Chapters X-XII, The Story of Cora Belle, Zebbie's Story, A Contented Couple Summary and Analysis

The Story of Cora Belle is contained in the August 15th, 1910 letter. Elinore reports that they had Grandma Edmonson's birthday party; their family consisted of Grandma, Grandpa and little Cora Belle, their sweet little only child. Cora's mother, Cora Jane, was to be married to a young man who desperate to marry her but who was shot before he could do so. Cora Jane was distraught when he died, though her parents had little sympathy for her because she was pregnant. They then told her to leave. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy took her to live with her. Cora Jane's parents repented before she gave birth to Cora Belle, but Cora Jane only lived a day after Cora Belle was born.

The...