of them; then
he stepped to the bed and looked at his latest born. The baby was
moaning feebly; he spoke no word to it, and on turning away glanced
about the room absently. In the meantime his wife had taken some
clothing from a chest of drawers, and at length he was persuaded to
go into the other room and change. When he returned, the meal was
ready. It consisted of a scrap of cold steak, left over from