Little Britches: Chapter 21 Summary & Analysis

Fred Aultland tells Ralph’s father that the sweet clover growing on his pea field will make good hay. Ralph’s father refuses to let Ralph drive the mower to harvest it but agrees to let him drive the horse rake. At first Ralph does well and envisions himself getting a man’s pay in no time. However, Old Joe, the engineer, blasts the train whistle while driving by, scaring Nig and Billy and sending the horse rake flying. When the horse rake hits the train track, it breaks apart, and Nig and Billy drag Ralph to the barn. When Ralph’s father finds him, Ralph is unhooking Billy’s trace chains, and Ralph reflects in retrospect that he must have been a little “loco” at the time.

Ralph’s mother counts nine broken toes and worries Ralph won’t be able to walk again. When Doctor Stone arrives, he sets Ralph’s toes and gives him wooden shoes to hold them in place, declaring that Ralph must have an “in with the Almighty” to have survived such an accident. Ralph has a painful few days but enjoys all the visitors who come to see him. Two Dog brings leaves to make a medicinal broth, and the broth heals a few of Ralph’s skin sores quickly. Eventually, Ralph grows bored being inside and starts using his crutches, throwing them away too after several days. He rides to see Doctor Stone, impressing the kids in town on the way.

Ralph misses two weeks of work for Mr. Welborn—who pays 50 cents a day­—from his injury. Fred convinces Ralph’s parents to let him help with haying, however, and for much of the summer he drives the hay rake and stacker horse while his father works and fixes the machinery. Fred’s cousin from Denver comes to visit with his wife and daughter, Lucy. When Ralph suggests her father work with Fred, she tells him that ranchers are fools, explaining “smart men never have to work hard.” When Ralph gets mad, she backtracks, admitting that men who own their own property are not foolish. Ralph, embarrassed by the fact that his family rents their ranch, is not sure what to say.

Ralph’s father is furious when he hears what Lucy said and forbids Ralph from seeing her again. He explains that there are two types of men in the world: honest and dishonest men. There are “black,” “white,” “yellow,” and “red” men, but all that matters is whether they’re honest or not. He tells Ralph that anyone who believes the world owes them a living is dishonest, explaining that God put everything on earth that people need, but He designed it such that you must work for it. Ralph wishes he know how his father was able to say things so memorably, believing that if he could do the same, he would be as smart as his father.