The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-03
The Whirr Of Wheels
By AARON

The Yarebridge workmen were usually
so7evhat solemn in their cups. Their
v,ees would not run to revelry at the
hest. and at the worst they were so low
that indulgence in more than a weekly
quart was a high form or extravaganza.
But. poor as they were. and thrifty as
,scv had been made by circumstances, most
n the workmen at Yarebridge mills, when
they had filed one By one past the cash
window on Saturday, each picking up his
scanty earnings, adjourned in groups, as by
common consent. to the various alehouses
Of the town, there to spend the afternoon
IN what passed with them for conviviality.
II was understood in Yarebridge that on
such occasions each man should stand
his pint The law was unwritten, but
irvariable: unless, indeed, some reckless
r~oysterer should stand his pint three or
four times over. in hich case his COM
panions would. for the most part, CRATE
fully enough share in his drink whilst
silently condemning his extravaganza.
such men were closely ooked after by
their wives. themselves factory hands. who
would wait about the mill on pay days.
and demand the weeks wages on behalf Of
the children at home. If the woman was
a shrew she commonly insisted on the
whole OF the weeks earnings without de-
duction; but IL she had any sympathy with
d. male weaknesses she would observe TO the
companion OF her cares:
There, lad! There's a shilling for thee;
and 5ust mind that thou doesn't spend it
all"
There were. Of course. a few ~blackguards,
who thrashed their wives if the poor
women. with long experiences of hardship
behind them, should become too importu-
nate: but these made a class by themselves,
dwelling in a little Coventry Of their own,
as it were. and being carefully avoided,
after work hours. by all their more orderly
and provident n~eighbors. These were the
men who frequented the Cat and Fiddle,
high up in the town; but the best, the most
orderly and most frequented inn. was the
Cross Keys, which also had the advantage
Of being nearest to the mills.
II was at the Cross Keys, then, on a Sat
urday afternoon, that a numerous party of
Yarebridge workmen was seated round the
big table in the parlor. They a no more
than one jug Of beer and one small tot
glass before them; but the glass was
circling round from hand to hand in a
rather formal but persistent way, and when
the jug was empty it was Immediately
sent out 10 be replenished at some new
call. BY this Of sending
round the glass" each man got the full
benefit OF his own pint whilst appearing to
stand treat to~his neighbors; for though it
was impossible for so moderate a provision
of liquor. however small the tot glass might
be. 10 pass round so large a circle, there
was always somebody else's pint to take
up the running" so that a jug was always
travelling in the direction of the man who
had given the last order. Somewhat elab-
GRATED, and made much more costly, the
system is known in higher circles Of soci-
ETY. as Tommy DOdd."
"Zekell' said one of the men, addressing
himself to a fellow-workman on the other
side of the table, ''Thee hasn't stood thy
pint yet, ZekeL"
I've got no money to stand no pint" said
ZekeI. quite imperturbably. "Our Nan has
taken 81 home with her. and hasn't left
me even as much as three-halfpence."
"Oh. that's it. is it," said the first speak
er, with the evident approval Of his com
%panions. Then thou'H get no more drink
here to-day"
Zekel was u~ndismayed by this threat. 80
thought some on you would be saying tina
before long, he replied, with undiminisheC
ehee~rfulness: ''but I'm none going away
yet, for all that. It may be that you're no
all of one mind"
L don't know about that, though" saiC
another member OF the solemnly festiv'
circle at the Cross Keys. 'Thy wife get'
all thy money a bit too often for US. Zekel
However. II you can sing a song, I doub
not but you might get another glass o.
ale"
I'm nowt OF a singer" Zekel replied
but I can do something better than sing
song. and that's truly I come for
We getteD something to tell you"
There was general but unexpressed doub
as 10 whether Zekel came for anything but
as some poet has expressed 1t.
The rapturous, wild. and ine1able pleasur'
Or drinking at somebody else's expense"
There was general but unexpressed doub
ment Of expectation
What is #, lad? Out with fl" cried tw'
or three members OF the company at once
You haven't heard. I suppose" sai'
one. that OVID Starberry means TO rails
our wages?"
Wish to goodness I had" said Zekel
With fine fervor. 1T caps me how
business that makes so much money 70
tn mesters should be able to pay so littl
to tn men"
Thou makes slow work Of telling
story. ZekeI." said a strong voice from tn
chimney corner. Get along, man. &c
along"
All. what's it about?' was the genera
demand.
About? Why it's about tn young mester
II you must know, he's coming home mex
week"
zekel had certainly produced his intende'
effect
There was amazement in all the faces
none Of the men being calm enough eve
70 notice that Eek had helped himself t
two glasses OF ale IN succession.
eth young mester! Why, who woGl
have expected TO see him in Yarebridg
again-leastways, before his father died?
said the strong voice IN the chimney cor
ner.
Hes coming, Aberhum. anyhow. 1 Jus
happen to know all about it."
We'll. what more is there to tell? Let
have It al now that thou's started" re
marked Abraham Haig. generally spokel