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Duringthesummerthepackinghouseswereinfullactivityagain,andJurgismademoremoney.
Hedidnotmakesomuch,however,ashehadtheprevioussummer,forthepackerstookonmorehands.
Therewerenewmeneveryweek,itseemed—itwasaregularsystem;andthisnumbertheywouldkeepovertothenextslackseason,sothateveryonewouldhavelessthanever.
Soonerorlater,bythisplan,theywouldhaveallthefloatinglaborofChicagotrainedtodotheirwork.Andhowverycunningatrickwasthat!
Themenweretoteachnewhands,whowouldsomedaycomeandbreaktheirstrike;andmeantimetheywerekeptsopoorthattheycouldnotprepareforthetrial!
Butletnoonesupposethatthissuperfluityofemployeesmeanteasierworkforanyone!
Onthecontrary,thespeeding-upseemedtobegrowingmoresavageallthetime;theywerecontinuallyinventingnewdevicestocrowdtheworkon—itwasforalltheworldlikethethumbscrewofthemedievaltorturechamber.
Theywouldgetnewpacemakersandpaythemmore;theywoulddrivethemenonwithnewmachinery—itwassaidthatinthehog-killingroomsthespeedatwhichthehogsmovedwasdeterminedbyclockwork,andthatitwasincreasedalittleeveryday.
Inpieceworktheywouldreducethetime,requiringthesameworkinashortertime,andpayingthesamewages;andthen,aftertheworkershadaccustomedthemselvestothisnewspeed,theywouldreducetherateofpaymenttocorrespondwiththereductionintime!
Theyhaddonethissoofteninthecanningestablishmentsthatthegirlswerefairlydesperate;theirwageshadgonedownbyafullthirdinthepasttwoyears,andastormofdiscontentwasbrewingthatwaslikelytobreakanyday.
OnlyamonthafterMarijahadbecomeabeef-trimmerthecanningfactorythatshehadleftpostedacutthatwoulddividethegirls’earningsalmostsquarelyinhalf;andsogreatwastheindignationatthisthattheymarchedoutwithoutevenaparley,andorganizedinthestreetoutside.
Oneofthegirlshadreadsomewherethataredflagwasthepropersymbolforoppressedworkers,andsotheymountedone,andparadedallabouttheyards,yellingwithrage.
Anewunionwastheresultofthisoutburst,buttheimpromptustrikewenttopiecesinthreedays,owingtotherushofnewlabor.
Attheendofitthegirlwhohadcarriedtheredflagwentdowntownandgotapositioninagreatdepartmentstore,atasalaryoftwodollarsandahalfaweek.
JurgisandOnaheardthesestorieswithdismay,fortherewasnotellingwhentheirowntimemightcome.
Onceortwicetherehadbeenrumorsthatoneofthebighouseswasgoingtocutitsunskilledmentofifteencentsanhour,andJurgisknewthatifthiswasdone,histurnwouldcomesoon.
HehadlearnedbythistimethatPackingtownwasreallynotanumberoffirmsatall,butonegreatfirm,theBeefTrust.
Andeveryweekthemanagersofitgottogetherandcomparednotes,andtherewasonescaleforalltheworkersintheyardsandonestandardofefficiency.
Jurgiswastoldthattheyalsofixedthepricetheywouldpayforbeefonthehoofandthepriceofalldressedmeatinthecountry;butthatwassomethinghedidnotunderstandorcareabout.
TheonlyonewhowasnotafraidofacutwasMarija,whocongratulatedherself,somewhatnaively,thattherehadbeenoneinherplaceonlyashorttimebeforeshecame.
Marijawasgettingtobeaskilledbeef-trimmer,andwasmountingtotheheightsagain.
DuringthesummerandfallJurgisandOnamanagedtopayherbackthelastpennytheyowedher,andsoshebegantohaveabankaccount.
Tamosziushadabankaccountalso,andtheyranarace,andbegantofigureuponhouseholdexpensesoncemore.
