“Stay gold” is a reference to the Robert Frost poem that Ponyboy recites to Johnny when the two hide out in the Windrixville Church. One line in the poem reads, “Nothing gold canstay,” meaning that all good things must come to an end. ... Here, Johnny urges Ponyboy to remain gold, or innocent.
The Line that contains the sentence "<span>Tom never disobeyed his father, for Mr. Tulliver was a peremptory man</span>"
