Question

why was Ali leading a life of cheerless existence

Answer 1

Old and lonely, no happiness, desperately longed for a letter from his daughter. People insulted and ridiculed him

Answer 2

it was because he was a lonely old man. He had five gold guineas but he had nobody to give that money to and had to give it to a clerk. this all had happened because his only daughter Miriam had left him and he had no news of her well being for the last 5 years. he was a lonely father.