English
JurgisdidnotgetoutoftheBridewellquiteassoonashehadexpected.
Tohissentencetherewereadded“courtcosts”ofadollarandahalf—hewassupposedtopayforthetroubleofputtinghiminjail,andnothavingthemoney,wasobligedtoworkitoffbythreedaysmoreoftoil.
Nobodyhadtakenthetroubletotellhimthis—onlyaftercountingthedaysandlookingforwardtotheendinanagonyofimpatience,whenthehourcamethatheexpectedtobefreehefoundhimselfstillsetatthestoneheap,andlaughedatwhenheventuredtoprotest.
Thenheconcludedhemusthavecountedwrong;butasanotherdaypassed,hegaveupallhope—andwassunkinthedepthsofdespair,whenonemorningafterbreakfastakeepercametohimwiththewordthathistimewasupatlast.
Sohedoffedhisprisongarb,andputonhisoldfertilizerclothing,andheardthedooroftheprisonclangbehindhim.
Hestooduponthesteps,bewildered;hecouldhardlybelievethatitwastrue,—thattheskywasabovehimagainandtheopenstreetbeforehim;thathewasafreeman.
Butthenthecoldbegantostrikethroughhisclothes,andhestartedquicklyaway.
Therehadbeenaheavysnow,andnowathawhadsetin;finesleetyrainwasfalling,drivenbyawindthatpiercedJurgistothebone.
Hehadnotstoppedforhis-overcoatwhenhesetoutto“doup”Connor,andsohisridesinthepatrolwagonshadbeencruelexperiences;hisclothingwasoldandwornthin,anditneverhadbeenverywarm.
Nowashetrudgedontherainsoonwetitthrough;thereweresixinchesofwateryslushonthesidewalks,sothathisfeetwouldsoonhavebeensoaked,evenhadtherebeennoholesinhisshoes.
Jurgishadhadenoughtoeatinthejail,andtheworkhadbeentheleasttryingofanythathehaddonesincehecametoChicago;butevenso,hehadnotgrownstrong—thefearandgriefthathadpreyeduponhismindhadwornhimthin.
Nowheshiveredandshrunkfromtherain,hidinghishandsinhispocketsandhunchinghisshoulderstogether.
TheBridewellgroundswereontheoutskirtsofthecityandthecountryaroundthemwasunsettledandwild—ononesidewasthebigdrainagecanal,andontheotheramazeofrailroadtracks,andsothewindhadfullsweep.
Afterwalkingaways,Jurgismetalittleragamuffinwhomhehailed:“Hey,sonny!”Theboycockedoneeyeathim—heknewthatJurgiswasa“jailbird”byhisshavenhead.“Wotyerwant?”hequeried.
“Howdoyougotothestockyards?”Jurgisdemanded.
“Idon’tgo,”repliedtheboy.
Jurgishesitatedamoment,nonplussed.Thenhesaid,“Imeanwhichistheway?”
“Whydon’tyersaysothen?”wastheresponse,andtheboypointedtothenorthwest,acrossthetracks.“Thatway.”
“Howfarisit?”Jurgisasked.“Idunno,”saidtheother.“Mebbetwentymilesorso.”
“Twentymiles!”Jurgisechoed,andhisfacefell.Hehadtowalkeveryfootofit,fortheyhadturnedhimoutofjailwithoutapennyinhispockets.
Yet,whenheoncegotstarted,andhisbloodhadwarmedwithwalking,heforgoteverythinginthefeverofhisthoughts.
Allthedreadfulimaginationsthathadhauntedhiminhiscellnowrushedintohismindatonce.
Theagonywasalmostover—hewasgoingtofindout;andheclenchedhishandsinhispocketsashestrode,followinghisflyingdesire,almostatarun.
Ona—thebaby—thefamily—thehouse—hewouldknowthetruthaboutthemall!
Andhewascomingtotherescue—hewasfreeagain!
Hishandswerehisown,andhecouldhelpthem,hecoulddobattleforthemagainsttheworld.
Foranhourorsohewalkedthus,andthenhebegantolookabouthim.
Heseemedtobeleavingthecityaltogether.
Thestreetwasturningintoacountryroad,leadingouttothewestward;thereweresnow-coveredfieldsoneithersideofhim.
