Examples Of Penny Baxter In The Yearling

In The Yearling, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings depicts Penny Baxter as a hardworking father wanting the best and willing to do anything for his family. In chapter one, Jody returns from playing in the woods and sees his father chopping wood. Distressed, Jody thinks “[h]e was doing Jody’s work, and in his good coat” (9). Penny Baxter’s readiness to do Jody’s chores so the family can have firewood reveals his strong work ethic. Penny wants his son to play and his wife to have wood, so he shoulders extra responsibility without complaint. Further demonstrating Penny’s service-oriented attitude, Penny makes the long trek to and from the sinkhole at least once every single day to get water for his family: “Jody was held accountable for wood, but