English
Thatwasthewaytheydidit!Therewasnothalfanhour’swarning—theworkswereclosed!
Ithadhappenedthatwaybefore,saidthemen,anditwouldhappenthatwayforever.
Theyhadmadealltheharvestingmachinesthattheworldneeded,andnowtheyhadtowaittillsomeworeout!
Itwasnobody’sfault—thatwasthewayofit;andthousandsofmenandwomenwereturnedoutinthedeadofwinter,toliveupontheirsavingsiftheyhadany,andotherwisetodie.
Somanytensofthousandsalreadyinthecity,homelessandbeggingforwork,andnowseveralthousandmoreaddedtothem!
Jurgiswalkedhome-withhispittanceofpayinhispocket,heartbroken,overwhelmed.
Onemorebandagehadbeentornfromhiseyes,onemorepitfallwasrevealedtohim!
Ofwhathelpwaskindnessanddecencyonthepartofemployers—whentheycouldnotkeepajobforhim,whenthereweremoreharvestingmachinesmadethantheworldwasabletobuy!
Whatahellishmockeryitwas,anyway,thatamanshouldslavetomakeharvestingmachinesforthecountry,onlytobeturnedouttostarvefordoinghisdutytoowell!
Ittookhimtwodaystogetoverthisheartsickeningdisappointment.
Hedidnotdrinkanything,becauseElzbietagothismoneyforsafekeeping,andknewhimtoowelltobeintheleastfrightenedbyhisangrydemands.
Hestayedupinthegarrethowever,andsulked—whatwastheuseofaman’shuntingajobwhenitwastakenfromhimbeforehehadtimetolearnthework?
Butthentheirmoneywasgoingagain,andlittleAntanaswashungry,andcryingwiththebittercoldofthegarret.
AlsoMadameHaupt,themidwife,wasafterhimforsomemoney.Sohewentoutoncemore.
Foranothertendaysheroamedthestreetsandalleysofthehugecity,sickandhungry,beggingforanywork.
Hetriedinstoresandoffices,inrestaurantsandhotels,alongthedocksandintherailroadyards,inwarehousesandmillsandfactorieswheretheymadeproductsthatwenttoeverycorneroftheworld.
Therewereoftenoneortwochances—buttherewerealwaysahundredmenforeverychance,andhisturnwouldnotcome.
Atnighthecreptintoshedsandcellarsanddoorways—untiltherecameaspellofbelatedwinterweather,witharaginggale,andthethermometerfivedegreesbelowzeroatsundownandfallingallnight.
ThenJurgisfoughtlikeawildbeasttogetintothebigHarrisonStreetpolicestation,andsleptdowninacorridor,crowdedwithtwoothermenuponasinglestep.
Hehadtofightofteninthesedaystofightforaplacenearthefactorygates,andnowandagainwithgangsonthestreet.
Hefound,forinstance,thatthebusinessofcarryingsatchelsforrailroadpassengerswasapre-emptedone—wheneverheessayedit,eightortenmenandboyswouldfalluponhimandforcehimtorunforhislife.
Theyalwayshadthepoliceman“squared,”andsotherewasnouseinexpectingprotection.
ThatJurgisdidnotstarvetodeathwasduesolelytothepittancethechildrenbroughthim.Andeventhiswasnevercertain.
Foronethingthecoldwasalmostmorethanthechildrencouldbear;andthenthey,too,wereinperpetualperilfromrivalswhoplunderedandbeatthem.
Thelawwasagainstthem,too—littleVilimas,whowasreallyeleven,butdidnotlooktobeeight,wasstoppedonthestreetsbyasevereoldladyinspectacles,whotoldhimthathewastooyoungtobeworkingandthatifhedidnotstopsellingpapersshewouldsendatruantofficerafterhim.
AlsoonenightastrangemancaughtlittleKotrinabythearmandtriedtopersuadeherintoadarkcellarway,anexperiencewhichfilledherwithsuchterrorthatshewashardlytobekeptatwork.
