THE ‘CALEB JAY’
(THE ‘QUEL OBJÊT’)
I.
The ‘Caleb Jay’[14] was not, as his nickname of itself might testify, popular in our pit village of Black Winning. His appearance was against him in the first instance, and he continued to be shy and reserved even after you might be said to have made his acquaintance. Reserve is unpopular in any society, but in the lower social grades, where life is of a freer and more hearty character than in the propriety-loving circles of the well-to-do, it may be said to be one of the ‘seven deadly sins.’
There was no reserve about Tom, his elder brother, who was a good-looking, idle, somewhat dissolute youth of twenty-three years of age.
Tom was always ready to ‘stand in’ for a ‘ha’penny loo,’ never flinched from a ‘bout at the beer,’ could throw a quoit well, when his eye was clear and his hand steady, and was never at a loss with the lasses.
Tom, therefore, was a general favourite, being ‘well ta’en up wi’’ by all save a few of the more serious-minded people; and ‘Caleb Jay’ suffered, I think, partly through contrast with his brother.
‘Caleb Jay’ had been injured when working as a putter down the pit, and consequently was ‘game of one leg.’ He wore the cast-off finery of his brother, the coloured scarves and embroidered waistcoats of his festive occasions—out of economy, no doubt, but some said ‘oot o’ foolishness.’
Certainly they did not suit well with his sallow complexion and thin, peaked countenance, and with the big and weary eyes.
He worked now at any odd job he could find. He had the care of the viewer’s strip of kitchen garden, and went round with papers, etc.; but it was not much that he earned, apparently, for his mother, who doted on her handsome son Tom, was often heard to complain that he wasn’t worth his keep.
He had a strange way of mysteriously disappearing for some days on occasion, sometimes even for a week at a stretch, and sundry persons, annoyed perhaps by his reticence, hinted at secret dissipation.