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Allsummerlongthefamilytoiled,andinthefalltheyhadmoneyenoughforJurgisandOnatobemarriedaccordingtohometraditionsofdecency.
InthelatterpartofNovembertheyhiredahall,andinvitedalltheirnewacquaintances,whocameandleftthemoverahundreddollarsindebt.
Itwasabitterandcruelexperience,anditplungedthemintoanagonyofdespair.
Suchatime,ofalltimes,forthemtohaveit,whentheirheartsweremadetender!
Suchapitifulbeginningitwasfortheirmarriedlife;theylovedeachotherso,andtheycouldnothavethebriefestrespite!
Itwasatimewheneverythingcriedouttothemthattheyoughttobehappy;whenwonderburnedintheirhearts,andleapedintoflameattheslightestbreath.
Theywereshakentothedepthsofthem,withtheaweofloverealized—andwasitsoveryweakofthemthattheycriedoutforalittlepeace?
Theyhadopenedtheirhearts,likeflowerstothespringtime,andthemercilesswinterhadfallenuponthem.
Theywonderedifeveranylovethathadblossomedintheworldhadbeensocrushedandtrampled!
Overthem,relentlessandsavage,therecrackedthelashofwant;themorningaftertheweddingitsoughtthemastheyslept,anddrovethemoutbeforedaybreaktowork.
Onawasscarcelyabletostandwithexhaustion;butifsheweretoloseherplacetheywouldberuined,andshewouldsurelyloseitifshewerenotontimethatday.
Theyallhadtogo,evenlittleStanislovas,whowasillfromoverindulgenceinsausagesandsarsaparilla.
Allthatdayhestoodathislardmachine,rockingunsteadily,hiseyesclosinginspiteofhim;andheallbutlosthisplaceevenso,fortheforemanbootedhimtwicetowakenhim.
Itwasfullyaweekbeforetheywereallnormalagain,andmeantime,withwhiningchildrenandcrossadults,thehousewasnotapleasantplacetolivein.
Jurgislosthistemperverylittle,however,allthingsconsidered.
ItwasbecauseofOna;theleastglanceatherwasalwaysenoughtomakehimcontrolhimself.
Shewassosensitive—shewasnotfittedforsuchalifeasthis;andahundredtimesaday,whenhethoughtofher,hewouldclenchhishandsandflinghimselfagainatthetaskbeforehim.
Shewastoogoodforhim,hetoldhimself,andhewasafraid,becauseshewashis.
Solonghehadhungeredtopossessher,butnowthatthetimehadcomeheknewthathehadnotearnedtheright;thatshetrustedhimsowasallherownsimplegoodness,andnovirtueofhis.
Buthewasresolvedthatsheshouldneverfindthisout,andsowasalwaysonthewatchtoseethathedidnotbetrayanyofhisuglyself;hewouldtakecareeveninlittlematters,suchashismanners,andhishabitofswearingwhenthingswentwrong.
ThetearscamesoeasilyintoOna’seyes,andshewouldlookathimsoappealingly—itkeptJurgisquitebusymakingresolutions,inadditiontoalltheotherthingshehadonhismind.
ItwastruethatmorethingsweregoingonatthistimeinthemindofJurgisthaneverhadinallhislifebefore.
Hehadtoprotecther,todobattleforheragainstthehorrorhesawaboutthem.
Hewasallthatshehadtolookto,andifhefailedshewouldbelost;hewouldwraphisarmsabouther,andtrytohideherfromtheworld.
Hehadlearnedthewaysofthingsabouthimnow.
Itwasawarofeachagainstall,andthedeviltakethehindmost.
Youdidnotgivefeaststootherpeople,youwaitedforthemtogivefeaststoyou.
Youwentaboutwithyoursoulfullofsuspicionandhatred;youunderstoodthatyouwereenvironedbyhostilepowersthatweretryingtogetyourmoney,andwhousedallthevirtuestobaittheirtrapswith.
Thestore-keepersplastereduptheirwindowswithallsortsofliestoenticeyou;theveryfencesbythewayside,thelamppostsandtelegraphpoles,werepastedoverwithlies.
Thegreatcorporationwhichemployedyouliedtoyou,andliedtothewholecountry—fromtoptobottomitwasnothingbutonegiganticlie.
SoJurgissaidthatheunderstoodit;andyetitwasreallypitiful,forthestrugglewassounfair—somehadsomuchtheadvantage!
