Oliver Twist E-Book

Charles Dickens.

• Herausgeber: Reclam Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: Reclams Rote Reihe – Fremdsprachentexte
• Sprache: Deutsch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Seitenzahl: 419

Beschreibung

In seinem zweiten und bekanntesten Roman erzählt Dickens, angeregt durch die neuen Armengesetze von 1834, die er scharf attackierte, von den dunklen Schatten, die auf den Glanz der viktorianischen Zeit fallen und mit dem industriellen Aufschwung einhergehen: Armut, Kriminalität, Prostitution, die Verelendung breiter Gesellschaftsschichten. In der Roten Reihe erscheint der Roman, der im Original mehr als 600 Seiten umfasst, in einer für den Englischunterricht gekürzten Version. Sie bietet Englischlernenden den Text in der Originalsprache mit Übersetzungen schwieriger Wörter am Fuß jeder Seite, Nachwort und Literaturhinweisen. E-Book mit Seitenzählung der gedruckten Ausgabe: E-Book und Buch können parallel benutzt werden.

Leseprobe

Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist;or, The Parish Boy’s Progress

Abridged Edition

Herausgegeben von Axel Monte

Reclam

parish: Kirchspiel, (politische) Gemeinde, Verwaltungsbezirk.

2012 Philipp Reclam jun. GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart

Coverabbildung: Barney Clark als Oliver in der Verfilmung des Romans von Roman Polanski (2005)

Made in Germany 2017

RECLAM ist eine eingetragene Marke der Philipp Reclam jun. GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart

ISBN 978-3-15-960516-6

ISBN der Buchausgabe 978-3-15-019841-4

www.reclam.de

Inhalt

1 Treats of the Place where Oliver Twist was Born; and of the Circumstances Attending his Birth

2 Treats of Oliver Twist’s Growth, Education, and Board

3 Relates how Oliver Twist was very near getting a Place, which would not have been a Sinecure

4 Oliver, being offered another Place, makes his first entry into Public Life

5 Oliver mingles with new Associates. Going to a Funeral for the first time, he forms an unfavourable Notion of his Master’s Business

6 Oliver, being goaded by the Taunts of Noah, rouses into Action, and rather astonishes him

7 Oliver continues refractory

8 Oliver walks to London. He encounters on the road, a strange sort of young Gentleman

9 Containing further Particulars concerning the pleasant old Gentleman, and his hopeful Pupils

10 Oliver becomes better acquainted with the Characters of his new Associates; and purchases experience at a high price. Being a short, but very important Chapter, in this History

11 Treats of Mr. Fang the Police Magistrate; and furnishes a slight specimen of his mode of administering Justice

12 In which Oliver is taken better care of, than he ever was before. And in which the Narrative reverts to the merry old Gentleman and his youthful Friends

13 Some new Acquaintances are introduced to the intelligent Reader; connected with whom, various pleasant Matters are related, appertaining to this History

14 Comprising further Particulars of Oliver’s stay at Mr. Brownlow’s. With the remarkable Prediction which one Mr. Grimwig uttered concerning him, when he went out on an Errand

15 Shewing how very fond of Oliver Twist, the merry old Jew and Miss Nancy were

16 Relates what became of Oliver Twist, after he had been claimed by Nancy

17 Oliver’s Destiny, continuing unpropitious, brings a Great Man to London to injure his Reputation

18 How Oliver passed his time, in the improving society of his reputable Friends

19 In which a notable Plan is discussed and determined on

20 Wherein Oliver is delivered over to Mr. William Sikes

21 The Expedition

22 The Burglary

23 Which contains the substance of a pleasant Conversation between Mr. Bumble and a Lady; and shews that even a Beadle may be susceptible on some points

24 Treats of a very poor Subject. But is a short one; and may be found of importance in this History

25 Wherein this History reverts to Mr. Fagin and Company

26 In which, a mysterious Character appears upon the scene; and many things, inseparable from this History, are done and performed

27 Atones for the unpoliteness of a former Chapter; which deserted a Lady, most unceremoniously

28 Looks after Oliver, and proceeds with his Adventures

29 Has an introductory Account of the Inmates of the House, to which Oliver resorted

30 Relates what Oliver’s new Visitors thought of him

31 Involves a critical Position

32 Of the happy life Oliver began to lead with his kind Friends

33 Wherein the Happiness of Oliver and his Friends, experiences a sudden Check

34 Contains some introductory Particulars relative to a young Gentleman who now arrives upon the Scene; and a new Adventure which happened to Oliver

