Buck's opinion of mules and plows

"rootin' for vittles in this here sorry clay" (page 15)

"Don't let Papa make you plow the big mule, boy," he said, "Big John'll pure pull yore arms out at the sockets. But you got to quit sleepin' in the cotton rows when you ought to be choppin'." (page 17-18)

"Much obliged, " he said slowly, "but I ain't aimin' to dig in no more dirt."

"Food comes first. Then I got to get me a job- job where a man don't have to use a tool. Tool jobs make corns on a man's hands and when he gets through he's so tired he ain't got sense enough to spend his money right. Now, I got to lay onto the right job, but I don't know what it is. I oughtn't to make so much difference, lonng as it ain't a tool job. I hate to sweat." (page 24)