If they complained that it was too small, they
had, indeed, their choice to go to jail in preference to taking it,
but no third alternative was before them. Of these coolies, as we
should call them in these days, only a few who were either very timid,
or ignorant of the full effect of yesterday's doings, went to their
usual tasks.
Besides the coolies, there was a small number of laborers who
commanded actual wages in produce or in money. Although there was no
reason in yesterday's proceedings, why these should not go to work as
usual, yet the spirit of revolt that was in the air, and the vague
impression of impending changes that were to indefinitely better the
condition of the poor, had so far affected them also, that the most
took this day as a holiday, with a hazy but pleasing notion that it
was the beginning of unlimited holidays.
All this idle element naturally drifted into the streets, and
collected in particular force on the green and about the tavern. By
afternoon, these groups, reenforced by those who had been busy at home
during the morning, began to assume the dimensions of a crowd. Widow
Bingham, at the tavern, had deemed it expedient to keep the right side
of the lawless element by a rather free extension of credit at the
bar, and there was a good deal of hilarity, which, together with the
atmosphere of excitement created by the recent stirring events, made
it seem quite like a gala occasion.
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