But the present task was hateful to him; for any big-armed yokel, or common wood-hewer, might have done as much as he could do, and perhaps more, at it, and could have taken the same wage over it.

Mr.Coggs, of Pebbleridge, the only wheelwright within ten miles of Springhaven, had taken a Government contract to supply within a certain time five hundred spoke-wheels for ammunition tumbrils, and as many block-wheels for small artillery; and to hack out these latter for better men to finish was the daily task of Dan Tugwell.
This job swelled his muscles and enlarged his calves, and fetched away all the fat he had been enabled to form in loftier walks of art; but these outward improvements were made at the expense of his inner and nobler qualities.

To hack and hew timber by the cubic foot, without any growing pleasure of proportion or design, to knit the brows hard for a struggle with knots, and smile the stern smile of destruction; and then, after a long and rough walk in the dark--for the equinox now was impending--to be joked at by his father (who had lounged about all day), and have all his money told into the paternal pocket, with narrow enquiries, each Saturday night.

But worst of all to know that because he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he had no heart--no heart that he could offer where he laid it; but there it must lie, and be trodden on in silence, while rakish-looking popinjays--But this reflection stopped him, for it was too bitter to be thought out, and fetched down his quivering hand upon his axe.

Enough that these things did not tend to a healthy condition of mind, or the proper worship of the British Constitution.