The story follows a boy’s misfortune and struggle that started from the very moment of his birth. His mother, Becky, gives birth on a depressing, rainy day. His father abandons mother and child. This rough start sets a challenging tone for the boy’s early life. He struggled in school before eventually becoming a goldsmith’s apprentice. The story highlights the stark contrast between the societal expectation of joy surrounding childbirth and the harsh reality of financial hardship that can turn a “gift” into a perceived burden. It focuses on Becky’s despair and resentment towards her newborn. Not out of malice, but from the immense pressure of unpaid hospital bills and her husband’s unemployment.