In a small Missouri town during the 1920s， Clem is torn between family responsibility and the life he wishes to lead when he must begin working in the local lead mine on his thirteenth birthday， to help pay for his sister's medical care.，In a small Missouri town during the 1920s， Clem is torn between family responsibility and the life he wishes to lead when he must begin working in the local lead mine on his 13th birthday to help pay for his sister's medical care.，In a small Missouri town during the 1920s， Clem is torn between family responsibility and the life he wishes to lead when he must begin working in the lead mine on his thirteenth birthday to help pay for his sister's medical care.