The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-01-02

terot- about the edges bit to make them fit into
everyday life. In things l was very obedlent'
Long before l can remember knew that to dls-
turb my father at his work comprised the Seven
Deadly Sins all rolled into one. The laws Oh the
Medes and the Persians as water to that
might have resented this later except that ne
was himself so entirely innocent of any plot to put
him on a pedestal l knew that that had been my
mothers work entirely.
When he was busy he could go into abstraction SO
profound that he forgot as one forgets the sha
dows the wall.
When was eleven or twelve perhaps, at the age
when children knock at the very portals of the gods
to ask "why?" tried to get into his study one day
past my mother.
"He said that he would hear this. history lesson
when was ready i urged for he was wonder
full teacher when he had time to teach me-
"He would do it, if he promised you," she agreed
"but you will manage not to be ready until he Is
finished with his work..
'Why must / always wait for his work." sulk-
ed, che is my father.
"Your father" she said with cold scorn, what
talk to me! Your fathers work is not with one
child alone. 1t is the of many children, little
and helpless for all the world of those who suffer
and who often cry for bread. Some OF them are
children too, smaller than you, helpless. If you
could push in to take his time from them it would
be better for me and mine not to have been born"
was awed at her cold anger and never forgot
We lived in one place and another. Sometimes
my father was with us, sometimes he was away
months at a time did not understand. But one
time when he had been living peacefully with us for
many months, woke to find my mother sitting up
very late looking into the fire. Her face was very
white and still and recollection of other times that
had seen her sitting So, stirred sick terror in me-
Back at intervals of years. in my childhood, came
memories of sitting all night in front of the fire,
her face white and the terrible quiet in her eyes.
At dawn my father came, and with the sound of
his step at the door she was her composed self
again Neither Knew that was awake.
"They have me-" said my father, they wait
ing outside the door. Goodbye, my love-"
She lifted her face to him.
what will become of you and the little one
here in strange country" he asked. Il viii send
for help for you when l But it will not be
SOON"
"Send for nothng!" she said, "and let nothing
fret you. l woman Of the people. am not
so helpless that | cannot take of myself and
one child"
"This is not home" He still looked anxious.
"That is not for you to think off, she said Bet
ter that | and mine dead than to be stone
around the neck of one who has heard the wall of
the helpless. 1t is for you to bring light to those
who long ago lost hope"
My father looked at her "still the little girl l
saw in the prison." he said, and bent to kiss her.
Then he used the word which so many years after
re-echoed for
Goodbye, Contradict
1t many months before we him again
but his words echoed strangely in my ears.
The next day my curiosity drove me to the ques
ton. Were you ever in prison, motherg'
For moment my mother looked at me, little
startled. Then she answered quite simply.
For two days only There revolt The
police put many Of in prison for little while
Ny people came and got me out on the second day