English
Butabigmancannotstaydrunkverylongonthreedollars.
ThatwasSundaymorning,andMondaynightJurgiscamehome,soberandsick,realizingthathehadspenteverycentthefamilyowned,andhadnotboughtasingleinstant’sforgetfulnesswithit.
Onawasnotyetburied;butthepolicehadbeennotified,andonthemorrowtheywouldputthebodyinapinecoffinandtakeittothepotter’sfield.
Elzbietawasoutbeggingnow,afewpenniesfromeachoftheneighbors,togetenoughtopayforamassforher;andthechildrenwereupstairsstarvingtodeath,whilehe,good-for-nothingrascal,hadbeenspendingtheirmoneyondrink.
SospokeAniele,scornfully,andwhenhestartedtowardthefiresheaddedtheinformationthatherkitchenwasnolongerforhimtofillwithhisphosphatestinks.
ShehadcrowdedallherboardersintooneroomonOna’saccount,butnowhecouldgoupinthegarretwherehebelonged—andnottheremuchlonger,either,ifhedidnotpayhersomerent.
Jurgiswentwithoutaword,and,steppingoverhalfadozensleepingboardersinthenextroom,ascendedtheladder.
Itwasdarkupabove;theycouldnotaffordanylight;alsoitwasnearlyascoldasoutdoors.
Inacorner,asfarawayfromthecorpseaspossible,satMarija,holdinglittleAntanasinheronegoodarmandtryingtosoothehimtosleep.
InanothercornercrouchedpoorlittleJuozapas,wailingbecausehehadhadnothingtoeatallday.
MarijasaidnotawordtoJurgis;hecreptinlikeawhippedcur,andwentandsatdownbythebody.
Perhapsheoughttohavemeditateduponthehungerofthechildren,anduponhisownbaseness;buthethoughtonlyofOna,hegavehimselfupagaintotheluxuryofgrief.
Heshednotears,beingashamedtomakeasound;hesatmotionlessandshudderingwithhisanguish.
HehadneverdreamedhowmuchhelovedOna,untilnowthatshewasgone;untilnowthathesathere,knowingthatonthemorrowtheywouldtakeheraway,andthathewouldneverlayeyesuponheragain—neverallthedaysofhislife.
Hisoldlove,whichhadbeenstarvedtodeath,beatentodeath,awokeinhimagain;thefloodgatesofmemorywerelifted—hesawalltheirlifetogether,sawherashehadseenherinLithuania,thefirstdayatthefair,beautifulastheflowers,singinglikeabird.
Hesawherashehadmarriedher,withallhertenderness,withherheartofwonder;theverywordsshehadspokenseemedtoringnowinhisears,thetearsshehadshedtobewetuponhischeek.
Thelong,cruelbattlewithmiseryandhungerhadhardenedandembitteredhim,butithadnotchangedher—shehadbeenthesamehungrysoultotheend,stretchingoutherarmstohim,pleadingwithhim,begginghimforloveandtenderness.
Andshehadsuffered—socruellyshehadsuffered,suchagonies,suchinfamies—ah,God,thememoryofthemwasnottobeborne.
Whatamonsterofwickedness,ofheartlessness,hehadbeen!
Everyangrywordthathehadeverspokencamebacktohimandcuthimlikeaknife;everyselfishactthathehaddone—withwhattormentshepaidforthemnow!
Andsuchdevotionandaweaswelledupinhissoul—nowthatitcouldneverbespoken,nowthatitwastoolate,toolate!
Hisbosom-waschokingwithit,burstingwithit;hecrouchedhereinthedarknessbesideher,stretchingouthisarmstoher—andshewasgoneforever,shewasdead!
Hecouldhavescreamedaloudwiththehorroranddespairofit;asweatofagonybeadedhisforehead,yethedarednotmakeasound—hescarcelydaredtobreathe,becauseofhisshameandloathingofhimself.
LateatnightcameElzbieta,havinggottenthemoneyforamass,andpaidforitinadvance,lestsheshouldbetemptedtoosorelyathome.