Atlast,onaSunday,astherewasnouselookingforwork,Jurgiswenthomebystealingridesonthecars.
Hefoundthattheyhadbeenwaitingforhimforthreedays—therewasachanceofajobforhim.
Itwasquiteastory.LittleJuozapas,whowasnearcrazywithhungerthesedays,hadgoneoutonthestreettobegforhimself.
Juozapashadonlyoneleg,havingbeenrunoverbyawagonwhenalittlechild,buthehadgothimselfabroomstick,whichheputunderhisarmforacrutch.
HehadfalleninwithsomeotherchildrenandfoundthewaytoMikeScully’sdump,whichlaythreeorfourblocksaway.
Tothisplacetherecameeverydaymanyhundredsofwagonloadsofgarbageandtrashfromthelakefront,wheretherichpeoplelived;andintheheapsthechildrenrakedforfood—therewerehunksofbreadandpotatopeelingsandapplecoresandmeatbones,allofithalffrozenandquiteunspoiled.
LittleJuozapasgorgedhimself,andcamehomewithanewspaperfull,whichhewasfeedingtoAntanaswhenhismothercamein.
Elzbietawashorrified,forshedidnotbelievethatthefoodoutofthedumpswasfittoeat.
Thenextday,however,whennoharmcameofitandJuozapasbegantocrywithhunger,shegaveinandsaidthathemightgoagain.
Andthatafternoonhecamehomewithastoryofhowwhilehehadbeendiggingawaywithastick,aladyuponthestreethadcalledhim.
Arealfinelady,thelittleboyexplained,abeautifullady;andshewantedtoknowallabouthim,andwhetherhegotthegarbageforchickens,andwhyhewalkedwithabroomstick,andwhyOnahaddied,andhowJurgishadcometogotojail,andwhatwasthematterwithMarija,andeverything.
Intheendshehadaskedwherehelived,andsaidthatshewascomingtoseehim,andbringhimanewcrutchtowalkwith.
Shehadonahatwithabirduponit,Juozapasadded,andalongfursnakearoundherneck.
Shereallycame,theverynextmorning,andclimbedtheladdertothegarret,andstoodandstaredabouther,turningpaleatthesightofthebloodstainsonthefloorwhereOnahaddied.
Shewasa“settlementworker,”sheexplainedtoElzbieta—shelivedaroundonAshlandAvenue.
Elzbietaknewtheplace,overafeedstore;somebodyhadwantedhertogothere,butshehadnotcaredto,forshethoughtthatitmusthavesomethingtodowithreligion,andthepriestdidnotlikehertohaveanythingtodowithstrangereligions.
Theywererichpeoplewhocametolivetheretofindoutaboutthepoorpeople;butwhatgoodtheyexpecteditwoulddothemtoknow,onecouldnotimagine.
SospokeElzbieta,naively,andtheyoungladylaughedandwasratheratalossforananswer—shestoodandgazedabouther,andthoughtofacynicalremarkthathadbeenmadetoher,thatshewasstandinguponthebrinkofthepitofhellandthrowinginsnowballstolowerthetemperature.
Elzbietawasgladtohavesomebodytolisten,andshetoldalltheirwoes—whathadhappenedtoOna,andthejail,andthelossoftheirhome,andMarija’saccident,andhowOnahaddied,andhowJurgiscouldgetnowork.
Asshelistenedtheprettyyounglady’seyesfilledwithtears,andinthemidstofitsheburstintoweepingandhidherfaceonElzbieta’sshoulder,quiteregardlessofthefactthatthewomanhadonadirtyoldwrapperandthatthegarretwasfulloffleas.
PoorElzbietawasashamedofherselfforhavingtoldsowoefulatale,andtheotherhadtobegandpleadwithhertogethertogoon.
Theendofitwasthattheyoungladysentthemabasketofthingstoeat,andleftaletterthatJurgiswastotaketoagentlemanwhowassuperintendentinoneofthemillsofthegreatsteelworksinSouthChicago.
