English
ForthreeweeksafterhisinjuryJurgisnevergotupfrombed.
Itwasaveryobstinatesprain;theswellingwouldnotgodown,andthepainstillcontinued.
Attheendofthattime,however,hecouldcontainhimselfnolonger,andbegantryingtowalkalittleeveryday,laboringtopersuadehimselfthathewasbetter.
Noargumentscouldstophim,andthreeorfourdayslaterhedeclaredthathewasgoingbacktowork.
HelimpedtothecarsandgottoBrown’s,wherehefoundthatthebosshadkepthisplace—thatis,waswillingtoturnoutintothesnowthepoordevilhehadhiredinthemeantime.
EverynowandthenthepainwouldforceJurgistostopwork,buthestuckitouttillnearlyanhourbeforeclosing.
Thenhewasforcedtoacknowledgethathecouldnotgoonwithoutfainting;italmostbrokehishearttodoit,andhestoodleaningagainstapillarandweepinglikeachild.
Twoofthemenhadtohelphimtothecar,andwhenhegotouthehadtositdownandwaitinthesnowtillsomeonecamealong.
Sotheyputhimtobedagain,andsentforthedoctor,astheyoughttohavedoneinthebeginning.
Ittranspiredthathehadtwistedatendonoutofplace,andcouldneverhavegottenwellwithoutattention.
Thenhegrippedthesidesofthebed,andshuthisteethtogether,andturnedwhitewithagony,whilethedoctorpulledandwrenchedawayathisswollenankle.
Whenfinallythedoctorleft,hetoldhimthathewouldhavetoliequietfortwomonths,andthatifhewenttoworkbeforethattimehemightlamehimselfforlife.
Threedayslatertherecameanotherheavysnowstorm,andJonasandMarijaandOnaandlittleStanislovasallsetouttogether,anhourbeforedaybreak,totrytogettotheyards.
Aboutnoonthelasttwocameback,theboyscreamingwithpain.
Hisfingerswereallfrosted,itseemed.
Theyhadhadtogiveuptryingtogettotheyards,andhadnearlyperishedinadrift.
Allthattheyknewhowtodowastoholdthefrozenfingersnearthefire,andsolittleStanislovasspentmostofthedaydancingaboutinhorribleagony,tillJurgisflewintoapassionofnervousrageandsworelikeamadman,declaringthathewouldkillhimifhedidnotstop.
Allthatdayandnightthefamilywashalf-crazedwithfearthatOnaandtheboyhadlosttheirplaces;andinthemorningtheysetoutearlierthanever,afterthelittlefellowhadbeenbeatenwithastickbyJurgis.
Therecouldbenotriflinginacaselikethis,itwasamatteroflifeanddeath;littleStanislovascouldnotbeexpectedtorealizethathemightagreatdealbetterfreezeinthesnowdriftthanlosehisjobatthelardmachine.
Onawasquitecertainthatshewouldfindherplacegone,andwasallunnervedwhenshefinallygottoBrown’s,andfoundthattheforeladyherselfhadfailedtocome,andwasthereforecompelledtobelenient.
Oneoftheconsequencesofthisepisodewasthatthefirstjointsofthreeofthelittleboy’sfingerswerepermanentlydisabled,andanotherthatthereafterhealwayshadtobebeatenbeforehesetouttowork,whenevertherewasfreshsnowontheground.
Jurgiswascalledupontodothebeating,andasithurthisfoothediditwithavengeance;butitdidnottendtoaddtothesweetnessofhistemper.
Theysaythatthebestdogwillturncrossifhebekeptchainedallthetime,anditwasthesamewiththeman;hehadnotathingtodoalldaybutlieandcursehisfate,andthetimecamewhenhewantedtocurseeverything.
Thiswasneverforverylong,however,forwhenOnabegantocry,Jurgiscouldnotstayangry.
Thepoorfellowlookedlikeahomelessghost,withhischeekssunkeninandhislongblackhairstragglingintohiseyes;hewastoodiscouragedtocutit,ortothinkabouthisappearance.
Hismuscleswerewastingaway,andwhatwereleftweresoftandflabby.
Hehadnoappetite,andtheycouldnotaffordtotempthimwithdelicacies.
Itwasbetter,hesaid,thatheshouldnoteat,itwasasaving.
AbouttheendofMarchhehadgotholdofOna’sbankbook,andlearnedthattherewasonlythreedollarslefttothemintheworld.
Butperhapstheworstoftheconsequencesofthislongsiegewasthattheylostanothermemberoftheirfamily;BrotherJonasdisappeared.
