Chapter 1 Summary

The story begins with Louisa, a young black woman, returning home from a long day's work at the white folks' home - Mr. and Mrs. Stone's place. She is humming a song as she walks in the moonlight to her home among the small shanties in a factory town.

She is thinking about Bob Stone, the son of the people she works for, and Tom Burwell who everyone calls Big Tom. Both boys are in love with her and she is undecided which one she should commit to. Bob is white and the son of the people she works for, while Big Tom is black and works in the fields during the day. She believes that Bob will be the man she chooses, not only because he spends more time with her (Tom spends his days far away in the fields), but also...