How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"Come on, Pinky," I said. "It's getting close to chore time. I got to feed you and Daisy and Solomon. And if'n I'm not to home come chore time, Hell won't have it. Papa gets mighty stirred up over that. Right he should. Chores are my mission, not his." (5.33)
Like Papa, Rob has his own mission in life. Kind of makes you look at chores a whole new way when you think of them as your "mission," huh?
Quote #5
The grass was high now. And seeing as I'd worked all day on the hay wagon with Papa, it sure felt good just to know that evening chores were done, and I could lie on my back in the soft grass and do nothing except wait for evening. (7.2)
Having done his duty and fulfilled his mission, Rob takes the opportunity to lie in the grass and rest. It's almost as though the relaxation feels better to him since he also has the satisfaction of his work behind him. That's why we always wait until we finish our work to have that tub of Ben & Jerry's.
Quote #6
I sure fed Pinky good. Just to make sure she got to grow right, I give her as much corn, wheat, barley, rye, oats, and sorghum as I could work out of Papa or Mr. Tanner. She also got some of Daisy's good fresh milk. Any time I went fishing, she got fish. And all the soybean meal and alfalfa I could muster. Mama said, "Rob, you feed that pig better'n you feed yourself." I guessed it was true. She was my pig. Mine. And I was going to be dogged if she'd eat improper. (7.18)
Seems like part of Rob's mission is taking care of Pinky, too. Responsibility to others—especially those who are dependent on you—plays a large part in Papa's concept of duty, and Rob has taken this lesson to heart.