content: and so the years passed happily away till the boy was eight years old , but then the widow fell sick , and their little store of money melted gradually away . " i do n't know what we shall do for bread , " she said , kissing her boy with tears in her eyes , " for i am not yet strong enough to work , and we have no money left . " " but i can work , " answered the boy ; " and i 'm sure if i go to the squire up at the hall he will give me something to do . " at first the widow was reluctant to consent to this , since she loved to keep her child at her side , but finally , as nothing else could be done , she decided to let him go to see the squire .
answer: she loved to keep her child at her side .
question: why was the widow reluctant to allow her son to work ?
target: why was the widow reluctant to allow her son to work ?
references: why was the widow reluctant to allow her son to work ?