# Arvie Aspinall — While the Billy Boils character guide

> Arvie Aspinall in While the Billy Boils by Henry Lawson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Arvie, little Arvie, Poor little Arvie, Billy Anderson, Arvie Bill Anderson

**First appearance:** 0014-arvie-aspinall-s-alarm-clock

## Snapshot

A sickly, overworked boy in a Sydney slum who sleeps with one ear cocked for the alarm clock that rules his short life.

## Who they are

Arvie is a child labourer in Jones's Alley, dragging himself through each day while his mother frets over rent and his failing health. Even in sleep he mutters about the alarm going off, so conditioned is he to the grind that wakes him before dawn. His quiet death on the sofa, while a wealthy household nearby weeps over a recitation about a crossing sweeper, gives the collection its sharpest image of a life used up before it began.

## In the story

### [Arvie Aspinall's Alarm Clock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/while_the_billy_boils_se/chapters/arvie-aspinall-s-alarm-clock)

A poor, delicate little boy who works at Grinder Bros factory to support his family. He is found asleep on the factory steps, given an alarm clock by a benevolent society lady, and dies in his sleep from illness and exhaustion.

### [An Echo from the Old Bark School](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/while_the_billy_boils_se/chapters/an-echo-from-the-old-bark-school)

Called in the roll and responds 'Es, sir.'

### [A Visit of Condolence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/while_the_billy_boils_se/chapters/a-visit-of-condolence)

Deceased boy, remembered as weak and tormented at work, died of influenza.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/while_the_billy_boils_se/characters/arvie_aspinall
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/while_the_billy_boils_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/while_the_billy_boils_se/characters