OneSaturdaynighthedidnotcomehome,andthereafteralltheireffortstogettraceofhimwerefutile.
ItwassaidbythebossatDurham’sthathehadgottenhisweek’smoneyandleftthere.
Thatmightnotbetrue,ofcourse,forsometimestheywouldsaythatwhenamanhadbeenkilled;itwastheeasiestwayoutofitforallconcerned.
When,forinstance,amanhadfallenintooneoftherenderingtanksandhadbeenmadeintopureleaflardandpeerlessfertilizer,therewasnouselettingthefactoutandmakinghisfamilyunhappy.
Moreprobable,however,wasthetheorythatJonashaddesertedthem,andgoneontheroad,seekinghappiness.
Hehadbeendiscontentedforalongtime,andnotwithoutsomecause.
Hepaidgoodboard,andwasyetobligedtoliveinafamilywherenobodyhadenoughtoeat.
AndMarijawouldkeepgivingthemallhermoney,andofcoursehecouldnotbutfeelthathewascalledupontodothesame.
Thentherewerecryingbrats,andallsortsofmisery;amanwouldhavehadtobeagooddealofaherotostanditallwithoutgrumbling,andJonaswasnotintheleastahero—hewassimplyaweatherbeatenoldfellowwholikedtohaveagoodsupperandsitinthecornerbythefireandsmokehispipeinpeacebeforehewenttobed.
Heretherewasnotroombythefire,andthroughthewinterthekitchenhadseldombeenwarmenoughforcomfort.
So,withthespringtime,whatwasmorelikelythanthatthewildideaofescapinghadcometohim?
Twoyearshehadbeenyokedlikeahorsetoahalf-tontruckinDurham’sdarkcellars,withneverarest,saveonSundaysandfourholidaysintheyear,andwithneverawordofthanks—onlykicksandblowsandcurses,suchasnodecentdogwouldhavestood.
Andnowthewinterwasover,andthespringwindswereblowing—andwithaday’swalkamanmightputthesmokeofPackingtownbehindhimforever,andbewherethegrasswasgreenandtheflowersallthecolorsoftherainbow!
Butnowtheincomeofthefamilywascutdownmorethanone-third,andthefooddemandwascutonlyone-eleventh,sothattheywereworseoffthanever.
AlsotheywereborrowingmoneyfromMarija,andeatingupherbankaccount,andspoilingonceagainherhopesofmarriageandhappiness.
AndtheywereevengoingintodebttoTamosziusKuszleikaandlettinghimimpoverishhimself.
PoorTamosziuswasamanwithoutanyrelatives,andwithawonderfultalentbesides,andheoughttohavemademoneyandprospered;buthehadfalleninlove,andsogivenhostagestofortune,andwasdoomedtobedraggeddowntoo.
Soitwasfinallydecidedthattwomoreofthechildrenwouldhavetoleaveschool.
NexttoStanislovas,whowasnowfifteen,therewasagirl,littleKotrina,whowastwoyearsyounger,andthentwoboys,Vilimas,whowaseleven,andNikalojus,whowasten.
Bothoftheselastwerebrightboys,andtherewasnoreasonwhytheirfamilyshouldstarvewhentensofthousandsofchildrennoolderwereearningtheirownlivings.
Soonemorningtheyweregivenaquarterapieceandarollwithasausageinit,and,withtheirmindstop-heavywithgoodadvice,weresentouttomaketheirwaytothecityandlearntosellnewspapers.
Theycamebacklateatnightintears,havingwalkedforthefiveorsixmilestoreportthatamanhadofferedtotakethemtoaplacewheretheysoldnewspapers,andhadtakentheirmoneyandgoneintoastoretogetthem,andnevermorebeenseen.
Sotheybothreceivedawhipping,andthenextmomingsetoutagain.
Thistimetheyfoundthenewspaperplace,andprocuredtheirstock;andafterwanderingabouttillnearlynoontime,saying“Paper?”
toeveryonetheysaw,theyhadalltheirstocktakenawayandreceivedathrashingbesidesfromabignewsmanuponwhoseterritorytheyhadtrespassed.
Fortunately,however,theyhadalreadysoldsomepapers,andcamebackwithnearlyasmuchastheystartedwith.
Afteraweekofmishapssuchasthese,thetwolittlefellowsbegantolearnthewaysofthetrade—thenamesofthedifferentpapers,andhowmanyofeachtoget,andwhatsortofpeopletoofferthemto,andwheretogoandwheretostayawayfrom.