Herehewas,forinstance,vowinguponhiskneesthathewouldsaveOnafromharm,andonlyaweeklatershewassufferingatrociously,andfromtheblowofanenemythathecouldnotpossiblyhavethwarted.
Therecameadaywhentherainfellintorrents;anditbeingDecember,tobewetwithitandhavetositalldaylonginoneofthecoldcellarsofBrown’swasnolaughingmatter.
Onawasaworkinggirl,anddidnotownwaterproofsandsuchthings,andsoJurgistookherandputheronthestreetcar.
Nowitchancedthatthiscarlinewasownedbygentlemenwhoweretryingtomakemoney.
Andthecityhavingpassedanordinancerequiringthemtogivetransfers,theyhadfallenintoarage;andfirsttheyhadmadearulethattransferscouldbehadonlywhenthefarewaspaid;andlater,growingstilluglier,theyhadmadeanother—thatthepassengermustaskforthetransfer,theconductorwasnotallowedtoofferit.
NowOnahadbeentoldthatshewastogetatransfer;butitwasnotherwaytospeakup,andsoshemerelywaited,followingtheconductoraboutwithhereyes,wonderingwhenhewouldthinkofher.
Whenatlastthetimecameforhertogetout,sheaskedforthetransfer,andwasrefused.
Notknowingwhattomakeofthis,shebegantoarguewiththeconductor,inalanguageofwhichhedidnotunderstandaword.
Afterwarningherseveraltimes,hepulledthebellandthecarwenton—atwhichOnaburstintotears.
Atthenextcornershegotout,ofcourse;andasshehadnomoremoney,shehadtowalktherestofthewaytotheyardsinthepouringrain.
Andsoalldaylongshesatshivering,andcamehomeatnightwithherteethchatteringandpainsinherheadandback.
Fortwoweeksafterwardshesufferedcruelly—andyeteverydayshehadtodragherselftoherwork.
TheforewomanwasespeciallyseverewithOna,becauseshebelievedthatshewasobstinateonaccountofhavingbeenrefusedaholidaythedayafterherwedding.
Onahadanideathather“forelady”didnotliketohavehergirlsmarry—perhapsbecauseshewasoldanduglyandunmarriedherself.
Thereweremanysuchdangers,inwhichtheoddswereallagainstthem.
Theirchildrenwerenotaswellastheyhadbeenathome;buthowcouldtheyknowthattherewasnosewertotheirhouse,andthatthedrainageoffifteenyearswasinacesspoolunderit?
Howcouldtheyknowthatthepale-bluemilkthattheyboughtaroundthecornerwaswatered,anddoctoredwithformaldehydebesides?
Whenthechildrenwerenotwellathome,TetaElzbietawouldgatherherbsandcurethem;nowshewasobligedtogotothedrugstoreandbuyextracts—andhowwasshetoknowthattheywerealladulterated?
Howcouldtheyfindoutthattheirteaandcoffee,theirsugarandflour,hadbeendoctored;thattheircannedpeashadbeencoloredwithcoppersalts,andtheirfruitjamswithanilinedyes?
Andeveniftheyhadknownit,whatgoodwouldithavedonethem,sincetherewasnoplacewithinmilesofthemwhereanyothersortwastobehad?
Thebitterwinterwascoming,andtheyhadtosavemoneytogetmoreclothingandbedding;butitwouldnotmatterintheleasthowmuchtheysaved,theycouldnotgetanythingtokeepthemwarm.
Alltheclothingthatwastobehadinthestoreswasmadeofcottonandshoddy,whichismadebytearingoldclothestopiecesandweavingthefiberagain.
Iftheypaidhigherprices,theymightgetfrillsandfanciness,orbecheated;butgenuinequalitytheycouldnotobtainforlovenormoney.
AyoungfriendofSzedvilas’,recentlycomefromabroad,hadbecomeaclerkinastoreonAshlandAvenue,andhenarratedwithgleeatrickthathadbeenplayeduponanunsuspectingcountrymanbyhisboss.
Thecustomerhaddesiredtopurchaseanalarmclock,andthebosshadshownhimtwoexactlysimilar,tellinghimthatthepriceofonewasadollarandoftheotheradollarseventy-five.
Uponbeingaskedwhatthedifferencewas,themanhadwoundupthefirsthalfwayandthesecondalltheway,andshowedthecustomerhowthelattermadetwiceasmuchnoise;uponwhichthecustomerremarkedthathewasasoundsleeper,andhadbettertakethemoreexpensiveclock!
