“Death had been more pitiful to them than longer life would have been. It had taken the one in the loyalty of love, and the other in the innocence of faith, from a world for love has no recompense and for faith no fulfillment."
Nello and his dog, Patrasche, are orphans, and the world is cruel toward them. Nello lost his mother at two, and Patrasche's parents died when he was a young puppy. The quote shows the brutality of the earth when one loses a parent at an early age. Nello lives with his poor grandfather, but the situation worsens daily because some days, they sleep hungry. Patrasche was abandoned in bad condition when his owner died, and he was left to die. Consequently, the dog is innocent and does not understand why it must suffer. On the other hand, Nello feels that the world does not love him.
"All this while the little panel of pine wood remained over the chimney in the mill kitchen with the cuckoo clock and the waxen Calvary, and sometimes it seemed to Nello a little hard that whilst his gift was accepted, he himself should be denied."
Nello dreams of becoming a painter because he admires the works of Rubens. However, the prevailing circumstances make him believe he is not fit for the task because he needs more resources to help him achieve his dreams. Despite knowing he is a gifted child, Nello cannot get assistance because his grandfather is poor and old. The kitchen's description in the quote reflects Nello's hardships and lack of faith in his ability to achieve his dreams.
"He crept up and touched the face of the boy. "Didst thou dream that I should be faithless and forsake thee? I— a dog?"
The first encounter between Nello and Patrasche shows an act of humanity. The dog is about to die because his health is failing, and Nello is helpless because he does not have money to take Patrasche to the vet to get medication. However, when Patrasche touched Nello for the first time, he felt that he was a powerful being, and he decided to act humanely by adopting the dog.
