Family and Characters Overview

Questions and Answers

What was mother's real name?

Mary

What was mother's nickname by the whole world?

Molly

What was mother's name by father?

Mame

What did Mother want for her sons?

She didn't want her sons to grow up as ruffians. Signup and view all the answers

What was mother's personality?

She could get emotional, but she showed great strength and persisted when times were tough. Signup and view all the answers

What happened during the big wind?

The Moody's lost everything except the bunkhouse. Father let the horses out. Signup and view all the answers

What was cousin Phil's job?

He sold stock in gold mines. Signup and view all the answers

What were some of Cousin Phil's strengths?

He was a good salesman. He could convince people of things. Signup and view all the answers

What were some of Cousin Phil's weaknesses?

He is not good at hands-on projects. Signup and view all the answers

What were the 3 horses' names?

Nig, Bill, and Nancy Hanks Signup and view all the answers

Which horse fell into the trestle?

Nig Signup and view all the answers

Describe Nig.

Big horse, black colored. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Nancy Hanks.

Nancy Hanks was a smaller, bay-colored horse, that had a limp. Signup and view all the answers

Why was she named Nancy Hanks?

She was named after a famous and fast race horse named Nancy Hanks as a joke. Signup and view all the answers

What was the reason for the quote about lying that father gave to Ralph?

He got the sermon because he lied that, when they got a new horse that he would use it to get the crosswise out of the gulch. Signup and view all the answers

Who did Ralph lie to?

Mother and Grace Signup and view all the answers

What were Ralph's punishments?

No going with father anywhere; has to wear buster browns to school until all the crosswise were out of the ditch. Signup and view all the answers

How did Grace make her adjustment?

She brought a rubber ball and taught her classmates jacks. Signup and view all the answers

Who bullied Ralph?

Freddy Spraug Signup and view all the answers

How did Ralph adjust?

One day when Freddy pulled down his pants Ralph licked Freddy back. Also, from that day on he was allowed to wear overalls. Signup and view all the answers

How old was Ralph?

8 years Signup and view all the answers

Where did he come from?

East Rochester, New Hampshire Signup and view all the answers

Where did he move to?

Right outside of Denver, Colorado Signup and view all the answers

What did Ralph like to do?

Spend time with his father, be a 'big kid', be a help, his neighbor Mr. Autland. Signup and view all the answers

Whose donkey did Ralph ride?

Willy Aldavet Signup and view all the answers

Who is the biggest kid at the school?

Rudolph Haas Signup and view all the answers

Where does Mr. Autland live?

Big house and big ranch. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Mr. Autland live with?

He lives with his mother and sister, Bessie. Signup and view all the answers

What does Grace do?

She acts like mama's helper. Signup and view all the answers

What is the order, from youngest to oldest, of Ralph's siblings?

Hal, Philip, Muriel, Ralph, and Grace Signup and view all the answers

What was father's condition called?

He was called a lunger. Signup and view all the answers

What was father's real name?

Charles Signup and view all the answers

What was father's nickname?

Charlie Signup and view all the answers

What was father's job?

He worked in a woolen mill. Signup and view all the answers

What is father's job in Colorado?

Rancher Signup and view all the answers

What were some of father's traits?

Responsible for family, kind, smart. Signup and view all the answers

What did father build at the beginning of the book?

Privy, bunkhouse Signup and view all the answers

Who was Mr. Lake?

The chairman of the board. Signup and view all the answers

Who's dairy barn did Ralph work on?

Mrs. Cocoran Signup and view all the answers

What type of horse did Ralph ride with Mrs. Cocoran and what was its name?

It was a fat, slow horse named Ned. Signup and view all the answers

Who helped Ralph the first time when the cows got into the Alphapha?

Fred Autland Signup and view all the answers

How much does Mrs. Cocoran pay Ralph?

25 cents a day Signup and view all the answers

How much did Fred Autland pay Ralph?

50 cents per day Signup and view all the answers

What does the saying 'I'm going to see a fellow about a dog' mean?

It's none of your business and I am not telling you. Signup and view all the answers

Who did not leave Ralph's side when he broke 9 toes?

King, the dog Signup and view all the answers

Who was rude about farmers?

Lucy Signup and view all the answers

What type of weather led to Fanny's death?

A cloudburst which became a rainstorm Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of Mr. Cooper's ranch?

The Y-B Ranch Signup and view all the answers

To pay the land taxes what job did father do?

He did road work Signup and view all the answers

What are three times Ralph became afraid on the way to two dogs cabin?

At the two hills and he didn't know which one, when he forgot which way to go at the canyon, and when he heard a wolf Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters

Mother's real name: Mary, known to the world as Molly, and called Mame by father.
Father's real name: Charles, commonly referred to as Charlie, worked in a woolen mill before becoming a rancher.
Cousin Phil: A salesman of gold mine stocks, skilled in persuasion but struggled with hands-on tasks.
Siblings: Ralph's siblings in order from youngest to oldest are Hal, Philip, Muriel, Ralph, and Grace.

Horses

Horse names: Nig, Bill, and Nancy Hanks.
Nig: A large black horse that fell into a trestle.
Nancy Hanks: A smaller bay horse that had a limp, named humorously after a famous racehorse.

Family Values and Circumstances

Mother's aspirations: She aimed for her sons to grow up with good character instead of becoming ruffians.
Father's traits: Known for being responsible, kind, and smart; faced health issues labeled as a "lunger."
Mother's strength: Exhibited emotional depth yet demonstrated resilience during challenging times.

Key Events

The big wind: A disaster that led the Moody family to lose all possessions except for the bunkhouse, with father releasing the horses.
Ralph's punishment: After lying about a horse, he faced restrictions, such as not accompanying father and wearing Buster Browns to school.

Adjustments and Challenges

Grace's adaptation: Coping by using a rubber ball to teach classmates to play jacks.
Ralph's bullying: Faced bullying from Freddy Spraug, ultimately leading to Ralph retaliating, which earned him permission to wear overalls.
Ralph's age: He was 8 years old, originally from East Rochester, New Hampshire, and relocated outside Denver, Colorado.

Jobs and Responsibilities

Ralph's labor: Worked on Mrs. Cocoran's dairy barn for 25 cents a day and received 50 cents from Fred Autland for assistance.
Mr. Autland: A neighbor who lived with his mother and sister Bessie in a large house and ranch.
Land taxes: Father did road work to pay for land taxes.

Unexpected Incidents

Ralph's injuries: He broke nine toes while being accompanied by King, the dog, who stayed by his side during his recovery.
Fanny's death: Caused by a cloudburst that led to a sudden rainstorm.

Expressions and Idioms

"I'm going to see a fellow about a dog": A phrase indicating that something is not anyone else's business.

Notable Quotes and Lessons

Father's lesson on lying: After Ralph misled about using a new horse for chores, he received a sermon underscoring honesty.

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Description

Explore the dynamic relationships and characters in this narrative. From the aspirations of the mother, Mary, to the father, Charles's transition from a woolen mill worker to a rancher, discover the values that shaped their family. Learn about the horses they owned and the personalities of their children, highlighting their unique attributes.