The farmers used to take pains to slip round upon them unexpectedly, or meet them as they were going home from work, in order to check the pilfering of the wheat.
The labourer was not paid wholly in cash; he had a bushel of the 'tail,' or second flour, from the mill in lieu of money, settling once a month.

Their life was hard indeed.

But the great prosperity which had come upon the farmers did them no good.

In too many cases it melted away in drink.

The habit of drinking became settled in a family.