How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"What are we going to do now, Jessie?" Benny asked his sister.
"Well, Benny," answered Jessie, "we'll go exploring and look for treasures." (5.12-5.13)
The Alden children don't seem to believe in naps or gentle walks or simply taking it easy. They always have an agenda that involves some form of hard labor.
Quote #2
The children laid all their treasures, even the wheels, on a board, and the girls carried the board back to the boxcar between them. They put the dishes down by the brook.
"Now we must wash them," said Jessie. (5.38-5.39)
By the by, the "treasures" are dishes that the children have scavenged from the dump. So, they worked hard to get them, and now they're working hard to be able to use them.
Quote #3
"I called after him and asked him if I could cut the grass. […] So I cut the grass, and he said, 'Good for you. Do you want to work every day?' And he said he had never had a boy who cut it as well as I did." (6.9-6.10)
Henry is not just a worker—he's the best worker that ever was, according to Dr. Moore. Notice he does most of his work away from home, for pay, while the girls tend to the house.
Quote #4
She took her scissors out of her workbag and cut the two ends even. But before she began to hem the pretty blue tablecloth, she helped Jessie wash and rinse the dishes and put them away. (6.28)
Poor Violet runs herself so ragged that she ends up sick in bed for days, if not weeks. Take a break, girl. Interestingly, it's this sickness that winds up connecting the kids with their grandfather.
Quote #5
When Henry said good-by and went back to town, all the children were working happily. (6.28)
Though they live in the woods, free of all responsibilities, the Alden children still manage to fill their days with hard work. It's impressive. They are welcome to stop by Shmoop's house any time.
Quote #6
The two girls sat by the brook. Violet was hemming the blue tablecloth, and Jessie was making the broom with a long stick for a handle. (6.33)
Notice that the types of work the girls do are very domestic—the tablecloth is for the dinner table, and the broom is for cleaning. Martha Stewart would be proud.
Quote #7
Henry was so eager to begin work that he ran all the way to town. (7.12)
Henry sure is an eager beaver. Have you ever seen anyone so enthusiastic to begin their workday? Besides us, we mean. We love our jobs.
Quote #8
He was very happy when Dr. Moore said, "Do you want to clean up this garage?" (7.46)
Henry loves eating stew, walks in the woods and … cleaning garages? Guess it takes all sorts.
Quote #9
It was hard work building the dam, but the children liked hard work. (8.12)
Of course, they did. Because they're perfect.
Quote #10
"These are my sisters, Jessie and Violet. They can pick cherries, too. Benny is too young to climb trees, but we had to bring him."
"Maybe he can carry baskets," said Dr. Moore, smiling at Benny. (9.9-9.10)
Though he's only 5 years old, Benny participates in all of the work projects. Put 'em to work early, that's what we say.