The Blade of Grass is a 19th century era story of an abandoned twelve year old red haired boy. The year is 1863 just prior to the battle of Gettysburg. The mother becomes a widow, looses the family farm and is destitute. She leaves her boy at a county poor house and is never heard of again. The boy befriends a confederate drummer boy and helps him in his army duties. His friend dies, and makes the boy part of the Rebel army. The young drummer boy always dreams of finding his mother. He searches for her and finds religion in a soldiers bible found on the bloody battlefield. He begins to develop his faith even in war. Later, divine providence intervenes in the boy's life by his mother asking his forgiveness. His hope renewed, he sets out to make a dangerous journey to find her. The boy becomes a man in thought and deed by staying faithful to God. The young man has his memoirs published, befriends a Boston girl that becomes his first love. He makes a voyage to Scotland, from where his parents had left for America, leaving behind their feuding clans. He finally locates his mother who does not remember him. He rescues her, and then begins her rehabilitation. He decides to become an ordained minister through a gift given him by a fellow traveler. He becomes a minister, makes his home in Scotland and marries.