Thereisapoetwhosingsthat
"Deepertheirheartgrowsandnoblertheirbearing,Whoseyouthinthefiresofanguishhathdied."
Butitwasnotlikelythathehadreferencetothekindofanguishthatcomeswithdestitution,thatissoendlesslybitterandcruel,andyetsosordidandpetty,sougly,sohumiliating—unredeemedbytheslightesttouchofdignityorevenofpathos.
Itisakindofanguishthatpoetshavenotcommonlydealtwith;itsverywordsarenotadmittedintothevocabularyofpoets—thedetailsofitcannotbetoldinpolitesocietyatall.
How,forinstance,couldanyoneexpecttoexcitesympathyamongloversofgoodliteraturebytellinghowafamilyfoundtheirhomealivewithvermin,andofallthesufferingandinconvenienceandhumiliationtheywereputto,andthehard-earnedmoneytheyspent,ineffortstogetridofthem?
Afterlonghesitationanduncertaintytheypaidtwenty-fivecentsforabigpackageofinsectpowder—apatentpreparationwhichchancedtobeninety-fivepercentgypsum,aharmlessearthwhichhadcostabouttwocentstoprepare.
Ofcourseithadnottheleasteffect,exceptuponafewroacheswhichhadthemisfortunetodrinkwateraftereatingit,andsogottheirinwardssetinacoatingofplasterofParis.
Thefamily,havingnoideaofthis,andnomoremoneytothrowaway,hadnothingtodobutgiveupandsubmittoonemoremiseryfortherestoftheirdays.
ThentherewasoldAntanas.Thewintercame,andtheplacewhereheworkedwasadark,unheatedcellar,whereyoucouldseeyourbreathallday,andwhereyourfingerssometimestriedtofreeze.
Sotheoldman’scoughgreweverydayworse,untiltherecameatimewhenithardlyeverstopped,andhehadbecomeanuisanceabouttheplace.
Then,too,astillmoredreadfulthinghappenedtohim;heworkedinaplacewherehisfeetweresoakedinchemicals,anditwasnotlongbeforetheyhadeatenthroughhisnewboots.
Thensoresbegantobreakoutonhisfeet,andgrowworseandworse.
Whetheritwasthathisbloodwasbad,ortherehadbeenacut,hecouldnotsay;butheaskedthemenaboutit,andlearnedthatitwasaregularthing—itwasthesaltpeter.
Everyonefeltit,soonerorlater,andthenitwasallupwithhim,atleastforthatsortofwork.
Thesoreswouldneverheal—intheendhistoeswoulddropoff,ifhedidnotquit.
YetoldAntanaswouldnotquit;hesawthesufferingofhisfamily,andherememberedwhatithadcosthimtogetajob.
Sohetieduphisfeet,andwentonlimpingaboutandcoughing,untilatlasthefelltopieces,allatonceandinaheap,liketheOne-HorseShay.
Theycarriedhimtoadryplaceandlaidhimonthefloor,andthatnighttwoofthemenhelpedhimhome.
Thepooroldmanwasputtobed,andthoughhetriediteverymorninguntiltheend,henevercouldgetupagain.
Hewouldliethereandcoughandcough,dayandnight,wastingawaytoamereskeleton.
Therecameatimewhentherewassolittlefleshonhimthatthebonesbegantopokethrough—whichwasahorriblethingtoseeoreventothinkof.
Andonenighthehadachokingfit,andalittleriverofbloodcameoutofhismouth.
Thefamily,wildwithterror,sentforadoctor,andpaidhalfadollartobetoldthattherewasnothingtobedone.
Mercifullythedoctordidnotsaythissothattheoldmancouldhear,forhewasstillclingingtothefaiththattomorrowornextdayhewouldbebetter,andcouldgobacktohisjob.
Thecompanyhadsentwordtohimthattheywouldkeepitforhim—orratherJurgishadbribedoneofthementocomeoneSundayafternoonandsaytheyhad.
DedeAntanascontinuedtobelieveit,whilethreemorehemorrhagescame;andthenatlastonemorningtheyfoundhimstiffandcold.
Thingswerenotgoingwellwiththemthen,andthoughitnearlybrokeTetaElzbieta’sheart,theywereforcedtodispensewithnearlyallthedecenciesofafuneral;theyhadonlyahearse,andonehackforthewomenandchildren;andJurgis,whowaslearningthingsfast,spentallSundaymakingabargainforthese,andhemadeitinthepresenceofwitnesses,sothatwhenthemantriedtochargehimforallsortsofincidentals,hedidnothavetopay.
