Веснянки

           Itwasslowbusiness,becauseheneverhadbeentaughttodoausefulthing,andhedidn’tevenknowhowtohuntwork,leastofalltodoitwhenhefoundit;soprettysoonthingsweregoingwrong.Butifhecouldn’tfindwork,shecouldalwayssing,soshesangatnight,andmadelittlethingsinthedaytime.Hedidn’tlikehertosinginpublic,andhewouldn’tallowherwhenhecouldHELPhimself;butwintercame,itwasverycold,andfirewasexpensive.Rentswentup,andtheyhadtomovefartherouttocheaperandcheaperplaces;andyouwerecoming—Imean,theboythatislostwascoming—andtheywerealmostdistracted.Thenthemanwroteandtoldhisfatherallaboutit;andhisfathersenttheletterbackunopenedwithalinetellinghimnevertowriteagain.Whenthebabycame,therewasverylittlelefttopawnforfoodandadoctor,andnothingatallforanurse;soanoldneighborwomanwentinandtookcareoftheyoungmotherandthelittlebaby,becauseshewassosorryforthem.Bythattimetheywereawayinthesuburbsonthetopfloorofalittlewoodenhouse,amongalotofbigfactories,anditkeptgrowingcolder,withlesstoeat.Thenthemangrewdesperateandhewentjusttofindsomethingtoeatandthewomanwasdesperate,too.Shegotup,lefttheoldwomantotakecareofherbaby,andwentintothecitytosingforsomemoney.Thewomanbecamesocoldsheputthebabyinbedandwenthome.Thenaboilerblewupinabigfactorybesidethelittlehouseandsetitonfire.Apieceofironwaspitchedacrossandbrokethroughtheroof.