35 Containing the unsatisfactory result of Oliver’s Adventure; and a Conversation of some importance between Harry Maylie and Rose

36 Is a very short one, and may appear of no great importance in its place. But it should be read notwithstanding, as a Sequel to the last, and a Key to one that will follow when its time arrives

37 In which the Reader may perceive a Contrast, not uncommon in Matrimonial Cases

38 Containing an Account of what passed between Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, and Monks, at their nocturnal Interview

39 Introduces some respectable Characters with whom the Reader is already acquainted, and shews how Monks and the Jew laid their worthy Heads together

40 A strange Interview, which is a Sequel to the last Chapter

41 Containing fresh Discoveries, and shewing that Surprises, like Misfortunes, seldom come alone

42 An old Acquaintance of Oliver’s, exhibiting decided marks of Genius, becomes a public Character in the Metropolis

43 Wherein is shown how the Artful Dodger got into Trouble

44 The Time arrives, for Nancy to redeem her Pledge to Rose Maylie. She fails

45 Noah Claypole is employed by Fagin on a secret Mission

46 The Appointment kept

47 Fatal Consequences

48 The Flight of Sikes

49 Monks and Mr. Brownlow at length meet. Their Conversation, and the Intelligence that interrupts it

50 The Pursuit and Escape

51 Affording an Explanation of more Mysteries than One, and comprehending a proposal of Marriage with no Word of Settlement or Pin-money

52 The Jew’s last Night alive

53 And Last

Editorische Notiz

Literaturhinweise

Nachwort

Hinweise zur E-Book-Ausgabe

[5]Chapter I

Treats of the Place where Oliver Twist was Born; and of the Circumstances Attending his Birth

Among other public buildings in a certain town, which for many reasons it will be prudentto refrain from mentioning, and to which I will assign no fictitious name, there is one anciently common to most towns, great or small: to wit, a workhouse; and in this workhouse was born: on a day and date which I need not trouble myself to repeat, inasmuch as it can be of no possible consequence to the reader, in this stage of the business at all events: the item of mortality whose name is prefixed to the head of this chapter.

For a long time after it was ushered into this world of sorrow and trouble, by the parish surgeon, it remained a matter of considerable doubt whether the child could survive to bear any name at all; in which case it is somewhat more than probable that these memoirs would never have appeared; or, if they had, that being comprised within a couple of pages, they would have possessed the inestimablemerit of being the most [6]concise and faithfulspecimen of biography, extant in the literature of any age or country.

Although I am not disposed to maintain that the being born in a workhouse, is in itself the most fortunate and enviable circumstance that can possibly befall a human being, I do mean to say that in this particular instance, it was the best thing for Oliver Twist that could by possibility have occurred. The fact is, that there was considerable difficulty in inducing Oliver to take upon himself the office of respiration, – a troublesome practice, but one which custom has rendered necessary to our easy existence; and for some time he lay gasping on a little flock mattress, rather unequally poised between this world and the next: the balance being decidedly in favour of the latter. Now, if, during this brief period, Oliver had been surrounded by careful grandmothers, anxious aunts, experienced nurses, and doctors of profoundwisdom, he would most inevitably and indubitably have been killed in no time. There being nobody by, however, but a pauper old woman, who was rendered rather misty by an unwontedallowance of beer; and a parish surgeon [7] who did such matters by contract; Oliver and Nature fought out the point between them. The result was, that, after a few struggles, Oliver breathed, sneezed, and proceeded toadvertise to the inmates of the workhouse the fact of a new burden having been imposed upon the parish, by setting up as loud a cry as could reasonably have been expected from a male infant who had not been possessed of that very useful appendage, a voice, for a much longer space of time than three minutes and a quarter.

As Oliver gave this first proof of the free and proper action of his lungs, the patchwork coverlet which was carelessly flung over the iron bedstead, rustled; the pale face of a young woman was raised feebly from the pillow; and a faint voice imperfectly articulated the words, “Let me see the child, and die.”

The surgeon had been sitting with his face turned towards the fire: giving the palms of his hands, a warm and a rub alternately. As the young woman spoke, he rose, and advancing to the bed’s head, said, with more kindness than might have been expected of him:

“Oh, you must not talk about dying yet.”

“Lor bless her dear heart, no!” interposed the nurse, hastily depositing in her pocket a green glass bottle, the contents of which she had been tasting in a corner with evident satisfaction. “Lor bless her dear heart, when she has lived as long as [8] I have, sir, and had thirteen children of her own, and all on ’em dead except two, and them in the wurkus with me, she’ll know better than to take on in that way, bless her dear heart! Think what it is to be a mother, there’s a dear young lamb, do.”