Shebroughtalsoabitofstaleryebreadthatsomeonehadgivenher,andwiththattheyquietedthechildrenandgotthemtosleep.
ThenshecameovertoJurgisandsatdownbesidehim.
Shesaidnotawordofreproach—sheandMarijahadchosenthatcoursebefore;shewouldonlypleadwithhim,herebythecorpseofhisdeadwife.
AlreadyElzbietahadchokeddownhertears,griefbeingcrowdedoutofhersoulbyfear.
Shehadtoburyoneofherchildren—butthenshehaddoneitthreetimesbefore,andeachtimerisenupandgonebacktotakeupthebattlefortherest.
Elzbietawasoneoftheprimitivecreatures:liketheangleworm,whichgoesonlivingthoughcutinhalf;likeahen,which,deprivedofherchickensonebyone,willmotherthelastthatislefther.
Shedidthisbecauseitwashernature—sheaskednoquestionsaboutthejusticeofit,northeworth-whilenessoflifeinwhichdestructionanddeathranriot.
Andthisoldcommon-senseviewshelaboredtoimpressuponJurgis,pleadingwithhimwithtearsinhereyes.
Onawasdead,buttheotherswereleftandtheymustbesaved.Shedidnotaskforherownchildren.
SheandMarijacouldcareforthemsomehow,buttherewasAntanas,hisownson.
OnahadgivenAntanastohim—thelittlefellowwastheonlyremembranceofherthathehad;hemusttreasureitandprotectit,hemustshowhimselfaman.
HeknewwhatOnawouldhavehadhimdo,whatshewouldaskofhimatthismoment,ifshecouldspeaktohim.
Itwasaterriblethingthatsheshouldhavediedasshehad;butthelifehadbeentoohardforher,andshehadtogo.
Itwasterriblethattheywerenotabletoburyher,thathecouldnotevenhaveadaytomournher—butsoitwas.
Theirfatewaspressing;theyhadnotacent,andthechildrenwouldperish—somemoneymustbehad.
CouldhenotbeamanforOna’ssake,andpullhimselftogether?
Inalittlewhiletheywouldbeoutofdanger—nowthattheyhadgivenupthehousetheycouldlivemorecheaply,andwithallthechildrenworkingtheycouldgetalong,ifonlyhewouldnotgotopieces.
SoElzbietawenton,withfeverishintensity.
Itwasastruggleforlifewithher;shewasnotafraidthatJurgiswouldgoondrinking,forhehadnomoneyforthat,butshewaswildwithdreadatthethoughtthathemightdesertthem,mighttaketotheroad,asJonashaddone.
ButwithOna’sdeadbodybeneathhiseyes,Jurgiscouldnotwellthinkoftreasontohischild.
Yes,hesaid,hewouldtry,forthesakeofAntanas.
Hewouldgivethelittlefellowhischance—wouldgettoworkatonce,yes,tomorrow,withoutevenwaitingforOnatobeburied.
Theymighttrusthim,hewouldkeephisword,comewhatmight.
Andsohewasoutbeforedaylightthenextmorning,headache,heartache,andall.
HewentstraighttoGraham’sfertilizermill,toseeifhecouldgetbackhisjob.
Butthebossshookhisheadwhenhesawhim—no,hisplacehadbeenfilledlongago,andtherewasnoroomforhim.
“Doyouthinktherewillbe?”Jurgisasked.“Imayhavetowait.”
“No,”saidtheother,“itwillnotbeworthyourwhiletowait—therewillbenothingforyouhere.”
Jurgisstoodgazingathiminperplexity.“Whatisthematter?”heasked.“Didn’tIdomywork?”
Theothermethislookwithoneofcoldindifference,andanswered,“Therewillbenothingforyouhere,Isaid.”
Jurgishadhissuspicionsastothedreadfulmeaningofthatincident,andhewentawaywithasinkingattheheart.
Hewentandtookhisstandwiththemobofhungrywretcheswhowerestandingaboutinthesnowbeforethetimestation.
Herehestayed,breakfastless,fortwohours,untilthethrongwasdrivenawaybytheclubsofthepolice.Therewasnoworkforhimthatday.
