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Duringtheearlypartofthewinterthefamilyhadhadmoneyenoughtoliveandalittleovertopaytheirdebtswith;butwhentheearningsofJurgisfellfromnineortendollarsaweektofiveorsix,therewasnolongeranythingtospare.
Thewinterwent,andthespringcame,andfoundthemstilllivingthusfromhandtomouth,hangingondaybyday,withliterallynotamonth’swagesbetweenthemandstarvation.
Marijawasindespair,fortherewasstillnowordaboutthereopeningofthecanningfactory,andhersavingswerealmostentirelygone.
Shehadhadtogiveupallideaofmarryingthen;thefamilycouldnotgetalongwithouther—thoughforthatmattershewaslikelysoontobecomeaburdenevenuponthem,forwhenhermoneywasallgone,theywouldhavetopaybackwhattheyowedherinboard.
SoJurgisandOnaandTetaElzbietawouldholdanxiousconferencesuntillateatnight,tryingtofigurehowtheycouldmanagethistoowithoutstarving.
Suchwerethecrueltermsuponwhichtheirlifewaspossible,thattheymightneverhavenorexpectasingleinstant’srespitefromworry,asingleinstantinwhichtheywerenothauntedbythethoughtofmoney.
Theywouldnosoonerescape,asbyamiracle,fromonedifficulty,thananewonewouldcomeintoview.
Inadditiontoalltheirphysicalhardships,therewasthusaconstantstrainupontheirminds;theywereharriedalldayandnearlyallnightbyworryandfear.
Thiswasintruthnotliving;itwasscarcelyevenexisting,andtheyfeltthatitwastoolittleforthepricetheypaid.
Theywerewillingtoworkallthetime;andwhenpeopledidtheirbest,oughttheynottobeabletokeepalive?
Thereseemednevertobeanendtothethingstheyhadtobuyandtotheunforeseencontingencies.
Oncetheirwaterpipesfrozeandburst;andwhen,intheirignorance,theythawedthemout,theyhadaterrifyingfloodintheirhouse.
Ithappenedwhilethemenwereaway,andpoorElzbietarushedoutintothestreetscreamingforhelp,forshedidnotevenknowwhetherthefloodcouldbestopped,orwhethertheywereruinedforlife.
Itwasnearlyasbadasthelatter,theyfoundintheend,fortheplumberchargedthemseventy-fivecentsanhour,andseventy-fivecentsforanothermanwhohadstoodandwatchedhim,andincludedallthetimethetwohadbeengoingandcoming,andalsoachargeforallsortsofmaterialandextras.
Andthenagain,whentheywenttopaytheirJanuary’sinstallmentonthehouse,theagentterrifiedthembyaskingthemiftheyhadhadtheinsuranceattendedtoyet.
Inanswertotheirinquiryheshowedthemaclauseinthedeedwhichprovidedthattheyweretokeepthehouseinsuredforonethousanddollars,assoonasthepresentpolicyranout,whichwouldhappeninafewdays.
PoorElzbieta,uponwhomagainfelltheblow,demandedhowmuchitwouldcostthem.
Sevendollars,themansaid;andthatnightcameJurgis,grimanddetermined,requestingthattheagentwouldbegoodenoughtoinformhim,onceforall,astoalltheexpensestheywereliablefor.
Thedeedwassignednow,hesaid,withsarcasmpropertothenewwayoflifehehadlearned—thedeedwassigned,andsotheagenthadnolongeranythingtogainbykeepingquiet.
AndJurgislookedthefellowsquarelyintheeye,andsothefellowwastednotimeinconventionalprotests,butreadhimthedeed.
Theywouldhavetorenewtheinsuranceeveryyear;theywouldhavetopaythetaxes,abouttendollarsayear;theywouldhavetopaythewatertax,aboutsixdollarsayear—(Jurgissilentlyresolvedtoshutoffthehydrant).
This,besidestheinterestandthemonthlyinstallments,wouldbeall—unlessbychancethecityshouldhappentodecidetoputinasewerortolayasidewalk.
