English
Jurgistookthenewsinapeculiarway.Heturneddeadlypale,buthecaughthimself,andforhalfaminutestoodinthemiddleoftheroom,clenchinghishandstightlyandsettinghisteeth.
ThenhepushedAnieleasideandstrodeintothenextroomandclimbedtheladder.
Inthecornerwasablanket,withaformhalfshowingbeneathit;andbesideitlayElzbieta,whethercryingorinafaint,Jurgiscouldnottell.
Marijawaspacingtheroom,screamingandwringingherhands.
Heclenchedhishandstighteryet,andhisvoicewashardashespoke.
“Howdidithappen?”heasked.
Marijascarcelyheardhiminheragony.Herepeatedthequestion,louderandyetmoreharshly.“Hefelloffthesidewalk!”shewailed.
Thesidewalkinfrontofthehousewasaplatformmadeofhalf-rottenboards,aboutfivefeetabovethelevelofthesunkenstreet.
“Howdidhecometobethere?”hedemanded.
“Hewent—hewentouttoplay,”Marijasobbed,hervoicechokingher.“Wecouldn’tmakehimstayin.Hemusthavegotcaughtinthemud!”
“Areyousurethatheisdead?”hedemanded.
“Ai!ai!”shewailed.“Yes;wehadthedoctor.”
ThenJurgisstoodafewseconds,wavering.Hedidnotshedatear.
Hetookoneglancemoreattheblanketwiththelittleformbeneathit,andthenturnedsuddenlytotheladderandclimbeddownagain.
Asilencefelloncemoreintheroomasheentered.
Hewentstraighttothedoor,passedout,andstarteddownthestreet.
Whenhiswifehaddied,Jurgismadeforthenearestsaloon,buthedidnotdothatnow,thoughhehadhisweek’swagesinhispocket.
Hewalkedandwalked,seeingnothing,splashingthroughmudandwater.
Lateronhesatdownuponastepandhidhisfaceinhishandsandforhalfanhourorsohedidnotmove.
Nowandthenhewouldwhispertohimself:“Dead!Dead!”
Finally,hegotupandwalkedonagain.Itwasaboutsunset,andhewentonandonuntilitwasdark,whenhewasstoppedbyarailroadcrossing.
Thegatesweredown,andalongtrainoffreightcarswasthunderingby.
Hestoodandwatchedit;andallatonceawildimpulseseizedhim,athoughtthathadbeenlurkingwithinhim,unspoken,unrecognized,leapedintosuddenlife.
Hestarteddownthetrack,andwhenhewaspastthegate-keeper’sshantyhesprangforwardandswunghimselfontooneofthecars.
Byandbythetrainstoppedagain,andJurgissprangdownandranunderthecar,andhidhimselfuponthetruck.
Herehesat,andwhenthetrainstartedagain,hefoughtabattlewithhissoul.
Hegrippedhishandsandsethisteethtogether—hehadnotwept,andhewouldnot—notatear!
Itwaspastandover,andhewasdonewithit—hewouldflingitoffhisshoulders,befreeofit,thewholebusiness,thatnight.
Itshouldgolikeablack,hatefulnightmare,andinthemorninghewouldbeanewman.
Andeverytimethatathoughtofitassailedhim—atendermemory,atraceofatear—heroseup,cursingwithrage,andpoundeditdown.
Hewasfightingforhislife;hegnashedhisteethtogetherinhisdesperation.Hehadbeenafool,afool!
Hehadwastedhislife,hehadwreckedhimself,withhisaccursedweakness;andnowhewasdonewithit—hewouldtearitoutofhim,rootandbranch!
Thereshouldbenomoretearsandnomoretenderness;hehadhadenoughofthem—theyhadsoldhimintoslavery!
Nowhewasgoingtobefree,totearoffhisshackles,toriseupandfight.
Hewasgladthattheendhadcome—ithadtocomesometime,anditwasjustaswellnow.
Thiswasnoworldforwomenandchildren,andthesoonertheygotoutofitthebetterforthem.
WhateverAntanasmightsufferwherehewas,hecouldsuffernomorethanhewouldhavehadhestayeduponearth.
Andmeantimehisfatherhadthoughtthelastthoughtabouthimthathemeantto;hewasgoingtothinkofhimself,hewasgoingtofightforhimself,againsttheworldthathadbaffledhimandtorturedhim!
Sohewenton,tearingupalltheflowersfromthegardenofhissoul,andsettinghisheeluponthem.
