A Worn Path: What Was Phoenix Jackson Doing Out There? At the beginning of Eudora Welthy's "A Worn Path", there was not much reason given for such an old lady being out in the middle of the woods during the middle of winter. It was only towards the end of the story that we find out why she is making this long journey. When we find out that she has made this long journey to get medicine for her grandson, it makes you wonder what kind of place does she live in. Do they not have a doctor of any sort that could provide help to her grandson, or was there not an easier and qu