Mother by Maxim Gorky

to the grave."
    "There!" Rybin exclaimed.
    "Always and everywhere we are first in work but last in life. Who cares for us? Who wishes us good? Who regards us as human beings? No one!"
    "No one!" echoed from the crowd.
    Pavel, mastering himself, began to talk more simply and calmly; the crowd slowly drew about him, blending into one dark, thick, thousand-headed body. It looked into his face with hundreds of attentive eyes; it sucked in his words in silent, strained attention.
    "We will not attain to a better life until we feel ourselves as comrades, as one family of friends firmly bound together by one desire--the desire to fight for our rights."
    "Get down to business!" somebody standing near the mother shouted rudely.
    "Don't interrupt!" "Shut up!" The two muffled exclamations were heard in different places. The soot-covered faces frowned in sulky incredulity; scores of eyes looked into Pavel's face thoughtfully and seriously.
    "A socialist, but no fool!" somebody observed.
    "I say, he does speak boldly!" said a tall, crippled workingman, tapping the mother on the shoulder.
    "It is time, comrades, to take a stand against the greedy power that lives by our labor. It is time to defend ourselves; we must all understand that no one except ourselves will help us. One for all and all for one--this is our law, if we want to crush the foe!"
    "He's right, boys!" Makhotin shouted. "Listen to the truth!" And, with a broad sweep of his arm, he shook his fist in the air.
    "We must call out the manager at once," said Pavel. "We must ask him."
    As if struck by a tornado, the crowd rocked to and fro; scores of
voices shouted:
    "The manager! The manager! Let him come! Let him explain!"
    "Send delegates for him! Bring him here!"
    "No, don't; it's not necessary!"
    The mother pushed her way to the front and looked up at her son. She was filled with pride. Her son stood among the old, respected workingmen; all listened to him and agreed with him! She was pleased that he was so calm and talked so simply; not angrily, not swearing, like the others. Broken exclamations, wrathful words and oaths descended like hail on iron. Pavel looked down on the people from his elevation, and with wide-open eyes seemed to be seeking something among them.
    "Delegates!"
    "Let Sizov speak!"
    "Vlasov!"
    "Rybin! He has a terrible tongue!"
    Finally Sizov, Rybin, and Pavel were chosen for the interview with the manager. When just about to send for the manager, suddenly low exclamations were heard in the crowd:
    "Here he comes himself!"
    "The manager?"
    "Ah!"
    The crowd opened to make way for a tall, spare man with a pointed beard, an elongated face and blinking eyes.
    "Permit me," he said, as he pushed the people aside with a short motion of his hand, without touching them. With the experienced look of a ruler of people, he scanned the workingmen's faces with a searching gaze. They took their hats off and bowed to him. He walked past them without acknowledging their greetings. His presence silenced and confused the crowd, and evoked embarrassed smiles and low exclamations, as of repentant children who had already come to regret their prank.
    Now he passed, by the mother, casting a stern glance at her face, and stopped before the pile of iron. Somebody from above extended a hand to him; he did not take it, but with an easy, powerful movement of his body he clambered up and stationed himself in front of Pavel and Sizov. Looking around the silent crowd, he asked:
    "What's the meaning of this crowd? Why have you dropped your work?"
    For a few seconds silence reigned. Sizov waved his cap in the air, shrugged his shoulders, and dropped his head.
    "I am asking you a question!" continued the manager.
    Pavel moved alongside of him and said in a low voice, pointing to
Sizov and Rybin:
    "We three are authorized by all the comrades to ask you to revoke your order about the kopeck discount."
    "Why?" asked the manager, without looking at Pavel.
    "We do not consider such a tax just!"