“At daybreak Billy Buck emerged from the bunkhouse and stood for a moment on the porch looking up at the sky.”

This is the opening line of “The Gift.” Billy’s actions introduce the theme of The Connection Between People and Their Environment. Billy looking at the sky also foreshadows how he will incorrectly predict the weather later in the story.

“Nearly all of his father’s presents were given with reservations which diminished their value somewhat. It was good discipline.”

This quote develops the character of Carl and the relationship between Carl and Jody. Carl is primarily a disciplinarian, and the gift of the pony is meant to teach Jody responsibility.

“They knew Jody had been miraculously lifted out of equality with them, and had been placed over them.”

This passage occurs when Jody shows six boys from his school his pony. He and his schoolmates believe that having a horse makes one a superior person.