"On Ermel's farm it was easy to think it, most of the time. But when I would pause in the field, lean against my hoe, and the wind would stir and bear a shriek, thin and ghostlike, up from Pliny-the death cry of some huge tree, fallen to make mine timbers and houses for American Coal—then my dream of sanctuary on the farm seemed like a mockery and a reproach" (Chapter One, pg. 19.)

"Snake again," was all he would say, meaning he hadn't been able to mine enough coal to pay off the bills at the company store, that he still owed for food and doctoring and his work tools and blasting powder, that his paycheck had a single wavy line where the money figures should have been" (Chapter Two, pg .23.)

"He was tall and slender, his hair was the color and texture of corn silk...