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Chapter 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Little Britches, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fathers, Sons, and Growing Up
Honesty and Pride
Work and Society
Community, Resources, and Conflict
Home and the American West
Summary
Analysis
Ralph’s mother convinces her husband to buy a better way to transport the children to church. Ralph’s father buys a buckboard (a type of wagon) from Mr. Cash, and on Sunday Ralph and his family ride in the buckboard to church in Fort Logan. Some of the children at the church’s Sunday school teach Ralph and his younger brother, Philip, some new bad words. Philip uses some of them on their sister, Muriel, and their mother cries so much that their father sends them to bed. Worried about the corrupting influences of ranch life on her children, Mrs. Moody begins holding Sunday services at home.
Ralph and his brother learn bad words at their new church, confirming Ralph’s mother’s worst fears about the corrupting influence of Midwestern culture. Despite her deep love of the Christian church, this incident convinces her to hold Sunday services at home instead of the local church. This illustrates Ralph’s mother’s reluctance to embrace Colorado’s culture.
Themes
A big wind comes, shaking and damaging Ralph and his family’s house. Ralph’s father unties the horses and props poles against the house to stop it from blowing over. He ties rope around everyone in the family and leads them out of the house, having them all lie flat against the ground. As they crawl away from the house, Ralph sees the barn has been blown away. They crawl for several hours, finally arriving at a gulch near Bear Creek, which is insulated from the wind. Ralph realizes how exhausted he is and begins to cry.
Again, Ralph’s family confronts the harsh environmental realities of living on a ranch. The Colorado landscape, while beautiful in many ways, is also home to many dangers which the Moody family is ill-prepared for. Here, Ralph’s family experiences a devastating Midwestern windstorm for the first time, a traumatic event which leaves the entire family shaken. Their survival is a testament to Ralph’s father’s incredible bravery and willpower.
Themes
The wind dies down at sunset, and Ralph and his family walk home. Ralph sees that the barn, privy, wagon, and buckboard are gone. The house remains, but it is heavily damaged. Ralph’s father makes a fire while his mother cleans up the house. Ralph’s father tries to leave to find the horses, but Ralph’s mother stops him, telling him not to throw his life away; they need him, and he is clearly exhausted from the ordeal. Fred and Bessie Aultland arrive and are shocked by Ralph’s father’s condition. Ralph and his family spend a few days at the Aultlands’ house while Fred helps Bessie and Ralph’s mother fix up their house. Ralph’s father rests in bed for several days.
When Ralph’s goes to rescue the horses, his wife stops him, begging him to rest. This interaction offers insight into the dynamics of their marriage, hinting that Ralph’s father’s sickness may be more severe than previously thought. Ralph’s characteristically resilient mother shows surprising emotional vulnerability, while Ralph’s father, usually the image of strength, suddenly appears fragile.
Themes
