In the end the boy had died one evening in his mother's arms, his limbs burning with fever, but then there was the funeral to pay for, and the other children who were born soon enough, and the newer, bigger house, and the good schools and tutors, and the fine shoes and the television, and the countless other ways he tried to console his wife and to keep her from crying in her sleep, and so when the doctor offered to pay him twice as much as he earned at the grammar school, he accepted.
The boy's tragic death in his mother's embrace left a significant void, compounded by the financial burden of the funeral and the responsibilities of raising other children. In the midst of his grief, the father attempted to provide for his family by improving their living conditions with a larger house, better education, and comforts like a television. These efforts were aimed at alleviating his wife's sorrow and ensuring that the family could move forward despite their loss.
When the opportunity arose for the father to increase his income significantly by accepting a job offer from a doctor, he chose to accept it. This decision reflected his determination to support his family in the face of tragedy, illustrating how economic pressures can influence personal choices during times of emotional turmoil.