Apparently this consolatory perspective of a mother’s prospects failed in producing its due effect. The patient shook her head, and stretched out her hand towards the child.

The surgeon deposited it in her arms. She imprinted her cold white lips passionately on its forehead; passed her hands over her face; gazed wildly round; shuddered; fell back – and died. They chafed her breast, hands, and temples; but the blood had stopped for ever. They talked of hope and comfort. They had been strangers too long.

“It’s all over, Mrs. Thingummy!” said the surgeon at last.

“Ah, poor dear, so it is!” said the nurse, picking up the cork of the green bottle, which had fallen out on the pillow, as she stooped to take up the child. “Poor dear!”

“You needn’t mind sending up to me, if the child cries, nurse,” said the surgeon, putting on his gloves with great deliberation. “It’s very likely it will be troublesome. Give it a little gruel if it is.” He put on his hat, and, pausing by the bedside on his way to the door, added “She was a good-looking girl, too; where did she come from?”

“She was brought here last night,” replied the old woman, “by the overseer’s order. She was found lying in the street. She had walked some distance, for her shoes were worn to pieces; [9]but where she came from, or where she was going to, nobody knows.”

The surgeon leaned over the body, and raised the left hand. “The old story,” he said, shaking his head: “no wedding-ring, I see. Ah! Good night!”

The medical gentleman walked away to dinner; and the nurse, having once more applied herself to the green bottle, sat down on a low chair before the fire, and proceeded to dress the infant.

What an excellent example of the power of dress, young Oliver Twist was! Wrapped in the blanket which had hitherto formed his only covering, he might have been the child of a nobleman or a beggar; it would have been hard for the haughtiest stranger to have assigned him his proper station in society. But now that he was enveloped in the old calicorobes which had grown yellow in the same service, he was badged and ticketed, and fell into his place at once – a parish child – the orphan of a workhouse – the humblehalf-starveddrudge – to be cuffed and buffeted through the world – despised by all, and pitied by none.

Oliver cried lustily. If he could have known that he was an orphan, left to the tendermercies of churchwardens and overseers, perhaps he would have cried the louder.

to attend: begleiten.prudent: klug, vernünftig, besonnen.to refrain from doing s.th.: Abstand davon nehmen, davon absehen, etwas zu tun.to assign: zuteilen, zuschreiben, zuordnen.fictitious: Phantasie…, erfunden.anciently: alt, aus alter Zeit.to wit: das heißt, nämlich.workhouse: Armenhaus.inasmuch as: insofern als.in this stage: zu diesem Zeitpunkt.at all events (pl.): jedenfalls.mortality: Sterblichkeit.to prefix s.th.:etwas voranstellen.to usher s.o. into s.th.: jdn. in etwas hineinführen, hineingeleiten.sorrow: Kummer, Leid.surgeon: Wundarzt.memoirs: Lebenserinnerungen, Bericht.to comprise: umfassen, enthalten.inestimable: unschätzbar.merit: Verdienst, Vorzug.concise: knapp, bündig.faithful: getreu, gewissenhaft.specimen: Exemplar.(to be) extant: vorhanden sein.to be disposed to do s.th.: geneigt sein, etwas zu tun.enviable: beneidenswert.to befall s.o.: jdm. widerfahren.instance: Fall, Gelegenheit, Beispiel.to occur: geschehen.to induce s.o. to do s.th.: jdn. dazu veranlassen, bewegen, etwas zu tun.office: Aufgabe.respiration: Atmung.troublesome: mühsam, beschwerlich.custom: Gewohnheit, Brauch, Sitte.to render: machen, werden lassen.to gasp: keuchen, nach Luft ringen.flock: Wollflocken.to poise: balancieren, schweben.decidedly: entschieden.brief: kurz.nurse: Kinderfrau, Pflegerin.profound: tief.wisdom: Weisheit.inevitably: unausweichlich, unabwendbar.indubitably: zweifellos.pauper: arm.misty: benebelt.unwonted: ungewohnt.allowance: Ration, Quantum.contract: Vertrag, Verpflichtung.to proceed to do s.th.: damit fortfahren, weitermachen, etwas zu tun; damit beginnen, etwas zu tun.to advertise: ankündigen, verkünden.inmates: Insassen, Bewohner.burden: Last, Kosten, Bürde.to impose: auferlegen, aufbürden.infant: Säugling.appendage: Anhängsel, Beigabe.coverlet: Bettdecke.to fling: werfen.bedstead: Bettgestell.to rustle: rascheln.pale: bleich, blass.feebly: schwach, kraftlos.faint: matt, schwach.alternately: abwechselnd.Lor:Lord: Herr, Gott.to interpose: (Bemerkung, Frage) einwerfen.wurkus:workhouse.consolatory: tröstlich.prospect: Aussicht.due: gebührend, erwartet, angemessen.to imprint: aufdrücken.to gaze: starr blicken.to shudder: erschaudern, beben.to chafe: reiben.temple: Schläfe.to stoop: sich bücken.deliberation: Bedächtigkeit.gruel: Haferschleim.overseer: Aufseher(in) (overseer of the poor: Armenpfleger[in]).to apply o.s. to s.th.: sich einer Sache widmen.hitherto: bisher, bis dato.nobleman: Edelmann, Adliger.haughty: hochmütig, überheblich.station: Rang, Stellung.to envelop: einhüllen, einwickeln.calico: Kattun (Baumwollstoff).robe: hier: Tragkleidchen für Säuglinge.to badge: kennzeichnen.to ticket: etikettieren.orphan: Waisenkind.humble: niedrig, demütig.half-starved: halb verhungert (to starve s.o.: jdn. verhungern lassen).drudge: Arbeitstier.to cuff: knuffen, ohrfeigen.to buffet: herumstoßen.to despise: verachten.lustily: kräftig, herzhaft.tender: zärtlich, liebevoll.mercy: Gnade.churchwarden: Kirchenvorsteher.

