Why does Mr. White say that Herbert’s death is particularly hard?

Mr. White says that Herbert’s death is particularly hard because “He was the only one left to us.” Although Mr. White’s explanation is short, the implication is that he is their last remaining child, and their other children have died. Elsewhere in the story we learn that Mr. White and his wife have been married for approximately forty years, and based on the rest of the story, it seems that they have faced many hardships....

Mr. White says that Herbert’s death is particularly hard because “He was the only one left to us.” Although Mr. White’s explanation is short, the implication is that he is their last remaining child, and their other children have died. Elsewhere in the story we learn that Mr. White and his wife have been married for approximately forty years, and based on the rest of the story, it seems that they have faced many hardships. It appears that Herbert’s death is the death of their last surviving child.

But there is an additional reason that it is particularly hard for Mr. White: Mr. White made the wish that resulted in Herbert’s death. Although this reason is not explicitly provided by Mr. White when he explains that it is hard, it is important to keep in mind that Mr. White is, essentially, responsible for Herbert’s death.