He had never before known such penury. there was no money for medicine, no money for even a night's lodging. truth

be told, he wasn't sure he could remember the last time he had slept in a bed. not only was there no money for food,

but he had been unable to locate even a charity soup kitchen for a meal. huddled in the corner of an alley in the

unfamiliar city, he pulled the discarded newspaper and boxes close around him. that, he thought, may break the wind

and also make me harder to see. he lulled himself into an uneasy sleep imagining how he might convince someone to

give him a few dollars-or a job-now there would be dream!

based on the context clues, penury most likely means

happiness

loneliness

o poverty

freedom

opportunity