Chapter 4 - "The Happy Days" Are Here Again for the Ingalls

I am loving all the happy chapters in Little Town on the Prairie. Get ready because chapter 4 is delivering more fields of green, cat adventures, and cozy family moments. 

Fun facts. The first religious gathering in the settlement of DeSmet met at the Ingalls house. Later they gathered in an unfinished train depot until the church was built.

DeSmet, South Dakota is growing fast. This has to be irking reclusive Pa. But, he can no longer drag his family further West, since he promised Ma they wouldn't move again. 

Pa and Ma start attending meetings to organize a church. (I am a little surprised Ma is allowed to attend the meetings.) There is even more good news - Pa gets a job building the church! His work hours are from 7 AM to 6:30 PM and he earns 15 dollars a week. 

Laura meditates on the reasons she is happy and grateful.

• The garden is growing well
• They are getting milk from the cow, so they can regularly make butter, buttermilk, and cottage cheese
• PA IS EARNING MONEY!!!

Laura's thoughts turn to Mary attending college for the blind. Laura knows, when she turns 16, she must teach school to earn money for Mary's tuition. 

Then, Laura begins mentally listing the family's needs:

• dresses
• shoes
• flour, sugar, tea
• salt meat (there is no game for Pa to hunt due to the glut of settlers)  
• lumber for the house
• coal for the winter

Even with the oodles of money Pa is earning, it would be difficult to pay Mary's tuition. 

Did you know Laura got her started her writing career by penning articles about chicken rearing?  Her favorite breed with the brown leghorn chicken.

As if we haven't had enough joy, Pa comes home with even more good news. "I saw Boast in town today, and he sent word from Mrs. Boast. She is setting a hen for us! As soon as the chicks are big enough to scratch for themselves, he's going to bring us the whole batch." Mrs. Boast is a gem. Having a flock of chickens was life changing for the Ingalls. Laura day dreams about pullets, eggs to set, cockerels to fry, lots of eggs, and the occasional chicken pie.

Can enough be said about the kindness of friends? Yesterday a friend stopped by with a sweet gift. Cat pens and sticky notes - nestled in a bag decorated with hearts. My friend said, "I thought of you when I saw the pens and couldn't resist." I thought of you are powerful words. The gift made me feel special; plus, the post-its are super sticky. The world would be a better place if we all stopped to think of others. Today I am going to channel my inner Mrs. Boast.

LIW takes us on a tedious, comedic interlude involving the wee kitten wrestling with a rodent. The kitten eventually wins the match. "Then her own little teeth snapped hard, into the mouse's neck.  The mouse squeaked shrilly and went limp." (We do find out that the kitten's name is "Kitty.") I guess the Ingalls rodent infestation has been solved.    

Sadly, dear reader, the chapter ends with Pa asking Laura, "How would you like to work in town?" Drat. I thought he had forgotten about Laura getting a job.  

What Would Laura Do?

• List reasons to be happy and grateful
• Save money for college
• Make mental shopping lists
• Daydream  
• Get a job

See you soon for Chapter 5 - "Working in Town."

Prairie Eydie