As for the short-pipe times, with a bitter gale dashing the cold spray into his eyes, legs drenched with sleet, and shivering to the fork, and shoulders racked with rheumatism against the groaning mast, and the stump of a pipe keeping chatter with his teeth--away with all thought of such hardship now, except what would serve to fatten present comfort.
But fatherly feeling and sense of right compelled Captain Zeb to check idle enjoyment from going too far--i.

e., further than himself.

Every other member of his family but himself, however good the times might be, must work away as hard as ever, and earn whatever victuals it should please the Lord to send them.

There was always a job to be found, he knew that, if a young man or maid had a mind for it; and "no silver no supper" was the order of his house.

His eldest son Dan was the first to be driven--for a good example to the younger ones--and now he was set to work full time and overtime, upon a heavy job at Pebbleridge.
Young Daniel was not at all afraid of work, whenever there was any kind of skill to be shown, or bodily strength to be proved by it.