Yes,saidtheagent,theywouldhavetohavethese,whethertheywantedthemornot,ifthecitysaidso.
Thesewerwouldcostthemabouttwenty-twodollars,andthesidewalkfifteenifitwerewood,twenty-fiveifitwerecement.
SoJurgiswenthomeagain;itwasarelieftoknowtheworst,atanyrate,sothathecouldnomorebesurprisedbyfreshdemands.
Hesawnowhowtheyhadbeenplundered;buttheywereinforit,therewasnoturningback.
Theycouldonlygoonandmakethefightandwin—fordefeatwasathingthatcouldnotevenbethoughtof.
Whenthespringtimecame,theyweredeliveredfromthedreadfulcold,andthatwasagreatdeal;butinadditiontheyhadcountedonthemoneytheywouldnothavetopayforcoal—anditwasjustatthistimethatMarija’sboardbegantofail.
Then,too,thewarmweatherbroughttrialsofitsown;eachseasonhaditstrials,astheyfound.
Inthespringtherewerecoldrains,thatturnedthestreetsintocanalsandbogs;themudwouldbesodeepthatwagonswouldsinkuptothehubs,sothathalfadozenhorsescouldnotmovethem.
Then,ofcourse,itwasimpossibleforanyonetogettoworkwithdryfeet;andthiswasbadformenthatwerepoorlycladandshod,andstillworseforwomenandchildren.
Latercamemidsummer,withthestiflingheat,whenthedingykillingbedsofDurham’sbecameaverypurgatory;onetime,inasingleday,threemenfelldeadfromsunstroke.
Alldaylongtheriversofhotbloodpouredforth,until,withthesunbeatingdown,andtheairmotionless,thestenchwasenoughtoknockamanover;alltheoldsmellsofagenerationwouldbedrawnoutbythisheat—fortherewasneveranywashingofthewallsandraftersandpillars,andtheywerecakedwiththefilthofalifetime.
Themenwhoworkedonthekillingbedswouldcometoreekwithfoulness,sothatyoucouldsmelloneofthemfiftyfeetaway;therewassimplynosuchthingaskeepingdecent,themostcarefulmangaveitupintheend,andwallowedinuncleanness.
Therewasnotevenaplacewhereamancouldwashhishands,andthemenateasmuchrawbloodasfoodatdinnertime.
Whentheywereatworktheycouldnotevenwipeofftheirfaces—theywereashelplessasnewlybornbabesinthatrespect;anditmayseemlikeasmallmatter,butwhenthesweatbegantorundowntheirnecksandticklethem,oraflytobotherthem,itwasatorturelikebeingburnedalive.
Whetheritwastheslaughterhousesorthedumpsthatwereresponsible,onecouldnotsay,butwiththehotweathertheredescendeduponPackingtownaveritableEgyptianplagueofflies;therecouldbenodescribingthis—thehouseswouldbeblackwiththem.
Therewasnoescaping;youmightprovideallyourdoorsandwindowswithscreens,buttheirbuzzingoutsidewouldbeliketheswarmingofbees,andwheneveryouopenedthedoortheywouldrushinasifastormofwindweredrivingthem.
Perhapsthesummertimesuggeststoyouthoughtsofthecountry,visionsofgreenfieldsandmountainsandsparklinglakes.
Ithadnosuchsuggestionforthepeopleintheyards.
Thegreatpackingmachinegroundonremorselessly,withoutthinkingofgreenfields;andthemenandwomenandchildrenwhowerepartofitneversawanygreenthing,notevenaflower.
FourorfivemilestotheeastofthemlaythebluewatersofLakeMichigan;butforallthegooditdidthemitmighthavebeenasfarawayasthePacificOcean.
TheyhadonlySundays,andthentheyweretootiredtowalk.
Theyweretiedtothegreatpackingmachine,andtiedtoitforlife.
ThemanagersandsuperintendentsandclerksofPackingtownwereallrecruitedfromanotherclass,andneverfromtheworkers;theyscornedtheworkers,theverymeanestofthem.
