These chapters add depth and detail to the Moffat family characters. For instance, the chapter on the dance recital, “The Sailor’s Hornpipe,” reveals that Joe is a shy young man who prefers to stay out of the spotlight. This makes dancing lessons difficult for him, and he “often [hides] behind the piano” to avoid attention (106). At the recital, Joe’s performance is a surprise hit, yet he still longs to escape the spotlight: “Joe [bows] too, and [retreats] hastily to his place by the piano” (118). The description of Rufus in Chapter 4 shows his well-meaning but clumsy nature as a five-year-old boy, as he dirties multiple outfits before leaving for church. Rufus’s innocent mischief is again on display when he volunteers his tooth collection for the kids’ pumpkin ghost. One of Rufus’s hobbies is collecting teeth, some from the yard, where Dr. Witty (a dentist) used to throw them, and others from animals: “The first tooth Rufus had found one day when he was digging a hole, hoping to get a peep into China. It had filled him with the most amazed delight. In excitement, he had rushed in to show it to Mama, thinking she would be as interested as he was” (90). The author’s humorous description of Rufus’s hobby adds realistic detail to the personality of the youngest Moffat.

In addition, these chapters further develop The Importance of Familial Relationships as a theme. By showing how the Moffat children collaborate to get revenge on their bully, Peter Frost, the novel highlights their caring attitude toward each other and their ability to work together. The kids are friendly and collaborative as they create a scary “ghost” for their attic: Together, “[t]he three of them set to work digging out a most startling face” (88), and when finished “[they] [look] at their work with satisfaction” (92). When Rufus suggests using his tooth collection to make the ghost scarier, his older siblings support his creative idea: “They [look] at the teeth admiringly. ‘Gee, those are swell,’ said Jane. ‘Look at that one, will you?’ she [says], pointing to an enormous one. ‘Yeah,’ [agrees] Rufus, looking at it with pride” (92). By encouraging Rufus to contribute ideas, his older siblings involve him in the pumpkin carving, helping him feel included. While the kids collaborate, they discuss their many bad experiences with Peter Frost, bonding over their shared dislike of their mean neighbor and classmate:

And as they [work], they [review] their grudges against Peter Frost. […] 

‘Remember the time he made Rufus fall off the hitching post?’

‘Remember that time he told Jane to put her mouth up against the hole in the fence and he would give her a piece of candy and he gave her a mouthful of sand instead?’ (89).

By retelling their stories about Peter, the children show their solidarity against their shared enemy. Their mutual emotional support helps them channel their irritation toward Peter into their mischievous project, which soon becomes another fun shared memory between the siblings.

While their plans against Peter are a great success, the Moffat children also have more misadventures in these passages. These add detail and humor to the theme of Learning Through Everyday Childhood Adventures. Their decision to catch a ride on the Salvation Army captain’s wagon leads to disaster when they bite off more than they can chew. Joe’s enjoyment of driving the wagon soon leads him to take on more responsibility than he can handle, as he carries on past the church and toward Orchard Grove, disobeying Mama and the captain. The text shows how their eagerness to drive Billy the horse—and avoid going to Sunday School—causes problems for them and the captain when they accidentally jostle him out of the wagon: “Joe, Jane, and Rufus [don’t] look back. None of them [look] back once on the scene of their near disaster. If they [did], they might [see] the Captain sprawled on the ground along with piles of newspapers” (73). As the children realize their mistake, they learn not to disobey adults or take on too much responsibility. Joe admits that he was caught up in the excitement and not thinking clearly: “‘I shoulda known better, too,’ [says] Joe, rather ashamed” (75). The kids’ good intentions and realizations show that while they can be too impulsive, they’re also humbly learning various life lessons through their misadventures.