The novel opens with the wedding celebration of Ona Lukoszaite and Jurgis Rudkus, Lithuanian immigrants who have recently arrived in Packingtown. The veselija, the wedding feast, is being held strictly according to Lithuanian custom. Ona's cousin Marija Berczynskas is in charge of the event, which is being held in the rear room of a saloon. A cello and two fiddles make up the band. The bride is extremely young, slight and nervous. The groom, in …showed first 75 words of 7506 total…

…showed last 75 words of 7506 total…the principles of co-operative living and so on. On the evening of election day, Jurgis joins other party members at a meeting. The Socialists have covered major ground in this election and have secured thrice the number of votes they got in the previous presidential election. Packingtown leads the way, setting an example for the rest of the nation, with the Socialist vote almost matching that of the Democrats. The meeting ends with rousing speeches.