It's plain enough you get into the wrong road i' this life if you run after this and that only for the sake o' making things easy and pleasant to yourself.

A pig may poke his nose into the trough and think o' nothing outside it; but if you've got a man's heart and soul in you, you can't be easy a-making your own bed an' leaving the rest to lie on the stones.

Nay, nay, I'll never slip my neck out o' the yoke, and leave the load to be drawn by the weak uns.

Father's a sore cross to me, an's likely to be for many a long year to come.

What then?
I've got th' health, and the limbs, and the sperrit to bear it." At this moment a smart rap, as if with a willow wand, was given at the house door, and Gyp, instead of barking, as might have been expected, gave a loud howl.