Question

How is their life different from that of other children?

Answer 1

The passage suggests that these children spend their life and childhood in a narrow street that is "sealed in with a lead sky". This world of the children is far away from rivers, capes ans stars. The future of these children is uncertain and bleak [indicated by "future's painted bleak] and they do not enjoy the freedom that other children do [indicated by "narrow street sealed in with a lead sky"]. In this manner the life of these children is different from that of other children.