Thepossessionofvastwealthentailscaresandresponsibilities,however,aspoorMarijafoundout.
ShehadtakentheadviceofafriendandinvestedhersavingsinabankonAshlandAvenue.
Ofcoursesheknewnothingaboutit,exceptthatitwasbigandimposing—whatpossiblechancehasapoorforeignworkinggirltounderstandthebankingbusiness,asitisconductedinthislandoffrenziedfinance?
SoMarijalivedinacontinualdreadlestsomethingshouldhappentoherbank,andwouldgooutofherwaymorningstomakesurethatitwasstillthere.
Herprincipalthoughtwasoffire,forshehaddepositedhermoneyinbills,andwasafraidthatiftheywereburnedupthebankwouldnotgiveheranyothers.
Jurgismadefunofherforthis,forhewasamanandwasproudofhissuperiorknowledge,tellingherthatthebankhadfireproofvaults,andallitsmillionsofdollarshiddensafelyawayinthem.
However,onemorningMarijatookherusualdetour,and,toherhorroranddismay,sawacrowdofpeopleinfrontofthebank,fillingtheavenuesolidforhalfablock.
Allthebloodwentoutofherfaceforterror.
Shebrokeintoarun,shoutingtothepeopletoaskwhatwasthematter,butnotstoppingtohearwhattheyanswered,tillshehadcometowherethethrongwassodensethatshecouldnolongeradvance.
Therewasa“runonthebank,”theytoldherthen,butshedidnotknowwhatthatwas,andturnedfromonepersontoanother,tryinginanagonyoffeartomakeoutwhattheymeant.Hadsomethinggonewrongwiththebank?Nobodywassure,buttheythoughtso.Couldn’tshegethermoney?
Therewasnotelling;thepeoplewereafraidnot,andtheywerealltryingtogetit.
Itwastooearlyyettotellanything—thebankwouldnotopenfornearlythreehours.
SoinafrenzyofdespairMarijabegantoclawherwaytowardthedoorsofthisbuilding,throughathrongofmen,women,andchildren,allasexcitedasherself.
Itwasasceneofwildconfusion,womenshriekingandwringingtheirhandsandfainting,andmenfightingandtramplingdowneverythingintheirway.
InthemidstofthemeleeMarijarecollectedthatshedidnothaveherbankbook,andcouldnotgethermoneyanyway,soshefoughtherwayoutandstartedonarunforhome.
Thiswasfortunateforher,forafewminuteslaterthepolicereservesarrived.
InhalfanhourMarijawasback,TetaElzbietawithher,bothofthembreathlesswithrunningandsickwithfear.
Thecrowdwasnowformedinaline,extendingforseveralblocks,withhalfahundredpolicemenkeepingguard,andsotherewasnothingforthemtodobuttotaketheirplacesattheendofit.
Atnineo’clockthebankopenedandbegantopaythewaitingthrong;butthen,whatgooddidthatdoMarija,whosawthreethousandpeoplebeforeher—enoughtotakeoutthelastpennyofadozenbanks?
Tomakemattersworseadrizzlingraincameup,andsoakedthemtotheskin;yetallthemorningtheystoodthere,creepingslowlytowardthegoal—alltheafternoontheystoodthere,heartsick,seeingthatthehourofclosingwascoming,andthattheyweregoingtobeleftout.
Marijamadeuphermindthat,comewhatmight,shewouldstaythereandkeepherplace;butasnearlyalldidthesame,allthroughthelong,coldnight,shegotverylittleclosertothebankforthat.
TowardeveningJurgiscame;hehadheardthestoryfromthechildren,andhebroughtsomefoodanddrywraps,whichmadeitalittleeasier.
Thenextmorning,beforedaybreak,cameabiggercrowdthanever,andmorepolicemenfromdowntown.
Marijaheldonlikegrimdeath,andtowardafternoonshegotintothebankandgothermoney—allinbigsilverdollars,ahandkerchieffull.