“HewillgetJurgissomethingtodo,”theyoungladyhadsaid,andadded,smilingthroughhertears—”Ifhedoesn’t,hewillnevermarryme.”
Thesteel-workswerefifteenmilesaway,andasusualitwassocontrivedthatonehadtopaytwofarestogetthere.
Farandwidetheskywasflaringwiththeredglarethatleapedfromrowsoftoweringchimneys—foritwaspitchdarkwhenJurgisarrived.
Thevastworks,acityinthemselves,weresurroundedbyastockade;andalreadyafullhundredmenwerewaitingatthegatewherenewhandsweretakenon.
Soonafterdaybreakwhistlesbegantoblow,andthensuddenlythousandsofmenappeared,streamingfromsaloonsandboardinghousesacrosstheway,leapingfromtrolleycarsthatpassed—itseemedasiftheyroseoutoftheground,inthedimgraylight.
Ariverofthempouredinthroughthegate—andthengraduallyebbedawayagain,untiltherewereonlyafewlateonesrunning,andthewatchmanpacingupanddown,andthehungrystrangersstampingandshivering.
Jurgispresentedhispreciousletter.Thegatekeeperwassurly,andputhimthroughacatechism,butheinsistedthatheknewnothing,andashehadtakentheprecautiontosealhisletter,therewasnothingforthegatekeepertodobutsendittothepersontowhomitwasaddressed.
AmessengercamebacktosaythatJurgisshouldwait,andsohecameinsideofthegate,perhapsnotsorryenoughthattherewereotherslessfortunatewatchinghimwithgreedyeyes.
Thegreatmillsweregettingunderway—onecouldhearavaststirring,arollingandrumblingandhammering.
Littlebylittlethescenegrewplain:towering,blackbuildingshereandthere,longrowsofshopsandsheds,littlerailwaysbranchingeverywhere,baregraycindersunderfootandoceansofbillowingblacksmokeabove.
Ononesideofthegroundsranarailroadwithadozentracks,andontheothersidelaythelake,wheresteamerscametoload.
Jurgishadtimeenoughtostareandspeculate,foritwastwohoursbeforehewassummoned.
Hewentintotheofficebuilding,whereacompanytimekeeperinterviewedhim.
Thesuperintendentwasbusy,hesaid,buthe(thetimekeeper)wouldtrytofindJurgisajob.
Hehadneverworkedinasteelmillbefore?Buthewasreadyforanything?Well,then,theywouldgoandsee.
Sotheybeganatour,amongsightsthatmadeJurgisstareamazed.
Hewonderedifeverhecouldgetusedtoworkinginaplacelikethis,wheretheairshookwithdeafeningthunder,andwhistlesshriekedwarningsonallsidesofhimatonce;whereminiaturesteamenginescamerushinguponhim,andsizzling,quivering,white-hotmassesofmetalspedpasthim,andexplosionsoffireandflamingsparksdazzledhimandscorchedhisface.
Thenmeninthesemillswereallblackwithsoot,andhollow-eyedandgaunt;theyworkedwithfierceintensity,rushinghereandthere,andneverliftingtheireyesfromtheirtasks.
Jurgisclungtohisguidelikeascaredchildtoitsnurse,andwhilethelatterhailedoneforemanafteranothertoaskiftheycoulduseanotherunskilledman,hestaredabouthimandmarveled.
HewastakentotheBessemerfurnace,wheretheymadebilletsofsteel—adomelikebuilding,thesizeofabigtheater.
Jurgisstoodwherethebalconyofthetheaterwouldhavebeen,andopposite,bythestage,hesawthreegiantcaldrons,bigenoughforallthedevilsofhelltobrewtheirbrothin,fullofsomethingwhiteandblinding,bubblingandsplashing,roaringasifvolcanoeswereblowingthroughit—onehadtoshouttobeheardintheplace.
Liquidfirewouldleapfromthesecaldronsandscatterlikebombsbelow—andmenwereworkingthere,seemingcareless,sothatJurgiscaughthisbreathwithfright.
