Jethro has matured in the last chapter and the first half of this chapter. How is he different from the child he was in the first chapter?

At the end of Chapter Five, we see Jethro accepting help and guidance from Mr. Burdow.

At the start of Chapter Six, Jethro becomes the breadwinner. With Matt's sickness, he becomes responsible for his family's farm, as well as John and Jenny's. Chapter Five ends with Jethro in tears, trying to cope with new experienced, fears, and uncertainty. In Chapter Six, we begin to see him meeting his challenges head on.