Jurgishadmadeagoodmanyacquaintancesinhislongservicesattheyards—thereweresaloonkeeperswhowouldtrusthimforadrinkandasandwich,andmembersofhisoldunionwhowouldlendhimadimeatapinch.
Itwasnotaquestionoflifeanddeathforhim,therefore;hemighthuntallday,andcomeagainonthemorrow,andtryhangingonthusforweeks,likehundredsandthousandsofothers.
Meantime,TetaElzbietawouldgoandbeg,overintheHydeParkdistrict,andthechildrenwouldbringhomeenoughtopacifyAniele,andkeepthemallalive.
Itwasattheendofaweekofthissortofwaiting,roamingaboutinthebitterwindsorloafinginsaloons,thatJurgisstumbledonachanceinoneofthecellarsofJones’sbigpackingplant.
Hesawaforemanpassingtheopendoorway,andhailedhimforajob.
“Pushatruck?”inquiredtheman,andJurgisanswered,“Yes,sir!”beforethewordswerewelloutofhismouth.
“What’syourname?”demandedtheother.
“JurgisRudkus.”
“Workedintheyardsbefore?”
“Yes.”
“Whereabouts?”
“Twoplaces—Brown’skillingbedsandDurham’sfertilizermill.”
“Whydidyouleavethere?”
“ThefirsttimeIhadanaccident,andthelasttimeIwassentupforamonth.”
“Isee.Well,I’llgiveyouatrial.ComeearlytomorrowandaskforMr.Thomas.”
SoJurgisrushedhomewiththewildtidingsthathehadajob—thattheterriblesiegewasover.
Theremnantsofthefamilyhadquiteacelebrationthatnight;andinthemorningJurgiswasattheplacehalfanhourbeforethetimeofopening.
Theforemancameinshortlyafterward,andwhenhesawJurgishefrowned.
“Oh,”hesaid,“Ipromisedyouajob,didn’tI?”
“Yes,sir,”saidJurgis.
“Well,I’msorry,butImadeamistake.Ican’tuseyou.”
Jurgisstared,dumfounded.“What’sthematter?”hegasped.
“Nothing,”saidtheman,“onlyIcan’tuseyou.”
Therewasthesamecold,hostilestarethathehadhadfromthebossofthefertilizermill.Heknewthattherewasnouseinsayingaword,andheturnedandwentaway.
Outinthesaloonsthemencouldtellhimallaboutthemeaningofit;theygazedathimwithpityingeyes—poordevil,hewasblacklisted!Whathadhedone?theyasked—knockeddownhisboss?Goodheavens,thenhemighthaveknown!
Why,hestoodasmuchchanceofgettingajobinPackingtownasofbeingchosenmayorofChicago.Whyhadhewastedhistimehunting?
Theyhadhimonasecretlistineveryoffice,bigandlittle,intheplace.
TheyhadhisnamebythistimeinSt.LouisandNewYork,inOmahaandBoston,inKansasCityandSt.Joseph.
Hewascondemnedandsentenced,withouttrialandwithoutappeal;hecouldneverworkforthepackersagain—hecouldnotevencleancattlepensordriveatruckinanyplacewheretheycontrolled.
Hemighttryit,ifhechose,ashundredshadtriedit,andfoundoutforthemselves.
Hewouldneverbetoldanythingaboutit;hewouldnevergetanymoresatisfactionthanhehadgottenjustnow;buthewouldalwaysfindwhenthetimecamethathewasnotneeded.
Itwouldnotdoforhimtogiveanyothername,either—theyhadcompany“spotters”forjustthatpurpose,andhewouldn’tkeepajobinPackingtownthreedays.
Itwasworthafortunetothepackerstokeeptheirblacklisteffective,asawarningtothemenandameansofkeepingdownunionagitationandpoliticaldiscontent.
Jurgiswenthome,carryingthesenewtidingstothefamilycouncil.
