What exactly is Hardin’s essay about?, I’d be happy to help but you’d have to be more specific. :)
He's talking morals after abandoning his wife in a roadside diner.
He tells the anecdote of his mother because he thinks the boy is wrong for fleeing his mother. It's not ironic since Mr. Shiflet does it on purpose. Ironically, he is blaming himself for abandoning his mother, who was a divine gift. He recently left his wife at a diner. He should know better than to abandon people...
Answer:
I found this on the internet. I hope it helps:
The massive dust storms caused farmers to lose their livelihoods and their homes. Deflation from the Depression aggravated the plight of Dust Bowl farmers. Prices for the crops they could grow fell below subsistence levels. In 1932, the federal government sent aid to the drought-affected states
