Theopolis Pratt was a proud old man who lived in his home in the Kentucky hills with his wife and his three daughters, Sara, Fern, and Eustacia. When the girls are still very young, the state of Kentucky set out to build a new high school just outside of the Pratt's property. Theopolis is not afraid of fighting and refuses to let them pave a road leading to the school on his property. Theopolis goes fishing alone one night and runs into a group of three young men. One of the men is playing a guitar, and Theoppolis tells him he likes the music. The young man takes offense to this and they start brawling. In the fight, one of the young men accidentally shoots his friend with the guitar, aiming for Theopolis who he has shot in the wrist already. Theopolis goes home and is arrested the next day, but dies in jail before his trial is settled. His wife struggles but manages to take care of the children and herself on only two dollars a week. Eustacia is doing very well in school and is the star student. She works in the office of the school and is the most reliable helper Mr. Stringer, the English III teacher at the school, has ever had. When she enters into the English III after two years at school helping in the office, she is excited to be in Mr. Stringer's class. There is another girl in the class who is also smart and is Eustacia's biggest competition, always outdoing her by a few points. Still, Mr. Stringer is very encouraging of Eustacia and has a personal desire to see her succeed. He asks her about going to college, but she tells him that she cannot. She must stay home and work to earn money because her Uncle Jarvis does not want her to go to college. Mr. Stringer is angered by this and visits Eustacia's home, speaking with her mother. He tells Mr. Jarvis that it is not fair to keep Eustacia from school and that he must let her go. That afternoon, she gets her acceptance letter to the school Mr. Stringer helped her apply to, and the two celebrate her accomplishments. Mr. Stringer envisions Eustacia leaving on the train, living a happy and fulfilling life pursuing her education.