Mercy Among the Children

Out of work in the 1970s, Sydney goes smelt fishing. One year, he is accused of stealing smelts. Though he is innocent, Sydney promises to make it up to Connie. Both Sydney and Connie know it was Mat Pit who stole the smelts, but Constable Morris is called to the house. Transfixed by Elly’s beauty, the constable takes a disliking to Sydney. Sydney and Lyle return the smelts to Connie the following day.

The children, though young, begin to realize that the community ostracizes them. People are beginning to perceive Autumn as different because she is albino. She needs new glasses, but the family can’t afford them.

At Christmas the following year, Lyle becomes aware of the family’s poverty because the Hendersons were one of 15 families who are to receive a Christmas box from the church. Lyle helps in this operation, and at the age of eight or nine, Lyle falls for Penny Porier, the comparatively wealthy Reverend’s daughter. They take the boxes to each of the houses.

Sydney is to deliver a box to Samson Voteur, an aggressive drunk. Samson threatens to kill Sydney with his shovel, and could have done so, but Sydney quietly delivers the Christmas box.