ApoordevilofabookkeeperwhohadbeenworkinginDurham’sfortwentyyearsatasalaryofsixdollarsaweek,andmightworktherefortwentymoreanddonobetter,wouldyetconsiderhimselfagentleman,asfarremovedasthepolesfromthemostskilledworkeronthekillingbeds;hewoulddressdifferently,andliveinanotherpartofthetown,andcometoworkatadifferenthouroftheday,andineverywaymakesurethatheneverrubbedelbowswithalaboringman.
Perhapsthiswasduetotherepulsivenessofthework;atanyrate,thepeoplewhoworkedwiththeirhandswereaclassapart,andweremadetofeelit.
Inthelatespringthecanningfactorystartedupagain,andsooncemoreMarijawasheardtosing,andthelove-musicofTamosziustookonalessmelancholytone.
Itwasnotforlong,however;foramonthortwolateradreadfulcalamityfelluponMarija.
Justoneyearandthreedaysaftershehadbegunworkasacan-painter,shelostherjob.
Itwasalongstory.Marijainsistedthatitwasbecauseofheractivityintheunion.
Thepackers,ofcourse,hadspiesinalltheunions,andinadditiontheymadeapracticeofbuyingupacertainnumberoftheunionofficials,asmanyastheythoughttheyneeded.
Soeveryweektheyreceivedreportsastowhatwasgoingon,andoftentheyknewthingsbeforethemembersoftheunionknewthem.
Anyonewhowasconsideredtobedangerousbythemwouldfindthathewasnotafavoritewithhisboss;andMarijahadbeenagreathandforgoingaftertheforeignpeopleandpreachingtothem.
Howeverthatmightbe,theknownfactswerethatafewweeksbeforethefactoryclosed,Marijahadbeencheatedoutofherpayforthreehundredcans.
Thegirlsworkedatalongtable,andbehindthemwalkedawomanwithpencilandnotebook,keepingcountofthenumbertheyfinished.
Thiswomanwas,ofcourse,onlyhuman,andsometimesmademistakes;whenthishappened,therewasnoredress—ifonSaturdayyougotlessmoneythanyouhadearned,youhadtomakethebestofit.
ButMarijadidnotunderstandthis,andmadeadisturbance.
Marija’sdisturbancesdidnotmeananything,andwhileshehadknownonlyLithuanianandPolish,theyhaddonenoharm,forpeopleonlylaughedatherandmadehercry.
ButnowMarijawasabletocallnamesinEnglish,andsoshegotthewomanwhomadethemistaketodislikingher.
Probably,asMarijaclaimed,shemademistakesonpurposeafterthat;atanyrate,shemadethem,andthethirdtimeithappenedMarijawentonthewarpathandtookthematterfirsttotheforelady,andwhenshegotnosatisfactionthere,tothesuperintendent.
Thiswasunheard-ofpresumption,butthesuperintendentsaidhewouldseeaboutit,whichMarijatooktomeanthatshewasgoingtogethermoney;afterwaitingthreedays,shewenttoseethesuperintendentagain.
Thistimethemanfrowned,andsaidthathehadnothadtimetoattendtoit;andwhenMarija,againsttheadviceandwarningofeveryone,trieditoncemore,heorderedherbacktoherworkinapassion.
JusthowthingshappenedafterthatMarijawasnotsure,butthatafternoontheforeladytoldherthatherserviceswouldnotbeanylongerrequired.
PoorMarijacouldnothavebeenmoredumfoundedhadthewomanknockedheroverthehead;atfirstshecouldnotbelievewhatsheheard,andthenshegrewfuriousandsworethatshewouldcomeanyway,thatherplacebelongedtoher.
Intheendshesatdowninthemiddleofthefloorandweptandwailed.
Itwasacruellesson;butthenMarijawasheadstrong—sheshouldhavelistenedtothosewhohadhadexperience.
Thenexttimeshewouldknowherplace,astheforeladyexpressedit;andsoMarijawentout,andthefamilyfacedtheproblemofanexistenceagain.
Itwasespeciallyhardthistime,forOnawastobeconfinedbeforelong,andJurgiswastryinghardtosaveupmoneyforthis.
