The Country of the Pointed Firs- Youth

One striking thing about the first twelve chapters is the lack of mention of children, but a many mentions about youth.  The narrator and William are described when they decide to go on a walk, "Both of us felt much younger than we looked" (44).  Shortly after that, Mrs. Todd is described as looking like her younger self, "Displaying the full face of the cheerful child she looked like still in spite of being past sixty" (47).  Motherhood is mentioned when Mrs. Todd and the narrator first arrive at Green Island to visit her mother.  However, even in the first interaction between Mrs. Todd and her mother, they are playfully teasing each other and give off the air that they are equals rather than mother and daughter.  I sense that age and youth will continue to be a running thread throughout this story; maybe something examining the differences between physical age and feeling a certain age.