This chapter is about how Fern stands up to her father to the almost execution of a runt piglet. This chapter is organized on a sequence of events from coming down to breakfast early.
This sentence from Fern talking to her father is set apart from the rest of the text because of the emotion that it evokes. The italicized words shows depth in emotion from the author in what Fern is telling her father.
I think this book has been a popular choice among people for so long