Jack had to do chores before school and after school, and then, after chores, he studied in the evening, so he could go to college.
10 seconds sound clip from the Remember the Night (1940) classic radio play.
You can hear this line at 00:39:36 in the radio play.
Quote context
[...]
- I didn't know you knew about that.
- Oh, you poor child. You can be sure I never would have mentioned it now, only...
- Well, has Jack ever told you anything about his childhood?
- No, why?
- We were very poor after my husband died. In fact, we had nothing.
- Then he had to work his way through college and through law school.
- And, well, he's my son, and I wouldn't want anything or anyone to spoil it for him now.
- I see. But I don't see why anything should spoil it for him, do you?
[...]