Thetrainthundereddeafeningly,andastormofdustblewinhisface;butthoughitstoppednowandthenthroughthenight,heclungwherehewas—hewouldclingthereuntilhewasdrivenoff,foreverymilethathegotfromPackingtownmeantanotherloadfromhismind.
Wheneverthecarsstoppedawarmbreezeblewuponhim,abreezeladenwiththeperfumeoffreshfields,ofhoneysuckleandclover.
Hesnuffedit,anditmadehisheartbeatwildly—hewasoutinthecountryagain!Hewasgoingtoliveinthecountry!
Whenthedawncamehewaspeeringoutwithhungryeyes,gettingglimpsesofmeadowsandwoodsandrivers.
Atlasthecouldstanditnolonger,andwhenthetrainstoppedagainhecrawledout.
Uponthetopofthecarwasabrakeman,whoshookhisfistandswore;Jurgiswavedhishandderisively,andstartedacrossthecountry.
Onlythinkthathehadbeenacountrymanallhislife;andforthreelongyearshehadneverseenacountrysightnorheardacountrysound!
Exceptingforthatonewalkwhenheleftjail,whenhewastoomuchworriedtonoticeanything,andforafewtimesthathehadrestedinthecityparksinthewintertimewhenhewasoutofwork,hehadliterallyneverseenatree!
Andnowhefeltlikeabirdliftedupandborneawayuponagale;hestoppedandstaredateachnewsightofwonder—ataherdofcows,andameadowfullofdaisies,athedgerowssetthickwithJuneroses,atlittlebirdssinginginthetrees.
Thenhecametoafarm-house,andaftergettinghimselfastickforprotection,heapproachedit.
Thefarmerwasgreasingawagoninfrontofthebarn,andJurgiswenttohim.
“Iwouldliketogetsomebreakfast,please,”hesaid.
“Doyouwanttowork?”saidthefarmer.
“No,”saidJurgis.“Idon’t.”
“Thenyoucan’tgetanythinghere,”snappedtheother.
“Imeanttopayforit,”saidJurgis.
“Oh,”saidthefarmer;andthenaddedsarcastically,“Wedon’tservebreakfastafter7A.M.”
“Iamveryhungry,”saidJurgisgravely;“Iwouldliketobuysomefood.”
“Askthewoman,”saidthefarmer,noddingoverhisshoulder.
The“woman”wasmoretractable,andforadimeJurgissecuredtwothicksandwichesandapieceofpieandtwoapples.
Hewalkedoffeatingthepie,astheleastconvenientthingtocarry.
Inafewminuteshecametoastream,andheclimbedafenceandwalkeddownthebank,alongawoodlandpath.
Byandbyhefoundacomfortablespot,andtherehedevouredhismeal,slakinghisthirstatthestream.
Thenhelayforhours,justgazinganddrinkinginjoy;untilatlasthefeltsleepy,andlaydownintheshadeofabush.
Whenheawokethesunwasshininghotinhisface.
Hesatupandstretchedhisarms,andthengazedatthewaterslidingby.
Therewasadeeppool,shelteredandsilent,belowhim,andasuddenwonderfulidearusheduponhim.Hemighthaveabath!
Thewaterwasfree,andhemightgetintoit—allthewayintoit!
ItwouldbethefirsttimethathehadbeenallthewayintothewatersinceheleftLithuania!
WhenJurgishadfirstcometothestockyardshehadbeenascleanasanyworkingmancouldwellbe.
Butlateron,whatwithsicknessandcoldandhungeranddiscouragement,andthefilthinessofhiswork,andthevermininhishome,hehadgivenupwashinginwinter,andinsummeronlyasmuchofhimaswouldgointoabasin.
Hehadhadashowerbathinjail,butnothingsince—andnowhewouldhaveaswim!
Thewaterwaswarm,andhesplashedaboutlikeaveryboyinhisglee.
Afterwardhesatdowninthewaternearthebank,andproceededtoscrubhimself—soberlyandmethodically,scouringeveryinchofhimwithsand.
Whilehewasdoingithewoulddoitthoroughly,andseehowitfelttobeclean.
Heevenscrubbedhisheadwithsand,andcombedwhatthemencalled“crumbs”outofhislong,blackhair,holdinghisheadunderwateraslongashecould,toseeifhecouldnotkillthemall.
Then,seeingthatthesunwasstillhot,hetookhisclothesfromthebankandproceededtowashthem,piecebypiece;asthedirtandgreasewentfloatingoffdownstreamhegruntedwithsatisfactionandsousedtheclothesagain,venturingeventodreamthathemightgetridofthefertilizer.