Afterthis,leavinghomeatfouro’clockinthemorning,andrunningaboutthestreets,firstwithmorningpapersandthenwithevening,theymightcomehomelateatnightwithtwentyorthirtycentsapiece—possiblyasmuchasfortycents.
Fromthistheyhadtodeducttheircarfare,sincethedistancewassogreat;butafterawhiletheymadefriends,andlearnedstillmore,andthentheywouldsavetheircarfare.
Theywouldgetonacarwhentheconductorwasnotlooking,andhideinthecrowd;andthreetimesoutoffourhewouldnotaskfortheirfares,eithernotseeingthem,orthinkingtheyhadalreadypaid;orifhedidask,theywouldhuntthroughtheirpockets,andthenbegintocry,andeitherhavetheirfarespaidbysomekindoldlady,orelsetrythetrickagainonanewcar.Allthiswasfairplay,theyfelt.
Whosefaultwasitthatatthehourswhenworkingmenweregoingtotheirworkandback,thecarsweresocrowdedthattheconductorscouldnotcollectallthefares?
Andbesides,thecompanieswerethieves,peoplesaid—hadstolenalltheirfranchiseswiththehelpofscoundrellypoliticians!
Nowthatthewinterwasby,andtherewasnomoredangerofsnow,andnomorecoaltobuy,andanotherroomwarmenoughtoputthechildrenintowhentheycried,andenoughmoneytogetalongfromweektoweekwith,Jurgiswaslessterriblethanhehadbeen.
Amancangetusedtoanythinginthecourseoftime,andJurgishadgottenusedtolyingaboutthehouse.
Onasawthis,andwasverycarefulnottodestroyhispeaceofmind,bylettinghimknowhowverymuchpainshewassuffering.
Itwasnowthetimeofthespringrains,andOnahadoftentoridetoherwork,inspiteoftheexpense;shewasgettingpalereveryday,andsometimes,inspiteofhergoodresolutions,itpainedherthatJurgisdidnotnoticeit.
Shewonderedifhecaredforherasmuchasever,ifallthismiserywasnotwearingouthislove.
Shehadtobeawayfromhimallthetime,andbearherowntroubleswhilehewasbearinghis;andthen,whenshecamehome,shewassowornout;andwhenevertheytalkedtheyhadonlytheirworriestotalkof—trulyitwashard,insuchalife,tokeepanysentimentalive.
ThewoeofthiswouldflameupinOnasometimes—atnightshewouldsuddenlyclaspherbighusbandinherarmsandbreakintopassionateweeping,demandingtoknowifhereallylovedher.
PoorJurgis,whohadintruthgrownmorematter-of-fact,undertheendlesspressureofpenury,wouldnotknowwhattomakeofthesethings,andcouldonlytrytorecollectwhenhehadlastbeencross;andsoOnawouldhavetoforgivehimandsobherselftosleep.
ThelatterpartofAprilJurgiswenttoseethedoctor,andwasgivenabandagetolaceabouthisankle,andtoldthathemightgobacktowork.
Itneededmorethanthepermissionofthedoctor,however,forwhenheshoweduponthekillingfloorofBrown’s,hewastoldbytheforemanthatithadnotbeenpossibletokeephisjobforhim.
Jurgisknewthatthismeantsimplythattheforemanhadfoundsomeoneelsetodotheworkaswellanddidnotwanttobothertomakeachange.
Hestoodinthedoorway,lookingmournfullyon,seeinghisfriendsandcompanionsatwork,andfeelinglikeanoutcast.
Thenhewentoutandtookhisplacewiththemoboftheunemployed.
Thistime,however,Jurgisdidnothavethesamefineconfidence,northesamereasonforit.
Hewasnolongerthefinest-lookingmaninthethrong,andthebossesnolongermadeforhim;hewasthinandhaggard,andhisclotheswereseedy,andhelookedmiserable.
Andtherewerehundredswholookedandfeltjustlikehim,andwhohadbeenwanderingaboutPackingtownformonthsbeggingforwork.
ThiswasacriticaltimeinJurgis’life,andifhehadbeenaweakermanhewouldhavegonethewaytherestdid.
Thoseout-of-workwretcheswouldstandaboutthepackinghouseseverymorningtillthepolicedrovethemaway,andthentheywouldscatteramongthesaloons.
Veryfewofthemhadthenervetofacetherebuffsthattheywouldencounterbytryingtogetintothebuildingstointerviewthebosses;iftheydidnotgetachanceinthemorning,therewouldbenothingtodobuthangaboutthesaloonstherestofthedayandnight.
