Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, in 1812. His ...

THE WORKHOUSE
A long time ago every town in England had a
workhouse. The workhouses were houses were a
sort of shelter for poor people, but they looked
grim and intimidating, a sort of prison. Oliver
Twist was born in a workhouse. His mother died
when she gave birth to Oliver, so he was an
orphan. In workhouses children ate little food
and therefore many children died. Oliver survived
but he was small and thin. Oliver worked long
hours at the workhouse and he was paid with the
little food. Oliver was very hungry. One day
Oliver asked for more food but the master, Mr
Bumble, hit Oliver with his big ladder. Mr Bumble
told the director of the workhouse that Oliver
had asked for more porridge. Oliver had to be
punished, so he was closed in a cold, dark room
for one week. Every morning Mr Bumble beat
Oliver with a stick. One day Mr Bumble met Mr
Sowerberry, the man that made coffins for dead
bodies, and Mr Sowerberry took Oliver to work
for him for five pounds. Mr Bumble was happy
but Oliver was very sad.