Little house in the prairie

Little house in the prairie

The novel is about the months the Ingalls spent on the Kansas prairie around the town of Independence. Laura describes how her father built their one-room log house in Indian Territory, having heard that the government planned to open the territory to white settlers soon.

One winter during the late 1800s, Laura Ingalls and her family leave the woods of Wisconsin for the West because where they live has become crowded with new settlers. They hope to cross the Mississippi River before its frozen ice melts. They will travel across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas to reach the open prairies.

While crossing a creek with unusually high water, the family loses their loyal dog, Jack, who is taken downriver. As they travel, the landscape slowly changes, but Pa discovers plenty of good hunting. At night they hear the howl of wolves, which scares the children. Laura spots eyes in the darkness staring at them. It turns out to be Jack; he found his way back to them.

Their days are filled with chores and finding or making food, but there is still time for the children to explore. Mary, Laura’s older sister, and Laura pick flowers, hunt rabbits, chase gophers and keep an eye out for Indians.

On the final day of travel, they come across a beautiful open space of land on the plains. They are near the Verdigris River, and there are no worn trails in sight. The Ingalls decide to unpack their wagon and begin to settle this land as their own

Laura and Mary fetch water, do laundry, prepare food and help care for their baby sister, Carrie. Pa begins building a home for them. One afternoon while hunting, Pa meets a neighbor who lives 2 miles away. He is a bachelor named Mr. Edwards. They help each other build their homes. The evening their home is complete, minus a floor and roof, Ma makes a special dinner. After dinner, Pa takes out his fiddle and sings while Mr. Edwards dances.

Before working on the floor or roof, Pa hurries to make a stable for their horses because so many wolves are in the area. Before winter, Pa helps Mr. Edwards build his home. He eventually builds the roof, a bed for Ma, chairs and a table. He even digs a well for water

Other settlers are to moving to the area. Although neighbors may live a few miles apart, they share provisions and take care of one another. The Indians share these prairies; however, they resent the white man and do not interact with them. The government has been pushing the Indians out of their land for years. They are being forced west to settle in new areas as the white man continues to settle their land.

As winter nears, Pa builds a rock chimney so that Ma can cook indoors over a fireplace and their family has heat. Everyone continues to work together to care for their family’s daily needs. One afternoon while Pa is out hunting, two Indians come into their home. Out of fear and respect, Ma feeds them and gives them cornmeal and Pa’s tobacco, at their request. Ma fears the Indians; however, Pa tells her that they will not be a threat if they don’t feel threatened.

Clothing words:

Warm dresses and heavy coats page 2