Thenawhistlewouldtoot,andacrossthecurtainofthetheaterwouldcomealittleenginewithacarloadofsomethingtobedumpedintooneofthereceptacles;andthenanotherwhistlewouldtoot,downbythestage,andanothertrainwouldbackup—andsuddenly,withoutaninstant’swarning,oneofthegiantkettlesbegantotiltandtopple,flingingoutajetofhissing,roaringflame.
Jurgisshrankbackappalled,forhethoughtitwasanaccident;therefellapillarofwhiteflame,dazzlingasthesun,swishinglikeahugetreefallingintheforest.
Atorrentofsparkssweptallthewayacrossthebuilding,overwhelmingeverything,hidingitfromsight;andthenJurgislookedthroughthefingersofhishands,andsawpouringoutofthecaldronacascadeofliving,leapingfire,whitewithawhitenessnotofearth,scorchingtheeyeballs.
Incandescentrainbowsshoneaboveit,blue,red,andgoldenlightsplayedaboutit;butthestreamitselfwaswhite,ineffable.
Outofregionsofwonderitstreamed,theveryriveroflife;andthesoulleapedupatthesightofit,fledbackuponit,swiftandresistless,backintofar-offlands,wherebeautyandterrordwell.
Thenthegreatcaldrontiltedbackagain,empty,andJurgissawtohisreliefthatnoonewashurt,andturnedandfollowedhisguideoutintothesunlight.
Theywentthroughtheblastfurnaces,throughrollingmillswherebarsofsteelweretossedaboutandchoppedlikebitsofcheese.
Allaroundandabovegiantmachinearmswereflying,giantwheelswereturning,greathammerscrashing;travelingcranescreakedandgroanedoverhead,reachingdownironhandsandseizingironprey—itwaslikestandinginthecenteroftheearth,wherethemachineryoftimewasrevolving.
Byandbytheycametotheplacewheresteelrailsweremade;andJurgisheardatootbehindhim,andjumpedoutofthewayofacarwithawhite-hotingotuponit,thesizeofaman’sbody.
Therewasasuddencrashandthecarcametoahalt,andtheingottoppledoutuponamovingplatform,wheresteelfingersandarmsseizedholdofit,punchingitandproddingitintoplace,andhurryingitintothegripofhugerollers.
Thenitcameoutupontheotherside,andthereweremorecrashingsandclatterings,andoveritwasflopped,likeapancakeonagridiron,andseizedagainandrushedbackatyouthroughanothersqueezer.
Soamiddeafeninguproaritclatteredtoandfro,growingthinnerandflatterandlonger.
Theingotseemedalmostalivingthing;itdidnotwanttorunthismadcourse,butitwasinthegripoffate,itwastumbledon,screechingandclankingandshiveringinprotest.
Byandbyitwaslongandthin,agreatredsnakeescapedfrompurgatory;andthen,asitslidthroughtherollers,youwouldhaveswornthatitwasalive—itwrithedandsquirmed,andwrigglesandshudderspassedoutthroughitstail,allbutflingingitoffbytheirviolence.
Therewasnorestforituntilitwascoldandblack—andthenitneededonlytobecutandstraightenedtobereadyforarailroad.
Itwasattheendofthisrail’sprogressthatJurgisgothischance.
Theyhadtobemovedbymenwithcrowbars,andthebossherecoulduseanotherman.
Sohetookoffhiscoatandsettoworkonthespot.
Ittookhimtwohourstogettothisplaceeverydayandcosthimadollarandtwentycentsaweek.
Asthiswasoutofthequestion,hewrappedhisbeddinginabundleandtookitwithhim,andoneofhisfellowworkingmenintroducedhimtoaPolishlodginghouse,wherehemighthavetheprivilegeofsleepinguponthefloorfortencentsanight.
Hegothismealsatfree-lunchcounters,andeverySaturdaynighthewenthome—beddingandall—andtookthegreaterpartofhismoneytothefamily.
