South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-14

Oliver Twist was born about IS
miles from London in the lying-in
room Of the aIrnshouse. His mother,
worn ard exhausted from a long
and painful Journey on foot, had
been found unconscious in the road.
and had been carried 20 the only
place OF refuge for such as she
seemed 20 be- His name he owed
20 the inventive genius OF the parish
beadle. who remarked The last
one was a 's'-SwubbIe I named
him. the next one as comes will be
Irwin. and I've got names ready
made 20 the end of the alphabet,
and all the way through it again.
when we come 10 ~
The wronged and unhappy moth
er died without revealing her name.
and the only proofs OF the boys
identify. a lOcket and ring kept even
at the price Of starvation. were
stolen from the corpse before it
was cold by the old crone who had
been in attendance.
The orphans childhood. passed in
cruel neglect and semi-starvation.
was brought 20 an abrupt close by
his own unparalleled act Desper-
ate through hunger. he and his
companions determine that some
one OF them shall secure for all an
extra helping Il the thin and wa
terry Cruel which is their principal
diet The lot falls upon oliver.
Nine-year-Old child though he was
ne was reckless with misery" He
rose from the table and, advancing
10 the workhouse- master. basin and
spoon IN hand. ne said, please. sir
I want some mOrei'
Such unheard-of daring receives
speedy treatment. The next morn
ing a bill, posted upon the gate.
offers FIVE pounds 20 anyone who
viii take Oliver Twist off the hands
Of the parish.
Then there follows a brief stay as
the apprentice of coffin-maller and
undertaken. who. with an eve to
the effect. promptly makes of the
sad-faced little waif a chief mourn
er at the funerals Of children. and
many were the professions which
little Oliver headed, i'm a hat-band
reaching down TO his knees. to the
admiration Of all the mothers in
the town.
His master is, on the whole. we'll
disposed toward him, but a fight
with a bullying older apprentice
brings him into unmerited disgrace
and punishment and he runs away.
on the outskirts Of London he
chances upon the fascinatingly
drOlI ArtfuI Dodge. pickpocket and
pupil OF Fagin. The curious be-
havior OF his new associates is only
a game TO the innocent boy. when
Fagin places snoff- boxes. jewelry.
watches and handkerchiefs in his
pockets and then stands looking in
Imaginary stOre-windows while lin
an unbelievably short time) every
one OF the things IS taken from him.
The true meaning OF il all burst up-
on the Mortified oliver. when he is
taken on an expedition and sees the
game" IN full operation. Dazed
and confused, he is the only one
captured and taken before a masis-
trate. His Impotence is establish
cd. but ne faints in the court room.
and is taken home by the remorse-
ful Mr.. Brownlow. the man whose
pocket he was supposed 20 have
picked In his new friends house
oliver IS nursed through a serious
Hlness. and better days seem 10
have dawned for him. when he
again falls into the hands Of Fagin.
This Is no chance happening, for the
old crook. dreading the informa-
ton which the boy may give has
him kidnapped while on an errand
for Mr.. BrownlOw. by Nancy, a
wretched girl OF the streets. pupil
OF Fagin, and mistress OF Bill
skies. the greatest ruffian of the
whole gang.
In order 70 close divers mouth,
by making him also a criminal, he
is taken along on a housebreaking
attempt. Protesting. he is put
through a small window that he
may open the door TO his cOmpan-
ions He is firmly determined 70
warn the people Of the house. but
the burglary is a failure. and Oliver.
wounded by a stray shot, IS left IN
a ditch by the fleeing gangsters.
The next morning he crawls. in
5ured as he IS, TO the same house,
where HIS story IS believed and he
finds new and lasting friends
Again the lad IS sought out by
Fag1n. aided by a mysterious man
who has shown great emotion at a
chance sight Of oliver in the street.
and who now plots with Fagin, not
merely FOR the possession OF the
boy, but for HIS moral ruin. which
~ y