Chapter 2.
Life in a Workhouse Despite the many obstacles before him, Oliver Twist survived.
He was now ten years old and still in the workhouse.
His days were filled with too much work and far too little food.
Mrs. Bumble was given a weekly allowance from the town council to feed and dress her charges.
She was a very careful woman and was always worried about money.
Unfortunately, she was more worried about her personal income than the well-being of the children in her care.
Therefore, she kept the majority of the allowance for herself and used the rest to feed the children.
In order to make the supply of gruel go further, Mrs. Bumble watered it down.
Even though this meal of thin porridge was not enough to meet the needs of a growing boy, Oliver did grow.
He was a small, thin boy with pale blonde hair, but he reached his tenth birthday without too much trouble.
His best friend Dick had a much tougher time.
Dick was very weak and often sick.
Oliver had to help him with his work, washing bottles in the factory.
In fact he was so worried about Dick that he sometimes tried to pass him the last bits of gruel in his bowl.
His friend always refused.
"'No, Oliver,' Dick said.
"'You have too little to spare.'
"'But maybe you'll feel better with more food,' Oliver replied.
"'A few tiny drops of gruel won't do me much good,' Dick said.
"'We all need more than that.'
The room where the boys were fed was a long stone hall.
A copper pot stood at one end.
The boys walked to the front in a single file line.
They held their wooden bowls up and Mr. Bumble dropped a ladleful of gruel in.
The boys sat down at the long tables that filled the hall.
They had to wait until everyone was seated.
Anyone caught sneaking a bite was punished.
The boys held their spoons while bowing their heads for grace.
As soon as the signal was given, the boys dug into their meals.
They were done in a matter of seconds.
The boys' bowls never needed washing.
They polished them with their spoons until they shone again.
On the night that Oliver's life changed forever, a new boy was sitting at his table.
His father was a butcher who could not pay his bills and lost his shop.
This new boy was not used to the great hunger of the workhouse.
He did not understand that the council had no wish to change.
This new boy had a plan.
"'One of us needs to talk to Mr. Bumble,' he said.
"'We've got to ask for something more to eat.'
The other boys agreed that action was needed.
The new boy held several pieces of straw in one hand.
All the boys at the table, except Dick, took turns picking one.
Oliver won the contest by drawing the longest straw.
All the boys slapped him on the back.
Dick, however, looked worried.
He thought this might be a bad idea.
As soon as everyone was finished eating, for it did not take long, Oliver rose from the table.
He walked down the long row toward Mr. Bumble in the copper pot of gruel.
Poor Oliver was shaking with fear.
He held his bowl toward Mr. Bumble and quietly said, Please, sir, I want some more.
The hall was silent.
All of the boys in the long hall watched oliver in shock.
Everyone waited for mr bumble's response.
At first he looked confused by this small boy.
It seemed impossible that someone would ask for something else.
Bumbles and the workhouse board believed they were very generous people.
They thought these boys and the other workhouse inmates should be grateful for the little they received.
As he slowly realized that Oliver was holding up an empty bowl, Mr. Bumble became angry.
What?
Mr. Bumble screamed.
Please, sir.
Oliver tried to speak more clearly.
He tried to sound more forceful and brave.
I want some more.
More!
Bumble yelled.
More!
He was furious.
How dare this ungrateful boy ask for more?
It was impossible to believe any child could have such nerve and greed.
Grab him, Bumble shouted.
Two members of the workhouse staff grabbed Oliver by his arms.
They carried him from the long hall and locked him in a tiny room.