Elzbietawassorryforthisarrangement,forshefearedthatitwouldgethimintothehabitoflivingwithoutthem,andonceaweekwasnotveryoftenforhimtoseehisbaby;buttherewasnootherwayofarrangingit.
Therewasnochanceforawomanatthesteelworks,andMarijawasnowreadyforworkagain,andluredonfromdaytodaybythehopeoffindingitattheyards.
InaweekJurgisgotoverhissenseofhelplessnessandbewildermentintherailmill.
Helearnedtofindhiswayaboutandtotakeallthemiraclesandterrorsforgranted,toworkwithouthearingtherumblingandcrashing.
Fromblindfearhewenttotheotherextreme;hebecamerecklessandindifferent,likealltherestofthemen,whotookbutlittlethoughtofthemselvesintheardoroftheirwork.
Itwaswonderful,whenonecametothinkofit,thatthesemenshouldhavetakenaninterestintheworktheydid—theyhadnoshareinit—theywerepaidbythehour,andpaidnomoreforbeinginterested.
Alsotheyknewthatiftheywerehurttheywouldbeflungasideandforgotten—andstilltheywouldhurrytotheirtaskbydangerousshortcuts,wouldusemethodsthatwerequickerandmoreeffectiveinspiteofthefactthattheywerealsorisky.
HisfourthdayathisworkJurgissawamanstumblewhilerunninginfrontofacar,andhavehisfootmashedoff,andbeforehehadbeentherethreeweekshewaswitnessofayetmoredreadfulaccident.
Therewasarowofbrickfurnaces,shiningwhitethrougheverycrackwiththemoltensteelinside.
Someofthesewerebulgingdangerously,yetmenworkedbeforethem,wearingblueglasseswhentheyopenedandshutthedoors.
OnemorningasJurgiswaspassing,afurnaceblewout,sprayingtwomenwithashowerofliquidfire.
Astheylayscreamingandrollinguponthegroundinagony,Jurgisrushedtohelpthem,andasaresulthelostagoodpartoftheskinfromtheinsideofoneofhishands.
Thecompanydoctorbandageditup,buthegotnootherthanksfromanyone,andwaslaidupforeightworkingdayswithoutanypay.
Mostfortunately,atthisjuncture,Elzbietagotthelong-awaitedchancetogoatfiveo’clockinthemorningandhelpscrubtheofficefloorsofoneofthepackers.
Jurgiscamehomeandcoveredhimselfwithblanketstokeepwarm,anddividedhistimebetweensleepingandplayingwithlittleAntanas.
Juozapaswasawayrakinginthedumpagoodpartofthetime,andElzbietaandMarijawerehuntingformorework.
Antanaswasnowoverayearandahalfold,andwasaperfecttalkingmachine.
HelearnedsofastthateveryweekwhenJurgiscamehomeitseemedtohimasifhehadanewchild.
Hewouldsitdownandlistenandstareathim,andgiveventtodelightedexclamations—”Palauk!Muma!Tumanoszirdele!”
ThelittlefellowwasnowreallytheonedelightthatJurgishadintheworld—hisonehope,hisonevictory.ThankGod,Antanaswasaboy!
Andhewasastoughasapineknot,andwiththeappetiteofawolf.
Nothinghadhurthim,andnothingcouldhurthim;hehadcomethroughallthesufferinganddeprivationunscathed—onlyshriller-voicedandmoredeterminedinhisgripuponlife.
Hewasaterriblechildtomanage,wasAntanas,buthisfatherdidnotmindthat—hewouldwatchhimandsmiletohimselfwithsatisfaction.
Themoreofafighterhewasthebetter—hewouldneedtofightbeforehegotthrough.
JurgishadgotthehabitofbuyingtheSundaypaperwheneverhehadthemoney;amostwonderfulpapercouldbehadforonlyfivecents,awholearmful,withallthenewsoftheworldsetforthinbigheadlines,thatJurgiscouldspelloutslowly,withthechildrentohelphimatthelongwords.
