Thomas is uneducated, poor and has a large family to provide for. He has to resolve to stealing a few times to provide food on the table. His mother and five siblings live in a one room household, which they share with a few other large families. Thomas is sixteen ish and he has a job in the coal mines and some of his siblings work in matchmaking. Sophia (13) - jobless, takes care of the household, cooks/cleans Claude (11) - chimney sweep, pickpocket Bessie (8) - match making, too kind Mary (4)