He was father and mother, both.

He did his best, but we didn't have enough to eat.

We rarely saw meat, and then of the worst.

And it is not good for growing kiddies to sit down to a dinner of bread and a bit of cheese, and not enough of it.
"And what's the result?
I am undersized, and I haven't the stamina of my dad.

It was starved out of me.