Itwasamostcruelthing;hereinthisdistrictwashishome,suchasitwas,theplacehewasusedtoandthefriendsheknew—andnoweverypossibilityofemploymentinitwasclosedtohim.
TherewasnothinginPackingtownbutpackinghouses;andsoitwasthesamethingasevictinghimfromhishome.
Heandthetwowomenspentalldayandhalfthenightdiscussingit.
Itwouldbeconvenient,downtown,tothechildren’splaceofwork;butthenMarijawasontheroadtorecovery,andhadhopesofgettingajobintheyards;andthoughshedidnotseeherold-timeloveronceamonth,becauseofthemiseryoftheirstate,yetshecouldnotmakeuphermindtogoawayandgivehimupforever.
Then,too,ElzbietahadheardsomethingaboutachancetoscrubfloorsinDurham’sofficesandwaswaitingeverydayforword.
IntheenditwasdecidedthatJurgisshouldgodowntowntostrikeoutforhimself,andtheywoulddecideafterhegotajob.
Astherewasnoonefromwhomhecouldborrowthere,andhedarednotbegforfearofbeingarrested,itwasarrangedthateverydayheshouldmeetoneofthechildrenandbegivenfifteencentsoftheirearnings,uponwhichhecouldkeepgoing.
Thenalldayhewastopacethestreetswithhundredsandthousandsofotherhomelesswretchesinquiringatstores,warehouses,andfactoriesforachance;andatnighthewastocrawlintosomedoorwayorunderneathatruck,andhidethereuntilmidnight,whenhemightgetintooneofthestationhouses,andspreadanewspaperuponthefloor,andliedowninthemidstofathrongof“bums”andbeggars,reekingwithalcoholandtobacco,andfilthywithverminanddisease.
SofortwoweeksmoreJurgisfoughtwiththedemonofdespair.
Oncehegotachancetoloadatruckforhalfaday,andagainhecarriedanoldwoman’svaliseandwasgivenaquarter.
Thislethimintoalodginghouseonseveralnightswhenhemightotherwisehavefrozentodeath;anditalsogavehimachancenowandthentobuyanewspaperinthemorningandhuntupjobswhilehisrivalswerewatchingandwaitingforapapertobethrownaway.
This,however,wasreallynottheadvantageitseemed,forthenewspaperadvertisementswereacauseofmuchlossofprecioustimeandofmanywearyjourneys.
Afullhalfofthesewere“fakes,”putinbytheendlessvarietyofestablishmentswhichpreyeduponthehelplessignoranceoftheunemployed.
IfJurgislostonlyhistime,itwasbecausehehadnothingelsetolose;wheneverasmooth-tonguedagentwouldtellhimofthewonderfulpositionshehadonhand,hecouldonlyshakehisheadsorrowfullyandsaythathehadnotthenecessarydollartodeposit;whenitwasexplainedtohimwhat“bigmoney”heandallhisfamilycouldmakebycoloringphotographs,hecouldonlypromisetocomeinagainwhenhehadtwodollarstoinvestintheoutfit.
IntheendJurgisgotachancethroughanaccidentalmeetingwithanold-timeacquaintanceofhisuniondays.
HemetthismanonhiswaytoworkinthegiantfactoriesoftheHarvesterTrust;andhisfriendtoldhimtocomealongandhewouldspeakagoodwordforhimtohisboss,whomheknewwell.
SoJurgistrudgedfourorfivemiles,andpassedthroughawaitingthrongofunemployedatthegateundertheescortofhisfriend.
Hiskneesnearlygavewaybeneathhimwhentheforeman,afterlookinghimoverandquestioninghim,toldhimthathecouldfindanopeningforhim.
HowmuchthisaccidentmeanttoJurgisherealizedonlybystages;forhefoundthattheharvesterworkswerethesortofplacetowhichphilanthropistsandreformerspointedwithpride.
Ithadsomethoughtforitsemployees;itsworkshopswerebigandroomy,itprovidedarestaurantwheretheworkmencouldbuygoodfoodatcost,ithadevenareadingroom,anddecentplaceswhereitsgirl-handscouldrest;alsotheworkwasfreefrommanyoftheelementsoffilthandrepulsivenessthatprevailedatthestockyards.
