Book excerpt: Ruth was raped while in grade school and her parents married her off at 14 because she was soiled goods. She had her first child at the age of 16. Then her husband was sent to England and she followed him. She then gave birth to her second child and it was very badly deformed. She came back to the states and her father said she was evil and that is why she had that child. She got a divorce and met another man that became a fireman. Every thing was looking up for them and her husband lost his leg. The firemen stood by them and help them get back on their feet. They could of never done it without the firemen.