Who is Borka?

Before leaving the United States for the old country, Ondrej remarries, seeking to find a suitable stepmother for Jozef. The woman is far from suitable, however, spending the entire marriage mistreating Josef and trying to swindle Ondrej out of what money he may possess. She has two sons of her own, and they are rotten, spoiled boys who consistently pick at either Zlee or Jozef. She is important to the story because she provides such a sharp contrast from the gentle, compassionate Lizzie Vinich in the beginning of the story, and also because his stepmother's meanness drives Jozef closer to his mother.