Can you help me understand this, please?
To five little stone lozenges, each about a foot and a half long, which were arranged in a neat row beside their grave, and were sacred to the memory of five little brothers of mine,—who gave up trying to get a living, exceedingly early in that universal struggle,—I am indebted for a belief I religiously entertained that (Q*) they had all been born on their backs with their hands in their trousers-pockets, and had never taken them out in this state of existence.
1) early in that universal struggle = before they were born?
2) I am indebted for a belief = I have no choice but to believe?
3) they had all been born on their backs with their hands in their trousers-pockets, and had never taken them out in this state of existence.
= No clue..;(