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

The next day after Mr. White uses the monkey's paw to wish for two hundred pounds to pay off their mortgage, he and his wife receive the tragic news that their son Herbert has died in an unfortunate work accident. In Part Two, a messenger from Herbert's place of work visits the White's home and informs them that their son lost his life when he got caught in a piece of machinery. The messenger also mentions that the Whites will receive two hundred pounds as compensation for Herbert's death. After learning about his son's death, Mr. White comments, "He was the only one left to us. . . It is hard" (Connell, 9). These two sentences are significant and indicate that Herbert was not their only child. It is also written that Mr. and Mrs. White have been married for nearly forty years and have apparently endured many hardships. Mr. White's comment also indicates that they have outlived all of their children. Overall, Herbert was their last remaining child alive, which makes his death extremely difficult for Mr. and Mrs. White.

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.