Soonhemetafarmerdrivingatwo-horsewagonloadedwithstraw,andhestoppedhim.
“Isthisthewaytothestockyards?”heasked.
Thefarmerscratchedhishead.“Idunnojestwheretheybe,”hesaid.“Butthey’reinthecitysomewhere,andyou’regoingdeadawayfromitnow.”
Jurgislookeddazed.“Iwastoldthiswastheway,”hesaid.
“Whotoldyou?”
“Aboy.”
“Well,mebbehewasplayingajokeonye.Thebestthingyekindoistogoback,andwhenyegitintotownaskapoliceman.I’dtakeyein,onlyI’vecomealongwaysan’I’mloadedheavy.Gitup!”
SoJurgisturnedandfollowed,andtowardtheendofthemorninghebegantoseeChicagoagain.
Pastendlessblocksoftwo-storyshantieshewalked,alongwoodensidewalksandunpavedpathwaystreacherouswithdeepslushholes.
Everyfewblockstherewouldbearailroadcrossingonthelevelwiththesidewalk,adeathtrapfortheunwary;longfreighttrainswouldbepassing,thecarsclankingandcrashingtogether,andJurgiswouldpaceaboutwaiting,burningupwithafeverofimpatience.
Occasionallythecarswouldstopforsomeminutes,andwagonsandstreetcarswouldcrowdtogetherwaiting,thedriversswearingateachother,orhidingbeneathumbrellasoutoftherain;atsuchtimesJurgiswoulddodgeunderthegatesandrunacrossthetracksandbetweenthecars,takinghislifeintohishands.
Hecrossedalongbridgeoverariverfrozensolidandcoveredwithslush.
Notevenontheriverbankwasthesnowwhite—therainwhichfellwasadilutedsolutionofsmoke,andJurgis’handsandfacewerestreakedwithblack.
Thenhecameintothebusinesspartofthecity,wherethestreetsweresewersofinkyblackness,withhorsessleepingandplunging,andwomenandchildrenflyingacrossinpanic-strickendroves.
Thesestreetswerehugecanyonsformedbytoweringblackbuildings,echoingwiththeclangofcargongsandtheshoutsofdrivers;thepeoplewhoswarmedinthemwereasbusyasants—allhurryingbreathlessly,neverstoppingtolookatanythingnorateachother.
Thesolitarytrampish-lookingforeigner,withwater-soakedclothingandhaggardfaceandanxiouseyes,wasasmuchaloneashehurriedpastthem,asmuchunheededandaslost,asifhehadbeenathousandmilesdeepinawilderness.
Apolicemangavehimhisdirectionandtoldhimthathehadfivemilestogo.
Hecameagaintotheslumdistricts,toavenuesofsaloonsandcheapstores,withlongdingyredfactorybuildings,andcoalyardsandrailroadtracks;andthenJurgislifteduphisheadandbegantosnifftheairlikeastartledanimal—scentingthefar-offodorofhome.
Itwaslateafternoonthen,andhewashungry,butthedinnerinvitationshungoutofthesaloonswerenotforhim.
Sohecameatlasttothestockyards,totheblackvolcanoesofsmokeandthelowingcattleandthestench.
Then,seeingacrowdedcar,hisimpatiencegotthebetterofhimandhejumpedaboard,hidingbehindanotherman,unnoticedbytheconductor.
Intenminutesmorehehadreachedhisstreet,andhome.
Hewashalfrunningashecameroundthecorner.Therewasthehouse,atanyrate—andthensuddenlyhestoppedandstared.Whatwasthematterwiththehouse?
Jurgislookedtwice,bewildered;thenheglancedatthehousenextdoorandattheonebeyond—thenatthesaloononthecorner.
Yes,itwastherightplace,quitecertainly—hehadnotmadeanymistake.
Butthehouse—thehousewasadifferentcolor!
Hecameacoupleofstepsnearer.Yes;ithadbeengrayandnowitwasyellow!
Thetrimmingsaroundthewindowshadbeenred,andnowtheyweregreen!Itwasallnewlypainted!Howstrangeitmadeitseem!
Jurgiswentcloseryet,butkeepingontheothersideofthestreet.
Asuddenandhorriblespasmoffearhadcomeoverhim.
Hiskneeswereshakingbeneathhim,andhismindwasinawhirl.
