Most of the action takes place on or near a farm in North Carolina. The soil is rocky but fertile; Truth's uncle Matthew Bardwell has piled up some of the stones in a corner of his property.

In good times, the family has plenty of good food to eat, even if some of it, such as cornbread dipped in molasses for breakfast, may seem unusual to modern Americans. After the Civil War begins, times become hard. Matthew Bardwell's sons are forced into the Confederate Army, and their father must try to raise and harvest crops on his own, which he has trouble doing because he is aging. Various soldiers also steal food from the Bardwell's, taking most of their meat.

Near the farm is a town with a school and a Quaker meeting hall.

Truth attends the school until her teacher is conscripted and forced to leave. She...