Part 3, Chapters 23, 24, 25 and 26 Summary

Samuel's oldest daughter, Una, had married a chemist and moved away, but her life is not happy and she dies as a young woman which devastates Samuel. The rest of the family notices that Samuel begins to grow old at this point. Samuel's other children are doing well; George sells insurance; Will is getting rich as a businessman; Joe moved to the East Coast to work in advertising; Olive and Mollie are married; and Dessie owns a dressmaking shop in Salinas. Samuel worries about Tom, though, because Tom still lives at home and does not have any life direction.

On Thanksgiving Day in 1911, all the Hamilton children discuss their aging parents and, knowing that Samuel will never willingly give up the ranch, devise a plan to take turns inviting Samuel and Liza for extended visits to their homes. After...