Chapters 8-9 Summary

Roxana works on the steamboat for eight years, placing four dollars of her monthly salary in a New Orleans bank each month take care of her in retirement. When Roxana develops arthritis in her arms, she quits her job and goes to collect her savings only to discover that the bank has folded and taken her money with it. Penniless, Roxana makes her way back to Dawson's Landing thanks to the kindness of her co-workers on the steamboat who donate money for the cause. Roxana imagines her son, Tom Driscoll, will help her. However, when Roxana visits the Driscoll home she finds Tom just as mean and disrespectful as ever. In fact, Roxana learns from Chambers that Tom was disinherited briefly by Judge Driscoll for incurring two hundred dollars in gambling debt that the judge was forced to pay. Roxana insists...