Whenshehadoncegotherhandsonthemherfearvanished,andshewantedtoputthembackagain;butthemanatthewindowwassavage,andsaidthatthebankwouldreceivenomoredepositsfromthosewhohadtakenpartintherun.
SoMarijawasforcedtotakeherdollarshomewithher,watchingtorightandleft,expectingeveryinstantthatsomeonewouldtrytorobher;andwhenshegothomeshewasnotmuchbetteroff.
Untilshecouldfindanotherbanktherewasnothingtodobutsewthemupinherclothes,andsoMarijawentaboutforaweekormore,loadeddownwithbullion,andafraidtocrossthestreetinfrontofthehouse,becauseJurgistoldhershewouldsinkoutofsightinthemud.
Weightedthiswayshemadeherwaytotheyards,againinfear,thistimetoseeifshehadlostherplace;butfortunatelyabouttenpercentoftheworkingpeopleofPackingtownhadbeendepositorsinthatbank,anditwasnotconvenienttodischargethatmanyatonce.
Thecauseofthepanichadbeentheattemptofapolicemantoarrestadrunkenmaninasaloonnextdoor,whichhaddrawnacrowdatthehourthepeoplewereontheirwaytowork,andsostartedthe“run.”
AboutthistimeJurgisandOnaalsobeganabankaccount.
BesideshavingpaidJonasandMarija,theyhadalmostpaidfortheirfurniture,andcouldhavethatlittlesumtocounton.
Solongaseachofthemcouldbringhomenineortendollarsaweek,theywereabletogetalongfinely.
Alsoelectiondaycameroundagain,andJurgismadehalfaweek’swagesoutofthat,allnetprofit.
Itwasaverycloseelectionthatyear,andtheechoesofthebattlereachedeventoPackingtown.
Thetworivalsetsofgraftershiredhallsandsetofffireworksandmadespeeches,totrytogetthepeopleinterestedinthematter.
AlthoughJurgisdidnotunderstanditall,heknewenoughbythistimetorealizethatitwasnotsupposedtoberighttosellyourvote.
However,aseveryonedidit,andhisrefusaltojoinwouldnothavemadetheslightestdifferenceintheresults,theideaofrefusingwouldhaveseemedabsurd,haditevercomeintohishead.
Nowchillwindsandshorteningdaysbegantowarnthemthatthewinterwascomingagain.
Itseemedasiftherespitehadbeentooshort—theyhadnothadtimeenoughtogetreadyforit;butstillitcame,inexorably,andthehuntedlookbegantocomebackintotheeyesoflittleStanislovas.
TheprospectstruckfeartotheheartofJurgisalso,forheknewthatOnawasnotfittofacethecoldandthesnowdriftsthisyear.
Andsupposethatsomedaywhenablizzardstruckthemandthecarswerenotrunning,Onashouldhavetogiveup,andshouldcomethenextdaytofindthatherplacehadbeengiventosomeonewholivednearerandcouldbedependedon?
ItwastheweekbeforeChristmasthatthefirststormcame,andthenthesoulofJurgisroseupwithinhimlikeasleepinglion.
TherewerefourdaysthattheAshlandAvenuecarswerestalled,andinthosedays,forthefirsttimeinhislife,Jurgisknewwhatitwastobereallyopposed.
Hehadfaceddifficultiesbefore,buttheyhadbeenchild’splay;nowtherewasadeathstruggle,andallthefurieswereunchainedwithinhim.
Thefirstmorningtheysetouttwohoursbeforedawn,Onawrappedallinblanketsandtosseduponhisshoulderlikeasackofmeal,andthelittleboy,bundlednearlyoutofsight,hangingbyhiscoat-tails.
Therewasaragingblastbeatinginhisface,andthethermometerstoodbelowzero;thesnowwasnevershortofhisknees,andinsomeofthedriftsitwasnearlyuptohisarmpits.
