I think people often forget how much children can feel. Not only how easily they hurt, but how deeply. Perhaps it is because they are very small, and so adults often brush aside their agony as displays of juvenile impudence over petty matters. This passage in Oliver Twist pulled at me. I hate imagining any child being ill-treated or dismissed, and I don't think there's anything sadder than a child who is lonely. It seems like such a failure on the world's part. Children shouldn't feel lonely ever.
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"Oliver!" said Mr. Bumble.
"Yes, sir," replied Oliver, in a low, tremulous voice.
"Pull that cap off of your eyes, and hold up your head, sir."
Although Oliver did as he was desired, at once; and passed the back of his unoccupied hand briskly across his eyes; he left a tear in them when he looked up at his conductor. As Mr. Bumble gazed sternly upon him, it rolled down his cheek. It was followed by another, and another. The child made an effort, but it was an unsuccessful one. Withdrawing his other hand from Mr. Bumbles, he covered his face with both; and wept until the tears sprung out, from between his thin and bony fingers.
"Well!" exclaimed Mr. Bumble, stopping short, and darting at his little charge a look of intense malignity. "Well! Of all the ungratefullest, and worst-disposed boys as I ever see, Oliver, you are the --"
"No, no, sir," sobbed Oliver, clinging to the hand which held the well-known cane; "no, no, sir; I will be good indeed; indeed, indeed I will, sir! I am a very little boy, sir; and it is so -- so--"
"So what?" inquired Mr. Bumble in amazement.
"So lonely, sir! So very lonely!" cried the child.