Chapter III

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 chanced one morning, while Oliver’s affairs were in this auspicious and comfortablestate, that Mr. Gamfield, chimney-sweeper, was wending his way adown the High Street, deeply cogitating in his mind, his ways and means of paying certain arrears of rent, for which his landlord had become rather pressing. Mr. Gamfield’s most sanguineestimate of his finances could not raise them within full five pounds of the desired amount; and, in a species of arithmeticaldesperation, he was [24] alternately cudgelling his brains and his donkey, when, passing the workhouse, his eyes encountered the bill on the gate.

“Wo – o!” said Mr. Gamfield to the donkey.

The donkey was in a state of profound abstraction: wondering, probably, whether he was destined to beregaled with a cabbage-stalk or two, when he had disposed of the two sacks of soot with which the little cart was laden; so, without noticing the word of command, he jogged onward.

Mr. Gamfield growled a fierce imprecation on the donkey generally, but more particularly on his eyes; and, running after him, bestowed a blow on his head, which would inevitably have beaten in any skull but a donkey’s. Then, catching hold of the bridle, he gave his jaw a sharp wrench, by way of gentle reminder that he was not his own master; and by these means turned him round. He then gave him another blow on the head, just to stun him till he came back again. Having completed these arrangements, he walked up to the gate, to read the bill.

The gentleman with the white waistcoat, was standing at the gate with his hands behind him, after having delivered himself of some profound sentiments in the board-room. Having [25]witnessed the little dispute between Mr. Gamfield and the donkey, he smiled joyously when that person came up to read the bill, for he saw at once that Mr. Gamfield was exactly the sort of master Oliver Twist wanted. Mr. Gamfield smiled, too, as he perused the document, for five pounds was just the sum he had been wishing for; and, as to the boy with which it was encumbered, Mr. Gamfield, knowing what the dietary of the workhouse was, well knew he would be a nice small pattern: just the very thing for register stoves. So, he spelt the bill through again, from beginning to end; and then, touching his fur capin token of humility, accosted the gentleman in the white waistcoat.

“This here boy, sir, wot the parish wants to ’prentice,” said Mr. Gamfield.

“Aye my man,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat, with a condescending smile. “What of him?”

“If the parish vould like him to learn a light pleasant trade, in a good ’spectablechimbley-sweepin’ bisness,” said Mr. Gamfield, “I wants a ’prentice, and I’m ready to take him.”

“Walk in,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. […]

The bargain was made. Mr. Bumble was at once instructed that Oliver Twist and his indentures were to be conveyed[26] before the magistrate, for signature and approval, that very afternoon.

