From the Valley of the Missing

From the Valley of the Missing is a harsh look at the lives of everyday citizens. Lem Crabbe has changed over the years, and the hands of time were not kind. He and his wife Scraggy must get by with their young son, despite the hard toil of everyday work. Excerpt: "Crabbe regarded the appealing face soddenly before answering. «Yep, that's what I mean. I'm tired of a woman allers a snoopin' around, and a hundred times more tired of the brat.» «But he's yer own,» cried the woman, «and ye did say as how ye'd marry me for his sake! Didn't ye say it, Lem? He ain't nothin' but a baby, and he doesn't cry much. Will ye let me an' him stay, Deary?»