A compassionate account of a mountain community that traces the life of a little girl named Gena from a winter funeral through family hardship, education, and personal growth. A lay Sunday-school worker and other neighbors provide moral support as the narrative portrays labor, local customs, and struggles in the Appalachian hills. As Gena matures, the story follows her experiences at college, her return to the homeplace, and the resolution of social and emotional tensions that shape her future, emphasizing duty, uplift, and the bonds of community.