Poverty Against Ambition

The constant tug of war between the family's need for money and Mary's calling to education.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Silver Candlesticks Pawned

The Silver Candlesticks Pawned The Empty Till The children knew the till was empty when the silver candlesticks were taken away. Then the featherbeds went, and the satin dress. The Sealed Lame Chairs Creditors attached the furniture, sealing every lame chair and cracked pitcher. Breine Malke smuggled out a moth-eaten bonnet. The Child Philosopher Mary retired to a corner to think the trouble into terms of money. Money was got by working, and they were willing to work.

The Searchlight Canvass

The Searchlight Canvass The Grand Plan Mary agreed to sell subscriptions to the Boston Searchlight for a fifty percent commission. Seven subscribers a week would pay the rent. The Sealed Doors She walked through offices for hours, met polite refusals and rude dismissals. One man offered her a quarter as charity. The Long Walk Home The adventure collapsed at Roxbury Crossing. She rode home feeling like a thief for spending five cents.

Mrs. Hutch's Saturday Visits

Mrs. Hutch's Saturday Visits The Landlady's Knock Saturday brought the Mrs.-Hutch-is-coming-and-there's-no-rent feeling. She climbed the stairs with determination and knocked with emphasis. The Reproaches She accused the family of laziness, of living on her, and of having too many children. She blamed them for coming to America. The Wage of Fear Mary tried to explain her plans, but Mrs. Hutch would not hear. Poverty had a sharp tooth in its jaw.

The Peace Mission Rejected

The Peace Mission Rejected The Ambassador's Plan Mary brought a week's rent and tried to show Mrs. Hutch her Latin grammar and her plans for college. She wanted to promise payment of the arrears. The Storm of Fury Mrs. Hutch broke out in a worse rage than ever, mocking the beggar girl who talked of college. Mary could only stare. The Ridiculous Tidy In the middle of the tirade, Mary straightened a sliding tidy on the sofa and laughed. The mission failed, but she had learned something about the two-faced world.

The Grocer Who Understood

The Grocer Who Understood The Generous Credit Mr. Rosenblum gave the Antins credit by the week and by the year, never complaining. He knew exactly how poor they were. The Immigrant Investment He kept Mary in school because that was what America was for. A promising child was worth a grocer's risk. The Balance Struck Mary eventually earned enough to pay Mrs. Hutch the arrears. The grocer's faith was part of the balance.

during the family illnesses in Polotzk

a Saturday in the fall during the Dover Street years

every Saturday evening on Dover Street

a weekday visit to Mrs. Hutch

the Harrison Avenue years