Set in a small village in rural Germany, this poignant and powerful novel tells the story of Frau Meseck, a hardworking peasant woman who struggles to provide for her family in the face of poverty, illness, and social injustice. With vivid characters and a deeply evocative sense of place, Max Halbe's masterpiece is a stirring testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.