'Sowing and Reaping' Summary

Belle and Paul are a young couple who are deeply in love. They are both devout Christians and believe that alcohol is a dangerous and destructive substance. They abstain from alcohol and live a happy and fulfilling life together. Jeanette and Charles are another young couple, but their lives are very different. Charles is a heavy drinker and Jeanette often joins him in his drinking. Their relationship is strained by Charles's addiction and they often argue and fight. One day, Charles gets into a drunken fight and is arrested. Jeanette is left alone to care for their children and she struggles to make ends meet. She eventually turns to alcohol herself to cope with her problems. Belle and Paul try to help Jeanette and Charles, but they are unsuccessful. Jeanette and Charles's lives continue to spiral downward until they both die from alcoholism. The novel ends with a message from Harper about the importance of temperance and the dangers of alcohol abuse.