Fortwenty-fiveyearsoldAntanasRudkusandhissonhaddweltintheforesttogether,anditwashardtopartinthisway;perhapsitwasjustaswellthatJurgishadtogiveallhisattentiontothetaskofhavingafuneralwithoutbeingbankrupted,andsohadnotimetoindulgeinmemoriesandgrief.
Nowthedreadfulwinterwascomeuponthem.
Intheforests,allsummerlong,thebranchesofthetreesdobattleforlight,andsomeofthemloseanddie;andthencometheragingblasts,andthestormsofsnowandhail,andstrewthegroundwiththeseweakerbranches.
JustsoitwasinPackingtown;thewholedistrictbraceditselfforthestrugglethatwasanagony,andthosewhosetimewascomediedoffinhordes.
Alltheyearroundtheyhadbeenservingascogsinthegreatpackingmachine;andnowwasthetimefortherenovatingofit,andthereplacingofdamagedparts.
Therecamepneumoniaandgrippe,stalkingamongthem,seekingforweakenedconstitutions;therewastheannualharvestofthosewhomtuberculosishadbeendraggingdown.
Therecamecruel,cold,andbitingwinds,andblizzardsofsnow,alltestingrelentlesslyforfailingmusclesandimpoverishedblood.
Soonerorlatercamethedaywhentheunfitonedidnotreportforwork;andthen,withnotimelostinwaiting,andnoinquiriesorregrets,therewasachanceforanewhand.
Thenewhandswereherebythethousands.
Alldaylongthegatesofthepackinghouseswerebesiegedbystarvingandpennilessmen;theycame,literally,bythethousandseverysinglemorning,fightingwitheachotherforachanceforlife.
Blizzardsandcoldmadenodifferencetothem,theywerealwaysonhand;theywereonhandtwohoursbeforethesunrose,anhourbeforetheworkbegan.
Sometimestheirfacesfroze,sometimestheirfeetandtheirhands;sometimestheyfrozealltogether—butstilltheycame,fortheyhadnootherplacetogo.
OnedayDurhamadvertisedinthepaperfortwohundredmentocutice;andallthatdaythehomelessandstarvingofthecitycametrudgingthroughthesnowfromalloveritstwohundredsquaremiles.
Thatnightfortyscoreofthemcrowdedintothestationhouseofthestockyardsdistrict—theyfilledtherooms,sleepingineachother’slaps,tobogganfashion,andtheypiledontopofeachotherinthecorridors,tillthepoliceshutthedoorsandleftsometofreezeoutside.
Onthemorrow,beforedaybreak,therewerethreethousandatDurham’s,andthepolicereserveshadtobesentfortoquelltheriot.
ThenDurham’sbossespickedouttwentyofthebiggest;the“twohundred”provedtohavebeenaprinter’serror.
Fourorfivemilestotheeastwardlaythelake,andoverthisthebitterwindscameraging.
Sometimesthethermometerwouldfalltotenortwentydegreesbelowzeroatnight,andinthemorningthestreetswouldbepiledwithsnowdriftsuptothefirst-floorwindows.
Thestreetsthroughwhichourfriendshadtogototheirworkwereallunpavedandfullofdeepholesandgullies;insummer,whenitrainedhard,amanmighthavetowadetohiswaisttogettohishouse;andnowinwinteritwasnojokegettingthroughtheseplaces,beforelightinthemorningandafterdarkatnight.
Theywouldwrapupinalltheyowned,buttheycouldnotwrapupagainstexhaustion;andmanyamangaveoutinthesebattleswiththesnowdrifts,andlaydownandfellasleep.
Andifitwasbadforthemen,onemayimaginehowthewomenandchildrenfared.
Somewouldrideinthecars,ifthecarswererunning;butwhenyouaremakingonlyfivecentsanhour,aswaslittleStanislovas,youdonotliketospendthatmuchtoridetwomiles.
Thechildrenwouldcometotheyardswithgreatshawlsabouttheirears,andsotiedupthatyoucouldhardlyfindthem—andstilltherewouldbeaccidents.
OnebittermorninginFebruarythelittleboywhoworkedatthelardmachinewithStanislovascameaboutanhourlate,andscreamingwithpain.
Theyunwrappedhim,andamanbeganvigorouslyrubbinghisears;andastheywerefrozenstiff,ittookonlytwoorthreerubstobreakthemshortoff.
