| My Antonia | |||||||||||||||||
| Book I: The Shimerdas - Chapters 1-8 | Book I: The Shimerdas - Chapters 9-15 | ||||||||||||||||
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Orphaned at ten, Jim makes the long train journey from his Virginia birthplace to his grandparents' farm in Nebraska. With him is Jake, a young farmhand. An amiable conductor tells him of an immigrant family in the next car. One daughter is a bright, pretty, brown-eyed girl who talks some English. Jim, however, is too shy to meet her. Arriving in Black Hawk by night, he sees the foreign group huddled amid their possessions. He himself is met by Otto, a wild-looking but kindly hired man, who drives him through the blackness to the farm. Exploring his new terrain, Jim admires the flourishing farm but is most impressed with the unending miles of tall wine-red grass waving in the wind. Surrounded by it, he feels absorbed into something great and complete. This, he later decides, is what happiness is. The Burdens visit the Bohemian settlers and find that their grasping countryman, Peter Krajiek, has sold them poor land and a wretched cave-like shelter. The family consists of the mother, a whining, inefficient housekeeper; 19-year-old Ambrosch, husky but sharp and wary; a small blonde girl, Yulka; a big, abnormal boy, Marek; and dark-haired 14-year-old Antonia, with large eyes and glowing skin. Gentle Mr. Shimerda, tall and slim, is a skilled weaver, who used to play the violin at weddings. Living conditions are hard for the Shimerdas, but Jim and Antonia become fast friends as he teaches her English. He also admires her father, who seems sad and lonely. Jim rides over to see her on his pony. |
After the first December snowfall, Jim takes Antonia and Yulka for a ride in his new sleigh, made for him by Otto, once a cabinetmaker's apprentice. The young people find the drive through the dazzling white scenery exhilarating although the girls shiver in thin dress and shawls. Some weeks later, hearing that the Shimerdas are in distress, the Burdens bring them provisions. Mrs. Shimerda embarrasses Grandmother with her tirades and tears. Antonia is more gracious, and Mr. Shimerda explains sadly that they left Bohemia with adequate funds but lost out through ruinous exchange rates and Krajiek's greed. As they leave, Mrs. Shimerda gives them a cupful of dried food, which she obviously treasures. Suspicious of anything so foreign, Mrs. Burden throws the flakes into the fire. Jim tastes one, however, and later learns that they were dried mushrooms brought from Europe. During the subsequent thaw, Mrs. Shimerda comes over with Antonia. The Bohemian woman whines enviously and seizes an iron pot. Jim is angry and reacts coldly when Antonia tells him that her father is ill and unhappy. She adds that it was her mother who insisted that they come to America to provide better opportunities for the children. Jim remains hostile, and the girl asks why his wealthy grandfather hasn't helped them with needed loans. Ambrosch, she declares, would surely pay him back. On January 22, the Burdens learn that Mr. Shimerda has shot himself. Although the ground is frozen and travel is hard, Jim's family sends Otto for the coroner and the priest. Mrs. Burden goes over to comfort the women. Jim, alone at home, feels that Mr. Shimerda's unhappy spirit may linger in the burden home before starting back to Bohemia. Otto cannot reach the missionary priest, but Anton Jelinek, a strong and likable young Bohemian, arrives to help. He explains to Grandfather how much having a priest means to Catholics and impresses Mr. Burden with his "manly" faith. | ||||||||||||||||
| Book II: The Hired Girls - Chapters 1-7 | |||||||||||||||||
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Three years after Jim's arrival in Nebraska, the Burdens rent their farm to the Widow Steavens and move into Black Hawk. There Jim can obtain further schooling. After settling the family in their new home near the edge of town, Otto heads back toward the wilder West, and Jake goes with him. Jim never sees either of these good men again. Black Hawk is a pleasant clean little town with board sidewalks and white fences around grass plots. Jim misses the farm but likes his river view there. Because the Burden house is the first met upon entering town, country friends often stop there to leave their horses. Jim likes the company, but misses seeing Antonia. The widow Steavens says that Ambrosch is working her too hard. Grandmother hopes to get her work with their new neighbors, the Harlings. In August the Harlings lose their cook, and Grandfather recommends Antonia. Dealing with Ambrosch for the girl's services, the hearty Mrs. Harling is amused by his inept attempts to drive a hard bargain. She agrees to pay the girl three dollars a week. After dreary nights on the farm, Antonia is happy at the Harlings. Evenings she contentedly sews nice clothes for herself. She also tells stories. One grim one is of a tramp denied beer at a farm where he worked at harvest-time. Wild-eyed he dove into the threshing machine and died. Another time, Jim, Antonia, and Lena visit Tiny at the hotel, when her strict employer, Mrs. Gardner, has gone to Omaha to see Booth and Barrett in a play. The young people hear a visiting Negro pianist, Blind d'Arnault, give a rhythmically exciting impromptu concert. Jim and Antonia find it thrilling. | |||||||||||||||||
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