Provided For

Her father and mother were anxious to see her married and
       provided for as soon as possible.
Squat and ugly, her face pimpled, she was stupid and had just
       managed to get through grammar-school, two yers older
       than her companions.
Her father wanted her to marry his clerk. He had a good-
       looking, womanish face.
She used to say, “He’s marrying me for money, he hates me!”

Her father bought him a store in the Italian quarter.
The man who sold the store had it for years and had made money.
Her husband despised Italians. When they would not buy he
       lost his patience, glared or shouted.
He sniffed at the men when they came in after a day’s ditching,
       cheated when he could and still could not make the store pay.

His father-in-law bought him a store in another neighborhood.
       He could not make a living and was always borrowing.
Once his father-in-law refused him more money.
He came home. The two elder children were in bed. His wife
       was suckling the baby. She stared out of the window,
       tears in her eyes.
He slapped her face, ‘Tell your father! And if he doesn’t help me out—!”