Oliver Nearly Apprenticed to Mr. Gamfield

Mr. Gamfield, a brutal chimney sweep, sees the advertisement for Oliver and decides to take him on as an apprentice, seeing the five-pound premium as a way to pay his rent. The board, after some haggling, agrees to a reduced premium of three pounds ten shillings. Oliver is brought before a magistrate to sign the indentures. The magistrate, half-blind and half-childish, is about to approve the apprenticeship when he notices the terror on Oliver's face. Questioning the boy, Oliver falls to his knees and begs to be sent back to the dark room rather than go with the dreadful Mr. Gamfield. The magistrate refuses to sanction the indentures, saving Oliver from a life of brutal servitude.