Chapter 9 Summary

Mary Call is desperate to prepare for winter. She drags the children out of bed every morning at dawn to dig for roots, gather bark, and otherwise wildcraft to earn some money. The others are sullen and miserable in the morning, and Mary Call hates herself for what she feels they must see her as - a miserly, skinny crone, who drags them out and works them hard. While she does believe in God, she wonders why he is not sending any help her way. She feels that she and the children are on their own in the world, and any good they get must come from themselves.

Romey's shoes finally give out, due to the rough trails of Old Joshua, and on their next visit to the general store, they buy him new ones. The shoes and food supplies they get take...