Newpaintonthehouse,andnewweatherboards,wheretheoldhadbeguntorotoff,andtheagenthadgotafterthem!
Newshinglesovertheholeintheroof,too,theholethathadforsixmonthsbeenthebaneofhissoul—hehavingnomoneytohaveitfixedandnotimetofixithimself,andtherainleakingin,andoverflowingthepotsandpansheputtocatchit,andfloodingtheatticandlooseningtheplaster.Andnowitwasfixed!Andthebrokenwindowpanereplaced!Andcurtainsinthewindows!New,whitecurtains,stiffandshiny!
Thensuddenlythefrontdooropened.Jurgisstood,hischestheavingashestruggledtocatchhisbreath.
Aboyhadcomeout,astrangertohim;abig,fat,rosy-cheekedyoungster,suchashadneverbeenseeninhishomebefore.
Jurgisstaredattheboy,fascinated.Hecamedownthestepswhistling,kickingoffthesnow.
Hestoppedatthefoot,andpickedupsome,andthenleanedagainsttherailing,makingasnowball.
AmomentlaterhelookedaroundandsawJurgis,andtheireyesmet;itwasahostileglance,theboyevidentlythinkingthattheotherhadsuspicionsofthesnowball.
WhenJurgisstartedslowlyacrossthestreettowardhim,hegaveaquickglanceabout,meditatingretreat,butthenheconcludedtostandhisground.
Jurgistookholdoftherailingofthesteps,forhewasalittleunsteady.“What—whatareyoudoinghere?”hemanagedtogasp.
“Goon!”saidtheboy.
“You—”Jurgistriedagain.“Whatdoyouwanthere?”
“Me?”answeredtheboy,angrily.“Ilivehere.”
“Youlivehere!”Jurgispanted.Heturnedwhiteandclungmoretightlytotherailing.“Youlivehere!Thenwhere’smyfamily?”
Theboylookedsurprised.“Yourfamily!”heechoed.
AndJurgisstartedtowardhim.“I—thisismyhouse!”hecried.
“Comeoff!”saidtheboy;thensuddenlythedoorupstairsopened,andhecalled:“Hey,ma!Here’safellowsaysheownsthishouse.”
AstoutIrishwomancametothetopofthesteps.“What’sthat?”shedemanded.
Jurgisturnedtowardher.“Whereismyfamily?”hecried,wildly.“Ileftthemhere!Thisismyhome!Whatareyoudoinginmyhome?”
Thewomanstaredathiminfrightenedwonder,shemusthavethoughtshewasdealingwithamaniac—Jurgislookedlikeone.“Yourhome!”sheechoed.
“Myhome!”hehalfshrieked.“Ilivedhere,Itellyou.”
“Youmustbemistaken,”sheansweredhim.“Nooneeverlivedhere.Thisisanewhouse.Theytoldusso.They—”
“Whathavetheydonewithmyfamily?”shoutedJurgis,frantically.
Alighthadbeguntobreakuponthewoman;perhapsshehadhaddoubtsofwhat“they”hadtoldher.
“Idon’tknowwhereyourfamilyis,”shesaid.
“Iboughtthehouseonlythreedaysago,andtherewasnobodyhere,andtheytoldmeitwasallnew.
Doyoureallymeanyouhadeverrentedit?”
“Rentedit!”pantedJurgis.“Iboughtit!Ipaidforit!Iownit!Andthey—myGod,can’tyoutellmewheremypeoplewent?”
Shemadehimunderstandatlastthatsheknewnothing.
Jurgis’brainwassoconfusedthathecouldnotgraspthesituation.
Itwasasifhisfamilyhadbeenwipedoutofexistence;asiftheywereprovingtobedreampeople,whoneverhadexistedatall.
Hewasquitelost—butthensuddenlyhethoughtofGrandmotherMajauszkiene,wholivedinthenextblock.Shewouldknow!Heturnedandstartedatarun.
GrandmotherMajauszkienecametothedoorherself.
ShecriedoutwhenshesawJurgis,wild-eyedandshaking.Yes,yes,shecouldtellhim.
Thefamilyhadmoved;theyhadnotbeenabletopaytherentandtheyhadbeenturnedoutintothesnow,andthehousehadbeenrepaintedandsoldagainthenextweek.
