A community of Native Americans sails with all their belongings to St. Joseph's Island, which consists of some hay fields and a swamp. Old John, a man who has been cutting hay with his son, observes a house that lies deep within the swamp. He abandons his son to go visit it. He hears a deep noise within the house and enters to find it full of visiting Native Americans. Old John explains to them that the house is his and they begin a conversation. A representative of the community explains that they are out of bread and have to leave, but Old John insists that they stay. He tells them that he constructed the house fifteen years ago, but it was ruined when some vagabonds got in and he has not used it since, so he wants the community to use it for as long as they need. Old John proudly states that he never smokes or drinks, ostensibly as a means of proving that he is a good man. His son enters and he tells him to pull out some bread so that everyone can eat.