"You'll find him quite a tonic." "A what ?" "A tonic," she repeated.

And with a sudden tightening of her wide and sensitive mouth, Deborah added slowly, "Because, though I've known many hungry boys, Johnny Geer is the hungriest of them all--hungry to get on in life, to grow and learn and get good things, get friends, love, happiness, everything!" As she spoke of this child in her family, over her strong quiet face there swept a fierce, intent expression which struck Roger rather cold.

What a fight she was making, this daughter of his, against what overwhelming odds.

But all he said to her was this: "Now let's look at something more cheerful, my dear." "Very well," she answered with a smile.

"We'll go and see Isadore Freedom." "Who's he ?" "Isadore Freedom," said Deborah, "is the beginning of something tremendous.
He came from Russian Poland--and the first American word he learned over there was 'freedom.' So in New York he changed his name to that--very solemnly, by due process of law.