In late March, Myra Butler lies in bed and remembers a day in July, eleven years ago. Her husband was helping with the harvest and took young Johnny along. As the harvesters worked, Indians hid in the woods. When the workers were in the middle of the field, far from their weapons, the Indians killed one man and wounded a woman. Everyone ran and the Indians took Johnny, who had been playing under a shade tree. That was when Myra became an invalid.

Now the much loved Parson Elder is here to visit, and he allows Myra to unburden herself about her eldest son. She is thankful the boy did not escape with Gordie, but True Son is ungrateful, eating only when he is hungry and shaming her family in front of relatives and neighbors. Things keep disappearing, such as some Indian corn meal, a butcher knife, and one of Butler’s guns, along with some powder and lead. Aunt Kate is appalled that True Son will not honor his parents as the Bible says he must. Elder deliberates before speaking, knowing this is a delicate matter. He offers to talk to the boy, and Aunt Kate is relieved.

Most boys are rather intimidated to be called by Elder, but True Son is not. As is the custom, Aunt Kate serves whiskey to everyone, but True Son refuses to accept his drink (which has been appropriately diluted with water). Elder tells him it is good to be polite, but True Son explains what Cuyloga taught him about white traders getting Indians drunk to take advantage of them. Elder assures him that no one in this house is trying to take advantage of him or make him conform to their religion. All Elder wants is for Johnny to be kind to his mother and refrain from lying, stealing, and swearing. True Son never swears, and he treats his Indian parents with love and obedience.

Finally True Son accuses Elder of being part of the Conestogo massacre. The older man tries to explain that sometimes even the best men are driven by some darkness in their hearts. He tried to stop the men from killing the Conestogo—until the men threatened to kill his horse. True Son comments that Elder’s horse was more important to him than those innocent Indians. Elder restrains himself and reminds True Son that evil has been done by the Indians as well. He believes that “Christians, red and white,” need to respect one another.

After he dismisses True Son, the weary preacher asks for another drink. He assures Myra that the boy was raised incorrectly for the past ten years and that it will take time for him to learn the proper Christian way of life. Elder has seen some improvement since True Son arrived; the boy speaks better English and he walks and gestures less like an Indian. As soon as True Son meets a girl, he will finally settle into the “white way of life.”