Summary

I - The Pleading Woman

As the story begins, the reader is introduced to Mrs. Tony Roberts who is known as the "pleading woman." She asks her husband and neighbors for various items. She begs Mr. Clarke, one of the neighbors, for a piece of meat to season a pot of greens. Mrs. Roberts claims that her husband doesn't provide for her and her children, but Mr. Clarke knows differently. Still, he relents and gives her the meat and Mrs. Roberts venerates him, telling him that God will bless him for doing so because he loves those who give. When Mrs. Roberts follows Mr. Clarke to get the meat, she even asks for more than what he's cutting off the bone. She leaves, but not without chastising Mr. Clarke. Clearly disappointed in him, she feels that he should have given her...