How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
[…] Tom sometimes thought it must have been a pretty good way to live, away off from other folks, picking berries if you had to, and poaching trout out of Armond's brook and pond, instead of sticking to the chores in the barn and around the fields and garden, small as they were. (2.6)
When Tom is a very little boy, his mother tells him stories about her family. For a while, Tom thinks his grandfather's haphazard and nomadic lifestyle sounds kinda fun. But smart little Tom changes his opinion when he sees that that way of life can't provide for a family. That change in attitude shows how he starts to mature and consider his family when most pollywogs are still wiggling their merry way along.
Quote #2
He started doing jobs around the place he hadn't done before, but there wasn't such a lot he could do especially when there was school. The school they went to was about two miles down the valley and just the walking to get there took a big piece out of his time. He couldn't see anyway that what he was learning there was going to be of help to him when he started out to turn around their lives. (2.29)
Tom starts taking on more responsibility and thinking of the future at the tender age of eight. He takes the initiative himself and is motivated to change his family's life. Pretty impressive for an eight-year-old! Even if dropping out of school isn't generally something to be proud of. It's like acing the SATs, but the rural turn-of-the-century version.
Quote #3
"What can we get for you today, my boy?"
That embarrassed Tom even more. He took his hat off, though both the men were wearing theirs. He started to clear his throat, but that turned out to be difficult, too, and when he did get his voice operating, it came out scratchy and high-pitched and he made himself repeat.
"I came to see if I could get a job here, mister." (8.12-14)
Here's a hint: job applications don't work like this today. Even though it does work out for Tom, he's obviously nervous—after all, he's just a country boy in a room full of grown men. His voice is cracking; he's fidgeting with his hat. But he gets through the request and lands the job. Ahem: first jobs are often major milestones in coming-of-age stories.