Part 100 (1/2)

In the two brothers Pelle found a pair of loyal comrades, who could not but look up to him.

XI

With the embargo matters were going so-so. Meyer replied to it by convoking the employers to a meeting with a view to establis.h.i.+ng an employers' union, which would refuse employment to the members of the trade union. Then the matter would have been settled at one blow.

However, things did not go so far as that. The small employers were afraid the journeymen would set up for themselves and compete against them. And instinctively they feared the big employers more than the journeymen, and were shy of entering the Union with them. The inner tendency of the industrial movement was to concentrate everything in a few hands, and to ruin the small business. The small employers had yet another crow to pluck with Meyer, who had extended his business at the expense of their own.

Through Master Beck, Pelle learned what was taking place among the employers. Meyer had demanded that Beck should discharge Pelle, but Beck would not submit to him.

”I can't really complain of you,” he said. ”Your trades-unionism I don't like--you would do better to leave it alone. But with your work I am very well satisfied. I have always endeavored to render justice to all parties. But if you can knock Meyer's feet from under him, we small employers will be very grateful to your Union, for he's freezing us out.”

To knock his feet from under him-that wasn't an easy thing to do. On the contrary, he was driving the weaker brethren out of the Union, and had always enough workers--partly Swedes, with whom he had a written contract, and whom he had to pay high wages. The system of home employment made it impossible to get to grips with him. Pelle and the president of the Union carefully picketed the warehouse about the time when the work was delivered, in order to discover who was working for him. And they succeeded in s.n.a.t.c.hing a few workers away from him and in bringing them to reason, or else their names were published in The Working Man. But then the journeymen sent their wives or children with the work--and there was really nothing that could be done. It cost Meyer large sums of money to keep his business going, but the Union suffered more. It had not as yet sufficient authority, and the large employers stood by Meyer and would not employ members of the Union as long as the embargo lasted. So it was finally raised.

That was a defeat; but Pelle had learned something, none the less!

The victory was to the strong, and their organization was not as yet sufficient. They must talk and agitate, and hold meetings! The tendency to embrace the new ideas certainly inclined the men to organize themselves, but their sense of honor was as yet undeveloped. The slightest mishap dispersed them.

Pelle did not lose heart; he must begin all over again, that was all.

On the morning after the defeat was an accomplished fact he was up early. His resolution to go ahead with redoubled energies, he had, so to speak, slept into him, so that it pervaded his body and put energy and decision into his hammer-strokes.

He whistled as the work progressed rapidly under his hands. The window stood open so that the night air might escape; h.o.a.r frost lay on the roofs, and the stars twinkled overhead in the cold heavens. But Pelle was not cold! He had just awakened the ”Family” and could hear them moving about in their room. People were beginning to tumble out into the gangway, still drunken with sleep. Pelle was whistling a march. On the previous evening he had sent off the last instalment of his debt to Sort, and at the same time had written definitely to Father La.s.se that he was to come. And now the day was dawning!

Marie came and reached him his coffee through the door. ”Good morning!”

she cried merrily, through the crack of the door. ”We're going to have fine weather to-day, Pelle!” She was not quite dressed yet and would not let herself be seen. The boys nodded good morning as they ran out. Karl had his coat and waistcoat under his arm. These articles of clothing he always used to put on as he ran down the stairs.

When it was daylight Marie came in to set the room in order. She conversed with him as she scrubbed.

”Look here, Marie!” cried Pelle suddenly. ”Ellen came here yesterday and asked you to bring me a message when I came home. You didn't do it.”

Marie's face became set, but she did not reply.

”It was only by pure chance that I met her yesterday, otherwise we should have missed one another.”

”Then I must have forgotten it,” said Marie morosely.

”Why, of course you forgot it. But that's the second time this week. You must be in love!” he added, smiling.

Marie turned her back on him. ”I've got nothing to do with her--I don't owe her anything!” suddenly she cried defiantly. ”And I'm not going to clean your room any longer, either--let her do it--so there!” She seized her pail and scrubbing-brush and ran into her own room. After a time he heard her voice from within the room; at first he thought she was singing a tune to herself, but then he heard sobs.

He hurried into the room; she was lying on the bed, weeping, biting the pillow and striking at it angrily with her roughened hands. Her thin body burned as if with fever.

”You are ill, Marie dear,” said Pelle anxiously, laying his hand on her forehead. ”You ought to go to bed and take something to make you sweat.

I'll warm it up for you.”

She was really ill; her eyes were dry and burning, and her hands were cold and clammy. But she would agree to nothing. ”Go away!” she said angrily, ”and attend to your own work! Leave me alone!” She had turned her back on him and nudged him away defiantly with her shoulder. ”You'd best go in and cuddle Ellen!” she cried suddenly, with a malicious laugh.

”Why are you like this, Marie?” said Pelle, distressed. ”You are quite naughty!”

She buried her face in the bed and would neither look at him nor answer him. So he went back to his work.