BothKristoforasandhisbrother,Juozapas,werecripples,thelatterhavinglostonelegbyhavingitrunover,andKristoforashavingcongenitaldislocationofthehip,whichmadeitimpossibleforhimevertowalk.
HewasthelastofTetaElzbieta’schildren,andperhapshehadbeenintendedbynaturetoletherknowthatshehadhadenough.
Atanyratehewaswretchedlysickandundersized;hehadtherickets,andthoughhewasoverthreeyearsold,hewasnobiggerthananordinarychildofone.
Alldaylonghewouldcrawlaroundthefloorinafilthylittledress,whiningandfretting;becausethefloorwasfullofdraftshewasalwayscatchingcold,andsnufflingbecausehisnoseran.
Forhismother,withunnaturalperversity,lovedhimbestofallherchildren,andmadeaperpetualfussoverhim—wouldlethimdoanythingundisturbed,andwouldburstintotearswhenhisfrettingdroveJurgiswild.
Andnowhedied.Perhapsitwasthesmokedsausagehehadeatenthatmorning—whichmayhavebeenmadeoutofsomeofthetubercularporkthatwascondemncdasunfitforexport.
Atanyrate,anhouraftereatingit,thechildhadbeguntocrywithpain,andinanotherhourhewasrollingaboutonthefloorinconvulsions.
LittleKotrina,whowasallalonewithhim,ranoutscreamingforhelp,andafterawhileadoctorcame,butnotuntilKristoforashadhowledhislasthowl.
Jurgisannouncedthatsofarashewasconcernedthechildwouldhavetobeburiedbythecity,sincetheyhadnomoneyforafuneral;andatthisthepoorwomanalmostwentoutofhersenses,wringingherhandsandscreamingwithgriefanddespair.
...IntheendMarijasaidthatshewouldhelpwithtendollars;andJurgisbeingstillobdurate,Elzbietawentintearsandbeggedthemoneyfromtheneighbors,andsolittleKristoforashadamassandahearsewithwhiteplumesonit,andatinyplotinagraveyardwithawoodencrosstomarktheplace.
Thepoormotherwasnotthesameformonthsafterthat;themeresightofthefloorwherelittleKristoforashadcrawledaboutwouldmakeherweep.
...Sometimeago,Elzbietawastold,aChicagobillionairehadpaidafortunetobringagreatEuropeansurgeonovertocurehislittledaughterofthesamediseasefromwhichKristoforashadsuffered.
Andbecausethissurgeonhadtohavebodiestodemonstrateupon,heannouncedthathewouldtreatthechildrenofthepoor,apieceofmagnanimityoverwhichthepapersbecamequiteeloquent.
Elzbieta,alas,didnotreadthepapers,andnoonehadtoldher;butperhapsitwasaswell,forjustthentheywouldnothavehadthecarfaretosparetogoeverydaytowaituponthesurgeon,norforthatmatteranybodywiththetimetotakethechild.
Allthiswhilethathewasseekingforwork,therewasadarkshadowhangingoverJurgis;asifasavagebeastwerelurkingsomewhereinthepathwayofhislife,andheknewit,andyetcouldnothelpapproachingtheplace.
Notmorethanoneintenhadeverreallytriedit;theotherninehadcontentedthemselveswithhearsayevidenceandapeepthroughthedoor.
Aspoorastheywere,andmakingallthesacrificesthattheywere,wouldhedaretorefuseanysortofworkthatwasofferedtohim,beitashorribleaseveritcould?
WouldhedaretogohomeandeatbreadthathadbeenearnedbyOna,weakandcomplainingasshewas,knowingthathehadbeengivenachance,andhadnothadthenervetotakeit?
—Andyethemightarguethatwaywithhimselfallday,andoneglimpseintothefertilizerworkswouldsendhimawayagainshuddering.
Hewasaman,andhewoulddohisduty;hewentandmadeapplication—butsurelyhewasnotalsorequiredtohopeforsuccess!
Fewvisitorseversawthem,andthefewwhodidwouldcomeoutlookinglikeDante,ofwhomthepeasantsdeclaredthathehadbeenintohell.
