Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Whenshetriedtowalk,shefoundshecoulddosoonlywiththegreatestdifficulty.Herewasfreshmisfortune.Tobeg,shemustwalk.Draggingherselfforwardahalf-blockatatime,sheregainedthestreetoncemore.Shesucceededinbeggingacoupleofnickels,boughtabagofapplesfromavender,and,returningtothepark,sankexhausteduponabench.

           Heresheremainedalldayuntilevening,Hildaalternatelywhimperingforherbreadandmilk,orplayinglanguidlyinthegravelwalkatherfeet.Intheevening,shestartedoutagain.Thistime,itwasbitterhard.Nobodyseemedinclinedtogive.Twiceshewas“movedon”bypolicemen.Twohours’beggingelicitedbutasingledime.Withthis,sheboughtHilda’sbreadandmilk,andrefusingherselftoeat,returnedtothebench—theonlyhomesheknew—andspentthenightshiveringwithcold,burningwithfever.

           FromWednesdaymorningtillFridayevening,withtheexceptionofthefewapplesshehadbought,andaquarterofaloafofhardbreadthatshefoundinagreasynewspaper—scrapsofaworkman’sdinner—Mrs.Hoovenhadnothingtoeat.Inherweakenedcondition,beggingbecamehourlymoredifficult,andsuchlittlemoneyaswasgivenher,sheresolutelyspentonHilda’sbreadandmilkinthemorningandevening.

           ByFridayafternoon,shewasveryweak,indeed.Hereyestroubledher.Shecouldnolongerseedistinctly,andattimesthereappearedtohercuriousfigures,hugecrystalgobletsofthemostgracefulshapes,floatingandswayingintheairinfrontofher,almostwithinarm’sreach.