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What Is The Tone Of Lazy Lawrence

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The short story Lazy Lawrence by Maria Edgeworth, is intended to teach children, and was written with a positive tone. The story teaches its reasons through Jem who lives in the village of Ashton with mother, Preston. Edgeworth challenges children to aim for positive behaviors in Lazy Lawrence. Moreover, the story illustrates the morality of being persistent, caring and hardworking. Jems ability to be persistent is shown throughout Lazy Lawrence. Edgeworth describes Jem as being "a boy not easily discouraged". He was determined to search for a job despite the distance between where he worked and his home. Jem continued to work even when he was tired, and even struggled to get it work daily without being late. For four days, Jem worked “every day all day long”, and each evening the lady came out to compliment his hard work, and his consistency. Jem was working hard to save his hose Lightfoot, from being sold. For Jem to save his earnings took great persistence. To a child, Lightfoot represents a wanted toy, piece of candy, or a bicycle. Jems persistence to save his earnings, influences children to do their chores and to put their earning away to save for the things they want. Jem represents what it means to be caring throughout …show more content…

Jem helped Preston clean up after the livestock, weed the garden, and run errands for her, which was a practice of his hard work. When Preston became ill, she could no longer afford to pay rent and threatened to sell Lightfoot. Jem could not bear to lose his horse, so he went and got a job to help his mother. Jems tendency to work hard and help solve his family issues, teaches children that they are not too young to solve problems. Today, Girl scouts raise money for trips and other events by selling cookies. Girl Scouts are similar to Jem because they work and save. As Jem stated, “I WILL earn something—if it ever be so little, it will be SOMETHING—and I shall do my very

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