Tothispartoftheyardscameallthe“tankage”andthewasteproductsofallsorts;heretheydriedoutthebones,—andinsuffocatingcellarswherethedaylightnevercameyoumightseemenandwomenandchildrenbendingoverwhirlingmachinesandsawingbitsofboneintoallsortsofshapes,breathingtheirlungsfullofthefinedust,anddoomedtodie,everyoneofthem,withinacertaindefinitetime.
Inthedustandthesteamtheelectriclightswouldshinelikefar-offtwinklingstars—redandblue-greenandpurplestars,accordingtothecolorofthemistandthebrewfromwhichitcame.
Hewouldgoinlikeamanswimmingunderwater;hewouldputhishandkerchiefoverhisface,andbegintocoughandchoke;andthen,ifhewerestillobstinate,hewouldfindhisheadbeginningtoring,andtheveinsinhisforeheadtothrob,untilfinallyhewouldbeassailedbyanoverpoweringblastofammoniafumes,andwouldturnandrunforhislife,andcomeouthalf-dazed.
Ontopofthisweretheroomswheretheydriedthe“tankage,”themassofbrownstringystuffthatwasleftafterthewasteportionsofthecarcasseshadhadthelardandtallowdriedoutofthem.
Thisdriedmaterialtheywouldthengrindtoafinepowder,andaftertheyhadmixeditupwellwithamysteriousbutinoffensivebrownrockwhichtheybroughtinandgroundupbythehundredsofcarloadsforthatpurpose,thesubstancewasreadytobeputintobagsandsentouttotheworldasanyoneofahundreddifferentbrandsofstandardbonephosphate.
AndthenthefarmerinMaineorCaliforniaorTexaswouldbuythis,atsaytwenty-fivedollarsaton,andplantitwithhiscorn;andforseveraldaysaftertheoperationthefieldswouldhaveastrongodor,andthefarmerandhiswagonandtheveryhorsesthathadhauleditwouldallhaveittoo.
InPackingtownthefertilizerispure,insteadofbeingaflavoring,andinsteadofatonorsospreadoutonseveralacresundertheopensky,therearehundredsandthousandsoftonsofitinonebuilding,heapedhereandthereinhaystackpiles,coveringthefloorseveralinchesdeep,andfillingtheairwithachokingdustthatbecomesablindingsandstormwhenthewindstirs.
ThemonthofMaywasanexceptionallycoolone,andhissecretprayersweregranted;butearlyinJunetherecamearecord-breakinghotspell,andafterthatthereweremenwantedinthefertilizermill.
ThebossofthegrindingroomhadcometoknowJurgisbythistime,andhadmarkedhimforalikelyman;andsowhenhecametothedoorabouttwoo’clockthisbreathlesshotday,hefeltasuddenspasmofpainshootthroughhim—thebossbeckonedtohim!
Beforehimwasoneoftheventsofthemillinwhichthefertilizerwasbeingground—rushingforthinagreatbrownriver,withasprayofthefinestdustflungforthinclouds.
Thatotherswereatworkheknewbythesound,andbythefactthathesometimescollidedwiththem;otherwisetheymightaswellnothavebeenthere,forintheblindingduststormamancouldnotseesixfeetinfrontofhisface.
Whenhehadfilledonecarthehadtogropearoundhimuntilanothercame,andiftherewasnoneonhandhecontinuedtogropetillonearrived.
Infiveminuteshewas,ofcourse,amassoffertilizerfromheadtofeet;theygavehimaspongetotieoverhismouth,sothathecouldbreathe,butthespongedidnotpreventhislipsandeyelidsfromcakingupwithitandhisearsfromfillingsolid.
Helookedlikeabrownghostattwilight—fromhairtoshoeshebecamethecolorofthebuildingandofeverythinginit,andforthatmatterahundredyardsoutsideit.
Workinginhisshirtsleeves,andwiththethermometeratoverahundred,thephosphatessoakedinthrougheveryporeofJurgis’skin,andinfiveminuteshehadaheadache,andinfifteenwasalmostdazed.
