Read the passage from "a night ride in a prairie schooner."

he was a small edition of his father. he wore the same color and check in his hickory shirt and his long pantaloons of blue denim had suspenders precisely like those of the men. indeed, he considered himself a man, notwithstanding [underline starts] the tear-stains on his brown cheeks [underline ends].

which best interprets the purpose of the underlined imagery?

(a) it shows the reader that the boy is not very tough.

(b) it suggests that the boy is unhappy with this move.

(c) it reveals that the boy's mother is not taking care of him.

(d) it allows the reader to understand abuse.