Itwouldcatchhisfeetandtrytotriphim;itwouldbuilditselfintoawallbeforehimtobeathimback;andhewouldflinghimselfintoit,plunginglikeawoundedbuffalo,puffingandsnortinginrage.
Sofootbyfoothedrovehisway,andwhenatlasthecametoDurham’shewasstaggeringandalmostblind,andleanedagainstapillar,gasping,andthankingGodthatthecattlecamelatetothekillingbedsthatday.
Intheeveningthesamethinghadtobedoneagain;andbecauseJurgiscouldnottellwhathourofthenighthewouldgetoff,hegotasaloon-keepertoletOnasitandwaitforhiminacorner.
Onceitwaseleveno’clockatnight,andblackasthepit,butstilltheygothome.
Thatblizzardknockedmanyamanout,forthecrowdoutsidebeggingforworkwasnevergreater,andthepackerswouldnotwaitlongforanyone.
Whenitwasover,thesoulofJurgiswasasong,forhehadmettheenemyandconquered,andfelthimselfthemasterofhisfate.
—Soitmightbewithsomemonarchoftheforestthathasvanquishedhisfoesinfairfight,andthenfallsintosomecowardlytrapinthenight-time.
Atimeofperilonthekillingbedswaswhenasteerbrokeloose.
Sometimes,inthehasteofspeeding-up,theywoulddumponeoftheanimalsoutonthefloorbeforeitwasfullystunned,anditwouldgetuponitsfeetandrunamuck.
Thentherewouldbeayellofwarning—themenwoulddropeverythinganddashforthenearestpillar,slippinghereandthereonthefloor,andtumblingovereachother.
Thiswasbadenoughinthesummer,whenamancouldsee;inwintertimeitwasenoughtomakeyourhairstandup,fortheroomwouldbesofullofsteamthatyoucouldnotmakeanythingoutfivefeetinfrontofyou.
Tobesure,thesteerwasgenerallyblindandfrantic,andnotespeciallybentonhurtinganyone;butthinkofthechancesofrunninguponaknife,whilenearlyeverymanhadoneinhishand!
Andthen,tocaptheclimax,thefloorbosswouldcomerushingupwitharifleandbeginblazingaway!
ItwasinoneofthesemeleesthatJurgisfellintohistrap.
Thatistheonlywordtodescribeit;itwassocruel,andsoutterlynottobeforeseen.
Atfirsthehardlynoticedit,itwassuchaslightaccident—simplythatinleapingoutofthewayheturnedhisankle.
Therewasatwingeofpain,butJurgiswasusedtopain,anddidnotcoddlehimself.
Whenhecametowalkhome,however,herealizedthatitwashurtinghimagreatdeal;andinthemorninghisanklewasswollenoutnearlydoubleitssize,andhecouldnotgethisfootintohisshoe.
Still,eventhen,hedidnothingmorethanswearalittle,andwrappedhisfootinoldrags,andhobbledouttotakethecar.
ItchancedtobearushdayatDurham’s,andallthelongmorninghelimpedaboutwithhisachingfoot;bynoontimethepainwassogreatthatitmadehimfaint,andafteracoupleofhoursintheafternoonhewasfairlybeaten,andhadtotelltheboss.
Theysentforthecompanydoctor,andheexaminedthefootandtoldJurgistogohometobed,addingthathehadprobablylaidhimselfupformonthsbyhisfolly.
TheinjurywasnotonethatDurhamandCompanycouldbeheldresponsiblefor,andsothatwasalltherewastoit,sofarasthedoctorwasconcerned.
Jurgisgothomesomehow,scarcelyabletoseeforthepain,andwithanawfulterrorinhissoul,Elzbietahelpedhimintobedandbandagedhisinjuredfootwithcoldwaterandtriedhardnottolethimseeherdismay;whentherestcamehomeatnightshemetthemoutsideandtoldthem,andthey,too,putonacheerfulface,sayingitwouldonlybeforaweekortwo,andthattheywouldpullhimthrough.
