Mary Antin

We are not born all at once, but by bits. The body first, and the spirit later; and the birth read more

We are not born all at once, but by bits. The body first, and the spirit later; and the birth and growth of the spirit, in those who are attentive to their own inner life, are slow and exceedingly painful. Our mothers are racked with the pains of our physical birth; we ourselves suffer the longer pains of our spiritual growth.

As we moved along in a little procession, I was delighted with the illumination of the streets. So many lamps, read more

As we moved along in a little procession, I was delighted with the illumination of the streets. So many lamps, and they burned until morning, my father said, and so people did not need to carry lanterns.

His struggle for a bare living left him no time to take advantage of the public evening school. In time read more

His struggle for a bare living left him no time to take advantage of the public evening school. In time he learned to read, to follow a conversation or lecture; but he never learned to write correctly; and his pronunciation remains extremely foreign to this day.

But most of the Gentiles were ignorant.

But most of the Gentiles were ignorant.

In the evening of the first day my father conducted us to the public baths.

In the evening of the first day my father conducted us to the public baths.