Therewasbattleandmurderandsuddendeath—itwasmarveloushowtheyeverheardaboutsomanyentertainingandthrillinghappenings;thestoriesmustbealltrue,forsurelynomancouldhavemadesuchthingsup,andbesides,therewerepicturesofthemall,asrealaslife.
Oneofthesepaperswasasgoodasacircus,andnearlyasgoodasaspree—certainlyamostwonderfultreatforaworkingman,whowastiredoutandstupefied,andhadneverhadanyeducation,andwhoseworkwasonedull,sordidgrind,dayafterday,andyearafteryear,withneverasightofagreenfieldnoranhour’sentertainment,noranythingbutliquortostimulatehisimagination.
Amongotherthings,thesepapershadpagesfullofcomicalpictures,andthesewerethemainjoyinlifetolittleAntanas.
Hetreasuredthemup,andwoulddragthemoutandmakehisfathertellhimaboutthem;therewereallsortsofanimalsamongthem,andAntanascouldtellthenamesofallofthem,lyinguponthefloorforhoursandpointingthemoutwithhischubbylittlefingers.
WheneverthestorywasplainenoughforJurgistomakeout,Antanaswouldhaveitrepeatedtohim,andthenhewouldrememberit,prattlingfunnylittlesentencesandmixingitupwithotherstoriesinanirresistiblefashion.
Alsohisquaintpronunciationofwordswassuchadelight—andthephraseshewouldpickupandremember,themostoutlandishandimpossiblethings!
Thefirsttimethatthelittlerascalburstoutwith“Goddamn,”hisfathernearlyrolledoffthechairwithglee;butintheendhewassorryforthis,forAntanaswassoon“God-damning”everythingandeverybody.
Andthen,whenhewasabletousehishands,Jurgistookhisbeddingagainandwentbacktohistaskofshiftingrails.
ItwasnowApril,andthesnowhadgivenplacetocoldrains,andtheunpavedstreetinfrontofAniele’shousewasturnedintoacanal.
Jurgiswouldhavetowadethroughittogethome,andifitwaslatehemighteasilygetstucktohiswaistinthemire.
Buthedidnotmindthismuch—itwasapromisethatsummerwascoming.
Marijahadnowgottenaplaceasbeef-trimmerinoneofthesmallerpackingplants;andhetoldhimselfthathehadlearnedhislessonnow,andwouldmeetwithnomoreaccidents—sothatatlasttherewasprospectofanendtotheirlongagony.
Theycouldsavemoneyagain,andwhenanotherwintercametheywouldhaveacomfortableplace;andthechildrenwouldbeoffthestreetsandinschoolagain,andtheymightsettoworktonursebackintolifetheirhabitsofdecencyandkindness.
SooncemoreJurgisbegantomakeplansanddreamdreams.
AndthenoneSaturdaynighthejumpedoffthecarandstartedhome,withthesunshininglowundertheedgeofabankofcloudsthathadbeenpouringfloodsofwaterintothemud-soakedstreet.
Therewasarainbowinthesky,andanotherinhisbreast—forhehadthirty-sixhours’restbeforehim,andachancetoseehisfamily.
Thensuddenlyhecameinsightofthehouse,andnoticedthattherewasacrowdbeforethedoor.
Heranupthestepsandpushedhiswayin,andsawAniele’skitchencrowdedwithexcitedwomen.
ItremindedhimsovividlyofthetimewhenhehadcomehomefromjailandfoundOnadying,thathisheartalmoststoodstill.“What’sthematter?”hecried.
Adeadsilencehadfallenintheroom,andhesawthateveryonewasstaringathim.“What’sthematter?”heexclaimedagain.
Andthen,upinthegarret,heheardsoundsofwailing,inMarija’svoice.Hestartedfortheladder—andAnieleseizedhimbythearm.“No,no!”sheexclaimed.“Don’tgoupthere!”
“Whatisit?”heshouted.
Andtheoldwomanansweredhimweakly:“It’sAntanas.He’sdead.Hewasdrownedoutinthestreet!”
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