# The New Clothes Fail explained — Understood Betsy

> Chapter companion for Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher.

## What happens

The little girls eagerly await 'Lias's debut in his new clothes, but their hopes are dashed when he arrives still dirty. Ralph secretly washes him, but Mr. Pond fails to notice. Later, 'Lias's stepfather sells the new clothes for whiskey, leaving 'Lias in rags. Mr. Pond, enraged, takes 'Lias under his protection and buys him a new outfit for the Decoration Day exercises.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Compassion

The little girls and Ralph show compassion for 'Lias by trying to help him, and Mr. Pond ultimately takes decisive action to protect him.

### Resilience and Problem-Solving

Betsy and the girls brainstorm ways to help 'Lias, and Ralph takes practical steps to clean him up, demonstrating resilience in the face of disappointment.

### Education and Learning

Betsy's progress in arithmetic is highlighted, showing her growing confidence and the effectiveness of Miss Benton's teaching method.

## Character check-ins

### Elizabeth Ann

Betsy is disappointed by 'Lias's appearance, grateful to Ralph for washing him, and ultimately heartbroken when 'Lias's clothes are sold.

### Lias Brewster

'Lias proudly wears his new clothes but remains dirty; later, he is washed by Ralph, but his stepfather sells the clothes, leaving him in rags and crying in the woodshed.

### Ralph

Ralph secretly washes 'Lias, gives him his own cap, and later angrily reveals that 'Lias's stepfather sold the new clothes for whiskey.

### Mr. Pond

Mr. Pond initially fails to notice 'Lias, but after learning of the stepfather's actions, he takes 'Lias under his care and buys him a new outfit.

### Henry

Uncle Henry drives the hay-wagon and accompanies Mr. Pond to the school, but is unable to intervene effectively.

### Miss Benton

Miss Benton teaches arithmetic to Betsy and rings the bell to call the boys back from the river.

## Key lines

> The little girls retired to their rock-pile and talked over their bitter disappointment, Ralph and the other boys absorbed in a game of marbles near them.

The girls discussed their disappointment while the boys played marbles nearby.

_Shows the girls' collaborative problem-solving and their focus on 'Lias's situation._

> Ralph had taken 'Lias down to the little boys' wading-place and had washed him all over.

Ralph had secretly washed 'Lias at the wading spot.

_Highlights Ralph's quiet, compassionate action._

> And that darned old skunk of a stepfather has gone and taken 'em and sold 'em to get whiskey.

The stepfather sold the new clothes for whiskey.

_Reveals the cause of 'Lias's return to rags and the community's outrage._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/understood_betsy_se/chapters/ix-the-new-clothes-fail
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/understood_betsy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/understood_betsy_se/chapters