Hehadhearddreadfulstoriesofthemidwives,whogrowasthickasfleasinPackingtown;andhehadmadeuphismindthatOnamusthaveaman-doctor.
Jurgiscouldbeveryobstinatewhenhewantedto,andhewasinthiscase,muchtothedismayofthewomen,whofeltthataman-doctorwasanimpropriety,andthatthematterreallybelongedtothem.
Thecheapestdoctortheycouldfindwouldchargethemfifteendollars,andperhapsmorewhenthebillcamein;andherewasJurgis,declaringthathewouldpayit,evenifhehadtostopeatinginthemeantime!
Marijahadonlyabouttwenty-fivedollarsleft.
Dayafterdayshewanderedabouttheyardsbeggingajob,butthistimewithouthopeoffindingit.
Marijacoulddotheworkofanable-bodiedman,whenshewascheerful,butdiscouragementworeherouteasily,andshewouldcomehomeatnightapitiableobject.
Shelearnedherlessonthistime,poorcreature;shelearnedittentimesover.
Allthefamilylearneditalongwithher—thatwhenyouhaveoncegotajobinPackingtown,youhangontoit,comewhatwill.
FourweeksMarijahunted,andhalfofafifthweek.
Ofcourseshestoppedpayingherduestotheunion.
Shelostallinterestintheunion,andcursedherselfforafoolthatshehadeverbeendraggedintoone.
Shehadaboutmadeuphermindthatshewasalostsoul,whensomebodytoldherofanopening,andshewentandgotaplaceasa“beef-trimmer.”
Shegotthisbecausethebosssawthatshehadthemusclesofaman,andsohedischargedamanandputMarijatodohiswork,payingheralittlemorethanhalfwhathehadbeenpayingbefore.
WhenshefirstcametoPackingtown,Marijawouldhavescornedsuchworkasthis.
Shewasinanothercanningfactory,andherworkwastotrimthemeatofthosediseasedcattlethatJurgishadbeentoldaboutnotlongbefore.
Shewasshutupinoneoftheroomswherethepeopleseldomsawthedaylight;beneathherwerethechillingrooms,wherethemeatwasfrozen,andaboveherwerethecookingrooms;andsoshestoodonanice-coldfloor,whileherheadwasoftensohotthatshecouldscarcelybreathe.
Trimmingbeefoffthebonesbythehundred-weight,whilestandingupfromearlymorningtilllateatnight,withheavybootsonandtheflooralwaysdampandfullofpuddles,liabletobethrownoutofworkindefinitelybecauseofaslackeninginthetrade,liableagaintobekeptovertimeinrushseasons,andbeworkedtillshetrembledineverynerveandlosthergriponherslimyknife,andgaveherselfapoisonedwound—thatwasthenewlifethatunfoldeditselfbeforeMarija.
ButbecauseMarijawasahumanhorseshemerelylaughedandwentatit;itwouldenablehertopayherboardagain,andkeepthefamilygoing.
AndasforTamoszius—well,theyhadwaitedalongtime,andtheycouldwaitalittlelonger.
Theycouldnotpossiblygetalonguponhiswagesalone,andthefamilycouldnotlivewithouthers.
Hecouldcomeandvisither,andsitinthekitchenandholdherhand,andhemustmanagetobecontentwiththat.
ButdaybydaythemusicofTamoszius’violinbecamemorepassionateandheartbreaking;andMarijawouldsitwithherhandsclaspedandhercheekswetandallherbodyatremble,hearinginthewailingmelodiesthevoicesoftheunborngenerationswhichcriedoutinherforlife.
Marija’slessoncamejustintimetosaveOnafromasimilarfate.
Ona,too,wasdissatisfiedwithherplace,andhadfarmorereasonthanMarija.
Shedidnottellhalfofherstoryathome,becauseshesawitwasatormenttoJurgis,andshewasafraidofwhathemightdo.
ForalongtimeOnahadseenthatMissHenderson,theforeladyinherdepartment,didnotlikeher.
Atfirstshethoughtitwastheold-timemistakeshehadmadeinaskingforaholidaytogetmarried.