Hehungthemallup,andwhiletheyweredryinghelaydowninthesunandhadanotherlongsleep.
Theywerehotandstiffasboardsontop,andalittledampontheunderside,whenheawakened;butbeinghungry,heputthemonandsetoutagain.
Hehadnoknife,butwithsomelaborhebrokehimselfagoodstoutclub,and,armedwiththis,hemarcheddowntheroadagain.
Beforelonghecametoabigfarmhouse,andturnedupthelanethatledtoit.
Itwasjustsuppertime,andthefarmerwaswashinghishandsatthekitchendoor.
“Please,sir,”saidJurgis,“canIhavesomethingtoeat?Icanpay.”
Towhichthefarmerrespondedpromptly,“Wedon’tfeedtrampshere.Getout!”
Jurgiswentwithoutaword;butashepassedroundthebarnhecametoafreshlyploughedandharrowedfield,inwhichthefarmerhadsetoutsomeyoungpeachtrees;andashewalkedhejerkeduparowofthembytheroots,morethanahundredtreesinall,beforehereachedtheendofthefield.
Thatwashisanswer,anditshowedhismood;fromnowonhewasfighting,andthemanwhohithimwouldgetallthathegave,everytime.
BeyondtheorchardJurgisstruckthroughapatchofwoods,andthenafieldofwintergrain,andcameatlasttoanotherroad.
Beforelonghesawanotherfarmhouse,and,asitwasbeginningtocloudoveralittle,heaskedhereforshelteraswellasfood.
Seeingthefarmereyinghimdubiously,headded,“I’llbegladtosleepinthebarn.”
“Well,Idunno,”saidtheother.“Doyousmoke?”
“Sometimes,”saidJurgis,“butI’lldoitoutofdoors.”Whenthemanhadassented,heinquired,“Howmuchwillitcostme?Ihaven’tverymuchmoney.”
“Ireckonabouttwentycentsforsupper,”repliedthefarmer.“Iwon’tchargeyeforthebarn.”
SoJurgiswentin,andsatdownatthetablewiththefarmer’swifeandhalfadozenchildren.
Itwasabountifulmeal—therewerebakedbeansandmashedpotatoesandasparaguschoppedandstewed,andadishofstrawberries,andgreat,thickslicesofbread,andapitcherofmilk.
Jurgishadnothadsuchafeastsincehisweddingday,andhemadeamightyefforttoputinhistwentycents’worth.
Theywereallofthemtoohungrytotalk;butafterwardtheysatuponthestepsandsmoked,andthefarmerquestionedhisguest.
WhenJurgishadexplainedthathewasaworkingmanfromChicago,andthathedidnotknowjustwhitherhewasbound,theothersaid,“Whydon’tyoustayhereandworkforme?”
“I’mnotlookingforworkjustnow,”Jurgisanswered.
“I’llpayyegood,”saidtheother,eyinghisbigform—”adollaradayandboardye.Help’sterriblescarceroundhere.”
“Isthatwinteraswellassummer?”Jurgisdemandedquickly.
“N—no,”saidthefarmer;“Icouldn’tkeepyeafterNovember—Iain’tgotabigenoughplaceforthat.”
“Isee,”saidtheother,“that’swhatIthought.Whenyougetthroughworkingyourhorsesthisfall,willyouturnthemoutinthesnow?”(Jurgiswasbeginningtothinkforhimselfnowadays.)
“Itain’tquitethesame,”thefarmeranswered,seeingthepoint.“Thereoughttobeworkastrongfellowlikeyoucanfindtodo,inthecities,orsomeplace,inthewintertime.”
“Yes,”saidJurgis,“that’swhattheyallthink;andsotheycrowdintothecities,andwhentheyhavetobegorstealtolive,thenpeopleask‘emwhytheydon’tgointothecountry,wherehelpisscarce.”Thefarmermeditatedawhile.
“Howaboutwhenyourmoney’sgone?”heinquired,finally.“You’llhaveto,then,won’tyou?”
“Waittillshe’sgone,”saidJurgis;“thenI’llsee.”
Hehadalongsleepinthebarnandthenabigbreakfastofcoffeeandbreadandoatmealandstewedcherries,forwhichthemanchargedhimonlyfifteencents,perhapshavingbeeninfluencedbyhisarguments.
ThenJurgisbadefarewell,andwentonhisway.