Thebloodwaspoundinginhisbrainlikeanengine’sthrobbing;therewasafrightfulpaininthetopofhisskull,andhecouldhardlycontrolhishands.
Still,withthememoryofhisfourmonths’siegebehindhim,hefoughton,inafrenzyofdetermination;andhalfanhourlaterhebegantovomit—hevomiteduntilitseemedasifhisinwardsmustbetornintoshreds.
Amancouldgetusedtothefertilizermill,thebosshadsaid,ifhewouldmakeuphismindtoit;butJurgisnowbegantoseethatitwasaquestionofmakinguphisstomach.
Mostofthemen,whentheycameout,madestraightforasaloon—theyseemedtoplacefertilizerandrattlesnakepoisoninoneclass.
Hehadasenseofhumor,andlateron,whenhebecameanoldhand,heusedtothinkitfuntoboardastreetcarandseewhathappened.
Now,however,hewastooilltonoticeit—howthepeopleinthecarbegantogaspandsputter,toputtheirhandkerchiefstotheirnoses,andtransfixhimwithfuriousglances.
Jurgisonlyknewthatamaninfrontofhimimmediatelygotupandgavehimaseat;andthathalfaminutelaterthetwopeopleoneachsideofhimgotup;andthatinafullminutethecrowdedcarwasnearlyempty—thosepassengerswhocouldnotgetroomontheplatformhavinggottenouttowalk.
Thestuffwashalfaninchdeepinhisskin—hiswholesystemwasfullofit,anditwouldhavetakenaweeknotmerelyofscrubbing,butofvigorousexercise,togetitoutofhim.
Asitwas,hecouldbecomparedwithnothingknowntomen,savethatnewestdiscoveryofthesavants,asubstancewhichemitsenergyforanunlimitedtime,withoutbeingitselfintheleastdiminishedinpower.
Hesmelledsothathemadeallthefoodatthetabletaste,andsetthewholefamilytovomiting;forhimselfitwasthreedaysbeforehecouldkeepanythinguponhisstomach—hemightwashhishands,anduseaknifeandfork,butwerenothismouthandthroatfilledwiththepoison?
AndstillJurgisstuckitout!Inspiteofsplittingheadacheshewouldstaggerdowntotheplantandtakeuphisstandoncemore,andbegintoshovelintheblindingcloudsofdust.
Andsoattheendoftheweekhewasafertilizermanforlife—hewasabletoeatagain,andthoughhisheadneverstoppedaching,itceasedtobesobadthathecouldnotwork.
Sotherepassedanothersummer.Itwasasummerofprosperity,alloverthecountry,andthecountryategenerouslyofpackinghouseproducts,andtherewasplentyofworkforallthefamily,inspiteofthepackers’effortstokeepasuperfluityoflabor.
Theywereagainabletopaytheirdebtsandtobegintosavealittlesum;buttherewereoneortwosacrificestheyconsideredtooheavytobemadeforlong—itwastoobadthattheboysshouldhavetosellpapersattheirage.
Itwasutterlyuselesstocautionthemandpleadwiththem;quitewithoutknowingit,theyweretakingonthetoneoftheirnewenvironment.
TheywerelearningtoswearinvolubleEnglish;theywerelearningtopickupcigarstumpsandsmokethem,topasshoursoftheirtimegamblingwithpenniesanddiceandcigarettecards;theywerelearningthelocationofallthehousesofprostitutiononthe“Levee,”andthenamesofthe“madames”whokeptthem,andthedayswhentheygavetheirstatebanquets,whichthepolicecaptainsandthebigpoliticiansallattended.
Ifavisiting“countrycustomer”weretoaskthem,theycouldshowhimwhichwas“Hinkydink’s”famoussaloon,andcouldevenpointouttohimbynamethedifferentgamblersandthugsand“hold-upmen”whomadetheplacetheirheadquarters.
Whatwastheuse,theywouldask,ofwastingtimeandenergyandapossiblecarfareridingouttothestockyardseverynightwhentheweatherwaspleasantandtheycouldcrawlunderatruckorintoanemptydoorwayandsleepexactlyaswell?
