How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Children might have priority to a pudding or the last piece of cake, but coffee was an adult luxury, which Jethro enjoyed but dismissed with a passive acceptance of family custom that he never thought to question. On this day of the boy's graduation to "first table" honors, however, Bill took a dried crust of bread—the remains of a rarely served "white loaf"—and after soaking it in his coffee mug for a few seconds, spread it with butter and placed it on his brother's plate. (1.95)
So we're gonna ignore for a second the nasty thought of spreading butter on coffee-soaked bread, because this is a big day for Jethro, and totally on par with being bumped up to the adult table at Thanksgiving. Plus it's his best big brother Bill who does the whole coffee-bread thing as a little initiation ritual. We have a feeling it'll be a long time until Jeth gets his own full cup o' coffee, though.
Quote #2
He no longer talked to the children though; a phase of innocence had passed, which would never be recaptured. (3.41)
Jethro's dead siblings on the hill were almost like imaginary friends to him when he was younger, but once Mary dies and is buried up there alongside them, it all becomes more real to Jethro. Death has a way of making those left behind grow up.
Quote #3
"I know I kin do it, Pa. There's nothin' hard about it—jest keepin' a level head and usin' gumption."
His father smiled. "Anyway, you've got the words smooth on yore tongue. Well, you air ten now; I reckon that's old enough to take on a sizeable job." (5.22-23)
Ah, the sweet first taste of responsibility. Jethro is super stoked to take a team to Newton, and to be trusted to do all the grocery buying as well. It's a pretty important job, to be sure, but the Wortman incident might be reason to believe that Jethro's in a little over his head.