Jess and Eliza are parents to four children, living peacefully in the North and abiding by their Quaker values. A nineteen-year-old named Jimmy is badly injured on his head and takes shelter in their home. Their son, Josh, had also recently had his head split open when he was riding horseback and trying to save a buddy of his. Josh is eager to join the war, but the family does everything they can to stop him.

Eliza tries to make Jimmy feel better while he takes residence in their home, but he nonetheless feels a bit unwelcome because he is a Southern rebel residing in Yankee territory. Jimmy talks to the younger children, who are clearly perplexed and interested, about the war. Eliza each meal, including Jimmy's request for Southern food for dinner.

That night, despite their efforts to make Jimmy feel welcome, Eliza sees that he is running, or rather stumbling, away from the house outside. He falls over, splitting open the wound on his head again. Eliza runs to his aid. She mourns his death, but knows that it will be a sign to the other children about the cost of war.