The Jungle

Chapter 1It was four o'clock when the ceremony was over and the carriages beganto arrive. There had been a crowd following all the way, owing to theexuberance of Marija Berczynskas. The occasion rested heavily uponMarija's broad shoulders--it was her task to see that all things went indue form, and after the best home traditions; and, flying wildlyhither and thither, bowling every one out of the way, and scolding andexhorting all day with her tremendous voice, Marija was too eager to seethat others conformed to the proprieties to consider them herself. Shehad left the church last of all, and, desiring to arrive first at thehall, had issued orders to the coachman to drive faster. When thatpersonage had developed a will of his own in the matter, Marija hadflung up the window of the carriage, and, leaning out, proceeded totell him her opinion of him, first in Lithuanian, which he did notunderstand, and then in Polish, which he did. Having the advantage ofher in altitude, the driver had stood his ground and even ventured toattempt to speak; and the result had been a furious altercation, which, continuing all the way down Ashland Avenue, had added a new swarm ofurchins to the cortege at each side street for half a mile.This was unfortunate, for already there was a throng before the door.The music had started up, and half a block away you could hear the dull"broom, broom" of a cello, with the squeaking of two fiddles which viedwith each other in intricate and altitudinous gymnastics. Seeingthe throng, Marija abandoned precipitately the debate concerning theancestors of her coachman, and, springing from the moving carriage, plunged in and proceeded to clear a way to the hall. Once within, sheturned and began to push the other way, roaring, meantime, "Eik! Eik!Uzdaryk-duris!" in tones which made the orchestral uproar sound likefairy music."Z. Graiczunas, Pasilinksminimams darzas. Vynas. Sznapsas. Wines andLiquors. Union Headquarters"--that was the way the signs ran. Thereader, who perhaps has never held much converse in the language offar-off Lithuania, will be glad of the explanation that the place wasthe rear room of a saloon in that part of Chicago known as "back of theyards." This information is definite and suited to the matter of fact;but how pitifully inadequate it would have seemed to one who understoodthat it was also the supreme hour of ecstasy in the life of one ofGod's gentlest creatures, the scene of the wedding feast and thejoy-transfiguration of little Ona Lukoszaite!She stood in the doorway, shepherded by Cousin Marija, breathless frompushing through the crowd, and in her happiness painful to look upon.There was a light of wonder in her eyes and her lids trembled, andher otherwise wan little face was flushed. She wore a muslin dress, conspicuously white, and a stiff little veil coming to her shoulders.There were five pink paper roses twisted in the veil, and eleven brightgreen rose leaves. There were new white cotton gloves upon her hands, and as she stood staring about her she twisted them together feverishly.It was almost too much for her--you could see the pain of too greatemotion in her face, and all the tremor of her form. She was soyoung--not quite sixteen--and small for her age, a mere child; and shehad just been married--and married to Jurgis, * (*Pronounced Yoorghis) ofall men, to Jurgis Rudkus, he with the white flower in the buttonhole ofhis new black suit, he with the mighty shoulders and the giant hands.