[…]

On their way to the magistrate, Mr. Bumble instructed Oliver that all he would have to do, would be to look very happy, and say, when the gentleman asked him if he wanted to be apprenticed, that he should like it very much indeed; both of which injunctions Oliver promised to obey: the rather as Mr. Bumble threw in a gentle hint, that if he failed in either particular, there was no telling what would be done to him. […]

Behind a desk, sat two old gentlemen with powdered heads: one of whom was reading the newspaper: while the other was perusing, with the aid of a pair of tortoise-shell spectacles, a small piece of parchment which lay before him. Mr. Limbkins was standing in front of the desk on one side; and Mr. Gamfield, with a partially washed face, on the other; while two or three bluff-looking men, in top-boots, were lounging about.

The old gentleman with the spectacles, graduallydozed off, over the little bit of parchment; and there was a short pause, after Oliver had been stationed by Mr. Bumble in front of the desk.

“This is the boy, your worship,” said Mr. Bumble.

The old gentleman who was reading the newspaper, raised his head for a moment, and pulled the other old gentleman [27] by the sleeve; whereupon, the last-mentioned old gentleman woke up.

“Oh, is this the boy?” said the old gentleman.

“This is him, sir,” replied Mr. Bumble. “Bow to the magistrate, my dear.”

[…]

“And this man that’s to be his master – you, sir – you’ll treat him well, and feed him, and do all that sort of thing, – will you?” said the old gentleman.

“When I says I will, I means I will,” replied Mr. Gamfield doggedly.

“You’re a rough speaker, my friend, but you look an honest, open-hearted man,” said the old gentleman: turning his spectacles in the direction of the candidate for Oliver’s premium, whose villanous countenance was a regularstampedreceipt for cruelty. But, the magistrate was half blind and half childish, so he couldn’t reasonably be expected to discern what other people did.

“I hope I am, sir,” said Mr. Gamfield, with an ugly leer.

“I have no doubt you are, my friend,” replied the old gentleman […].

The old gentleman stopped, laid down his pen, and looked from Oliver to Mr. Limbkins: who attempted to take snuff with a cheerful and unconcernedaspect.

“My boy!” said the old gentleman, leaning over the desk. [28] Oliver started at the sound. He might be excused for doing so; for the words were kindly said; and strange sounds frighten one. He trembled violently, and burst into tears.

“My boy!” said the old gentleman, “you look pale and alarmed. What is the matter?”

“Stand a little away from him, Beadle,” said the other magistrate: laying aside the paper, and leaning forward with an expression of interest. “Now, boy, tell us what’s the matter: don’t be afraid.”

Oliver fell on his knees, and clasping his hands together, prayed that they would order him back to the dark room – that they would starve him – beat him – kill him if they pleased – rather than send him away with that dreadful man.

“Well!” said Mr. Bumble, raising his hands and eyes with most impressivesolemnity, “Well! of all the artful and designing orphans that ever I see, Oliver, you are one of the most bare-facedest.”

“Hold your tongue, Beadle,” said the second old gentleman, when Mr. Bumble had given vent to this compound adjective.

[…]

The old gentleman in the tortoise-shell spectacles, looked at his companion; he noddedsignificantly.

[…]

“Take the boy back to the workhouse, and treat him kindly. He seems to want it.”

[…]

[29] The next morning, the public were once more informed that Oliver Twist was again To Let; and that five pounds would be paid to anybody who would take possession of him.

