work'us

Young Innocence had never dreamt of any thing of the kind -- bein 'a walking on his way to the work'us -- but beaks being proverbially otherwise than fly, he got six weeks on it.

The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 1, April, 1851 Various

"I'd send him to the work'us if I was on the Township Committee."

Half-Past Seven Stories Robert Gordon Anderson

"That trout," he said, "is so gleeful to get away from his captivity as I be to escape from the work'us."

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

Ay -- but the work'us was good enough for old Granfa.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

The Seraph ventured: "Did your grandmother put you in the work'us?"

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

He had loved me, but had always feared that I would end by disgracing the family — being hanged or something — but the "work'us," that was beyond him; he had not thought it would come to that.

Marse Henry : an autobiography, 1919

I'd like to give 'em six months in the work'us, that I would.

The White Christmas and other Merry Christmas Plays Walter Ben Hare 1915

[Sidenote: "Do what you're Told!"] "Then get up and wash that there delf -- don't give me any imperence, or you'll find yourself in the street; there's others better than you I've turned away, and the work'us has been their end -- so mind your business, and do what you're told!"

The Empire Annual for Girls, 1911 Various 1899

She took me out of the work'us without character or nothing, and now she's a-educatin 'of me.

The Firm of Girdlestone Arthur Conan Doyle 1894

We had him from the work'us when he was seven, to chop mangel wurzel, and here he's been ever since, nigh twelve year.

The Last Galley Impressions and Tales Arthur Conan Doyle 1894