Suchwasthebeginningofhislifeasatramp.
Itwasseldomhegotasfairtreatmentasfromthislastfarmer,andsoastimewentonhelearnedtoshunthehousesandtoprefersleepinginthefields.
Whenitrainedhewouldfindadesertedbuilding,ifhecould,andifnot,hewouldwaituntilafterdarkandthen,withhisstickready,beginastealthyapproachuponabarn.
Generallyhecouldgetinbeforethedoggotscentofhim,andthenhewouldhideinthehayandbesafeuntilmorning;ifnot,andthedogattackedhim,hewouldriseupandmakearetreatinbattleorder.
Jurgiswasnotthemightymanhehadoncebeen,buthisarmswerestillgood,andtherewerefewfarmdogsheneededtohitmorethanonce.
Beforelongtherecameraspberries,andthenblackberries,tohelphimsavehismoney;andtherewereapplesintheorchardsandpotatoesintheground—helearnedtonotetheplacesandfillhispocketsafterdark.
Twiceheevenmanagedtocaptureachicken,andhadafeast,onceinadesertedbarnandtheothertimeinalonelyspotalongsideofastream.
Whenallofthesethingsfailedhimheusedhismoneycarefully,butwithoutworry—forhesawthathecouldearnmorewheneverhechose.
Halfanhour’schoppingwoodinhislivelyfashionwasenoughtobringhimameal,andwhenthefarmerhadseenhimworkinghewouldsometimestrytobribehimtostay.
ButJurgiswasnotstaying.Hewasafreemannow,abuccaneer.
Theoldwanderlusthadgotintohisblood,thejoyoftheunboundlife,thejoyofseeking,ofhopingwithoutlimit.
Thereweremishapsanddiscomforts—butatleasttherewasalwayssomethingnew;andonlythinkwhatitmeanttoamanwhoforyearshadbeenpennedupinoneplace,seeingnothingbutonedrearyprospectofshantiesandfactories,tobesuddenlysetloosebeneaththeopensky,tobeholdnewlandscapes,newplaces,andnewpeopleeveryhour!
Toamanwhosewholelifehadconsistedofdoingonecertainthingallday,untilhewassoexhaustedthathecouldonlyliedownandsleepuntilthenextday—andtobenowhisownmaster,workingashepleasedandwhenhepleased,andfacinganewadventureeveryhour!
Then,too,hishealthcamebacktohim,allhislostyouthfulvigor,hisjoyandpowerthathehadmournedandforgotten!
Itcamewithasuddenrush,bewilderinghim,startlinghim;itwasasifhisdeadchildhoodhadcomebacktohim,laughingandcalling!
Whatwithplentytoeatandfreshairandexercisethatwastakenasitpleasedhim,hewouldwakenfromhissleepandstartoffnotknowingwhattodowithhisenergy,stretchinghisarms,laughing,singingoldsongsofhomethatcamebacktohim.
Nowandthen,ofcourse,hecouldnothelpbutthinkoflittleAntanas,whomheshouldneverseeagain,whoselittlevoiceheshouldneverhear;andthenhewouldhavetobattlewithhimself.
SometimesatnighthewouldwakendreamingofOna,andstretchouthisarmstoher,andwetthegroundwithhistears.
Butinthemorninghewouldgetupandshakehimself,andstrideawayagaintobattlewiththeworld.
Heneveraskedwherehewasnorwherehewasgoing;thecountrywasbigenough,heknew,andtherewasnodangerofhiscomingtotheendofit.
Andofcoursehecouldalwayshavecompanyfortheasking—everywherehewentthereweremenlivingjustashelived,andwhomhewaswelcometojoin.
Hewasastrangeratthebusiness,buttheywerenotclannish,andtheytaughthimalltheirtricks—whattownsandvillagesitwasbesttokeepawayfrom,andhowtoreadthesecretsignsuponthefences,andwhentobegandwhentosteal,andjusthowtodoboth.
Theylaughedathisideasofpayingforanythingwithmoneyorwithwork—fortheygotalltheywantedwithouteither.
NowandthenJurgiscampedoutwithagangoftheminsomewoodlandhaunt,andforagedwiththemintheneighborhoodatnight.
Andthenamongthemsomeonewould“takeashine”tohim,andtheywouldgoofftogetherandtravelforaweek,exchangingreminiscences.
Oftheseprofessionaltrampsagreatmanyhad,ofcourse,beenshiftlessandviciousalltheirlives.