Thensheconcludeditmustbebecauseshedidnotgivetheforeladyapresentoccasionally—shewasthekindthattookpresentsfromthegirls,Onalearned,andmadeallsortsofdiscriminationsinfavorofthosewhogavethem.
Intheend,however,Onadiscoveredthatitwasevenworsethanthat.
MissHendersonwasanewcomer,anditwassometimebeforerumormadeherout;butfinallyittranspiredthatshewasakeptwoman,theformermistressofthesuperintendentofadepartmentinthesamebuilding.
Hehadputhertheretokeepherquiet,itseemed—andthatnotaltogetherwithsuccess,foronceortwicetheyhadbeenheardquarreling.
Shehadthetemperofahyena,andsoontheplacesheranwasawitch’scaldron.
Thereweresomeofthegirlswhowereofherownsort,whowerewillingtotoadytoherandflatterher;andthesewouldcarrytalesabouttherest,andsothefurieswereunchainedintheplace.
Worsethanthis,thewomanlivedinabawdyhousedowntown,withacoarse,red-facedIrishmannamedConnor,whowasthebossoftheloading-gangoutside,andwouldmakefreewiththegirlsastheywenttoandfromtheirwork.
IntheslackseasonssomeofthemwouldgowithMissHendersontothishousedowntown—infact,itwouldnotbetoomuchtosaythatshemanagedherdepartmentatBrown’sinconjunctionwithit.
Sometimeswomenfromthehousewouldbegivenplacesalongsideofdecentgirls,andafterotherdecentgirlshadbeenturnedofftomakeroomforthem.
Whenyouworkedinthiswoman’sdepartmentthehousedowntownwasneveroutofyourthoughtsallday—therewerealwayswhiffsofittobecaught,liketheodorofthePackingtownrenderingplantsatnight,whenthewindshiftedsuddenly.
Therewouldbestoriesaboutitgoingtherounds;thegirlsoppositeyouwouldbetellingthemandwinkingatyou.
InsuchaplaceOnawouldnothavestayedaday,butforstarvation;and,asitwas,shewasneversurethatshecouldstaythenextday.
SheunderstoodnowthattherealreasonthatMissHendersonhatedherwasthatshewasadecentmarriedgirl;andsheknewthatthetalebearersandthetoadieshatedherforthesamereason,andweredoingtheirbesttomakeherlifemiserable.
ButtherewasnoplaceagirlcouldgoinPackingtown,ifshewasparticularaboutthingsofthissort;therewasnoplaceinitwhereaprostitutecouldnotgetalongbetterthanadecentgirl.
Herewasapopulation,low-classandmostlyforeign,hangingalwaysonthevergeofstarvation,anddependentforitsopportunitiesoflifeuponthewhimofmeneverybitasbrutalandunscrupulousastheold-timeslavedrivers;undersuchcircumstancesimmoralitywasexactlyasinevitable,andasprevalent,asitwasunderthesystemofchattelslavery.
Thingsthatwerequiteunspeakablewentonthereinthepackinghousesallthetime,andweretakenforgrantedbyeverybody;onlytheydidnotshow,asintheoldslaverytimes,becausetherewasnodifferenceincolorbetweenmasterandslave.
OnemorningOnastayedhome,andJurgishadtheman-doctor,accordingtohiswhim,andshewassafelydeliveredofafinebaby.
Itwasanenormousbigboy,andOnawassuchatinycreatureherself,thatitseemedquiteincredible.
Jurgiswouldstandandgazeatthestrangerbythehour,unabletobelievethatithadreallyhappened.
ThecomingofthisboywasadecisiveeventwithJurgis.
Itmadehimirrevocablyafamilyman;itkilledthelastlingeringimpulsethathemighthavehadtogooutintheeveningsandsitandtalkwiththemeninthesaloons.
Therewasnothinghecaredfornowsomuchastositandlookatthebaby.
Thiswasverycurious,forJurgishadneverbeeninterestedinbabiesbefore.
Butthen,thiswasaveryunusualsortofababy.
