Billy Coleman Essay

Billy Coleman lives on a farm with his Mama, Papa, and his three sisters. He wants two coonhound pups, but his Papa cannot afford any because they are living in a time of the Great Depression in the Ozarks Mountains. Being told that he would not be able to buy the pups, Billy works hard and saves all his earnings, made by selling fruit and bait to the local fishermen, so eventually he can buy the two-coonhound pups he wants. After saving up all his money, Billy now has enough money and gives the money to his grandfather, who orders the dogs for him. Sneaking out one night, Billy decides that he will go pick up the pups himself, but encounters some trouble with the town children. While in town, the children pick on him for the way he is dressed, …show more content…
Somehow, Little Ann wins the beauty contest, and Billy believes that he may have a chance at winning the contest just like he won the bet with the Pritchard brothers a few days before. Qualifying for the championship round, Billy, his Papa and grandfather, and a judge go out hunting with the hounds, only to find out that a winter blizzard is upon them and they lose track of the dogs. After spending most of day looking for the dogs, they stop and build a fire, and soon enough they find the dogs, covered in ice. Billy wins the contest and three hundred dollars; his Mama and three sisters are overjoyed. After winning the contest, Billy continues hunting. One night, Billy’s hounds tree a mountain lion, which attacks the dogs, and once again Billy is determined to save his dogs, with an ax, but the dogs end up saving him from the mountain lion. Old Dan is wounded and dies the next day. Feeling upset once again, Billy is heartbroken to learn that Little Ann dies too, a few days after Old Dan