that would be about right , though , figuring i was about eight when i was turned out an orphan into the storm of life , me bein ' so happy with mum takin ' care of penny and me , and our dad teachin ' us to read , him bein ' a teacher what had come to london with mum , who was a deacon 's daughter from a poor church in the north country , to take up a teaching post , but the post fell through and he had to fall back on letter writin ' for the people what could n't do it for themselves .