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OLIVECR
measles had been so prevalent, or so fatal to infant ex-
istence ; 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 so essential to a fin-
ished undertaker, he had many opportunities of observ-
ing the beautiful resignation and fortitude with which
some strong-minded people hear their trials and losses.
. For instance ; when Sowerberry had an order for the
burial of some rich old lady or gentleman, who was sur-
rounded by a great number of nephews and nieces, who
had been perfectly inconsolable during the previous ill-
ness, aud 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 con-
tented ; 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. . rVVives, 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 ob-
servable, too, that ladies and gentlemen who were in pas-
sions of anguish during the ceremony of interment, re-
V covered almost as soon as they reached home, and be-
came 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 ex-
ample of these good people, I cannot, although I am his
7 , biographer, undertake to aflirm with any degree of con-
fidence ;-.but I ‘can most distinctly say, that for many
months he continued meekly to submit to the domination
and ill-treatment of Noah Qlaypole: who used him far
worse ‘than before, now that his jealousy was roused
by seeing the’. new boy promoted to the black stick and
hat-band, while he, the old one, remained stationa in
the mutiin-cap and leathers. Charlotte treated riiim
badly, 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 unim-
portant perhaps in appearance, but which indirectly pro-
,, duced a most material change in all his future prospects
and proceedings.
‘One day, Oliver and Noah had descended into the
kitchen ..at- the usual dinner-hour, to banquet upon a
small ]0lIlt 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,'wliicli Noah
Claypole, being hungry and vicious, considered he could
not possibly devote to a worthier purpose than aggravat-
ing and tantalizing young Oliver Twist. '
Intent upon this innocent amusement, Noah put his
feet on the table-cloth ; 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
Ofpetty annoyance, like a malicious-and ill-conditioned
Fllilrlty-boy as he was. But, none of the taunts produc-
me‘ the desired effect of making Oliver cry, Noah at-
tempted to be more facetious still; and in this attempt,
id 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.
‘: VVork’us,” said Noah, "how’s your mother?”
. She's dead,” replied Oliver ; “ don’t you say anything
about her to me I’’ , V -
Oliver's colour rose as he said this; he breathe
Quickly ; and there was a curious working of the mouth
find nostrils, which Mr. Claypole thought must be the
Immediate precursor of , a violent fit of crying. -Under
this impression he returned to the charge. -
“ VVhat did she die of, W'orkfus? ” said Noah,
TWIST. ' ' 13
“ 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 l” V ’
‘‘To1 de rol lol lol, right fol lairy, VVork’us,” said
Noah, as a tear rolled down Oliver’s cheek. “ “’hat’s
set you a snivelling now 7 ” '
“ Not you,” replied Oliver, hastily brushing the tear
away. “ Don’t think it.” '
“ Oh, not me, eh ‘I ” 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 I” -
“ Better not I’’ exclaimed Noah. “ XVell I Better not I
Work’us, don’t be impudent. Your mother, too l She
was a nice ’un, she was. Oh, Lor 1” And here, Noah
nodded his head expressively : and curled up as much of
his small red nose as muscular action could collect to-
gether, for the occasion.
“ Yer know, VVork’us,” continued Noah, emboldened
by Oliver’s silence, and speaking in a jeering tone of af-
fected pity : of all tones the most annoying : “ Yer
know, VVork’us, it carn’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, VVork’us, yer mother was a regular right-
down bad ’un,”
. “VVhat did you say?” inquired Oliver, looking up
very quickly.
“A regular right-down bad ’un, VVork’us,” replied
Noah, coolly. “ And it's a great deal better, VVork’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, de-
jected 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 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
torinentor who now lay crouc ing at his feet; and de-
tied him with an energy he had never known before.
“He’ll murder me I’’ blubbered Noah. “Charlotte!
missisl Here’s the new boy a murdering of me I Help I
help l . Oliver’s gone mad I Char-lotte I”
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 further down. ' .
"Oh, you little wretcli I" 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 un-grate-ful, mur-dc-rous,
lior-rid villain l ” 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 list was by no means alight one ; but, lest
it should not be effectual in calming Oliver’s wrath, Mrs.
Sowerherry plunged into the kitchen, and assisted to-
liold 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.-
W'hen they were all three wearied.out, and could tear
and beat no longer, they dragged OJIVOY. struggling and
shouting, but nothing daurited, into the dust-cellar, and
there locked hiiu up. "This being done, Mrs. Sewer-
berry sunk into a chair, and burst into tears.
“Bless her, she’s going oil l” said Charlotte.
glass of water, Noah,'dear. Make haste l .
“Ohl Charlotte,” said Mrs. Sowerberry: speakm as
well as she could, through a deticrency of breath, uni a
sufficiency of cold water, which hoali had cured over
her head and shoulders. . H
we have not all been murdered in our beds I
W p
“A,
“Oh I Charlottc,w int :1 mercy-