Keep him
next you, and prick him up with your needle if he shirks."
He disappeared down the trap-door, and mechanically, as if in a dream,
I sat down by the man and listened to his instructions, kindly enough
bestowed. But I did not remain in peace two minutes. A burst of chatter
rose as the foreman vanished, and a tall, bloated, sharp-nosed young man
next me bawled in my ear,--
"I say, young'un, fork out the tin and pay your footing at Conscrumption
Hospital."
"What do you mean?"
"Aint he just green?--Down with the stumpy--a tizzy for a pot of
half-and-half."
"I never drink beer."
"Then never do," whispered the man at my side; "as sure as hell's hell,
it's your only chance."
There was a fierce, deep earnestness in the tone which made me look up at
the speaker, but the other instantly chimed in--
"Oh, yer don't, don't yer, my young Father Mathy? then yer'll soon learn it
here if yer want to keep yer victuals down."
"And I have promised to take my wages home to my mother."
"Oh criminy! hark to that, my coves! here's a chap as is going to take the
blunt home to his mammy.
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