Asaresultofthis,littleStanislovasconceivedaterrorofthecoldthatwasalmostamania.
Everymorning,whenitcametimetostartfortheyards,hewouldbegintocryandprotest.
Nobodyknewquitehowtomanagehim,forthreatsdidnogood—itseemedtobesomethingthathecouldnotcontrol,andtheyfearedsometimesthathewouldgointoconvulsions.
IntheendithadtobearrangedthathealwayswentwithJurgis,andcamehomewithhimagain;andoften,whenthesnowwasdeep,themanwouldcarryhimthewholewayonhisshoulders.
SometimesJurgiswouldbeworkinguntillateatnight,andthenitwaspitiful,fortherewasnoplaceforthelittlefellowtowait,saveinthedoorwaysorinacornerofthekillingbeds,andhewouldallbutfallasleepthere,andfreezetodeath.
Therewasnoheatuponthekillingbeds;themenmightexactlyaswellhaveworkedoutofdoorsallwinter.
Forthatmatter,therewasverylittleheatanywhereinthebuilding,exceptinthecookingroomsandsuchplaces—anditwasthemenwhoworkedinthesewhoranthemostriskofall,becausewhenevertheyhadtopasstoanotherroomtheyhadtogothroughice-coldcorridors,andsometimeswithnothingonabovethewaistexceptasleevelessundershirt.
Onthekillingbedsyouwereapttobecoveredwithblood,anditwouldfreezesolid;ifyouleanedagainstapillar,youwouldfreezetothat,andifyouputyourhanduponthebladeofyourknife,youwouldrunachanceofleavingyourskinonit.
Themenwouldtieuptheirfeetinnewspapersandoldsacks,andthesewouldbesoakedinbloodandfrozen,andthensoakedagain,andsoon,untilbynighttimeamanwouldbewalkingongreatlumpsthesizeofthefeetofanelephant.
Nowandthen,whenthebosseswerenotlooking,youwouldseethemplungingtheirfeetandanklesintothesteaminghotcarcassofthesteer,ordartingacrosstheroomtothehot-waterjets.
Thecruelestthingofallwasthatnearlyallofthem—allofthosewhousedknives—wereunabletoweargloves,andtheirarmswouldbewhitewithfrostandtheirhandswouldgrownumb,andthenofcoursetherewouldbeaccidents.
Alsotheairwouldbefullofsteam,fromthehotwaterandthehotblood,sothatyoucouldnotseefivefeetbeforeyou;andthen,withmenrushingaboutatthespeedtheykeptuponthekillingbeds,andallwithbutcherknives,likerazors,intheirhands—well,itwastobecountedasawonderthattherewerenotmoremenslaughteredthancattle.
Andyetallthisinconveniencetheymighthaveputupwith,ifonlyithadnotbeenforonething—ifonlytherehadbeensomeplacewheretheymighteat.
Jurgishadeithertoeathisdinneramidthestenchinwhichhehadworked,orelsetorush,asdidallhiscompanions,toanyoneofthehundredsofliquorstoreswhichstretchedouttheirarmstohim.
TothewestoftheyardsranAshlandAvenue,andherewasanunbrokenlineofsaloons—”WhiskeyRow,”theycalledit;tothenorthwasForty-seventhStreet,wheretherewerehalfadozentotheblock,andattheangleofthetwowas“WhiskeyPoint,”aspaceoffifteenortwentyacres,andcontainingonegluefactoryandabouttwohundredsaloons.
Onemightwalkamongtheseandtakehischoice:“Hotpea-soupandboiledcabbagetoday.”“Sauerkrautandhotfrankfurters.Walkin.”“Beansoupandstewedlamb.Welcome.”
Allofthesethingswereprintedinmanylanguages,aswerealsothenamesoftheresorts,whichwereinfiniteintheirvarietyandappeal.
Therewasthe“HomeCircle”andthe“CoseyCorner”;therewere“Firesides”and“Hearthstones”and“PleasurePalaces”and“Wonderlands”and“DreamCastles”and“Love’sDelights.”
Whateverelsetheywerecalled,theyweresuretobecalled“UnionHeadquarters,”andtoholdoutawelcometoworkingmen;andtherewasalwaysawarmstove,andachairnearit,andsomefriendstolaughandtalkwith.
Therewasonlyoneconditionattached,—youmustdrink.
Ifyouwentinnotintendingtodrink,youwouldbeputoutinnotime,andifyouwereslowaboutgoing,likeasnotyouwouldgetyourheadsplitopenwithabeerbottleinthebargain.
