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Mr。 Sowerberry’s ingenious speculation exceeded even his most
sanguine hopes。 The 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 his master in most of his adult
expeditions； too； in order that he might acquire that equanimity of
demeanour and full command of nerve which are essential to a
finished undertaker； he had many opportunities of observing the
beautiful resignation and fortitude with which some strong…
minded people bear their trials and losses。
For instance； when Sowerberry had an order for the burial of
some rich old lady or gentleman； who was surrounded by a great
number of nephews and nieces； who had been perfectly
inconsolable during the previous illness； and whose grief had been
wholly irrepressible even on the most public occasions； they would
be as happy among themselves as need be—quite cheerful and
contented—conversing together with as much freedom and gaiety；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
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 becoming and attractive as possible。 It was observable；
too； that ladies and gentlemen who were in passions of anguish
during the ceremony of internment； recovered almost as soon as
they reached home； and became quite composed before the tea…
drinking was over。 All this was very pleasant and improving to see；
and Oliver beheld it with great admiration。
That Oliver Twist was moved to resignation by the example of
these good people； I cannot； although I am his biographer；
undertake to affirm with any degree of confidence； but I can most
distinctly say； that for many months he continued meekly to
submit to the domination and ill…treatment of Noah Claypole； who
used him far worse than before； now that his jealousy was routed
by seeing the new boy promoted to the black stick and hat…band；
while he； the old one； remained stationary in the muffin…cap and
leathers。 Charlotte treated him ill； because Noah did； and Mrs。
Sowerberry was his decided enemy； because Mr。 Sowerberry was
disposed to be his friend； so； between these three on one side； and
a glut of funerals on the other； Oliver was not altogether as
comfortable as the hungry pig was； when he was shut up； by
mistake； in the grain department of a brewery。
And now； I come to a very important passage in Oliver’s history；
for I have to record an act； slight and unimportant perhaps in
appearance； but which indirectly produced a material change in
all his future prospects and proceedings。
One day； Oliver and Noah had descended into the kitchen at
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
the usual dinner hour； to banquet upon a small joint of mutton—a
pound and a half 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； being hungry and vicious； considered he
could not possibly devote to a worthier purpose than aggravating
and tantalising young Oliver Twist。
Intent upon this innocent amusement； Noah put his feet on the
tablecloth； and pulled Oliver’s hair； and twitched his ears； and
expressed his opinion that he was a “sneak”； and furthermore
announced his intention of coming to see him hanged； whenever
that desirable event should take place； and entered upon various
other topics of petty annoyance like a malicious and ill…
conditioned charity…boy he was。 But； none of these taunts
producing the desired effect of making Oliver cry； Noah attempted
to be more facetious still； and in this attempt； did what many small
wits； with far greater reputations than Noah； sometimes do to this
day； when they want to be funny he got rather personal。
“Work’us；” said Noah； “how’s your mother？”
“She’s dead；” replied Oliver； “don’t you say anything about her
to me！”
Oliver’s colour rose as he said this； he breathed quickly； and
there was a curious working of the mouth and nostrils； which Mr。
Claypole thought must be the immediate precursor of a violent fit
of crying。 Under this impression he returned to the charge。
“What did she die of； Work’us？” said Noah。
“Of a broken heart； some of our old nurses told me；” replied
Oliver； more as if he were talking to himself； than answering Noah。
“I think I know what it must be to die of that！”
“Tol de rol lol lol； right fol lairy； Work’us；” said Noah； as a tear
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Oliver Twist
rolled down Oliver’s cheek。 “What’s set you a…snivelling now？”
“Not you；” replied Oliver； hastily brushing the tear away。 “Don’t
think it。”
“Oh； not me； eh！” sneered Noah。
“No； not you；” replied Oliver sharply。 “There； that’s enough。
Don’t say anything more to me about her； you’d better not！”
“Better not！” exclaimed Noah。 “Well！ Better not！ Work’us； don’t
be impudent。 Your mother； too！ She was a nice ’un she was。 Oh；
Lor！” And here； Noah nodded his head expressively； and curled
up as much of his small red nose as muscular action could collect
together； for the occasion。
“Yer know； Work’us；” continued Noah； emboldened by Oliver’s
silence； and speaking in a jeering tone of affected pity—of all tones
the most annoying； “Yer know； Work’us； it can’t be helped now；
and of course yer couldn’t help it then； and I’m very sorry for it；
and I’m sure we all are； and pity yer very much。 But yer must
know； Work’us； yer mother was a regular right…down bad ’un。”
“What did you say？” inquired Oliver； looking up very quickly。
“A regular right…down bad ’un； Work’us；” replied Noah coolly。
“And it’s a great deal better； Work’us； that she died when she did；
or else she’d have been hard labouring in Bridewell； or
transported； or hung； which is more likely than either； isn’t it？”
Crimson with fury； Oliver started up； overthrew the chair and
table； seized Noah by the throat； shook him； in the violence of his
rage； till his teeth chattered in his head； and collecting his whole
force into one heavy blow； felled him to the ground。
A minute ago； the boy had looked the quiet； mild； dejected
creature that harsh treatment had made him。 But his spirit was
roused at last； the cruel insult to his dead mother had set his blood
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
on fire。 His breast heaved； his attitude was erect； his eye bright
and vivid； his whole person changed； as he stood glaring over the
cowardly tormentor who now lay crouching at his feet； and defied
him with an energy he had never known before。
“He’ll murder me！’ blubbered Noah。 “Charlotte！ missis！ Here’s
the new boy a…murdering of me！ Help！ help！ Oliver’s gone mad！
Charlotte！”
Noah’s shouts were responded to； by a loud scream from
Charlotte； and a louder from Mrs。 Sowerberry； the former of
whom rushed into the kitchen by a side…door； while the latter
paused on the staircase till she was quite certain that it was
consistent with the preservation of human life； to come farther
down。
“Oh； you little wretch！” screamed Charlotte； seizing Oliver with
her utmost force； which was about equal to that of a moderately
strong man in particularly good training。 “Oh； you little
ungrateful； mur…de…rous； hor…rid villain！” And between every
syllable； Charlotte gave Oliver a blow with all her might；
accompanying it with a scream； for the benefit of society。
Charlotte’s fist was by no means a light one； but； lest it should
not be effectual in calming Oliver’s wrath； Mrs。 Sowerberry
plunged into the kitchen； and assisted to hold him with one hand；
while she scratched his face with the other。 In this favourable
position of affairs； Noah rose from the ground； and pommelled
him behind。
This was rather too violent exercise to last long。 When they
were all wearied out； and could tear and beat no longer； they
dragged Oliver； struggling and shouting； but nothing daunted； into
the dust…cellar； and there locked him up。 This being done； Mrs。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
Sowerberry sank into a chair； and burst into tears。
“Bless her； she’s going off！” said Charlotte。 “A glass of water；
Noah； dear。 Make haste！”
“Oh！ Charlotte；” said Mrs。 Sowerberry； speaking as well as she
could； through a deficiency of breath； and a sufficiency of cold
water； which Noah had poured over her head and shoulders。 “Oh！
Charlotte； what a mercy we have not all been murdered in our
beds！”
“Ah！ mercy indeed； ma’am；” was the reply。 “I only hope this’ll
teach master not to have any more of these dreadful creaturs； that
are born to be mur