"Fair Weather" On the Prairie

I often ask myself, "How did Laura Ingalls Wilder get through hard times?"  The Ingalls family didn't lack challenges.  There were crowded kitchens, countless updates about the Tracy cut, and sullen children.  During this period of self-quarantine, I decided to reread The Long Winter to discover - What Would Laura Do?

Despite the fair weather, chapter 16 kicks off with two grumpy gals.  Laura is drearily sloshing around cold dishwater when Carrie bleats out, "I'm tired of staying in this old kitchen!"  Mary points out, "We were thankful enough for this warm kitchen yesterday."  Thank goodness Mary has been maintaining her gratitude practice throughout the blizzards. 

Oh my.  If only Pa hadn't dragged his family away from Pepin, Wisconsin!  Laura could be making snow angels and pouring maple syrup on snow instead of enduring blizzard, after blizzard, after blizzard.  

Ma say the girls can go outside and their spirits are boosted.  The snow is packed so tightly Laura can't make a snowball.  Laura reminisces about the soft snow in the Big Woods of Pepin, Wisconsin.  

As the girls breathe the frigid air, Pa zooms by on a strange sled.  Pa has caught DIY fever!  In order to move hay more efficiently from the slough, he fashioned a wide sled at the lumberyard.  Pa is worried about having enough feed for the stock.  

Laura is afraid to ask Pa about the trains since she knows Carrie is worried about the kerosene and coal shortage.  Pa soothes their fears by saying, "Tell your Ma they've brought a snowplow and a full work train out from the East and put them to work at the Tracy cut."  WHEW!  The girls are relieved and rush home to tell Ma.
  
Worry returns to the Ingall's house when Pa is late for lunch.  (Most likely, this also irritated the Masters, as lunch was late.)  Ma has finished baking bread and boiling potatoes; yet, there is no Pa.  Thoughts of claim jumpers and runaway horses fill Laura's mind.  Finally, Pa stomps into the house declaring, "I could eat a raw bear without salt!"

Over lunch, Pa tells an extremely drawn out story explaining why he was late.  Hauling hay was nightmarish because the snow was held on top of the prairie grass.  As the horses trotted out to the slough, they were constantly plunging through the crust of snow.  Every time this happened, Pa would need to unhitch the sled and lead the horses onto "hard going again."  Pa used colorful words in his story like - "rassling", "crazy-wild," and "dumb horse." 

A letter that Ma wrote in 1861.  LIW described Ma's copperplate handwriting as neat and clear.

Pa mentions that Gilbert, the mail carrier, will be picking up letters to take East.  Ma decides to finish writing her letter to the sensible folks who stayed in Wisconsin.  She needs to thaw the ink bottle before she can begin writing.  The family has suggestions for news to include in the letter.

• Laura wants her relatives to know she still has her doll Charlotte.  (This is a good time to mention that Charlotte's name wasn't Charlotte - rather it was Roxey.)
• Pa wants to add that ". . . there isn't a cat in this whole country. . ." 
• Mary, realizing the importance of strong connections, suggests telling their relatives - "We wish you could come spend Christmas with us this year like you did in the Big Woods."

Look what I received in the mail today!  Clipped newspaper articles from Prairie Pa and Prairie Ma.

I love, love snail mail of all kinds and understand the fervor surrounding Gilbert.  I enjoying buying stamps, greeting cards, and address labels.  I don't mind waiting in post office lines because I imagine how happy my friends will be to get something other than bills. 

The next day, the sky darkens and winds begin to howl.  Sigh.  The fair weather has ended.  (I hope Gilbert made it Preston with the letters.)  

WWLD Summary:

1. Go outside when you're grumpy.
2. Listen to your elders when they tell a rambling story.
3. Send newsy letters to relatives and friends "back home."

See you tomorrow for Chapter 17 - "Seed Wheat."  We will be paying a visit to those Wilder brothers.

Prairie Eydie