"Size don't matter in chopping wood." What does it imply?

The passage clearly outlines several compelling reasons for the writer's visit to the Carolina Mountains. Firstly, the writer sought a peaceful and secluded environment, or "quiet isolation," primarily to focus on "troublesome writing." Secondly, the mountain air was desired for its therapeutic qualities, specifically to "blow out the malaria" that had resulted from an extended period spent in subtropical regions. Lastly, the writer was experiencing "homesickness," longing for the distinct beauty of autumn, characterized by the vibrant "flaming of maples," "cornshocks," "pumpkins," and "black-walnut trees."

The authoress stayed in a cabin located high in the Carolina Mountains. This cabin belonged to the orphanage and was situated half a mile beyond the orphanage farm.

She rented the cabin to find quiet isolation for her writing and to recover from malaria by breathing the mountain air. The cabin was equipped with a fireplace, requiring wood for heating.

Jerry chopped wood with remarkable skill and surprising efficiency, despite his small stature. The narrator observed that his blows were "rhythmic and steady," indicating a consistent and practiced manner of chopping. His work was so unobtrusive that the narrator soon forgot he was there, describing the sound as "no more of an interruption than a consisted rain."

He worked diligently for approximately an hour and a half. When the narrator later inspected the result, they discovered "an astonishing amount of wood had been cut." The narrator was profoundly impressed by Jerry's capability, stating, "But you've done as much as a man," and praising the pile as "splendid," which highlights Jerry's exceptional strength and effectiveness in performing a task typically associated with older, larger individuals.

The writer was startled because he unexpectedly found a young boy standing at his door, and more surprisingly, his pointer dog, which was his companion and usually barked to warn him of visitors, was silently by the boy's side without giving any alert.

The writer was deeply engaged in his troublesome writing, having sought quiet isolation in the Carolina Mountains. He had specifically asked for a boy or man to chop wood, implying an expectation of someone arriving at a different time or with some prior notice. Therefore, the sudden appearance of the boy, who seemed to have approached silently, broke the writer's concentration and peace.

The core reason for his startled reaction was the unusual silence of his dog. As a "pointer dog" and "companion," it was natural for the writer to expect his dog to be vigilant and alert him to the presence of any stranger. The fact that the boy had managed to approach the cabin and stand at the door without the dog barking to warn its owner was highly unexpected and unsettling for the writer, suggesting an unannounced and remarkably quiet arrival.