This was a dog's life, he thought.

It was a tough thing to have to come to.
The one thought that strengthened him was the insult offered by Carrie.
He was not down so low as to take all that, he thought.

He could do something--this, even--for a while.

It would get better.

He would save a little.
A boy threw a clod of mud while he was thus reflecting and hit him upon the arm.