[General] checking of the next three sentences

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to revise the following sentences?

He was from morning to night giving lessons penny, to engage in correspondence and for all that he starved, because he sent the earnings to his mother to eat. Ivan Dmitrievich couldn’t bear such lives any longer. He lost heart, sank into dejection, abandoned the university and went home.

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

 

[Tdol]

lessons penny- this doesn't work for me = penny lessons (not charging much)?

 

[emsr2d2]

He was from morning to night giving lessons penny, to engage in correspondence and for all that he starved, because he sent the earnings to his mother to eat. Ivan Dmitrievich couldn’t bear such lives any longer. He lost heart, sank into dejection, abandoned the university and went home.

V.

I have the same problem as the previous poster in not knowing quite what you mean by "lessons penny", but I also don't know what you meant by "engage in correspondence" - who with? However, here is my attempt (which may not match your meaning:

He gave lessons to Penny from morning until night, engaged in correspondence but, for all that, he starved because he sent his earnings to his mother to spend on food. Ivan Dimitrievich couldn't stand living like this any longer, he lost heart, sank into a depressions, gave up university and went home.

Apart from the problems I mentioned earlier, I want to point out that "he sent his earnings to his mother to eat" sounds as if his mother was expected to actually eat the money!

 

[vil]

Hi emsr2d2,

Thank you for your kindness as well as for your backing.

The sentence in question is from the Chehov’s “Chamber № 6”

Here are my interpretations of the problem terms:

penny lessons = badly paid lessons

engage in correspondence = be in charge of a firm/ do the correspondence of a firm (a low standing clerk’s profession)

to his mother to eat = to his mother for her living

Thank you again for your empathy.

Regards,

V.