Learntoloveandcare
HereIamsittingonacouchalonethinkingaboutwhatIhavejustfinishedreadingwithtearsofsadnessfillingmyeyesandfireofindignationfillingmyheartwhichrevivedmyexhaustedsoulthathasalreadybeencoveredbythecrueltyandtheselfishnessofthesecularworldforalongtime.ItistrulywhatIfeltafterreadingOliverTwistwrittenbytheprominentBritishauthorCharlesDickens.
theresonancebetweenmeandthebookmakesmefeelnotonlythekindnessandthewickednessofallthecharactersinthenovelbutwhatthisaloofsocietylacksandwhatIlackdeepinside.ThesesupremeresourcesI’mtalkingaboutrightnowaresomewhatdifferentfrommineralsoilthatweusuallymention.They’reabstractlikefeelingsandsomekindsofspiritualstimulationthatallofusdesireanxiouslyfromoneanother——loveandcare.
ThosecharitablefigureswhomDickenscreatedinthenovelarereallywhatweneedinlife.Theyshowedloveandcaretoothersjustasthegentlerainfromtheskyfellupontheearthwhichwascarvedintomyheartdeeply.
Mr.Brownlowisonesuchperson.
theotherdayhehadoneofhiselaboratewatchesstolenbytwoskilledteenagethievesArtfulDodgerandCharleyBatesandthoughtnaturallyitwasOliverwhowasanorphanandforcedtolivewithagangofthievesthathaddoneitbecausehewastheonlyonenearbyafterthethefthadtakenplace.BeingwrathfulhecaughtOliverandsenthimtothepolicestationwheretheill-temperedunfairmagistratesworked.FortunatelyforhimOliverwasprovedinnocentbyoneonlookerafterwards.WithsympathyMr.BrownlowtooktheinjuredpoorOlivertohisownhome.ThereOliverlivedfreelyandgleefullyforsomemonthsasifhewereMr.Brownlow’sownson.OnedayhoweverMr.BrownlowaskedOlivertoreturnsomebookstothebooksellerandtosendsomemoneyforthenewbooksthathehadalreadycollected.ThethiefOliveroncestayedwithkidnappedhim.AfterthathedisappearedinMr.Brownlow’slife.SearchingforawhileMr.Brownlowhadtobelievethefactthathehadrunawaywithhismoney.Butdramaticallytheycameacrosseachotheragainafewyearslater.WithouthesitationMr.BrownlowtookOliverhomeforthesecondtimenotcaringifhehaddonesomethingevil.