This book is a historical novel about the life of a young man growing up during the Great Depression and World War II in the cold fields of South Pennsylvania and the struggles he incurred after his father was killed in the mining accident. Old George was shell-shocked coal miner who lived in a shack near the community where the boy lived. Martin was a talented artist who has very little to look forward to when he found out that George had a lot of money and he didn't keep it in the bank. Martin befriends the troubled old man with the intent of getting a hold of the money for his own use. His friendship with George grew, and when the old man froze to death during the snowstorm, Martin searched for the money. The old man's cabin was ravished and burned by a horde of local people who had the same idea. Martin eventually found the money, and he gave it to an orphanage where George's blind niece resided.