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In the story, The Tenth of January the author uses the point of view to help convey the meaning and moral of the story.  Phelps tells the story from a third person narrator who is omniscient. Phelps use of the third person narrator allows the readers to know how characters are thinking and how they feel about themselves and others. For example, in the beginning of the story the reader knows that Asenath feels bothered when her father speaks to her. ” She was never cross with her father but her words rang impatiently sometimes.”  This helps the reader have an understanding of how she interacts and feels about her farther. The story point of view also allows us to see how much Asenath’s father cared for her. “She was all she had in the world,-this one little crippled girl…” This is important because Asenath does not think she is worthy of love or is even worthy to live. She feels this way because of her physical appearance and disability. However the readers know that her father loves her dearly. This helps to convey the message of the story that life is valuable and worthwhile to someone even though you do not possess physical beauty. Asenath feels so unworthy and feels that her life is not worth anything to anyone that she gives up and tells the rescuers to save her friend. She feels this way so much that she tells her father, “I don’t mind it much”. The author use third narrative to express the idea of the value of life at any state regardless of one’s self-image.