The man of the house

Summary

 The story begins with a terrible sound of the sick mother's constant coughing, which awakens the little boy and
sends him downstairs to investigate. There, he discovers his mother in critical condition, collapsing in an armchair
and clutching her sides. She was distraught as she attempted to light a fire to make tea for the boy, but the smoke
produced by the wet sticks aggravated her cough. Worried son takes immediate control of everything. He forbids her
from going to work and forces her to lie in bed.

 Dutiful Sullivan prepares her tea and toast. He immediately decides that rather than attending school, he will stay at
home to care for his mother and handle domestic matters. The disciplined boy boils another kettle of water and
cleans up the breakfast mess. Then he goes to his mother to make a grocery list. Caring Sullivan is concerned and
wishes to consult a doctor for his mother, but his thrifty mother declines his request, fearing that the doctor will
admit her to the hospital. To cheer up her terrified son, the affectionate mother pretends she is fine, but their
neighbour, Miss Minnie Ryan, suspects she is suffering from pneumonia.

 She advises him to comfort his mother with hot whiskey mixed with a squeeze of lemon. Sullivan, determined, goes
to the public house for the first time to get whiskey. Despite his fear, he maintains his courage and overcomes it.
Whiskey does not work well, and Sullivan was unable to sleep all night due to his mother's terrible coughing. She
continues to ramble while speaking. Sullivan, perplexed, sets out in the morning to call the doctor from the distant
dispensary. Before that, he goes to the house of a Poor Law Guardian to get a ticket to save the doctor's fees. The
well-organized boy cleans the house and keeps a basin of water, soap, and towels ready for the doctor.

 Much to their relief, the doctor advises against hospitalization and instead prescribes cough syrup for the mother.
Miss Ryan and the doctor both laud Reliant Sullivan for his sincerity and concern. Again, the poor boy sets out with
a bottle to get medicine from a distant dispensary. He passes by a cathedral on the way. In his heart, he prays for his
mother's quick recovery and decides to spend his last penny to light a candle in the church when he finishes his task.
He meets Dooley, a little girl who has come to get medicine for her sister, at the dispensary. The girl is brilliant and
chatty.

 Anguished Sullivan appreciates her company after going through such a traumatic experience. On the way back, the
boy spends his penny on sweets, which they both enjoy. Dooly is a crafty girl. She entices Sullivan to try his
mother's sweet cough syrup. A confused young man succumbs to temptation. They both love it. When all of the
medicine has been consumed, Sullivan realizes his error. He begins to panic and sob. Dooly scams him into lying
about the cork falling out.

 Repentant Sullivan is consumed by remorse and guilt. He is concerned that his mother will not recover as a result of
his carelessness. Panicked Sullivan begs Mary to perform a miracle to save his mother. He returns home completely
broken and shattered. Mother is alarmed when she hears him whimper. She passionately hugs and consoles him.
Sullivan, who is truthful and honest, confesses his crime. The forgiving mother dismisses it. The tired boy falls fast
asleep as a result of the medicine's intoxication. The miracle occurs by the grace of God, and Sullivan awakens to
find his mother smiling and fully recovered.

Analysis

 The story is written in an autobiographical style. The text's language is dense and descriptive. The plot revolves
around the delicate relationship between a mother and her son. The little boy's marathon efforts to make his ailing
mother comfortable fill readers' hearts with compassion and sympathy. The story's climax is the children's childish
act of drinking his mother's medicine. Readers, like the boy, are concerned about what will happen next.

 When his mother becomes ill, the small boy assumes complete responsibility for her care and the running of the
household. He does everything an adult would do to handle the situation. Even though he is afraid of the ruffians,
he goes to the pub to get whiskey for his mother. He acts maturely, making wise decisions to help his mother
recover quickly. That is why he is appropriately referred to as "The Man of the House."