In what way is the arrival of food a merciful event?

Which statement best summarizes this excerpt from leo tolstoy's the death of ivan ilyich? and in imagination he began to recall the best moments of his pleasant life. but strange to say none of those best moments of his pleasant life now seemed at all what they had then seemed—none of them except the first recollections of childhood. there, in childhood, there had been something really pleasant with which it would be possible to live if it could return. but the child who had experienced that happiness existed no longer, it was like a reminiscence of somebody else.

This excerpt is from the poet by alfred lord tennyson the poem describes a poets consciousness and perception which three lines suggests the richness of a poets thoughts

That alligator hungry. vittles very scarce that time a season. his belly be pinchin him hard, now. but bruh deer is fat, and so he is in heavy trouble. the alligator there in front of him. the beagles there behind him. what bruh deer gone do? he sees the alligator and he hears the beagles. how does the author readers understand what the word pinchin means?