There are many scenes and quotes which depict Atticus spending his evenings at home with his children throughout the novel. Following a rough first day at school where Scout was told by Miss Caroline to stop reading, Atticus calls for Scout to read with him on the porch after dinner. Atticus routinely reads to his daughter in the evenings, and Scout thoroughly enjoys sitting on Atticus' lap as she follows along. Scout comments,
"After supper, Atticus sat down with the paper and called, "Scout, ready to read?" The Lord sent me more than I could bear, and I went to the front porch. Atticus followed me" (Lee 39).
Atticus notices that something is bothering Scout, and she proceeds to lament about her difficult first day. Atticus teaches his daughter a lesson in perspective and compromise after hearing Scout's story.
In Chapter 11, Scout comments on her brother's fascination with football and Atticus' willingness to accommodate Jem's interest in their evening reading sessions. She says,
"Every night Atticus would read us the sports pages of the newspapers. Alabama might go to the Rose Bowl again this year, judging from its prospects, not one of whose names we could pronounce. Atticus was in the middle of Windy Seaton's column one evening when the telephone rang" (Lee 147).
Another quote that depicts Atticus spending his evenings with Jem and Scout is found in Chapter 13. Aunt Alexandra is attempting to make her brother teach his children about their family history and Scout says,
"Before bedtime I was in Jem's room trying to borrow a book, when Atticus knocked and entered. He sat on the side of Jem's bed, looked at us soberly, then he grinned" (Lee 177).
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