Butallofthemenunderstoodtheconventionanddrank;theybelievedthatbyittheyweregettingsomethingfornothing—fortheydidnotneedtotakemorethanonedrink,anduponthestrengthofittheymightfillthemselvesupwithagoodhotdinner.
Thisdidnotalwaysworkoutinpractice,however,fortherewasprettysuretobeafriendwhowouldtreatyou,andthenyouwouldhavetotreathim.
Thensomeoneelsewouldcomein—and,anyhow,afewdrinksweregoodforamanwhoworkedhard.
Ashewentbackhedidnotshiverso,hehadmorecourageforhistask;thedeadlybrutalizingmonotonyofitdidnotafflicthimso,—hehadideaswhileheworked,andtookamorecheerfulviewofhiscircumstances.
Onthewayhome,however,theshiveringwasapttocomeonhimagain;andsohewouldhavetostoponceortwicetowarmupagainstthecruelcold.
Astherewerehotthingstoeatinthissaloontoo,hemightgethomelatetohissupper,orhemightnotgethomeatall.
Andthenhiswifemightsetouttolookforhim,andshetoowouldfeelthecold;andperhapsshewouldhavesomeofthechildrenwithher—andsoawholefamilywoulddriftintodrinking,asthecurrentofariverdriftsdownstream.
Asiftocompletethechain,thepackersallpaidtheirmeninchecks,refusingallrequeststopayincoin;andwhereinPackingtowncouldamangotohavehischeckcashedbuttoasaloon,wherehecouldpayforthefavorbyspendingapartofthemoney?
FromallofthesethingsJurgiswassavedbecauseofOna.
Heneverwouldtakebuttheonedrinkatnoontime;andsohegotthereputationofbeingasurlyfellow,andwasnotquitewelcomeatthesaloons,andhadtodriftaboutfromonetoanother.
Thenatnighthewouldgostraighthome,helpingOnaandStanislovas,oroftenputtingtheformeronacar.
Andwhenhegothomeperhapshewouldhavetotrudgeseveralblocks,andcomestaggeringbackthroughthesnowdriftswithabagofcoaluponhisshoulder.
Homewasnotaveryattractiveplace—atleastnotthiswinter.
Theyhadonlybeenabletobuyonestove,andthiswasasmallone,andprovednotbigenoughtowarmeventhekitcheninthebitterestweather.
ThismadeithardforTetaElzbietaallday,andforthechildrenwhentheycouldnotgettoschool.
Atnighttheywouldsithuddledroundthisstove,whiletheyatetheirsupperofftheirlaps;andthenJurgisandJonaswouldsmokeapipe,afterwhichtheywouldallcrawlintotheirbedstogetwarm,afterputtingoutthefiretosavethecoal.
Thentheywouldhavesomefrightfulexperienceswiththecold.
Theywouldsleepwithalltheirclotheson,includingtheirovercoats,andputoverthemallthebeddingandspareclothingtheyowned;thechildrenwouldsleepallcrowdedintoonebed,andyetevensotheycouldnotkeepwarm.
Theoutsideoneswouldbeshiveringandsobbing,crawlingovertheothersandtryingtogetdownintothecenter,andcausingafight.
Thisoldhousewiththeleakyweatherboardswasaverydifferentthingfromtheircabinsathome,withgreatthickwallsplasteredinsideandoutsidewithmud;andthecoldwhichcameuponthemwasalivingthing,ademon-presenceintheroom.
Theywouldwakeninthemidnighthours,wheneverythingwasblack;perhapstheywouldhearityellingoutside,orperhapstherewouldbedeathlikestillness—andthatwouldbeworseyet.
Theycouldfeelthecoldasitcreptinthroughthecracks,reachingoutforthemwithitsicy,death-dealingfingers;andtheywouldcrouchandcower,andtrytohidefromit,allinvain.
Itwouldcome,anditwouldcome;agrislything,aspecterbornintheblackcavernsofterror;apowerprimeval,cosmic,shadowingthetorturesofthelostsoulsflungouttochaosanddestruction.
Itwascrueliron-hard;andhourafterhourtheywouldcringeinitsgrasp,alone,alone.
Therewouldbenoonetohearthemiftheycriedout;therewouldbenohelp,nomercy.
Andsoonuntilmorning—whentheywouldgoouttoanotherdayoftoil,alittleweaker,alittlenearertothetimewhenitwouldbetheirturntobeshakenfromthetree.
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