"But belief in the human soul escapes all reason and flies beyond the frail fingers of our knowledge." Prologue

"Nor was I ready to give them up, nor give up on them." Chap. 1, p. 16

"Then without further urging she got off the chair and came with me, careful not to touch me." Chap. 2, p. 25

She looked at her overalls. 'My Pa, he gonna whip me fierce when he sees I do this.' Chap. 3, p. 37

"The other children were watching me anxiously, and I realized, not for the first time, what a con job my position was, because I was honestly as frightened as they were." Chap. 4, p. 45

"A school nurse came once a week for an afternoon. I had tried to send my children down. Most of them had had impetigo or rat bites or other evils of poverty." Chap. 6, p. 63

"To see this little kid -...