一个生来就失去了父母的儿童，在贫民院忍饥挨饿，还常常遭受毒打。他到棺材铺学徒，因受不了凌辱而逃走，不幸又落入贼窝。贼首逼迫他去协同抢劫，然而他善良的天性使他做出了与贼首的愿望相反的事情。尽管他受了重伤，但是他的善良终于地给他带来幸福的结局。

Charles Dickens was born in England in 1812.He was the second of eight sons in a poor family.Much of what he writes is based on personal experience.When his fathercould not pay his bills,he was sent to prison.His mother and brothers were forced to work hard at different jobs in order to pay off the debts.He knew firsthand about the misery and hunger of a poor life.