Chapter X

During the early part of the winter the family had had
money enough to live and a little over to pay their debts
with; but when the earnings of Jurgis fell from nine or
ten dollars a week to five or six, there was no longer any~
thing to spare. The winter went, and the spring came,
and found them still living thus from hand to mouth,
hanging on day by day, with literally not a month's
wages between them and starvation. Marija was in
despair, for there was still no word about the reopen~
ing of the canning-factory, and her savings were al~
most entirely gone. She had had to give up all idea of
marrying then; the family could not get along without
her -- though for that matter she was likely soon to
become a burden even upon them, for when her money
was all gone, they would have to pay back what they
owed her in board. So Jurgis and Ona and Teta
Elzbieta would hold anxious conferences until late at
night, trying to figure how they could manage this too
without starving.

Such were the cruel terms upon which their life was
possible, that they might never have nor expect a single
instant's respite from worry, a single instant in which they
were not haunted by the thought of money. They would
no sooner escape, as by a miracle, from one difficulty, than
a new one would come into view. In addition to all their
physical hardships, there was thus a constant strain upon
their minds; they were harried all day and nearly all night
by worry and fear. This was in truth not living; it was
scarcely even existing, and they felt that it was too little
for the price they paid. They were willing to work all

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p117 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p118w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p119

v?