Butthevastmajorityofthemhadbeenworkingmen,hadfoughtthelongfightasJurgishad,andfoundthatitwasalosingfight,andgivenup.
Lateronheencounteredyetanothersortofmen,thosefromwhoseranksthetrampswererecruited,menwhowerehomelessandwandering,butstillseekingwork—seekingitintheharvestfields.
Ofthesetherewasanarmy,thehugesurpluslaborarmyofsociety;calledintobeingunderthesternsystemofnature,todothecasualworkoftheworld,thetaskswhichweretransientandirregular,andyetwhichhadtobedone.
Theydidnotknowthattheyweresuch,ofcourse;theyonlyknewthattheysoughtthejob,andthatthejobwasfleeting.
IntheearlysummertheywouldbeinTexas,andasthecropswerereadytheywouldfollownorthwiththeseason,endingwiththefallinManitoba.
Thentheywouldseekoutthebiglumbercamps,wheretherewaswinterwork;orfailinginthis,woulddrifttothecities,andliveuponwhattheyhadmanagedtosave,withthehelpofsuchtransientworkaswastheretheloadingandunloadingofsteamshipsanddrays,thediggingofditchesandtheshovelingofsnow.
Ifthereweremoreofthemonhandthanchancedtobeneeded,theweakeronesdiedoffofcoldandhunger,againaccordingtothesternsystemofnature.
ItwasinthelatterpartofJuly,whenJurgiswasinMissouri,thathecameupontheharvestwork.
Herewerecropsthatmenhadworkedforthreeorfourmonthstoprepare,andofwhichtheywouldlosenearlyallunlesstheycouldfindotherstohelpthemforaweekortwo.
Soalloverthelandtherewasacryforlabor—agenciesweresetupandallthecitiesweredrainedofmen,evencollegeboyswerebroughtbythecarload,andhordesoffranticfarmerswouldholduptrainsandcarryoffwagonloadsofmenbymainforce.
Notthattheydidnotpaythemwell—anymancouldgettwodollarsadayandhisboard,andthebestmencouldgettwodollarsandahalforthree.
Theharvest-feverwasintheveryair,andnomanwithanyspiritinhimcouldbeinthatregionandnotcatchit.
Jurgisjoinedagangandworkedfromdawntilldark,eighteenhoursaday,fortwoweekswithoutabreak.
Thenhehadasumofmoneythatwouldhavebeenafortunetohimintheolddaysofmisery—butwhatcouldhedowithitnow?
Tobesurehemighthaveputitinabank,and,ifhewerefortunate,getitbackagainwhenhewantedit.
ButJurgiswasnowahomelessman,wanderingoveracontinent;andwhatdidheknowaboutbankinganddraftsandlettersofcredit?
Ifhecarriedthemoneyaboutwithhim,hewouldsurelyberobbedintheend;andsowhatwasthereforhimtodobutenjoyitwhilehecould?
OnaSaturdaynighthedriftedintoatownwithhisfellows;andbecauseitwasraining,andtherewasnootherplaceprovidedforhim,hewenttoasaloon.
Andthereweresomewhotreatedhimandwhomhehadtotreat,andtherewaslaughterandsingingandgoodcheer;andthenoutoftherearpartofthesaloonagirl’sface,red-cheekedandmerry,smiledatJurgis,andhisheartthumpedsuddenlyinhisthroat.
Henoddedtoher,andshecameandsatbyhim,andtheyhadmoredrink,andthenhewentupstairsintoaroomwithher,andthewildbeastroseupwithinhimandscreamed,asithasscreamedintheJunglefromthedawnoftime.
Andthenbecauseofhismemoriesandhisshame,hewasgladwhenothersjoinedthem,menandwomen;andtheyhadmoredrinkandspentthenightinwildriotinganddebauchery.
Inthevanofthesurplus-laborarmy,therefollowedanother,anarmyofwomen,theyalsostrugglingforlifeunderthesternsystemofnature.
Becausetherewererichmenwhosoughtpleasure,therehadbeeneaseandplentyforthemsolongastheywereyoungandbeautiful;andlateron,whentheywerecrowdedoutbyothersyoungerandmorebeautiful,theywentouttofollowuponthetrailoftheworkingmen.
Sometimestheycameofthemselves,andthesaloon-keeperssharedwiththem;orsometimestheywerehandledbyagencies,thesameasthelaborarmy.
