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“Jesus Holds My Hand”

Hymn #85, Pure Gold for the Sunday Schools

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birds’-nest pudding

Dessert made of apples baked in syrup and served with cream.

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“Old Folks at Home”

Way down upon the Swanee River!

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“The Big Sunflower”

Pa’s trouble song.

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“Daisy Deane”

1863 song by Union soldiers.

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black-berry / blackberry

The berry of the bramble, Rubus fruticosous.

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Little House in the Big Woods – historical perspective

Pepin Twp., Pepin Co. Wisconsin

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stockade

Enclosure of posts or sticks.

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Silliman Gilbert family

Kingsbury County farmer.

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Charles H. Tinkham

Early undertaker and owner of the first furniture store in De Smet.

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Martha Perry / Mrs. White

Laura helped her sew shirts.

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yoke

Frame worn on the neck for lifting or drawing.

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Visscher Barnes

Probate Judge, VP of Temperance Society, and first director of De Smet school board.

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Uncle Sam

Figure symbolizing the United States.

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“Haste to the Wedding”

Traditional Irish fiddle tune.

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icicle

Conical mass of ice, formed by water freezing as it flows downward.

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Freddy Ingalls

Laura’s brother (1875-1876)

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“Rock of Ages”

1760s Augustus Toplady hymn.

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The Long Winter – historical perspective

The Hard Winter of 1880-1881.

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rags for paper

rag. A piece of cloth torn off; a tattered fragment; a shred; a...

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South Troy / Zumbro Falls today

Little town along the Zumbro River.

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“Pull for the Shore”

Sunshine for Sunday Schools hymn.

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census taker

Statistical registration of members of a country.

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chilblain

Cold sores on hands and feet.

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Sale of School Lands on the Osage Diminished Reserve

LHOP cabin was on Section 36

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bracket lamp

Affixed lighting fixture.

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ash withe / ash-withe

A flexible, slender twig or branch used as a band for tying.

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swan

Cygnus Americanus

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The New York Ledger

Weekly story paper, published 1855-1898.

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parsnip

Pastinaca edulis, a white, spindle-shaped root vegetable.

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cupola

Dome-like vault on a public building.

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cat hole / cat-hole

Jack will keep other animals from using it.

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buttonhook

Curved metal tool for fastening shoes.

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Julia & Amasa Tower

Walnut Grove church friends.

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dumpling

Dough cooked in liquid.

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“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

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Eleck Nelson family

Neighbors of the Ingalls family when living on their preemption claim north of Walnut Grove.

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flag

the banner

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“Don’t Leave the Farm, Boys”

Song from The Conqueror.

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batten / lath

Thin, narrow board for fastening or joining.

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“Bo-peep has lost her sheep”

Game of hiding and surprise to amuse a small child.

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Arthur Sherwood

Brother of Carter Sherwood.

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Quiner graves

Abandoned cemetery off Playhouse Road.

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gosh!

that wicked word

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Morocco leather

Fine goat leather.

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Big Sioux River / Sioux River

SD-IA tributary of Missouri River.

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wild prairie rose

RWL was their namesake, my dear.

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“Coming Through the Rye”

Robert Burns tune.

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willow-ware

Blue-and-white tableware with Chinese story paintings.

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New England States

ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, & CT.

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prairie danglers

seventhwinter whimsey’s glass slide pendants!

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zenith

The point of the heavens directly overhead.

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birds in their little nests agree

Miss Wilder knew nothing about birds.

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fascinator

Pretty, light head covering.

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consumption

A wasting disease, pulmonary tuberculosis.

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whip

A lash tied to a handle.

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mustache

Hair above the lip.

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Lost, between sunrise and sunset…

Horace Mann quotation from his Writings, published in 1872.

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“To a Girl”

Poem used to describe Beatrice Sorchan.

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“The Old Time”

Mr. Boast’s favorite song.

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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Birthday

Happy Birthday, Laura!

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Frank M. Cooley family

On the Way home travelers.

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“Come In and Shut the Door”

Circa 1862 song by J.P.H.

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Frank Schaub

Early harness maker in De Smet.

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“Barbary Allen”

Old Scotch tune.

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Osage Indian Treaty

Legal agreement between nations or sovereigns.

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lime / whitewash

Oxide of calcium mixed with water and used for whitening.

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“The Gypsy King”

Young Laura and Mary’s favorite song!

