Sketches by Boz - Penn State University

Sketches by Bozbitter those privations were, and how hard the boy customary visit to the invalid. His little remainingworked to remove them, no one ever knew but themselves.Night after night, two, three, four hours after days preceding, and he was lying on the sofa at thestrength had been decreasing rapidly for two or threemidnight, could we hear the occasional raking up of open window, gazing at the setting sun. His motherthe scanty fire, or the hollow and half-stifled cough, had been reading the Bible to him, for she closed thewhich indicated his being still at work; and day after book as we entered, and advanced to meet us.day, could we see more plainly that nature had set that ‘I was telling William,’ she said, ‘that we must manageunearthly light in his plaintive face, which is the beaconof her worst disease.may get quite well. He is not ill, you know, but he isto take him into the country somewhere, so that heActuated, we hope, by a higher feeling than mere not very strong, and has exerted himself too much lately.’curiosity, we contrived to establish, first an acquaintance,and then a close intimacy, with the poor stranggers,as she turned aside, as if to adjust her close widow’sPoor thing! The tears that streamed through her finers.Our worst fears were realised; the boy was sinking cap, too plainly showed how fruitless was the attemptfast. Through a part of the winter, and the whole of the to deceive herself.following spring and summer, his labours were unceasinglyprolonged: and the mother attempted to procure ing, for we saw the breath of life was passing gently butWe sat down by the head of the sofa, but said noth-needle-work, embroidery—anything for bread. rapidly from the young form before us. At every respiration,his heart beat more slowly.A few shillings now and then, were all she could earn.The boy worked steadily on; dying by minutes, but never The boy placed one hand in ours, grasped his mother’sonce giving utterance to complaint or murmur.arm with the other, drew her hastily towards him, andOne beautiful autumn evening we went to pay our fervently kissed her cheek. There was a pause. He sunk48