P. 5, Scene 3 (about 1902) "It's too cold out there."
The mention of the cold weather just before Christmas carries Benjy's memory back to an earlier scene the same day. Faulkner's technique often shifts the time sequence back and forth without regard for chronological order. To read the passage in chronological order, one would read this section first. These passages are characterized by Benjy's reaction to sensual impressions, such as the coldness of the iron gate or the rattling of the leaves. His world is based upon things that he can immediately sense or that give him pleasure.
The entire Patterson episode (Scenes 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, and 46) has the least thematic importance in the novel. It functions mainly to contribute to the complete picture of the Compson world. For example, note how Uncle Maury ingratiates himself with his sister (Mrs. Compson); note also that every one of his actions has some type of selfish motivation — either he drinks Mr. Compson's liquor or borrows money from Mrs. Compson, or he uses the Compson children as his go-betweens or as his pimps. This act alone indicates the total lack of any moral values on the part of the Bascomb family. Note also that Mrs. Compson is more concerned about Benjy's being a judgment on her than she is about Benjy's welfare.
