Hal,
in chapter 14, Roxy berates her son for his cowardice, asking "What
ever has 'come o' yo' Essex blood?" This must refer to Colonel Cecil
Burleigh Essex, mentioned in the first chapter and of whom Mark Twain
says that he was "another F.F.V. of formidable calibre--however, with
him we have no concern." I think that Essex is the deadbeat dad.

best,

Barbara Ladd
Emory University