Jacob loved his wife very much. His tastes were in harmony with hers, which brought them into harmony. They ran a hardware store weekdays. On weekends, they hatched chickens or went hunting for hares. The harvest of crops was bad that year because of the flood. The government ordered to harness the fiver. Many men including Jamb volunteered to help. They stayed on the riverbank day and night. Their homes were quite handy, but everyone hung on to their work. Hardly anybody left his post. Two month later, Jacob hardly finished his work when he hastened home. But he was shocked to see that his wife was with an escaped criminal! "Harboring criminals is an offence in law!" Jacob said to his wife. She looked at him with hatred, "I want to divorce you." He said to his wife, "It is harmful for you to make a hasty decision. I will give you some more time." He left home in haste. Jacob found a job on a harbor. He hauled the fish into the boat everyday. It was a hateful job. But a strong man would bear hardship without complaining. Life on a boat had hardened him. At night, Jamb hung about at the harbor. There was a handy place for the telephone. He wanted to call his wife, but always hung back. One night, he did call. A man answered the phone, "Hang on, she is coming. Darling, your call." Jacob hung up the phone. His heart was broken.

　　杰可伯非常爱他的妻子。他的爱好同她的爱好协调，这使得他们很融洽。他们在工作日里经营着一个五金店。周末，他们孵小鸡或是出去打野兔。那年因为洪水的缘故，农作物收成不好。政府下令治理河流。许多人包括杰可伯都自愿帮忙。他们日夜地呆在河岸上。他们的家都很近便，但每个人都将自己的工作坚择下去。几乎没有人离开自己的岗位。两个月后，杰可伯刚一完成工作，就赶忙回家去。但他震惊地看到他的妻子和一名逃犯在一起!“窝藏罪犯是犯法的!”他对妻子说。而她憎恨地回答：“我要与你离婚。”杰可伯对妻子说：“做出草率的决定对你是有害的。我愿意给你多一些时间。”他匆忙地离开了家。杰可伯在一个港口找到一份工作。他每天将鱼拖曳到船里。这是份可恨的工作。但一个坚强的男人是会忍受困苦而不抱怨的。船上的生活已经使他变硬朗了。晚上，杰可伯在港口徘徊。有个方便的地方可以打电话。他想给妻子打电话，但总是踌躇着。一天晚上，他终于打了。一名男子接了电话：“等一下，她就来。亲爱的，你的电话。”杰可伯挂断电话。他的心碎了。