In this chapter, we learn that the eldest son, Caspar, is very sickly and needs to be taken to the doctor. Caspar's mother, Madame Guiche, tells him that he should get up early and work harder to earn more money so that he can provide for himself and his family. She also tells him to fix the roof on the house so that winter will not be so bad. The family decides to go chop firewood so that they can have more mouths to feed during the winter. They also decide to go back to their father's house to ask him to help them out.