Oliver Twist

NERAL FOR THE

N UNFAVOUR

ASTER'S

direction of the dismal object: from which he almost expected to see some frightful form slowly rear its head, to drive him mad with terror. Against the wall were ranged, in regular array, a long row of elm boards cut in the same shape: looking in the dim light, like high-shouldered ghosts with their hands in their breeches pockets. Coffin-plates, elm-chips, bright-headed nails, and shreds of black cloth, lay sc

desolate the best of us will sometimes feel in such a situation. The boy had no friends to care for, or to care for him. The re

e his coffin, and that he could be lain in a calm and lasting sleep in the churchyard ground, with the

, before he could huddle on his clothes, was repeated, in an angry and impetuous manner, abo

the voice which belonged to the l

eplied Oliver: undoing the

y, ain't yer?' said the v

,' replie

yer?' inqui

,' replie

ust see if I don't, that's all, my work'us brat!' and havi

ed bears reference, to entertain the smallest doubt that the owner of the voice, whoever he might be, wo

him through the key-hole, had walked a few paces off, to warm himself; for nobody did he see but a big charity-boy, sitting on a post in front of the

at length: seeing that no other visito

replied the

fin, sir?' inquired

; and said that Oliver would want one before lon

the charity-boy, in continuation: descending from th

' rejoine

to Oliver, and entered the shop with a dignified air, which did him great credit. It is difficult for a large-headed, small-eyed youth, of lumbering make and heavy

ch they were kept during the day, was graciously assisted by Noah: who having consoled him with the assurance that 'he'd catch it,' condescended to help him. Mr. Sowerberry came dow

, shut that door at Mister Noah's back, and take them bits that I've put out on the cover of the bread-pan. There's you

ork'us?' said

what a rum creature you are! W

r of that. Neither his father nor his mother will ever interfere with him. All

h; after which they both looked scornfully at poor Oliver Twist, as he sat shivering on the box in

an unstateable fraction. The shop-boys in the neighbourhood had long been in the habit of branding Noah in the public streets, with the ignominious epithets of 'leathers,' 'charity,' and the like; and Noah had bourne them without reply. But, now that fortune had cast in his way a nameless orphan, at whom

Mrs. Sowerberry-the shop being shut up-were taking their supper in the little back

Mrs. Sowerberry looking up, with a peculia

Mrs. Sowerb

r, nothing,' sai

te!' said Mrs

ry humbly. 'I thought you didn't want to

ody; don't consult me, pray. I don't want to intrude upon your secrets.' As Mrs. Sowe

Sowerberry, 'I want

werberry very much. This is a very common and much-approved matrimonial course of treatment, which is often very effective. It at once reduced Mr. Sowerberry to be

ear,' said Mr. Sowerberry. 'A very

he eats enough,'

y dear,' resumed Mr. Sowerberry, 'which is very int

wonderment. Mr. Sowerberry remarked it and, without allowin

ly for children's practice. It would be very new to have a mute in prop

he merely inquired, with much sharpness, why such an obvious suggestion had not presented itself to her husband's mind before? Mr. Sowerberry rightly construed this, as an acquiescence in his proposition; it was spe

tered the shop; and supporting his cane against the counter, drew forth his large leathern po

ing over it with a lively counten

,' replied Mr. Bumble, fastening the strap of the leath

ng from the scrap of paper to Mr. Bu

Obstinate people, Mr. Sowerberry; very

. Sowerberry with a sneer

eplied the beadle. 'Ant

acquiesced t

who lodges in the same house made an application to the porochial committee for them to send the porochial surgeon to see a woman as was

omptness,' said

he medicine won't suit his wife's complaint, and so she shan't take it-says she shan't take it, sir! Good, strong, wholesome medicine, as was given with great succe

ind in full force, he struck the counter sharply w

he undertaker,

ever did; but now she's dead, we've got to bury her; and t

at wrong side first, in a fever of parochia

en to ask after you!' said Mr. Sowerberry, looki

f sight, during the interview; and who was shaking from head to

waistcoat had made a very strong impression, thought that now the undertaker had got Oliver upon trial the subject was better avoided, until such time as h

, the better. Noah, look after the shop. Oliver, put on your cap, and come w

the concurrent testimony afforded by the squalid looks of the few men and women who, with folded arms and bodies half doubled, occasionally skulked along. A great many of the tenements had shop-fronts; but these were fast closed, and mouldering away; only the upper rooms being inhabited. Some houses which had become insecure from age and decay, were prevented from falling into the street, by huge beams of wood reared against the walls, a

cautiously through the dark passage, and bidding Oliver keep close to him and not be afraid the undertaker mounted t

at once saw enough of what the room contained, to know it was the apar

beside him. There were some ragged children in another corner; and in a small recess, opposite the door, there lay upon the ground, something covered with an old blank

an's face was wrinkled; her two remaining teeth protruded over her under lip; and her eyes were bright and p

rcely up, as the undertaker approached the recess. 'Ke

ertaker, who was pretty well used to

n the floor,-'I tell you I won't have her put into the ground. She couldn

ng; but producing a tape from his pocket, kn

bones were starting through the skin. There was neither fire nor candle; she died in the dark-in the dark! She couldn't even see her children's faces, though we heard her gasping out their names. I begged for her in the streets: and they sent me to prison. When I came back, she w

if she had been wholly deaf to all that passed, menaced them into silence. Having unloosened the

y than even the presence of death in such a place. 'Lord, Lord! Well, it is strange that I who gave birth to her, and was a woman then, sh

d chuckled in her hideous merriment

Send me a large cloak: a good warm one: for it is bitter cold. We should have cake and wine, too, before we go! Never mind; send some bread-only a loaf

you like!' He disengaged himself from the old woman

turned to the miserable abode; where Mr. Bumble had already arrived, accompanied by four men from the workhouse, who were to act as bearers. An old black cloak had been

berry in the old woman's ear; 'we are rather late; and it won't do, t

kept as near them, as they could. Mr. Bumble and Sowerberry walked at a good smart pa

e vestry-room fire, seemed to think it by no means improbable that it might be an hour or so, before he came. So, they put the bier on the brink of the grave; and the two mourners waited patiently in the damp clay, with a cold rain drizzling down, while the ragged boys whom the spect

erwards, the clergyman appeared: putting on his surplice as he came along. Mr. Bumble then thrashed a boy or two, to keep up appearances; and the revere

werberry to the grav

the surface. The grave-digger shovelled in the earth; stamped it loosely down with his feet: shouldered his

ble, tapping the man on the back

or a few paces; and fell down in a swoon. The crazy old woman was too much occupied in bewailing the loss of her cloak (which the undertaker had taken off), to pay him an

rberry, as they walked ho

plied Oliver, with considerable

, Oliver,' said Sowerberry. 'Nothi

get Mr. Sowerberry used to it. But he thought it better not to ask the ques