Chapter 7.
Saying Goodbye Oliver made a short stop on his way to London in his fortune.
He stopped by the workhouse first.
It was just after dawn and some boys were already walking in the yard.
Oliver knew that Dick would be among them.
Oliver waited by the fence until he spotted his friend.
He called softly and waved.
Luckily, Dick noticed him and walked over.
Oliver, Dick said, what on earth are you doing here?
I thought they took you away forever.
You must tell no one that you've seen me, Oliver said.
I've run away from the Undertakers.
I'm off to London to make my fortune.
But London is so far, Oliver.
How will you make it?
Dick started to cough.
He held onto the fence for support.
How pale you are, Oliver said.
He was very worried about his friend.
You should go see the doctor this very morning.
Dick shook his head.
He's been to see me.
He says there's no use.
He says I'm quite sick and there isn't much he can do.
I'll just have to wait it out.
Dick saw how much this upset Oliver.
Don't worry about me, he said.
I'll be fine no matter what.
Just take care of yourself.
And remember that you're the finest friend anyone could ask for.
Dick reached through the bars of the fence to hug Oliver.
Goodbye, Oliver.
God bless you.
This was the first blessing that Oliver had ever known.
Throughout all the struggles and sufferings and troubles that Oliver was soon to face, he never forgot it.
Oliver went back to the main road and started his long journey.
His shoes were in bad shape.
They were a few sizes too big.
The bottoms were about to fall off.
The laces were worn.
His feet hurt, but he kept walking.
He saw several carts and buggies along the way, but None would stop for him, so Oliver continued to walk.
It seemed like he would have to walk all the way to London.
He stopped at a farmhouse to beg for food.
A woman gave him some bread and butter.
At night, he slept in a field, covering himself with his blanket.
He woke up the next day at dawn and started walking again.
Oliver had four days of endless walking, begging for food at farmhouses and sleeping in fields.
On the morning of the fifth day, he saw the city of London in the distance.
At long last, he was lucky enough to get a ride with a farmer heading into market.
Oliver sat in the back of the cart with the baskets of vegetables.
At least he would arrive in his new city in style.