Jurgiswassavedfromallthis—partly,tobesure,becauseitwaspleasantweather,andtherewasnoneedtobeindoors;butmainlybecausehecarriedwithhimalwaysthepitifullittlefaceofhiswife.
Hemustgetwork,hetoldhimself,fightingthebattlewithdespaireveryhouroftheday.Hemustgetwork!
Hemusthaveaplaceagainandsomemoneysavedup,beforethenextwintercame.
Buttherewasnoworkforhim.Hesoughtoutallthemembersofhisunion—Jurgishadstucktotheunionthroughallthis—andbeggedthemtospeakawordforhim.
Hewenttoeveryoneheknew,askingforachance,thereoranywhere.
Hewanderedalldaythroughthebuildings;andinaweekortwo,whenhehadbeenallovertheyards,andintoeveryroomtowhichhehadaccess,andlearnedthattherewasnotajobanywhere,hepersuadedhimselfthattheremighthavebeenachangeintheplaceshehadfirstvisited,andbegantheroundallover;tillfinallythewatchmenandthe“spotters”ofthecompaniescametoknowhimbysightandtoorderhimoutwiththreats.
Thentherewasnothingmoreforhimtodobutgowiththecrowdinthemorning,andkeepinthefrontrowandlookeager,andwhenhefailed,gobackhome,andplaywithlittleKotrinaandthebaby.
ThepeculiarbitternessofallthiswasthatJurgissawsoplainlythemeaningofit.
Inthebeginninghehadbeenfreshandstrong,andhehadgottenajobthefirstday;butnowhewassecond-hand,adamagedarticle,sotospeak,andtheydidnotwanthim.
Theyhadgotthebestofhim—theyhadwornhimout,withtheirspeeding-upandtheircarelessness,andnowtheyhadthrownhimaway!
AndJurgiswouldmaketheacquaintanceofothersoftheseunemployedmenandfindthattheyhadallhadthesameexperience.
Thereweresome,ofcourse,whohadwanderedinfromotherplaces,whohadbeengroundupinothermills;therewereotherswhowereoutfromtheirownfault—some,forinstance,whohadnotbeenabletostandtheawfulgrindwithoutdrink.
Thevastmajority,however,weresimplytheworn-outpartsofthegreatmercilesspackingmachine;theyhadtoiledthere,andkeptupwiththepace,someofthemfortenortwentyyears,untilfinallythetimehadcomewhentheycouldnotkeepupwithitanymore.
Somehadbeenfranklytoldthattheyweretooold,thataspriermanwasneeded;othershadgivenoccasion,bysomeactofcarelessnessorincompetence;withmost,however,theoccasionhadbeenthesameaswithJurgis.
Theyhadbeenoverworkedandunderfedsolong,andfinallysomediseasehadlaidthemontheirbacks;ortheyhadcutthemselves,andhadbloodpoisoning,ormetwithsomeotheraccident.
Whenamancamebackafterthat,hewouldgethisplacebackonlybythecourtesyoftheboss.
Tothistherewasnoexception,savewhentheaccidentwasoneforwhichthefirmwasliable;inthatcasetheywouldsendaslipperylawyertoseehim,firsttotrytogethimtosignawayhisclaims,butifhewastoosmartforthat,topromisehimthatheandhisshouldalwaysbeprovidedwithwork.
Thispromisetheywouldkeep,strictlyandtotheletter—fortwoyears.
Twoyearswasthe“statuteoflimitations,”andafterthatthevictimcouldnotsue.
Whathappenedtoamanafteranyofthesethings,alldependeduponthecircumstances.
Ifhewereofthehighlyskilledworkers,hewouldprobablyhaveenoughsaveduptotidehimover.
Thebestpaidmen,the“splitters,”madefiftycentsanhour,whichwouldbefiveorsixdollarsadayintherushseasons,andoneortwointhedullest.
Amancouldliveandsaveonthat;butthentherewereonlyhalfadozensplittersineachplace,andoneofthemthatJurgisknewhadafamilyoftwenty-twochildren,allhopingtogrowuptobesplittersliketheirfather.
Foranunskilledman,whomadetendollarsaweekintherushseasonsandfiveinthedull,italldependeduponhisageandthenumberhehaddependentuponhim.
Anunmarriedmancouldsave,ifhedidnotdrink,andifhewasabsolutelyselfish—thatis,ifhepaidnoheedtothedemandsofhisoldparents,orofhislittlebrothersandsisters,orofanyotherrelativeshemighthave,aswellasofthemembersofhisunion,andhischums,andthepeoplewhomightbestarvingtodeathnextdoor.
Share this article to
FINISH