 Mary, eager to begin her teaching career, is told of an opening in a remote community named Willow Run. Rev. Alden - who became aware of the opening through his occasional preaching there - explains that the community is a bit standoffish and its previous teacher had resigned after just four days on the job (for reasons unknown). Nonetheless, Mary enthusiastically agrees to accept the job. Rev. Aldenthen tells Mary about a strong-headed woman named Miss Rachel Peel, an elderly woman who leads the community s religious services. However, Mary doesn t know that this job will present her with a very stern test to both her character and resolve. Miss Peel is totally opposed to education and, as it turns out, has driven other teachers from the community; she says only rudimentary skills such as "cipherin " are all people really need to get by in life. Miss Peel says that education is sinful and calls Mary s teachings "of the devil." Mary s host family are the Fishers, of which the overbearing father is just as cruel as Miss Peel. During the week, she will be accused of wearing "improper clothing" (Mary s brightly colored dresses); telling "lies" about the existence of the telephone to his wife and daughter (as well as the fact that James Garfield, not Ulysses S. Grant, is now the president); giving the school building a "sinful" stench (cleaning the building with soap and water); causing Mr. Fisher to be unable to sell his corn on the market simply because she set a rooster entangled in a piece of string free (rather than economic conditions), and that she caused a student to go blind. The latter instance began with one of Mary s students, a teen-ager named Joshua Bond whose only intention for attending school is to act like a clown. Mary had kicked him out of school but, on the insistence of Joshua s father, was allowed back in. Later, Joshua appears to be cooperating but only so he can try to make a pass at Mary; in response to the unwelcome kiss, Mary throws a handful of dirt at Joshua, and some of it gets into his eyes. Miss Peel witnesses the incident and, after running Joshua off, calls Mary a Jezebel. That night, Mr. Fisher and Mr. Bond demand an explanation and, upon hearing (and refusing to believe) Mary s side of the story, tell Mary that Joshua has "gone blind" as a direct result of her actions. The next day, none of the students show up at school, and Mary is crushed. Mary goes back home and has an emotional breakdown in her Pa s arms. After letting her sort out her emotions, Charles then gives Mary a pep talk, telling her she can continue to feel sorry for herself or she can go back and take Miss Peel and her beliefs head on. Mary agrees to the latter option and Charles agrees to accompany his daughter to Miss Peel s prayer meeting for moral support. They walk in just as Miss Peel is getting to the heart of her sermon about the Ten Commandments. When Miss Peel incorrectly states the Eighth Commandment as the Golden Rule, Mary corrects her, but Miss Peel shoots her down. This time, Mary presses on and, in the process, suspects that Miss Peel cannot read. When Mary exposes the truth, Miss Peel tries to summon lightning to strike Mary down, but nothing happens. Miss Peel is reduced to tears and forced to admit her shameful secret. After Mary clears up several other lies that had been told about her - most importantly, the one concerning her run-in with Joshua (Miss Peel s concoction to restore Joshua s sight didn t work, but his mother s using water to flush out the eyes did) - Mary offers a biblical phrase stressing love and brotherhood. Miss Peel agrees to support the school and, during the singing of "Jesus Loves Me," apologizes to Mary.