"A Dollar the Hard Way" is a series of stories about the life of a young man growing up and entering adulthood in Southern Illinois during the 1930s and '40s. The book is a gem. Whether he is digging for oil, or searching his soul, Kestner Wallace makes real his early life in the rural Midwest. Each story evokes a time and place gone by, with vividly drawn characters described by a man who is clearly a character in his own right. Whether from the viewpoint of a poor Southern Illinois farm boy, a World War II veteran, a fisherman, or an educator for 42 years starting with one-room schoolhouse days, his stories are notable for both their charming ability to show the lighter side of hard times, as well as their intimate details of historical interest. Wallace's stories have delighted "Springhouse Magazine" readers for over twenty years. For the first time, the full collection is available in one entertaining volume.