head upon the robber's breast, there is not one word exaggerated or overwrought. It is emphatically God's truth, for it is the truth He leaves in such depraved and miserable breasts; the hope yet lingering behind; the last fair drop of water at the bottom of the driedup, weed-choked well. It involves the best and worst shades of our common nature; much of its ugliest hues, and something of its most beautiful; it is a contradiction, an anomaly, an apparent impossibility, but it is a truth. I am glad to have had it doubted, for in that circumstance I find a sufficient assurance that it needed to be told.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

CHAPTER I.

Treats of the Place where Oliver Twist was Born; and of the
Circumstances attending his Birth

PAGE

17

CHAPTER II.

Treats of Oliver Twist's Growth, Education, and Board

CHAPTER III.

Relates how Oliver Twist was very near getting a Place, which
would not have been a Sinecure

CHAPTER IV.

Oliver, being offered another Place, makes his first Entry into
Public Life

36

48

CHAPTER V.

Oliver mingles with new Associates. Going to a Funeral for the
first Time, he forms an unfavorable Notion of his Master's
Business

CHAPTER VI.

Oliver, being goaded by the Taunts of Noah, rouses into Action,
and rather astonishes him

CHAPTER VII.

Oliver continues refractory

58

73

. 80

CHAPTER VIII.

Oliver walks to London. He encounters on the Road a Strange
sort of young Gentleman

PAGE

89

CHAPTER IX.

Containing further Particulars concerning the pleasant old Gen-
tleman, and his hopeful Pupils

CHAPTER X.

101

Oliver becomes better acquainted with the Characters of his new
Associates; and purchases Experience at a high Price. Being
a short, but very important Chapter, in this History

CHAPTER XI.

110

Treats of Mr. Fang the Police Magistrate; and furnishes a slight
Specimen of his Mode of administering Justice

CHAPTER XII.

117

In which Oliver is taken better Care of than he ever was before.
And in which the Narrative reverts to the merry old Gentle-
man and his youthful Friends

. 127

CHAPTER XIII.

Some new Acquaintances are introduced to the intelligent Reader;
connected with whom, various pleasant Matters are related,
appertaining to this History.

Comprising further Particulars of Oliver's stay at Mr. Brown-
low's, with the remarkable Prediction which one Mr. Grim-
wig uttered concerning him, when he went out on an Errand. 151

CHAPTER XV.

Showing how very fond of Oliver Twist, the merry old Jew and
Miss Nancy were

CHAPTER XVI.

Relates what became of Oliver Twist, after he had been claimed

by Nancy

. 165

174

CHAPTER XVII.

Oliver's Destiny, continuing unpropitious, brings a Great Man to
London to injure his Reputation

PAGE

187

CHAPTER XVIII.

Now Oliver passed his Time in the improving Society of his
reputable Friends

CHAPTER XIX.

In which a notable Plan is discussed and determined on

CHAPTER XX.

. 200

Which contains the Substance of a pleasant Conversation between
Mr. Bumble and a Lady; and shows that even a Beadle may
be susceptible on some Points

CHAPTER XXIV.

253

Treats of a very poor Subject. But is a short one; and may be
found of Importance in this History

CHAPTER XXV.

Wherein this History reverts to Mr. Fagin and Company

CHAPTER XXVI.

263

In which a mysterious Character appears upon the Scene; and
many Things, inseparable from this History, are done and
performed

280

CHAPTER XXVII.

Atones for the unpoliteness of a former Chapter; which deserted
a Lady, most unceremoniously

PAGE

296

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Looks after Oliver, and proceeds with his Adventures.

. 306