Summary

Jurgis and Ona have just gotten married. They are throwing a reception for their friends, family, and co-workers. All the people at the party are workers in the local packing houses, most of them immigrants from Lithuania. These people work from morning to night six days a week, rarely able to find time to relax and celebrate as they are doing on this night. The party lasts until the early hours of the morning, even though most of these people will have to report to work at seven that morning.

Jurgis grew up in the country in Lithuania. Jurgis lived alone with his father and worked hard on the farm. When Jurgis first saw Ona, he fell head over heels in love. However, Ona’s father was not interested in allowing his daughter to marry a poor farmer. When Ona’s father died...