Page:Upton Sinclair - The Jungle (1920 imprint).pdf/133



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 anything 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 118