Chapters 1-3 Summary

Spencer's Mountain is the novel that inspired the television show, The Waltons.

Chapter 1. All nine of the Spencer sons, and their families, gather at Clay Spencer's house the night before Thanksgiving. Clay-Boy, Clay's eldest son, ushers the cars to parking spots, and is thrilled when his favorite uncle, Virgil, arrives from his home in Richmond. Virgil is the only Spencer who had remained in Richmond where most of the sons had gone in search of jobs during the Depression. Clay-Boy tells Virgil that he is going on the hunt with the men the following morning even though his mother had refused to allow him the year before and more than likely will stop him this year if she learns his plan. To this end, Virgil gives Clay-Boy a brand new hunting knife later in the evening of which Olivia disapproves. Elizabeth...