The Hungry Ones by Maxim Gorky. Short summary

5 seconds

The author describes how crowds of starving people from the Volga River boarded the steamer. Mothers try to soothe babies and older children crying from hunger, adults praying.

1 minute

The author describes how the steamer from the Volga boarded crowds of starving mostly were old people, women with babies and children. People were ragged and very hungry. Mothers could hardly comfort crying babies. Some of the compassionate passengers gave the mothers some bread, and they chewed it up and gave it to the babies.

A great experience for the older children was to go and see how dinner was being prepared in the steamer’s kitchen. The kids were especially interested in the large amount of meat. Not afraid of being chased away, they went to look at the chunks of beef as if it were a miracle.

There is a groaning sound on the steamer. It is the cries of the babies, whom the mothers are trying to calm, the adults are praying. At the same time, older children try to beg for alms or food.