ButJurgisdeclaredthatfromthistoceasingtocomeatallwouldnotbeaverylongstep,andsoitwasdecidedthatVilimasandNikalojusshouldreturntoschoolinthefall,andthatinsteadElzbietashouldgooutandgetsomework,herplaceathomebeingtakenbyheryoungerdaughter.
LittleKotrinawaslikemostchildrenofthepoor,prematurelymadeold;shehadtotakecareofherlittlebrother,whowasacripple,andalsoofthebaby;shehadtocookthemealsandwashthedishesandcleanhouse,andhavesupperreadywhentheworkerscamehomeintheevening.
Shewasonlythirteen,andsmallforherage,butshedidallthiswithoutamurmur;andhermotherwentout,andaftertrudgingacoupleofdaysabouttheyards,settleddownasaservantofa“sausagemachine.”
Elzbietawasusedtoworking,butshefoundthischangeahardone,forthereasonthatshehadtostandmotionlessuponherfeetfromseveno’clockinthemorningtillhalf-pasttwelve,andagainfromonetillhalf-pastfive.
Forthefirstfewdaysitseemedtoherthatshecouldnotstandit—shesufferedalmostasmuchasJurgishadfromthefertilizer,andwouldcomeoutatsundownwithherheadfairlyreeling.
Besidesthis,shewasworkinginoneofthedarkholes,byelectriclight,andthedampness,too,wasdeadly—therewerealwayspuddlesofwateronthefloor,andasickeningodorofmoistfleshintheroom.
Thepeoplewhoworkedherefollowedtheancientcustomofnature,wherebytheptarmiganisthecolorofdeadleavesinthefallandofsnowinthewinter,andthechameleon,whoisblackwhenheliesuponastumpandturnsgreenwhenhemovestoaleaf.
Thesausage-roomwasaninterestingplacetovisit,fortwoorthreeminutes,andprovidedthatyoudidnotlookatthepeople;themachineswereperhapsthemostwonderfulthingsintheentireplant.
Presumablysausageswereoncechoppedandstuffedbyhand,andifsoitwouldbeinterestingtoknowhowmanyworkershadbeendisplacedbytheseinventions.
Ononesideoftheroomwerethehoppers,intowhichmenshoveledloadsofmeatandwheelbarrowsfullofspices;inthesegreatbowlswerewhirlingknivesthatmadetwothousandrevolutionsaminute,andwhenthemeatwasgroundfineandadulteratedwithpotatoflour,andwellmixedwithwater,itwasforcedtothestuffingmachinesontheothersideoftheroom.
Thelatterweretendedbywomen;therewasasortofspout,likethenozzleofahose,andoneofthewomenwouldtakealongstringof“casing”andputtheendoverthenozzleandthenworkthewholethingon,asoneworksonthefingerofatightglove.
Thisstringwouldbetwentyorthirtyfeetlong,butthewomanwouldhaveitalloninajiffy;andwhenshehadseveralon,shewouldpressalever,andastreamofsausagemeatwouldbeshotout,takingthecasingwithitasitcame.
Thusonemightstandandseeappear,miraculouslybornfromthemachine,awrigglingsnakeofsausageofincrediblelength.
Infrontwasabigpanwhichcaughtthesecreatures,andtwomorewomenwhoseizedthemasfastastheyappearedandtwistedthemintolinks.
Thiswasfortheuninitiatedthemostperplexingworkofall;forallthatthewomanhadtogivewasasingleturnofthewrist;andinsomewayshecontrivedtogiveitsothatinsteadofanendlesschainofsausages,oneafteranother,theregrewunderherhandsabunchofstrings,alldanglingfromasinglecenter.
Itwasquitelikethefeatofaprestidigitator—forthewomanworkedsofastthattheeyecouldliterallynotfollowher,andtherewasonlyamistofmotion,andtangleaftertangleofsausagesappearing.
Inthemidstofthemist,however,thevisitorwouldsuddenlynoticethetensesetface,withthetwowrinklesgravenintheforehead,andtheghastlypallorofthecheeks;andthenhewouldsuddenlyrecollectthatitwastimehewasgoingon.
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