DayafterdayJurgisdiscoveredthesethings—thingsneverexpectednordreamedofbyhim—untilthisnewplacecametoseemakindofaheaventohim.
Itwasanenormousestablishment,coveringahundredandsixtyacresofground,employingfivethousandpeople,andturningoutoverthreehundredthousandmachineseveryyear—agoodpartofalltheharvestingandmowingmachinesusedinthecountry.
Jurgissawverylittleofit,ofcourse—itwasallspecializedwork,thesameasatthestockyards;eachoneofthehundredsofpartsofamowingmachinewasmadeseparately,andsometimeshandledbyhundredsofmen.
WhereJurgisworkedtherewasamachinewhichcutandstampedacertainpieceofsteelabouttwosquareinchesinsize;thepiecescametumblingoutuponatray,andallthathumanhandshadtodowastopiletheminregularrows,andchangethetraysatintervals.
Thiswasdonebyasingleboy,whostoodwitheyesandthoughtcentereduponit,andfingersflyingsofastthatthesoundsofthebitsofsteelstrikinguponeachotherwaslikethemusicofanexpresstrainasonehearsitinasleepingcaratnight.
Thiswas“piece-work,”ofcourse;andbesidesitwasmadecertainthattheboydidnotidle,bysettingthemachinetomatchthehighestpossiblespeedofhumanhands.
Thirtythousandofthesepieceshehandledeveryday,nineortenmillioneveryyear—howmanyinalifetimeitrestedwiththegodstosay.
Nearbyhimmensatbendingoverwhirlinggrindstones,puttingthefinishingtouchestothesteelknivesofthereaper;pickingthemoutofabasketwiththerighthand,pressingfirstonesideandthentheotheragainstthestoneandfinallydroppingthemwiththelefthandintoanotherbasket.
OneofthesementoldJurgisthathehadsharpenedthreethousandpiecesofsteeladayforthirteenyears.
Inthenextroomwerewonderfulmachinesthatateuplongsteelrodsbyslowstages,cuttingthemoff,seizingthepieces,stampingheadsuponthem,grindingthemandpolishingthem,threadingthem,andfinallydroppingthemintoabasket,allreadytobolttheharvesterstogether.
Fromyetanothermachinecametensofthousandsofsteelburstofituponthesebolts.
Inotherplacesallthesevariouspartsweredippedintotroughsofpaintandhunguptodry,andthenslidalongontrolleystoaroomwheremenstreakedthemwithredandyellow,sothattheymightlookcheerfulintheharvestfields.
Jurgis’sfriendworkedupstairsinthecastingrooms,andhistaskwastomakethemoldsofacertainpart.
Heshoveledblacksandintoanironreceptacleandpoundedittightandsetitasidetoharden;thenitwouldbetakenout,andmoltenironpouredintoit.
Thisman,too,waspaidbythemold—orratherforperfectcastings,nearlyhalfhisworkgoingfornaught.
Youmightseehim,alongwithdozensofothers,toilinglikeonepossessedbyawholecommunityofdemons;hisarmsworkinglikethedrivingrodsofanengine,hislong,blackhairflyingwild,hiseyesstartingout,thesweatrollinginriversdownhisface.
Whenhehadshoveledthemoldfullofsand,andreachedforthepoundertopounditwith,itwasafterthemannerofacanoeistrunningrapidsandseizingapoleatsightofasubmergedrock.
Alldaylongthismanwouldtoilthus,hiswholebeingcentereduponthepurposeofmakingtwenty-threeinsteadoftwenty-twoandahalfcentsanhour;andthenhisproductwouldbereckonedupbythecensustaker,andjubilantcaptainsofindustrywouldboastofitintheirbanquethalls,tellinghowourworkersarenearlytwiceasefficientasthoseofanyothercountry.
Ifwearethegreatestnationthesunevershoneupon,itwouldseemtobemainlybecausewehavebeenabletogoadourwage-earnerstothispitchoffrenzy;thoughthereareafewotherthingsthataregreatamongusincludingourdrink-bill,whichisabillionandaquarterofdollarsayear,anddoublingitselfeverydecade.