Theywereinthetownsinharvesttime,nearthelumbercampsinthewinter,inthecitieswhenthemencamethere;ifaregimentwereencamped,orarailroadorcanalbeingmade,oragreatexpositiongettingready,thecrowdofwomenwereonhand,livinginshantiesorsaloonsortenementrooms,sometimeseightortenofthemtogether.
InthemorningJurgishadnotacent,andhewentoutupontheroadagain.
Hewassickanddisgusted,butafterthenewplanofhislife,hecrushedhisfeelingsdown.
Hehadmadeafoolofhimself,buthecouldnothelpitnow—allhecoulddowastoseethatitdidnothappenagain.
Sohetrampedonuntilexerciseandfreshairbanishedhisheadache,andhisstrengthandjoyreturned.
Thishappenedtohimeverytime,forJurgiswasstillacreatureofimpulse,andhispleasureshadnotyetbecomebusiness.
Itwouldbealongtimebeforehecouldbelikethemajorityofthesemenoftheroad,whoroameduntilthehungerfordrinkandforwomenmasteredthem,andthenwenttoworkwithapurposeinmind,andstoppedwhentheyhadthepriceofaspree.
Onthecontrary,tryashewould,Jurgiscouldnothelpbeingmademiserablebyhisconscience.Itwastheghostthatwouldnotdown.
Itwouldcomeuponhiminthemostunexpectedplaces—sometimesitfairlydrovehimtodrink.
Onenighthewascaughtbyathunderstorm,andhesoughtshelterinalittlehousejustoutsideofatown.
Itwasaworking-man’shome,andtheownerwasaSlavlikehimself,anewemigrantfromWhiteRussia;hebadeJurgiswelcomeinhishomelanguage,andtoldhimtocometothekitchen-fireanddryhimself.
Hehadnobedforhim,buttherewasstrawinthegarret,andhecouldmakeout.
Theman’swifewascookingthesupper,andtheirchildrenwereplayingaboutonthefloor.
Jurgissatandexchangedthoughtswithhimabouttheoldcountry,andtheplaceswheretheyhadbeenandtheworktheyhaddone.
Thentheyate,andafterwardsatandsmokedandtalkedmoreaboutAmerica,andhowtheyfoundit.
Inthemiddleofasentence,however,Jurgisstopped,seeingthatthewomanhadbroughtabigbasinofwaterandwasproceedingtoundressheryoungestbaby.
Theresthadcrawledintotheclosetwheretheyslept,butthebabywastohaveabath,theworkingmanexplained.
Thenightshadbeguntobechilly,andhismother,ignorantastotheclimateinAmerica,hadsewedhimupforthewinter;thenithadturnedwarmagain,andsomekindofarashhadbrokenoutonthechild.
Thedoctorhadsaidshemustbathehimeverynight,andshe,foolishwoman,believedhim.
Jurgisscarcelyheardtheexplanation;hewaswatchingthebaby.
Hewasaboutayearold,andasturdylittlefellow,withsoftfatlegs,andaroundballofastomach,andeyesasblackascoals.
Hispimplesdidnotseemtobotherhimmuch,andhewaswildwithgleeoverthebath,kickingandsquirmingandchucklingwithdelight,pullingathismother’sfaceandthenathisownlittletoes.
Whensheputhimintothebasinhesatinthemidstofitandgrinned,splashingthewateroverhimselfandsquealinglikealittlepig.
HespokeinRussian,ofwhichJurgisknewsome;hespokeitwiththequaintestofbabyaccents—andeverywordofitbroughtbacktoJurgissomewordofhisowndeadlittleone,andstabbedhimlikeaknife.
Hesatperfectlymotionless,silent,butgrippinghishandstightly,whileastormgatheredinhisbosomandafloodheapeditselfupbehindhiseyes.
Andintheendhecouldbearitnomore,butburiedhisfaceinhishandsandburstintotears,tothealarmandamazementofhishosts.
BetweentheshameofthisandhiswoeJurgiscouldnotstandit,andgotupandrushedoutintotherain.
Hewentonandondowntheroad,finallycomingtoablackwoods,wherehehidandweptasifhisheartwouldbreak.
Ah,whatagonywasthat,whatdespair,whenthetombofmemorywasrentopenandtheghostsofhisoldlifecameforthtoscourgehim!
Whatterrortoseewhathehadbeenandnowcouldneverbe—toseeOnaandhischildandhisowndeadselfstretchingouttheirarmstohim,callingtohimacrossabottomlessabyss—andtoknowthattheyweregonefromhimforever,andhewrithingandsuffocatinginthemireofhisownvileness!
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