Unlike the factory operatives around them, these men clashed, and kneaded, and sliced among the clay, as if they were working for a wager.

But they were used to the job, and working piece-work.

A little further on, we came to an unbroken bit of the moor.

Here, on a green slope we saw a poor lad sitting chirruping upon the grass, with a little cloutful of groundsel for bird meat in his hand, watching another, who was on his knees, delving for earth-nuts with an old knife.
Lower down the slope there were three other lads plaguing a young jackass colt; and further off, on the town edge of the moor, several children from the streets hard by, were wandering about the green hollow, picking daisies, and playing together in the sunshine.

There are several cotton factories close to the moor, but they were quiet enough.