Op hoop van zegen

Summary

The ship-owner Bos has become a rich man whose conscience is not troubled by his knowingly sending out unseaworthy fishing boats. Kniertje, a widow who has lost her husband and two sons at sea, works for Bos as charwoman and is kindly treated by his daughter Clementine. Kniertje lives with her two remaining sons, Geert and Barend, and her niece Jo, who is engaged to Geert. Geert is in the navy and Barend does whatever work he can find. During a dance evening in the local café, Geert fights with his superior officer who has insulted Jo, and for this he is sent to gaol. Bos has an old boat, "Op Hoop van Zegen", that he wants to send to sea again, despite the warning of the drunken ships carpenter Simon that the boat is rotten. Geert, released from gaol, comes back home. Kniertje wants him and Barend to join the crew of the "Op Hoop van Zegen". Barend hates the sea and has heard Simon's warning. Only his mother's pleading induces him to sign the articles. Mees, the fiancé of Simon's daughter Marietje, will be another member of the crew. While Kniertje's birthday is being celebrated, the time comes for the men to board the boat. Barend, fearing that the boat will sink, hides himself but is found by the constables and forced to go aboard, much to the shame of his mother. Six weeks go by and nothing has been heard of the "Op Hoop van Zegen". While a fierce storm rages outside, Kniertje, Jo, Marietje and the other women sit together telling each other stories about the friends and relations they have lost at sea. Jo reveals that she is bearing Geert's child. Every day the women go to the ship-owner's office to hear if there is news. It is Clementine who picks up the telephone and hears that Barend's body has been washed ashore. The "Op Hoop van Zegen" has been lost with all hands on board. Kniertje cannot believe the terrible news. Now she has lost all those dear to her and she blames herself for having forced Barend to go with the doomed boat. She barely notices when Kaps, the book-keeper, pushes a pan with food into her hand. She stands up mechanically and trudges to her lonely cottage.