They do say she was an Irish girl, out of a gang as used to work near here--an' she let him drop one day when she was in liquor, an' never took no trouble about him afterwards.

He was a poor sickly lad, he was! you'd wonder how he grew up at all.

And oh! George Westall he treated him _cruel_.

He'd kick and swear at him; then he'd dare him to fight, an' thrash him till the others came in, an' got him away.

Then he'd carry tales to his father, and one day old Westall beat Jim within an inch of 'is life, with a strap end, because of a lie George told 'im.
The poor chap lay in a ditch under Disley Wood all day, because he was that knocked about he couldn't walk, and at night he crawled home on his hands and knees.