Quotation from: The Valley of the Moon

Written by: Jack London


She reviewed the events of her married life. The strikes and the
hard times had caused everything. If it had not been for the
strike of the shopmen and the fight in her front yard, she would
not have lost her baby. If Billy had not been made desperate by
the idleness and the hopeless fight of the teamsters, he would
not have taken to drinking. If they had not been hard up, they
would not have taken a lodger, and Billy would not be in jail.


Her mind was made up. The city was no place for her and Billy, no
place for love nor for babies. The way out was simple. They would
leave Oakland. It was the stupid that remained and bowed their
heads to fate. But she and Billy were not stupid. They would not
bow their heads. They would go forth and face fate.--Where, she
did not know. But that would come. The world was large. Beyond
the encircling hills, out through the Golden Gate, somewhere they
would find what they desired. The boy had been wrong in one
thing. She was not tied to Oakland, even if she was married. The
world was free to her and Billy as it had been free to the
wandering generations before them. It was only the stupid who had
been left behind everywhere in the race's wandering. The strong
had gone on. Well, she and Billy were strong. They would go on,
over the brown Contra Costa hills or out through the Golden Gate.

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