按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in a hurry； it had to be delivered the next morning； so he stayed up by himself till nearly midnight to do it。 As he worked； he felt a strange sensation in his chest： it was not exactly a pain； and he would have found it difficult to describe it in words … it was just a sensation。 He did not attach much importance to it； thinking it an effect of the cold he had taken； but whatever it was he could not help feeling conscious of it all the time。
Frankie had been put to bed that evening at the customary hour； but did not seem to be sleeping as well as usual。 Owen could hear him twisting and turning about and uttering little cries in his sleep。
He left his work several times to go into the boy's room and cover him with the bedclothes which his restless movements had disordered。 As the time wore on； the child became more tranquil； and about eleven o'clock； when Owen went in to look at him； he found him in a deep sleep； lying on his side with his head thrown back on the pillow； breathing so softly through his slightly parted lips that the sound was almost imperceptible。 The fair hair that clustered round his forehead was damp with perspiration； and he was so still and pale and silent that one might have thought he was sleeping the sleep that knows no awakening。
About an hour later； when he had finished writing the showcard； Owen went out into the scullery to wash his hands before going to bed： and whilst he was drying them on the towel； the strange sensation he had been conscious of all the evening became more intense； and a few seconds afterwards he was terrified to find his mouth suddenly filled with blood。
For what seemed an eternity he fought for breath against the suffocating torrent； and when at length it stopped； he sank trembling into a chair by the side of the table； holding the towel to his mouth and scarcely daring to breathe； whilst a cold sweat streamed from every pore and gathered in large drops upon his forehead。
Through the deathlike silence of the night there came from time to time the chimes of the clock of a distant church； but he continued to sit there motionless； taking no heed of the passing hours； and possessed with an awful terror。
So this was the beginning of the end！ And afterwards the other two would be left by themselves at the mercy of the world。 In a few years' time the boy would be like Bert White； in the clutches of some psalm…singing devil like Hunter or Rushton； who would use him as if he were a beast of burden。 He imagined he could see him now as he would be then： worked； driven； and bullied； carrying loads； dragging carts； and running here and there； trying his best to satisfy the brutal tyrants； whose only thought would be to get profit out of him for themselves。 If he lived； it would be to grow up with his body deformed and dwarfed by unnatural labour and with his mind stultified； degraded and brutalized by ignorance and poverty。 As this vision of the child's future rose before him； Owen resolved that it should never be！ He would not leave them alone and defenceless in the midst of the ‘Christian' wolves who were waiting to rend them as soon as he was gone。 If he could not give them happiness； he could at least put them out of the reach of further suffering。 If he could not stay with them； they would have to come with him。 It would be kinder and more merciful。
Chapter 35
Facing the ‘Problem'
Nearly every other firm in the town was in much the same plight as Rushton & Co。； none of them had anything to speak of to do； and the workmen no longer troubled to go to the different shops asking for a job。 They knew it was of no use。 Most of them just walked about aimlessly or stood talking in groups in the streets； principally in the neighbourhood of the Wage Slave Market near the fountain on the Grand Parade。 They congregated here in such numbers that one or two residents wrote to the local papers complaining of the ‘nuisance'； and pointing out that it was calculated to drive the ‘better…class' visitors out of the town。 After this two or three extra policemen were put on duty near the fountain with instructions to ‘move on' any groups of unemployed that formed。 They could not stop them from coming there； but they prevented them standing about。
The processions of unemployed continued every day； and the money they begged from the public was divided equally amongst those who took part。 Sometimes it amounted to one and sixpence each； sometimes it was a little more and sometimes a little less。 These men presented a terrible spectacle as they slunk through the dreary streets； through the rain or the snow； with the slush soaking into their broken boots； and； worse still； with the bitterly cold east wind penetrating their rotten clothing and freezing their famished bodies。
The majority of the skilled workers still held aloof from these processions； although their haggard faces bore involuntary testimony to their sufferings。 Although privation reigned supreme in their desolate homes； where there was often neither food nor light nor fire； they were too ‘proud' to parade their misery before each other or the world。 They secretly sold or pawned their clothing and their furniture and lived in semi…starvation on the proceeds； and on credit； but they would not beg。 Many of them even echoed the sentiments of those who had written to the papers； and with a strange lack of class…sympathy blamed those who took part in the processions。 They said it was that sort of thing that drove the ‘better class' away； injured the town； and caused all the poverty and unemployment。 However； some of them accepted charity in other ways； district visitors distributed tickets for coal and groceries。 Not that that sort of thing made much difference； there was usually a great deal of fuss and advice； many quotations of Scripture； and very little groceries。 And even what there was generally went to the least…deserving people； because the only way to obtain any of this sort of ‘charity' is by hypocritically pretending to be religious： and the greater the hypocrite； the greater the quantity of coal and groceries。 These ‘charitable' people went into the wretched homes of the poor and … in effect … said： ‘Abandon every particle of self… respect： cringe and fawn： come to church： bow down and grovel to us； and in return we'll give you a ticket that you can take to a certain shop and exchange for a shillingsworth of groceries。 And； if you're very servile and humble we may give you another one next week。'
They never gave the ‘case' the money。 The ticket system serves three purposes。 It prevents the ‘case' abusing the ‘charity' by spending the money on drink。 It advertises the benevolence of the donors： and it enables the grocer … who is usually a member of the church … to get rid of any stale or damaged stock he may have on hand。
When these visiting ladies' went into a workman's house and found it clean and decently furnished； and the children clean and tidy； they came to the conclusion that those people were not suitable ‘cases' for assistance。 Perhaps the children had had next to nothing to eat； and would have been in rags if the mother had not worked like a slave washing and m