to relate: berichten.sinecure: Pfründe, Ruheposten.commission: Verübung.impious: gottlos.profane: frevelhaft.solitary: einsam.it chanced: es traf sich.auspicious: vielversprechend.comfortable: angenehm, tröstlich.state: Zustand.chimney-sweeper: Schornsteinfeger.to wend one’s way: sich auf den Weg machen.to cogitate: nachdenken.arrear: Rückstand.landlord: Wirt, Vermieter.pressing: bedrängend.sanguine: zuversichtlich, optimistisch.estimate: Schätzung.to desire: wünschen, verlangen.species: Art.arithmetical: rechnerisch.desperation: Verzweiflung.to cudgel: prügeln.brains (pl.): Verstand, Grips.to encounter s.th.: auf etwas stoßen.abstraction: Geistesabwesenheit.probably: wahrscheinlich.to be destined: ausersehen sein.to regale s.o.: jdn. verwöhnen, fürstlich bewirten.cabbage-stalk: Kohlstrunk.to dispose of s.th.: etwas loswerden.soot: Ruß.cart: Karre.laden: beladen.to jog: trotten.to growl: knurren.fierce: wild, grimmig.imprecation: Fluch, Verwünschung.inevitably: unweigerlich.skull: Schädel.bridle: Zaumzeug.jaw: Kiefer.wrench: drehender Ruck.reminder: Mahnung, Gedächtnisstütze.master: Herr, Meister.to stun: betäuben.to deliver o.s. of s.th.: etwas zum besten geben.sentiment: Gedanke, Meinung.to witness s.th: Zeuge, Zeugin von etwas sein.dispute: Streit, Auseinandersetzung.to peruse: durchlesen, studieren.to en-cumber: belasten, beschweren.register stove: Ofen mit Ventilklappen zur Regulierung der Temperatur.fur cap: Pelzmütze.in token of: als Zeichen von.to accost s.o.:jdn. ansprechen.wot:what.to ’prentice:to apprentice s.o.: jdn. in die Lehre geben.aye: ja.condescending: herablassend.’spectable:respectable: ehrbar.chimbley-sweepin’ bisness: chimney-sweeping business.to make (auch: to strike) a bargain: einen Handel abschließen.to instruct s.o.: jdn. anweisen, belehren.indenture: Lehrvertrag.to convey s.o.: jdn. bringen, führen.magistrate: Richter, richterlicher Beamter.approval: Genehmigung.injunction: Anweisung, Befehl.to fail: fehl gehen, säumig sein.particular: Einzelheit.there was no telling: es ließ sich nicht absehen.to powder: (be)pudern.tortoise-shell: Schildpatt.parchment: Pergament.partially: teilweise.bluff-looking: derb aussehend.top-boots (pl.): Stulpenstiefel.to lounge about: umherlungern.gradually: allmählich.to doze off: einnicken.your worship: Euer Gnaden.sleeve: Ärmel.whereupon: woraufhin.to feed s.o.: jdn. ernähren.doggedly: verbissen.open-hearted: aufrichtig.premium: Lehrgeld, das der Lehrherr erhält.villanous:villainous: schurkisch.regular: ordnungsgemäß.to stamp: (ab)stempeln.receipt: Beleg, Quittung.cruelty: Grausamkeit.to discern: erkennen.leer: gehässiger Seitenblick.to take snuff: eine Prise Schnupftabak nehmen.cheerful: fröhlich, freundlich.unconcerned: unbekümmert.aspect: Miene.to clasp one’s hands: die Hände falten.to pray: flehen.dreadful: schrecklich.impressive: beeindruckend.solemnity: Feierlichkeit.artful: gerissen, gewievt.designing: hinterhältig.bare-faced: schamlos.to hold one’s tongue: den Mund halten, schweigen.to give vent to s.th.: etwas äußern, einer Sache Luft machen.compound adjective: zusammengesetztes Eigenschaftswort.to nod: nicken.significantly: bedeutsam.the public: die Öffentlichkeit.to let: zu vergeben.to take possession of s.o.: von jdm. Besitz nehmen.

Chapter IV

Oliver, being offered another Place, makes his first entry into Public Life

[…] The more the case presented itself to the board, […] they came to the conclusion, that the only way of providing for Oliver effectually, was to send him to sea without delay.

Mr. Bumble had been despatched to make various preliminary inquiries, with the view of finding out some captain or other who wanted a cabin-boy without any friends; and was returning to the workhouse to communicate the result of his mission; when he encountered, just at the gate, no less a person than Mr. Sowerberry, the parochial undertaker.

[…]

“By the bye,” said Mr. Bumble, “you don’t know anybody who wants a boy, do you? A porochial ’prentice, who is at present a deadweight; a millstone, as I may say; round the porochial throat? [30]Liberal terms, Mr. Sowerberry, liberal terms!” As Mr. Bumble spoke, he raised his cane to the bill above him, and gave three distinctraps upon the words “five pounds:” which were printed thereon in Romancapitals of gigantic size.

“Gadso!” said the undertaker: taking Mr. Bumble by the gilt-edgedlappel of his official coat; “that’s just the very thing I wanted to speak to you about. […]”

“[…] you know, Mr. Bumble, I pay a good deal towards the poor’s rates.”

“Hem!” said Mr. Bumble. “Well?”

“Well,” replied the undertaker, “I was thinking that if I pay so much towards ’em, I’ve a right to get as much out of ’em as I can, Mr. Bumble; and so – and so – I think I’ll take the boy myself.”

Mr. Bumble grasped the undertaker by arm, and led him into the building. Mr. Sowerberry was closeted with the board for five minutes; and it was arranged that Oliver should go to him that evening “upon liking” – a phrase which means, in the case of a parish apprentice, that if the master find, upon a short trial, that he can get enough work out of a boy without putting too much food into him, he shall have him for a term of years, to do what he likes with.