How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"How do you know Mamma will give them a cookie?" I asked.
"She has to," Tom said confidently, "because she gave all the other kids a cookie." (1.59-60)
Poor Mamma is part of Tom's scheme, and she doesn't even know it. Tom definitely knows how to use someone else's goodwill to his own advantage.
Quote #2
"You don't have to open the crates right in the middle of main street," Papa said.
"Rules and regulations say I've got to inspect the merchandise for damage," Mr. Larson said.
"You know very well, Nels," Papa said testily, "the only time you ever inspect anything is when the shipment is for me."
"Ain't nothing interesting in the others," Mr. Larson said. (1.76-79)
Mr. Larson uses the law, Tom-style, here, purporting to do good while satisfying his own interests. He wants to check out the new water closet, so he defends his nosiness by appealing to authority.
Quote #3
I lay awake putting my little brain to work. If Tom knew how I could get the mumps first, there must be a way. I thought and I thought and I thought about it. When Sweyn or Tom got a disease, Mamma made sure I caught it by putting me into bed with them. That was why they quarantined people who had contagious diseases—so they couldn't give the disease to anybody else. Now, if there was just some way for me to sneak into Howard Kay's house and get him to infect me with the mumps, I'd have the last laugh on Tom and Sweyn. My little brain had done it! I felt like jumping out of bed and dancing round the room. (2.38)
Yeah, real smooth idea, J.D. Maybe there's a reason Tom's the one called "the Great Brain"—he definitely busts it out to retaliate against J.D. for giving him the mumps.