The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-06-05

with all her senses, and pressed towards her in
order to embrace her.
Ho-wasn't this woman a part of herself?
Force seemed to have poured itself suddenly from
the woman into her. But this time it was not the
community of endurance which burningly swept
over her. 1t was something stronger Something
bigger Something unheard Of Something which
had never yet overfowed her body which bore
her aloft and even hurled her out of her patience
What was it. She had drawn herself to her full
height and her eyes glowed like two lights. Was
she perhaps also rebel? Was she perhaps also
a seditious person? Did she also want more than
work and bread? And what did she want? She
had to press herr hands against her breast. 80
strongly did everything within her rear up
Certainly she wanted more! Certainly she
wanted little joy. Certainly she wanted house!
a garden. Certainly she wanted to rest little
and leisurel o! how much she wanted! She
stretched her arms up. She flew out Of herself
Her face was in flames.
Meanwhile however another woman had
climbed up on the cart She was larger than the. ,
hunchback. More masculine She had a hard
sullen face, and small wrinkles lined her fore
head. "Womenw she shouted loudly "Menw
and her face became still harder. "Why do we
stand so long! Why are we talking so much!
why don't we goW She looked for moment over
the masses as if she saw into everyone's mind
"Where is the bread Where is the work! Where
are those who hinder us?"
GIN the cityp' shrieked some who stood near
by GIN the city," the others cried, too. 'Tn the
city," answered mother Mellicher also And the
shout sped farther. The answer eaped from all
of them. From the entire gathering Shaped it.
self into clamor. Echoed back again.
"In the city!w screamed the woman az loud
as she could scream. "In the ethyl" and her two
hands stretched towards the nearest houses
All took the cry up still faster 1t whipped all
still more powerfully. All shouted it again in
chorus. All pointed to the city. The centermost
we're already crowding into procession.
hos "In the cityw once more screamed the bunch.
back who had stepped up beside the big woman
thin, whitehaired old woman who had been
pressed firmly against them, shouted the same
"In the cityW now shouted mother MeIlicher who
was thrown by the onset against the cart and
she swung herself up with the three. "In the
cityw And she suddenly brought the cry from
out of herself if her whole life depended upon
it. As if her freedom dwelt in this city. AS if in
this city she could be emancipated from her en-
tire misery. From her hunger. From her need.
As if there were better life in or behind this
city.
And the people who now gathered in the process
sion behind and beneath her seemed to sense the
same. Their faces were still sallow and small
Still thin and sunken. Their bodies still swslyed
O"~~ "Au III no"'hJ anu painfully. DuJ Lntlr
eyes were more fiery. Their faces glowed. Every
thing about them grew. They became larger
More powerful They raised themselves out of
their wretchedness as if they had wings. su|
This made mother Melcher even freer. Tt i
surged about her. 1t penetrated her. 1t moved
her profoundly. Weren't they already growing
above the city? And who was there to oppose her
and these people? Who would stop their march?
Who would lift his hand against this host? Who?
Who? She jumped down off the cart again and
placed herself among the leaders Of the process
sion. Who? Who? she thought once more as they
began to march.
First they streamed over the meadows. Then
they tramped ponderously over the uneven pave
ment. Behind the park they turned into the city.
Their procession spread out in tiers like blunt
ed wedge.