Emphasis Preaching Journal

Alice Thompson had a hard life. She left school early and had one menial job after another, eventually marrying more in desperation than in love. Henry proved to be abusive, a drinker, and unwilling to work for long. They had three children. Janice was the youngest, and the pride of her mother's life. She was the first member of the family to finish high school, and her singing won her a scholarship to a summer arts school. There she met a music professor from a large eastern university, who was so taken by her promise that he arranged a full scholarship for her.