The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mother, by Maxim Gorky

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Title: Mother

Author: Maxim Gorky

Posting Date: May 19, 2009 [EBook #3783]
Release Date: February, 2003
First Posted: September 4, 2001

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTHER ***

Produced by Jarrod Newton. HTML version by Al Haines.

MOTHER

by

Maxim Gorky

PART I

CHAPTER I

Every day the factory whistle bellowed forth its shrill, roaring,
trembling noises into the smoke-begrimed and greasy atmosphere of the
workingmen's suburb; and obedient to the summons of the power of steam,
people poured out of little gray houses into the street. With somber
faces they hastened forward like frightened roaches, their muscles
stiff from insufficient sleep. In the chill morning twilight they
walked through the narrow, unpaved street to the tall stone cage that
waited for them with cold assurance, illumining their muddy road with
scores of greasy, yellow, square eyes. The mud plashed under their
feet as if in mocking commiseration. Hoarse exclamations of sleepy
voices were heard; irritated, peevish, abusive language rent the air
with malice; and, to welcome the people, deafening sounds floated
about--the heavy whir of machinery, the dissatisfied snort of steam.
Stern and somber, the black chimneys stretched their huge, thick sticks
high above the village.

In the evening, when the sun was setting, and red rays languidly
glimmered upon the windows of the houses, the factory ejected its
people like burned-out ashes, and again they walked through the
streets, with black, smoke-covered faces, radiating the sticky odor of
machine oil, and showing the gleam of hungry teeth. But now there was
animation in their voices, and even gladness. The servitude of hard
toil was over for the day. Supper awaited them at home, and respite.

The day was swallowed up by the factory; the machine sucked out of
men's muscles as much vigor as it needed. The day was blotted out from
life, not a trace of it left. Man made another imperceptible step
toward his grave; but he saw close before him the delights of rest, the
joys o