While in the hospital, Jon Reed receives a 1794 copper cent piece from his father, who tells him it is a good luck penny that has been in the family for several generations. Alone and frightened before his operation, Jon clutches the old coin in his hand and wonders who else has held the good luck penny as closely as he is holding it now-- Jeremy, the poor chimney sweep in Philadelphia . . . Joshua, a slave boy whose parents were sold down river ...