The Teacher's Funeral

In these chapters, Russell and Tansy reach new understandings of themselves and each other, and face crises of their hopes and dreams as they continue to come of age. Tansy shows her growing strength as an adult and a teacher. She asserts her authority as she faces down Aunt Fanny Hamline, her confidence making the old battle-axe “falter” (131). At the same time, Tansy reveals she is still transitioning to adulthood. Her tears after Charlie and Glenn fight over her reveal her emotional vulnerability.

While Russell still does not trust that Tansy will not abuse her authority as teacher, Lloyd has more insight into Tansy’s personality and behavior. Lloyd is first to realize that Tansy is smitten with Eugene Hammond, and that Tansy is “turning out to be not too bad a teacher” (124). Russell is, however, learning to understand and empathize with Tansy. He compliments her “quick thinking” after the puff adder incident (122). He also realizes that the fight between Glenn and Charlie compromises both his and Tansy’s dreams (141). Russell slowly recognizes that Tansy is becoming a woman. He is amazed to hear his father say that Charlie and Glenn are “butting heads over Tansy” (145). Russell is learning to see Tansy in a role other than sister.

Russell’s idealistic dream of the Dakotas suffers a grim setback, and the narrative reveals that Russell appreciated the romance of running away to its reality. Russell’s dad understands that Russell feels put out and unappreciated. When Russell assures his dad that he would have sent money home from the Dakotas, his dad responds in loving understatement, “I’d sooner have you home” (146), showing he values Russell, and family, over money.

The Sweet Singer’s latest poem highlights Peck’s theme of the differences—and tensions—between the country and the encroaching modern city life. The Singer asserts that the “awful” automobile, will destroy their country lifestyle, “To end life as we know it” (114). The Singer opposes mechanization and change. This viewpoint offers a clue to the Singer’s identity: Likely the Singer is one of the older members of the community. Like the elderly congregation at Miss Myrt’s funeral, The Singer wants to maintain the old ways, rather than embrace the new.

For the boys in Tansy’s class, the pristine baseball they receive from the Overland Automobile Company represents a world they have not experienced. They have “never been this close to a real baseball” (137). In contrast, the boys’ homemade pig-leather baseballs are not round, do not roll, bounce, or last. The regulation baseball symbolizes the difference between the city and the country: the old and modern. Charlie and Glenn use the ball as a modern means of competing for Tansy. Their game of catch grows increasingly physical before resulting in blows. Their fight is an adolescent duel for social dominance.

These chapters also continue to demonstrate Peck’s skillful storytelling. He employs foreshadowing with the cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 12, alluding to the death of Russell’s Dakota dream. Russell also includes more asides from his adult perspective looking back on 1904. Russell recalls that the rescue of Aunt Fanny Hamline “became one of Tansy’s most famous days of teaching” (127). Russell’s utilization of ruralisms also highlights this difference between past and future and adds to Russell’s colorful description of country life. Russell remarks that his dad knew when to cut hay “when it had the most milk in it, as we put it in those days” (142). Russell is conscious of using an old-fashioned way to explain cutting ripe hay when it had the highest feed value, or most nutrients for cows, who would respond by producing the greatest amount of milk.

Peck also refers to some fascinating historical facts and rural customs in these chapters. Some inside info on this old-time stuff offers a wider understanding of the novel and the era it represents. Tansy tells Little Britches about President Roosevelt’s children and their pets. Her facts are correct. Alice Roosevelt did keep a pet garter snake which she carried in her purse. Alice named the snake Emily Spinach, because the snake was as thin as her Aunt Emily, and as green as spinach. Tansy also correctly identifies the garter snake by its scientific name, Eutaenia sirtalis.

Gigging frogs is a method of hunting still practiced today. Hunters use a long pole tipped with a multi-pronged spear to stab frogs, freshwater sucker fish, and flounder. The practice is cruel because the frogs don’t die immediately and suffer pain. Glenn does not gig the frogs he catches in Aunt Fanny Hamline’s pond. Instead, he uses a slingshot to brain them, killing them instantly and more humanely. Russell sees that the frogs are unmarked and unbloodied and is impressed at Glenn’s skill, knowing it takes a “dead eye” to kill frogs that way (115). Glenn also eats the legs, cooking them over a fire at lunchtime. Charlie, Glenn’s competitor for Tansy, dismisses Glenn’s skill, and looks down on Glenn for eating frogs. Charlie strives to put himself in a superior social position.