Whentheyhadgottenhimtosleep,however,theysatbythekitchenfireandtalkeditoverinfrightenedwhispers.
Theywereinforasiege,thatwasplainlytobeseen.
Jurgishadonlyaboutsixtydollarsinthebank,andtheslackseasonwasuponthem.
BothJonasandMarijamightsoonbeearningnomorethanenoughtopaytheirboard,andbesidesthattherewereonlythewagesofOnaandthepittanceofthelittleboy.
Therewastherenttopay,andstillsomeonthefurniture;therewastheinsurancejustdue,andeverymonththerewassackaftersackofcoal.
ItwasJanuary,midwinter,anawfultimetohavetofaceprivation.
Deepsnowswouldcomeagain,andwhowouldcarryOnatoherworknow?
Shemightloseherplace—shewasalmostcertaintoloseit.
AndthenlittleStanislovasbegantowhimper—whowouldtakecareofhim?
Itwasdreadfulthatanaccidentofthissort,thatnomancanhelp,shouldhavemeantsuchsuffering.
ThebitternessofitwasthedailyfoodanddrinkofJurgis.
Itwasofnouseforthemtotrytodeceivehim;heknewasmuchaboutthesituationastheydid,andheknewthatthefamilymightliterallystarvetodeath.
Theworryofitfairlyatehimup—hebegantolookhaggardthefirsttwoorthreedaysofit.
Intruth,itwasalmostmaddeningforastrongmanlikehim,afighter,tohavetolietherehelplessonhisback.
ItwasforalltheworldtheoldstoryofPrometheusbound.
AsJurgislayonhisbed,hourafterhourtherecametohimemotionsthathehadneverknownbefore.
Beforethishehadmetlifewithawelcome—ithaditstrials,butnonethatamancouldnotface.
Butnow,inthenighttime,whenhelaytossingabout,therewouldcomestalkingintohischamberagrislyphantom,thesightofwhichmadehisfleshcurlandhishairtobristleup.
Itwaslikeseeingtheworldfallawayfromunderneathhisfeet;likeplungingdownintoabottomlessabyssintoyawningcavernsofdespair.
Itmightbetrue,then,afterall,whatothershadtoldhimaboutlife,thatthebestpowersofamanmightnotbeequaltoit!
Itmightbetruethat,striveashewould,toilashewould,hemightfail,andgodownandbedestroyed!
Thethoughtofthiswaslikeanicyhandathisheart;thethoughtthathere,inthisghastlyhomeofallhorror,heandallthosewhoweredeartohimmightlieandperishofstarvationandcold,andtherewouldbenoeartoheartheircry,nohandtohelpthem!
Itwastrue,itwastrue,—thathereinthishugecity,withitsstoresofheaped-upwealth,humancreaturesmightbehunteddownanddestroyedbythewild-beastpowersofnature,justastrulyasevertheywereinthedaysofthecavemen!
Onawasnowmakingaboutthirtydollarsamonth,andStanislovasaboutthirteen.
ToaddtothistherewastheboardofJonasandMarija,aboutforty-fivedollars.
Deductingfromthistherent,interest,andinstallmentsonthefurniture,theyhadleftsixtydollars,anddeductingthecoal,theyhadfifty.
Theydidwithouteverythingthathumanbeingscoulddowithout;theywentinoldandraggedclothing,thatleftthematthemercyofthecold,andwhenthechildren’sshoesworeout,theytiedthemupwithstring.
Halfinvalidasshewas,Onawoulddoherselfharmbywalkingintherainandcoldwhensheoughttohaveridden;theyboughtliterallynothingbutfood—andstilltheycouldnotkeepaliveonfiftydollarsamonth.
Theymighthavedoneit,ifonlytheycouldhavegottenpurefood,andatfairprices;orifonlytheyhadknownwhattoget—iftheyhadnotbeensopitifullyignorant!
Buttheyhadcometoanewcountry,whereeverythingwasdifferent,includingthefood.
