A Worn Path

3 Pages 657 Words

Life’s Journey
Every person, living and dead, has a story to be told. Phoenix Jackson is no exception. Some may perceive the story on Phoenix’s journey to town in a sad light. Each journey however, must have some trials and tribulations just as Phoenix does during her trip. Phoenix’s difficult journey to town seems to indicate that the struggles she has endured throughout her life enable her to possess the wisdom to overcome many obstacles.
Throughout her journey Phoenix endures a number of problems not allowing any of them distract her from her goal. Before she gets very far she finds herself entangled in a thorn bush that with some persistence she frees herself from. This seems to indicate the difficulty of the impending travel ahead. The path soon comes to a small creek only to be crossed by walking the log that makes the path. This is obviously no easy feat for an old woman walking unsteadily with a cane. Yet Phoenix makes it across safely. Through barred wire and after a tumble into a ditch she finally makes it safely and unharmed into town. Even the younger more capable hunter exclaims “Why, that’s too far” when he hears of her destination (McMahan 292). Phoenix does make it to town despite the difficulty of the journey and proves she has the persistence and wisdom of her years to enable her to survive.
Three times during her trip Phoenix shows her wisdom by obtaining things from various people along her way. She shows her abilities first by managing to obtain money from a hunter who claims “Id give you dime if I had any money with me” (McMahan 294). To accomplish this
she must distract the hunter from realizing he lost this valuable commodity. She pretends to be interested in watching his dog chase a cur and he subsequently goes off to do just that. She then quickly assumes possession of the fallen nickel. Secondly, she comes across a woman who


obviously look down at Phoenix. T...