No,shehadnotheardhowtheywere,butshecouldtellhimthattheyhadgonebacktoAnieleJukniene,withwhomtheyhadstayedwhentheyfirstcametotheyards.Wouldn’tJurgiscomeinandrest?
Itwascertainlytoobad—ifonlyhehadnotgotintojail—
AndsoJurgisturnedandstaggeredaway.
Hedidnotgoveryfarroundthecornerhegaveoutcompletely,andsatdownonthestepsofasaloon,andhidhisfaceinhishands,andshookalloverwithdry,rackingsobs.
Theirhome!Theirhome!Theyhadlostit!
Grief,despair,rage,overwhelmedhim—whatwasanyimaginationofthethingtothisheartbreaking,crushingrealityofit—tothesightofstrangepeoplelivinginhishouse,hangingtheircurtainstohiswindows,staringathimwithhostileeyes!
Itwasmonstrous,itwasunthinkable—theycouldnotdoit—itcouldnotbetrue!
Onlythinkwhathehadsufferedforthathouse—whatmiseriestheyhadallsufferedforit—thepricetheyhadpaidforit!
Thewholelongagonycamebacktohim.Theirsacrificesinthebeginning,theirthreehundreddollarsthattheyhadscrapedtogether,alltheyownedintheworld,allthatstoodbetweenthemandstarvation!
Andthentheirtoil,monthbymonth,togettogetherthetwelvedollars,andtheinterestaswell,andnowandthenthetaxes,andtheothercharges,andtherepairs,andwhatnot!
Why,theyhadputtheirverysoulsintotheirpaymentsonthathouse,theyhadpaidforitwiththeirsweatandtears—yes,more,withtheirverylifeblood.
DedeAntanashaddiedofthestruggletoearnthatmoney—hewouldhavebeenaliveandstrongtodayifhehadnothadtoworkinDurham’sdarkcellarstoearnhisshare.
AndOna,too,hadgivenherhealthandstrengthtopayforit—shewaswreckedandruinedbecauseofit;andsowashe,whohadbeenabig,strongmanthreeyearsago,andnowsathereshivering,broken,cowed,weepinglikeahystericalchild.Ah!
theyhadcasttheirallintothefight;andtheyhadlost,theyhadlost!
Allthattheyhadpaidwasgone—everycentofit.
Andtheirhousewasgone—theywerebackwheretheyhadstartedfrom,flungoutintothecoldtostarveandfreeze!
Jurgiscouldseeallthetruthnow—couldseehimself,throughthewholelongcourseofevents,thevictimofravenousvulturesthathadtornintohisvitalsanddevouredhim;offiendsthathadrackedandtorturedhim,mockinghim,meantime,jeeringinhisface.
Ah,God,thehorrorofit,themonstrous,hideous,demoniacalwickednessofit!
Heandhisfamily,helplesswomenandchildren,strugglingtolive,ignorantanddefenselessandforlornastheywere—andtheenemiesthathadbeenlurkingforthem,crouchingupontheirtrailandthirstingfortheirblood!
Thatfirstlyingcircular,thatsmooth-tonguedslipperyagent!
Thattrapoftheextrapayments,theinterest,andalltheotherchargesthattheyhadnotthemeanstopay,andwouldneverhaveattemptedtopay!
Andthenallthetricksofthepackers,theirmasters,thetyrantswhoruledthem—theshutdownsandthescarcityofwork,theirregularhoursandthecruelspeeding-up,theloweringofwages,theraisingofprices!
Themercilessnessofnatureaboutthem,ofheatandcold,rainandsnow;themercilessnessofthecity,ofthecountryinwhichtheylived,ofitslawsandcustomsthattheydidnotunderstand!
Allofthesethingshadworkedtogetherforthecompanythathadmarkedthemforitspreyandwaswaitingforitschance.
Andnow,withthislasthideousinjustice,itstimehadcome,andithadturnedthemoutbagandbaggage,andtakentheirhouseandsolditagain!
Andtheycoulddonothing,theyweretiedhandandfoot—thelawwasagainstthem,thewholemachineryofsocietywasattheiroppressors’command!
IfJurgissomuchasraisedahandagainstthem,backhewouldgointothatwild-beastpenfromwhichhehadjustescaped!
