The Fruit of the Tree

About “The Fruit of the Tree”

John Amherst, a middle manager in a New England textile mill, seeks to improve labor conditions among the workers under his supervision, but his efforts are hindered by upper management focused solely on profit. After marrying Bessy Westmore, the widow of the former mill owner, Amherst gains the authority to pursue reform, though his marriage becomes strained as Bessy resents his dedication to labor reform and the financial impact on her lifestyle, while Bessy's friend Justine, employed as a live-in tutor, becomes entangled in the situation and faces difficult choices.