Theyhadalwaysbeenaccustomedtoeatagreatdealofsmokedsausage,andhowcouldtheyknowthatwhattheyboughtinAmericawasnotthesame—thatitscolorwasmadebychemicals,anditssmokyflavorbymorechemicals,andthatitwasfullof“potatoflour”besides?
Potatoflouristhewasteofpotatoafterthestarchandalcoholhavebeenextracted;ithasnomorefoodvaluethansomuchwood,andasitsuseasafoodadulterantisapenaloffenseinEurope,thousandsoftonsofitareshippedtoAmericaeveryyear.
Itwasamazingwhatquantitiesoffoodsuchasthiswereneededeveryday,byelevenhungrypersons.
Adollarsixty-fiveadaywassimplynotenoughtofeedthem,andtherewasnousetrying;andsoeachweektheymadeaninroaduponthepitifullittlebankaccountthatOnahadbegun.
Becausetheaccountwasinhername,itwaspossibleforhertokeepthisasecretfromherhusband,andtokeeptheheartsicknessofitforherown.
ItwouldhavebeenbetterifJurgishadbeenreallyill;ifhehadnotbeenabletothink.
Forhehadnoresourcessuchasmostinvalidshave;allhecoulddowastoliethereandtossaboutfromsidetoside.
Nowandthenhewouldbreakintocursing,regardlessofeverything;andnowandthenhisimpatiencewouldgetthebetterofhim,andhewouldtrytogetup,andpoorTetaElzbietawouldhavetopleadwithhiminafrenzy.
Elzbietawasallalonewithhimthegreaterpartofthetime.
Shewouldsitandsmoothhisforeheadbythehour,andtalktohimandtrytomakehimforget.
Sometimesitwouldbetoocoldforthechildrentogotoschool,andtheywouldhavetoplayinthekitchen,whereJurgiswas,becauseitwastheonlyroomthatwashalfwarm.
Theseweredreadfultimes,forJurgiswouldgetascrossasanybear;hewasscarcelytobeblamed,forhehadenoughtoworryhim,anditwashardwhenhewastryingtotakeanaptobekeptawakebynoisyandpeevishchildren.
Elzbieta’sonlyresourceinthosetimeswaslittleAntanas;indeed,itwouldbehardtosayhowtheycouldhavegottenalongatallifithadnotbeenforlittleAntanas.
ItwastheoneconsolationofJurgis’longimprisonmentthatnowhehadtimetolookathisbaby.
TetaElzbietawouldputtheclothesbasketinwhichthebabysleptalongsideofhismattress,andJurgiswouldlieupononeelbowandwatchhimbythehour,imaginingthings.
ThenlittleAntanaswouldopenhiseyes—hewasbeginningtotakenoticeofthingsnow;andhewouldsmile—howhewouldsmile!
SoJurgiswouldbegintoforgetandbehappybecausehewasinaworldwheretherewasathingsobeautifulasthesmileoflittleAntanas,andbecausesuchaworldcouldnotbutbegoodattheheartofit.
Helookedmorelikehisfathereveryhour,Elzbietawouldsay,andsaiditmanytimesaday,becauseshesawthatitpleasedJurgis;thepoorlittleterror-strickenwomanwasplanningalldayandallnighttosoothetheprisonedgiantwhowasintrustedtohercare.
Jurgis,whoknewnothingabouttheagelongandeverlastinghypocrisyofwoman,wouldtakethebaitandgrinwithdelight;andthenhewouldholdhisfingerinfrontoflittleAntanas’eyes,andmoveitthiswayandthat,andlaughwithgleetoseethebabyfollowit.
Thereisnopetquitesofascinatingasababy;hewouldlookintoJurgis’facewithsuchuncannyseriousness,andJurgiswouldstartandcry:“Palauk!Look,Muma,heknowshispapa!Hedoes,hedoes!Tumanoszirdele,thelittlerascal!”
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