Togetupandgoawaywastogiveup,toacknowledgedefeat,toleavethestrangefamilyinpossession;andJurgismighthavesatshiveringintherainforhoursbeforehecoulddothat,haditnotbeenforthethoughtofhisfamily.
Itmightbethathehadworsethingsyettolearn—andsohegottohisfeetandstartedaway,walkingon,wearily,half-dazed.
ToAniele’shouse,inbackoftheyards,wasagoodtwomiles;thedistancehadneverseemedlongertoJurgis,andwhenhesawthefamiliardingy-grayshantyhisheartwasbeatingfast.
Heranupthestepsandbegantohammeruponthedoor.
Theoldwomanherselfcametoopenit.ShehadshrunkallupwithherrheumatismsinceJurgishadseenherlast,andheryellowparchmentfacestaredupathimfromalittleabovethelevelofthedoorknob.Shegaveastartwhenshesawhim.“IsOnahere?”hecried,breathlessly.
“Yes,”wastheanswer,“she’shere.”
“How—”Jurgisbegan,andthenstoppedshort,clutchingconvulsivelyatthesideofthedoor.
Fromsomewherewithinthehousehadcomeasuddencry,awild,horriblescreamofanguish.AndthevoicewasOna’s.
ForamomentJurgisstoodhalf-paralyzedwithfright;thenheboundedpasttheoldwomanandintotheroom.
ItwasAniele’skitchen,andhuddledroundthestovewerehalfadozenwomen,paleandfrightened.
OneofthemstartedtoherfeetasJurgisentered;shewashaggardandfrightfullythin,withonearmtiedupinbandages—hehardlyrealizedthatitwasMarija.
HelookedfirstforOna;then,notseeingher,hestaredatthewomen,expectingthemtospeak.
Buttheysatdumb,gazingbackathim,panic-stricken;andasecondlatercameanotherpiercingscream.
Itwasfromtherearofthehouse,andupstairs.
Jurgisboundedtoadooroftheroomandflungitopen;therewasaladderleadingthroughatrapdoortothegarret,andhewasatthefootofitwhensuddenlyheheardavoicebehindhim,andsawMarijaathisheels.
Sheseizedhimbythesleevewithhergoodhand,pantingwildly,“No,no,Jurgis!Stop!”
“Whatdoyoumean?”hegasped.
“Youmustn’tgoup,”shecried.
Jurgiswashalf-crazedwithbewildermentandfright.“What’sthematter?”heshouted.“Whatisit?”
Marijaclungtohimtightly;hecouldhearOnasobbingandmoaningabove,andhefoughttogetawayandclimbup,withoutwaitingforherreply.“No,no,”sherushedon.“Jurgis!Youmustn’tgoup!It’s—it’sthechild!”
“Thechild?”heechoedinperplexity.“Antanas?”
Marijaansweredhim,inawhisper:“Thenewone!”
AndthenJurgiswentlimp,andcaughthimselfontheladder.Hestaredatherasifshewereaghost.“Thenewone!”hegasped.“Butitisn’ttime,”headded,wildly.
Marijanodded.“Iknow,”shesaid;“butit’scome.”
AndthenagaincameOna’sscream,smitinghimlikeablowintheface,makinghimwinceandturnwhite.
Hervoicediedawayintoawail—thenheheardhersobbingagain,“MyGod—letmedie,letmedie!”
AndMarijahungherarmsabouthim,crying:“Comeout!Comeaway!”
Shedraggedhimbackintothekitchen,halfcarryinghim,forhehadgonealltopieces.
Itwasasifthepillarsofhissoulhadfallenin—hewasblastedwithhorror.
Intheroomhesankintoachair,tremblinglikealeaf,Marijastillholdinghim,andthewomenstaringathimindumb,helplessfright.
AndthenagainOnacriedout;hecouldhearitnearlyasplainlyhere,andhestaggeredtohisfeet.“Howlonghasthisbeengoingon?”hepanted.
“Notverylong,”Marijaanswered,andthen,atasignalfromAniele,sherushedon:“Yougoaway,Jurgisyoucan’thelp—goawayandcomebacklater.It’sallright—it’s—”
“Who’swithher?”Jurgisdemanded;andthen,seeingMarijahesitating,hecriedagain,“Who’swithher?”
“She’s—she’sallright,”sheanswered.“Elzbieta’swithher.”
