come in Taylor's narrative. Having heard Mr. Morrison's explanation, Mama tells him that her family is glad to have him, "especially now." Further, as the plot develops, the taciturn, but mighty Mr. Morrison proves to be a strong ally and solid friend to the Logans.

Papa Logan figures that L.T. Morrison will be a very useful addition to the household. For one thing, his enormous physical strength offers much-needed protection against the night-riders, the very same kind of people who killed Morrison's mother when they burned down the family home. In such a dangerous environment, it always pays to have someone around who can take care of themselves.

The new arrangement works both ways. Without any folks of his own or a place to call home, Morrison looks upon the Logans as a surrogate family, offering him the kind of emotional protection he can't find elsewhere. As L.T. makes it clear, he's always wanted to have children and grandchildren of his own. So the Logan household, which is full of children, is just right for him.

Physical protection in return for emotional protection; it sounds like a good deal for everyone.

Following Mary Logan's dismissal from her teaching assignment at the school, her husband (who works in another city and does not live with his family) decides to take action to better protect the rest of the Logans. He invites an acquaintance, Mr. Morrison, to stay on the property. Morrison is a mountain of a man, and he later shows his strength when he beats two of the Wallaces. He knows that Morrison will also offer protection against the night riders who have been plaguing the black population with violent raids. The big man has also been in trouble at his previous job, so he needs a place to begin a new life. Morrison helps out around the farm, but he lives alone and is primarily with the Logans to serve as the de facto man of the house.