"'E ain't never been his old self since then. 'E give up the
bettin' and bought this 'ere, though what's the difference blessed
if I can see. It makes my 'eart ache, it do, to 'ear my Jack a-
beatin' down the poor people--and it ain't like 'im. It went agen
'is grain at fust, I could see; but they told him as 'ow it was
folks's own fault that they was poor, and as 'ow it was the will of
God, because they was a drinkin', improvident lot.
"Then they made 'im sign the pledge. 'E'd allus been used to 'is
glass, Jack 'ad, and I think as knockin' it off 'ave soured 'im a
bit--seems as if all the sperit 'ad gone out of 'im--and of course
me and father 'ave 'ad to give up our little drop too. Then they
told 'im as 'e must give up smokin'- that was another way of goin'
straight to 'ell--and that ain't made 'im any the more cheerful
like, and father misses 'is little bit--don't ye, father?"
"Ay," answered the old fellow savagely; "can't say I thinks much of
these 'ere folks as is going to heaven; blowed if I don't think
they'll be a chirpier lot in t'other place."
An angry discussion in the shop interrupted us.
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