“Butthedoctor!”hepanted.“Someonewhoknows!”
HeseizedMarijabythearm;shetrembled,andhervoicesankbeneathawhisperasshereplied,“We—wehavenomoney.”
Then,frightenedatthelookonhisface,sheexclaimed:“It’sallright,Jurgis!Youdon’tunderstand—goaway—goaway!Ah,ifyouonlyhadwaited!”
AboveherprotestsJurgisheardOnaagain;hewasalmostoutofhismind.
Itwasallnewtohim,rawandhorrible—ithadfallenuponhimlikealightningstroke.
WhenlittleAntanaswasbornhehadbeenatwork,andhadknownnothingaboutituntilitwasover;andnowhewasnottobecontrolled.
Thefrightenedwomenwereattheirwits’end;oneafteranothertheytriedtoreasonwithhim,tomakehimunderstandthatthiswasthelotofwoman.
Intheendtheyhalfdrovehimoutintotherain,wherehebegantopaceupanddown,bareheadedandfrantic.
BecausehecouldhearOnafromthestreet,hewouldfirstgoawaytoescapethesounds,andthencomebackbecausehecouldnothelpit.
Attheendofaquarterofanhourherushedupthestepsagain,andforfearthathewouldbreakinthedoortheyhadtoopenitandlethimin.
Therewasnoarguingwithhim.Theycouldnottellhimthatallwasgoingwell—howcouldtheyknow,hecried—why,shewasdying,shewasbeingtorntopieces!Listentoher—listen!
Why,itwasmonstrous—itcouldnotbeallowed—theremustbesomehelpforit!Hadtheytriedtogetadoctor?
Theymightpayhimafterward—theycouldpromise—
“Wecouldn’tpromise,Jurgis,”protestedMarija.“Wehadnomoney—wehavescarcelybeenabletokeepalive.”
“ButIcanwork,”Jurgisexclaimed.“Icanearnmoney!”
“Yes,”sheanswered—”butwethoughtyouwereinjail.Howcouldweknowwhenyouwouldreturn?Theywillnotworkfornothing.”
Marijawentontotellhowshehadtriedtofindamidwife,andhowtheyhaddemandedten,fifteen,eventwenty-fivedollars,andthatincash.“AndIhadonlyaquarter,”shesaid.
“Ihavespenteverycentofmymoney—allthatIhadinthebank;andIowethedoctorwhohasbeencomingtoseeme,andhehasstoppedbecausehethinksIdon’tmeantopayhim.
AndweoweAnielefortwoweeks’rent,andsheisnearlystarving,andisafraidofbeingturnedout.
Wehavebeenborrowingandbeggingtokeepalive,andthereisnothingmorewecando—”
“Andthechildren?”criedJurgis.
“Thechildrenhavenotbeenhomeforthreedays,theweatherhasbeensobad.Theycouldnotknowwhatishappening—itcamesuddenly,twomonthsbeforeweexpectedit.”
Jurgiswasstandingbythetable,andhecaughthimselfwithhishand;hisheadsankandhisarmsshook—itlookedasifheweregoingtocollapse.
ThensuddenlyAnielegotupandcamehobblingtowardhim,fumblinginherskirtpocket.
Shedrewoutadirtyrag,inonecornerofwhichshehadsomethingtied.
“Here,Jurgis!”shesaid,“Ihavesomemoney.Palauk!See!”
Sheunwrappeditandcounteditout—thirty-fourcents.
“Yougo,now,”shesaid,“andtryandgetsomebodyyourself.
Andmaybetherestcanhelp—givehimsomemoney,you;hewillpayyoubacksomeday,anditwilldohimgoodtohavesomethingtothinkabout,evenifhedoesn’tsucceed.
Whenhecomesback,maybeitwillbeover.”
Andsotheotherwomenturnedoutthecontentsoftheirpocketbooks;mostofthemhadonlypenniesandnickels,buttheygavehimall.
Mrs.Olszewski,wholivednextdoor,andhadahusbandwhowasaskilledcattlebutcher,butadrinkingman,gavenearlyhalfadollar,enoughtoraisethewholesumtoadollarandaquarter.
ThenJurgisthrustitintohispocket,stillholdingittightlyinhisfist,andstartedawayatarun.
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