Oliver Twist

ION, AND RATHER

he oldest inhabitants recollected no period at which measles had been so prevalent, or so fatal to infant existence; and many were the mournful processions which little Oliver headed, in a hat-band reaching down to his knees, to the indescribable admiration and emotion of all the mothers in the town. As Oliver accompanied h

uite cheerful and contented-conversing together with as much freedom and gaiety, as if nothing whatever had happened to disturb them. Husbands, too, bore the loss of their wives with the most heroic calmness. Wives, again, put on weeds for their husbands, as if, so far from grieving in the garb of sorrow, they had made up their minds to render it as

of Noah Claypole: who used him far worse than before, now that his jealousy was roused by seeing the new boy promoted to the black stick and hatband, while he, the old one, remained stationary in the muffin-cap and leathers. Charlotte treated him ill, because Noah did; and Mrs. Sowerber

o record an act, slight and unimportant perhaps in appearance, but which indi

lf of the worst end of the neck-when Charlotte being called out of the way, there ensued a brief interval of time, which Noah Claypole, be

unced his intention of coming to see him hanged, whenever that desirable event should take place; and entered upon various topics of petty annoyance, like a malicious and ill-conditioned charit

d Noah, 'how's

liver; 'don't you say a

orking of the mouth and nostrils, which Mr. Claypole thought must be the immediate p

die of, Work'u

d Oliver: more as if he were talking to himself, than answe

us,' said Noah, as a tear rolled down Olive

ere; that's enough. Don't say anything

She was a nice 'un she was. Oh, Lor!' And here, Noah nodded his head expressively; and curled

es the most annoying: 'Yer know, Work'us, it can't be helped now; and of course yer couldn't help it then; and I am very sorry f

inquired Oliver, loo

l better, Work'us, that she died when she did, or else she'd have been hard labourin

the throat; shook him, in the violence of his rage, till his teeth chattered in hi

cruel insult to his dead mother had set his blood on fire. His breast heaved; his attitude was erect; his eye bright and vivid; his whole person c

! missis! Here's the new boy a murdering of m

e former of whom rushed into the kitchen by a side-door, while the latter paused on the staircase till

rately strong man in particularly good training. 'Oh, you little un-grate-ful, mur-de-rous, hor-rid villain!' And between

Mrs. Sowerberry plunged into the kitchen, and assisted to hold him with one hand, while she scratched his fa

beat no longer, they dragged Oliver, struggling and shouting, but nothing daunted, into the dust-cel

said Charlotte. 'A glass of

ency of breath, and a sufficiency of cold water, which Noah had poured over her head a

have any more of these dreadful creatures, that are born to be murderers and robbe

Sowerberry: looking pit

own of Oliver's head, rubbed his eyes with the inside of his wrists while this co

t a man in the house, and he'll kick that door down in ten minutes.' Oliver's vigorous

am,' said Charlotte, 'unless w

tary,' suggeste

Noah, and tell him to come here directly, and not to lose a minute; never mind your cap! Make

h it astonished the people who were out walking, to see a charity-boy tearing thr