Therewasamachinewhichstampedouttheironplates,andthenanotherwhich,withamightythud,mashedthemtotheshapeofthesitting-downportionoftheAmericanfarmer.
Thentheywerepileduponatruck,anditwasJurgis’stasktowheelthemtotheroomwherethemachineswere“assembled.”
Thiswaschild’splayforhim,andhegotadollarandseventy-fivecentsadayforit;onSaturdayhepaidAnieletheseventy-fivecentsaweekheowedherfortheuseofhergarret,andalsoredeemedhisovercoat,whichElzbietahadputinpawnwhenhewasinjail.
Thislastwasagreatblessing.AmancannotgoaboutinmidwinterinChicagowithnoovercoatandnotpayforit,andJurgishadtowalkorridefiveorsixmilesbackandforthtohiswork.
ltsohappenedthathalfofthiswasinonedirectionandhalfinanother,necessitatingachangeofcars;thelawrequiredthattransfersbegivenatallintersectingpoints,buttherailwaycorporationhadgottenroundthisbyarrangingapretenseatseparateownership.
Sowheneverhewishedtoride,hehadtopaytencentseachway,orovertenpercentofhisincometothispower,whichhadgottenitsfranchiseslongagobybuyingupthecitycouncil,inthefaceofpopularclamoramountingalmosttoarebellion.
Tiredashefeltatnight,anddarkandbittercoldasitwasinthemorning,Jurgisgenerallychosetowalk;atthehoursotherworkmenweretraveling,thestreetcarmonopolysawfittoputonsofewcarsthattherewouldbemenhangingtoeveryfootofthebacksofthemandoftencrouchinguponthesnow-coveredroof.
Ofcoursethedoorscouldneverbeclosed,andsothecarswereascoldasoutdoors;Jurgis,likemanyothers,founditbettertospendhisfareforadrinkandafreelunch,togivehimstrengthtowalk.
These,however,wereallslightmatterstoamanwhohadescapedfromDurham’sfertilizermill.
Jurgisbegantopickupheartagainandtomakeplans.
Hehadlosthishousebutthentheawfulloadoftherentandinterestwasoffhisshoulders,andwhenMarijawaswellagaintheycouldstartoverandsave.
Intheshopwhereheworkedwasaman,aLithuanianlikehimself,whomtheothersspokeofinadmiringwhispers,becauseofthemightyfeatshewasperforming.
Alldayhesatatamachineturningbolts;andthenintheeveninghewenttothepublicschooltostudyEnglishandlearntoread.
Inaddition,becausehehadafamilyofeightchildrentosupportandhisearningswerenotenough,onSaturdaysandSundaysheservedasawatchman;hewasrequiredtopresstwobuttonsatoppositeendsofabuildingeveryfiveminutes,andasthewalkonlytookhimtwominutes,hehadthreeminutestostudybetweeneachtrip.
Jurgisfeltjealousofthisfellow;forthatwasthesortofthinghehimselfhaddreamedof,twoorthreeyearsago.
Hemightdoitevenyet,ifhehadafairchance—hemightattractattentionandbecomeaskilledmanoraboss,assomehaddoneinthisplace.
SupposethatMarijacouldgetajobinthebigmillwheretheymadebindertwine—thentheywouldmoveintothisneighborhood,andhewouldreallyhaveachance.
Withahopelikethat,therewassomeuseinliving;tofindaplacewhereyouweretreatedlikeahumanbeing—byGod!
hewouldshowthemhowhecouldappreciateit.
Helaughedtohimselfashethoughthowhewouldhangontothisjob!
Andthenoneafternoon,theninthofhisworkintheplace,whenhewenttogethisovercoathesawagroupofmencrowdedbeforeaplacardonthedoor,andwhenhewentoverandaskedwhatitwas,theytoldhimthatbeginningwiththemorrowhisdepartmentoftheharvesterworkswouldbecloseduntilfurthernotice!
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