Mother

ss and unconscious hostility in this notice, yet at the same time a confiding curiosity grew up also. Now and then some one would come over,

ministration. In complicated cases Pavel would give the man a note to a lawy

lmost never laughed, who looked at everybody and listened to everybody with an attention which searched stubbornly into every

trove to understand his work, and when she

m of the people after the appearance

rsh belonged to the factory, and the new manager, wishing to extract profit from it, conceived the plan of draining it and incidentally gathering in a fine harvest of peat. Representing to the workingmen how much this measure would contribute to the sanitation of the locality and the impro

He had not gone to work and he knew nothing about it. The next day, after mass, a dapper old man, the smelte

er, and our comrades, you see, sent us over to you, as you are a knowing man among us. Is t

sharpers collected a tax to build a bath house. Three thousand eight hundred rub

ous advantage of such a procedure to the factory owner

one with them to the

le have also begun to com

air and began to write. In a few minutes he said to her:

ngerous?"

for us down there! That 'Muddy Penn

eplied, beginning hurrie

he was happy that he spoke to her so openly about the

said. "It's a piece of robbery. What's

Pavel, smi

n the evening, exha

her regards. And this Yegor Ivanovich is such a s

like them," sa

. It's good when people are si

d ached. But at dinner time Fedya Mazin came run

for you. Sizov and Makhotin say you can explain

to dress him

re gathered there;

her. "You're not well, and-what

avel said

ssing the affair in shrill voices. When the three pushed into the yard, they found themselves in the thick of a crowd buzzing and humming in excitement. The mother saw that all heads were turned in the same direction,

oming!" some

Bring h

ushed forward, and the

various directions. Near by the

s not our kopeck, because it's no rounder than any other kopeck; it's only heavi

on the crowd and stirred

ight! Goo

The devil

ov's

The irritation that had found no vent, that had always lain dormant in tired breasts, had awakened, demanded an outlet, and burst from their mouths in a volley of words. It soared into the air like a great bird spreading its motley wings ever wider and wider, clutching people and dragging the

re Sizov and Makhotin were sta

mra

lips trembled; she involuntarily pushed f

you going,

yielding to the desire to stand by his side. When Pavel had thrown out the word to which he was wont to attach a deep and significant meaning, his throat contracted in a sharp spasm o

who build churches and factories, forge chains and coin money, make toys and machines.

Rybin e

t last in life. Who cares for us? Who wishes u

echoed fro

about him, blending into one dark, thick, thousand-headed body. It looked into his fac

ves as comrades, as one family of friends firmly bound to

somebody standing near t

in different places. The soot-covered faces frowned in sulky increduli

ut no fool!" so

id a tall, crippled workingman, t

. It is time to defend ourselves; we must all understand that no one except ourselves w

ten to the truth!" And, with a broad sweep

anager at once," said P

the crowd rocked to and fro

anager! Let him com

es for him! B

; it's not

him and agreed with him! She was pleased that he was so calm and talked so simply; not angrily, not swearing, like the others. Broken exclamations, wrathful wo

egat

izov s

aso

has a terri

view with the manager. When just about to send for the ma

comes h

man

A

all, spare man with a pointed beard,

canned the workingmen's faces with a searching gaze. They took their hats off and bowed to him. He walked past them without acknowledging their greetings. His p

ody from above extended a hand to him; he did not take it, but with an easy, powerful movement of his body

this crowd? Why have

zov waved his cap in the air, shrugge

a question!" cont

m and said in a low voice,

e comrades to ask you to revoke yo

manager, without

such a tax just!"

y a desire to exploit the workingmen and not a

Pavel r

o?" the manag

very

rthy friend?" The man

gain, Sizov smiled guiltily. The manager slowly bent his look upon the crowd

ligent man. Do you not understan

eplied

the marsh at its own expense,

business!" remarked the manager dryly.

sly feeling the iron with his fe

hum was heard

ed the mana

n from the distance

to work

'll order every single one of you to be dischar

w an indistinct murmur followed him, and the

k to

ou call justic

to Pavel a

done now? You talked and talked, but the

lasov, w

more insistent, Pavel r

at we quit work until h

voices b

ks we're

ght to

str

one k

? Why no

ll be di

going to d

are o

Juda

give three rubles and sixt

would have

her. No one paid any attention to him now. They we

r a penny, they are too cowardly. You may, perhaps, induce about three hundred of them to follo

s if all the words he had spoken vanished in the crowd without leaving any trace, like scattered drops of rain falling on parched soil. One after the other, workmen appr

cry with the delight that seized his heart. But here he had spoken his truth to the people, and behold! when clothed in words it appeared so pale, so powerless, so incapa

lowed by his mother and Sizov, while Rybi

heart! That's the trouble! The spark must be

were guided by reason,"

rrow! The foot won't get in! And if it does, it will

ile, talked t

people. They have either come to their senses, or else are blundering worse than we; but they are not like us, anyway. Just look at those youngsters talking to the manager as to their equal! Yes, ma'am

o fill cracks with, that's all! Did you see, Pavel, who it was that shouted to make you a delegate? It w

ccording to their

other to pieces!" Rybin's face was s

if he had lost something, he did not kn

g in abuse, endeavoring to cut down to the very heart. The mother, in a corner, maintained silence, never removing her eyes from her son's face. He made every effort not to betray his emotion; but whenever the officer laughed, his fingers twitched strangely, an

naged to

ll arr

head, she qu

derst

o the workingmen that day. But since all agreed with what he had sai

mbled, his mustache twitched. It seemed to Vlasova that the officer was but waiting for her tears, complaints, and supplications. With a

hat the officer was but

Did you take ever

ing. Don

be wit