Hehadthebrightestlittleblackeyes,andlittleblackringletsalloverhishead;hewasthelivingimageofhisfather,everybodysaid—andJurgisfoundthisafascinatingcircumstance.
Itwassufficientlyperplexingthatthistinymiteoflifeshouldhavecomeintotheworldatallinthemannerthatithad;thatitshouldhavecomewithacomicalimitationofitsfather’snosewassimplyuncanny.
Perhaps,Jurgisthought,thiswasintendedtosignifythatitwashisbaby;thatitwashisandOna’s,tocareforallitslife.
Jurgishadneverpossessedanythingnearlysointeresting—ababywas,whenyoucametothinkaboutit,assuredlyamarvelouspossession.
Itwouldgrowuptobeaman,ahumansoul,withapersonalityallitsown,awillofitsown!
SuchthoughtswouldkeephauntingJurgis,fillinghimwithallsortsofstrangeandalmostpainfulexcitements.
HewaswonderfullyproudoflittleAntanas;hewascuriousaboutallthedetailsofhim—thewashingandthedressingandtheeatingandthesleepingofhim,andaskedallsortsofabsurdquestions.
Ittookhimquiteawhiletogetoverhisalarmattheincredibleshortnessofthelittlecreature’slegs.
Jurgishad,alas,verylittletimetoseehisbaby;heneverfeltthechainsabouthimmorethanjustthen.
Whenhecamehomeatnight,thebabywouldbeasleep,anditwouldbethemerestchanceifheawokebeforeJurgishadtogotosleephimself.
Theninthemorningtherewasnotimetolookathim,soreallytheonlychancethefatherhadwasonSundays.
ThiswasmorecruelyetforOna,whooughttohavestayedhomeandnursedhim,thedoctorsaid,forherownhealthaswellasthebaby’s;butOnahadtogotowork,andleavehimforTetaElzbietatofeeduponthepalebluepoisonthatwascalledmilkatthecornergrocery.
Ona’sconfinementlostheronlyaweek’swages—shewouldgotothefactorythesecondMonday,andthebestthatJurgiscouldpersuadeherwastorideinthecar,andlethimrunalongbehindandhelphertoBrown’swhenshealighted.
Afterthatitwouldbeallright,saidOna,itwasnostrainsittingstillsewinghamsallday;andifshewaitedlongershemightfindthatherdreadfulforeladyhadputsomeoneelseinherplace.
Thatwouldbeagreatercalamitythanevernow,Onacontinued,onaccountofthebaby.
Theywouldallhavetoworkhardernowonhisaccount.
Itwassucharesponsibility—theymustnothavethebabygrowuptosufferastheyhad.
AndthisindeedhadbeenthefirstthingthatJurgishadthoughtofhimself—hehadclenchedhishandsandbracedhimselfanewforthestruggle,forthesakeofthattinymiteofhumanpossibility.
AndsoOnawentbacktoBrown’sandsavedherplaceandaweek’swages;andsoshegaveherselfsomeoneofthethousandailmentsthatwomengroupunderthetitleof“wombtrouble,”andwasneveragainawellpersonaslongasshelived.
ItisdifficulttoconveyinwordsallthatthismeanttoOna;itseemedsuchaslightoffense,andthepunishmentwassooutofallproportion,thatneithershenoranyoneelseeverconnectedthetwo.
“Wombtrouble”toOnadidnotmeanaspecialist’sdiagnosis,andacourseoftreatment,andperhapsanoperationortwo;itmeantsimplyheadachesandpainsintheback,anddepressionandheartsickness,andneuralgiawhenshehadtogotoworkintherain.
ThegreatmajorityofthewomenwhoworkedinPackingtownsufferedinthesameway,andfromthesamecause,soitwasnotdeemedathingtoseethedoctorabout;insteadOnawouldtrypatentmedicines,oneafteranother,asherfriendstoldheraboutthem.
Astheseallcontainedalcohol,orsomeotherstimulant,shefoundthattheyalldidhergoodwhileshetookthem;andsoshewasalwayschasingthephantomofgoodhealth,andlosingitbecauseshewastoopoortocontinue.
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