She had come from a little village forty miles south of Oakdale, was the oldest of a large family, her mother being a widow of very small means.

As her mother was unable to send her away to school, she had done clerical work for the only lawyer in the home town for the previous two years, studying between whiles.

She had entered the High School in the junior class, determining to graduate and then to work her way through Normal School.

By dint of questioning, Grace had discovered that she lived in a shabby little room in the suburbs, never went anywhere and did anything honest in the way of earning money that she could find to do.
The realization of what some of these girls were willing to endure for the sake of getting an education made Grace feel guilty at being so comfortably situated.

She determined that the holidays that year should not find them without friends and cheer.
After a rousing Thanksgiving dinner, in which the inevitable turkey, with all its toothsome accompaniments, played a prominent part, the girls retired to Grace's room for a final adjustment of hair and a last survey in the mirror before going to the game.