oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第5章
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For the combination of both these blessings in the one simple
process of picking oakum； Oliver bowed low by the direction of the
beadle； and was then hurried away to a large ward； where； on a
rough； hard bed； he sobbed himself to sleep。 What a noble
illustration of the tender laws of England！ They let the paupers go
to sleep！
Poor Oliver！ He little thought； as he lay sleeping in a happy
unconsciousness of all around him； that the Board had that very
day arrived at a decision which would exercise the most material
influence over all his future fortunes。 But they had。 And this was
it：—
The members of this Board were very sage； deep； philosophical
men； and when they came to turn their attention to the
workhouse； they found out at once； what ordinary folks would
never have discovered—the poor people liked it！ It was a regular
place of public entertainment for the poorer classes； a tavern
where there was nothing to pay； a public breakfast； dinner； tea；
and supper all the year round；—a brick and mortar elysium；
where it was all play and no work。 “Oho！” said the Board； looking
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
very knowing； “we are the fellows to set this to rights； we’ll stop it
all； in no time。” So； they established the rule； that all the poor
people should have the alternative （for they would compel nobody；
not they）； of being starved by a gradual process in the house； or by
a quick one out of it。 With this view； they contracted with the
waterworks to lay on an unlimited supply of water； and with a
corn…factor to supply periodically small quantities of oatmeal； and
issued three meals of thin gruel a day； with an onion twice a week；
and half a roll on Sundays。 They made a great many other wise
and humane regulations； having reference to the ladies； which it is
not necessary to repeat； kindly undertook to divorce poor married
people； in consequence of the great expense of a suit in Doctors’
Commons； and； instead of compelling a man to support his family；
as they had theretofore done； took his family away from him； and
made him a bachelor！ There is no saying how many applicants for
relief under these last two heads； might have started up in all
classes of society； if it had not been coupled with the workhouse；
but the Board were long…headed men； and had provided for this
difficulty。 The relief was inseparable from the workhouse and the
gruel； and that frightened people。
For the first six months after Oliver Twist was removed； the
system was in full operation。 It was rather expensive at first； in
consequence of the increase in the undertaker’s bill； and the
necessity of taking in the clothes of all the paupers； which
fluttered loosely on their wasted； shrunken forms； after a week or
two’s gruel。 But the number of workhouse inmates got thin as well
as the paupers； and the Board were in ecstasies。
The room in which the boys were fed was a large stone hall；
with a copper at one end： out of which the master； dressed in an
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
apron for the purpose； and assisted by one or two women； ladled
the gruel at meal…times。 Of this festive composition each boy had
one porringer； and no more—except on occasions of great public
rejoicing； when he had two ounces and a quarter of bread besides。
The bowls never wanted washing。 The boys polished them with
their spoons till they shone again； and when they had performed
this operation （which never took very long； the spoons being
nearly as large as the bowls）； they would sit staring at the copper；
with such eager eyes； as if they could have devoured the very
bricks of which it was composed； employing themselves；
meanwhile； in sucking their fingers most assiduously； with the
view of catching up any stray splashes of gruel that might have
been cast thereon。 Boys have generally excellent appetites。 Oliver
Twist and his companions suffered the tortures of slow starvation
for three months： at last they got so voracious and wild with
hunger； that one boy； who was tall for his age； and hadn’t been
used to that sort of thing （for his father had kept a small cook…
shop）； hinted darkly to his companions； that unless he had another
basin of gruel per diem； he was afraid he might some night happen
to eat the boy who slept next him； who happened to be a weakly
youth of tender age。 He had a wild； hungry eye； and they implicitly
believed him。 A council was held； lots were cast who should walk
up to the master after supper that evening； and ask for more； and
it fell to Oliver Twist。
The evening arrived； the boys took their places。 The master； in
his cook’s uniform； stationed himself at the copper； his pauper
assistants ranged themselves behind him； the gruel was served
out； and a long grace was said over the short commons。 The gruel
disappeared； the boys whispered each other； and winked at Oliver；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
while his next neighbours nudged him。 Child as he was； he was
desperate with hunger； and reckless with misery。 He rose from the
table； and advancing to the master； basin and spoon in hand； said；
somewhat alarmed at his own temerity：
“Please； sir； I want some more。”
The master was a fat healthy man； but he turned very pale。 He
gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some
seconds； and then clung for support to the copper。 The assistants
were paralysed with wonder； the boys with fear。
“What！” said the master at length； in a faint voice。
“Please； sir；” replied Oliver； “I want some more。”
The master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle；
pinioned him in his arms； and shrieked aloud for the beadle。
The Board were sitting in solemn conclave； when Mr。 Bumble
rushed into the room in great excitement； and addressing the
gentleman in the high chair； said：
“Mr。 Limbkins； I beg your pardon； sir！ Oliver Twist has asked
for more！”
There was a general start。 Horror was depicted on every
countenance。
“For more！” said Mr。 Limbkins。 “Compose yourself； Bumble；
and answer me distinctly。 Do I understand that he asked for more；
after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary？”
“He did； sir；” replied Bumble。
“That boy will be hung；” said the gentleman in the white
waistcoat。 “I know that boy will be hung。”
Nobody controverted the prophetic gentleman’s opinion。 An
animated discussion took place。 Oliver was ordered into instant
confinement； and a bill was next morning pasted on the outside of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
the gate； offering a reward of five pounds to anybody who would
take Oliver Twist off the hands of the parish。 In other words； five
pounds and Oliver Twist were offered to any man or woman who
wanted an apprentice to any trade； business； or calling。
“I never was more convinced of anything in my life；” said the
gentleman in the white waistcoat； as he knocked at the gate and
read the bill next morning： “I never was more convinced of
anything in my life； than I am that that boy will come to be hung。”
As I purpose to show in the sequel whether the white…
waistcoated gentleman was right or not； I should perhaps mar the
interest of this narrative （supposing it to possess any at all）； if I
ventured to hint just yet； whether the life of Oliver Twist had this
violent termination or no。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
Chapter 3
Relates How Oliver Twist Was Very Near Getting A
Place； Which Would Not Have Been A Sinecure。
For a week after the commission of the impious and profane
offence of asking for more； Oliver remained a close
prisoner in the dark and solitary room to which he had
been consigned by the wisdom and mercy of the Board。 It appears；
at first sight； not unreasonable to suppose； that； if he had
entertained a becoming feeling of respect for the prediction of the
gentle。 man in the white waistcoat； he would have established that
sage individual’s prophetic character； once and for ever； b