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custard / ice-cream

Sweetened milk and eggs, cooked.

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building paper / tar paper

Crude building paper used for covering.

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Charlotte Holbrook

Laura’s “Aunt Lotty”

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locust

Buy this book.

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“Tubal Cain”

Charles McKay poem.

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missionary barrel

Collection of items distributed to the needy.

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Supposed Speech of Regulus

From Independent Fifth Reader.

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birthday

As near as I can figure, E.J. was right.

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John H. Carroll

Early De Smet banker.

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windrow

Line of hay raked together.

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“My Jenny Jerusha Jane”

1868 A.G. Chase song.

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“Merry, Merry Christmas”

Hymn Number 150 in Pure Gold for Sunday Schools.

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De Smet today

Where I would like to be right now.

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Declaration of Independence

Document renouncing U.S. subjection to Great Britain.

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“I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land”

1860 Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

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peddler’s cart / wagon

A little store on wheels.

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butter

Edible fatty substance made by churning cream.

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Come Into the Garden, Maud

1855 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

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“A Life on the Ocean Wave”

1847 Epes Sargent poem put to music.

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ice cream social

Laura and Almanzo didn’t enjoy it.

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carved wooden bracket

Place for a china shepherdess.

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sewing machine

“Such beautiful stitching!”

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Laura’s Sorosis Club speech

“My Work”

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zebra

Part of Willie Oleson’s Noah’s Ark toy.

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“Home of the Soul”

1865 E.M.H. Gates hymn.

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links

Helps you find what you’re looking for.

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tattoo

Sounds like beating drums!

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“Old Grimes”

1822 Albert Gorton Greene poem.

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“Kitty Wells”

1858 Sloan & Atherton song.

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button lamp

Improvised grease lamp.

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“The Good Old Way”

Hymn 18, Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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mosquito bar / netting

Woven cloth bug barrier.

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Charles Trousdale

De Smet drayman and his performing sons.

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cradle scythe

Blade and handle used to cut oats.

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Timothy Johnson family

De Smet Wagon Shop.

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“The Ninety and Nine”

Elizabeth Clephane poem.

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Congress

Legislative body of a country.

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“It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary”

1912 Judge & Williams song.

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gopher

Four don’t go fur…

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gable

Triangular end of a building under the roof.

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“Sweet By and By”

Pa’s favorite hymn.

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The House that Jack Built

…for two pieces of money.

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Farmer Boy – historical perspective

1860s Burke / Malone NY.

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udder

Where the milk is before milking.

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chestnut / horse chestnut

A large nut, the fruit of a species of Æsculus.

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“I Wish I Was Single Again”

1871 J.C. Beckel song.

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“Gentle Words and Loving Smiles”

Hymn 139 in Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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wall-paper

Wall covering.

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Edelbert Harthorn family / Frank Harthorn & Mabel Burd

Father and son owners of early drygoods store in De Smet.

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awl

pokes holes

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dove-in-the-window / bear’s tracks

Patchwork pattern variations.

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James Glover family

Students in the Wilkin School.

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ante-over / anti-over / anteover

Game in which a ball is thrown over a structure.

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Marshall, Minnesota

Almanzo Wilder farmed here in 1879-1880.

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Charles Barker

Early De Smet grocer.

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Army bugle

Brass military horn.

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watermelon-rind preserves

sugary jelly

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dried-raspberry sauce

Dried sauce good on biscuits.

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hatchet

A small ax with a short handle, to be used with one hand.

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churn

Cream agitator.

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poke bonnet / poke-bonnet

the lining matched Laura’s eyes

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“Beware!”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem.

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Pioneer Girl

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoir.

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“Nobody Ask’d You”

In the frosty mornings and the chilly evenings when they went...

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“There is a Happy Land”

Whoop! How those eggs do smell!

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Burr Oak today

Only Ingalls home in original location.

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President George Washington

First President of the U.S.A.

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Becky Newhall / Rebecca Stewart

Classmate of Laura Ingalls in De Smet.

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Will Barnes

Walnut Grove acquaintance of the Ingallses’ in the 1870s....

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Amos Whiting family

Superintendent of Schools, De Smet.

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storm apron

Rain protection for buggy.

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America / American

Pertaining to the United States of America.

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“Arkansas Traveler”

Traditional American folk song.

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These Happy Golden Years – historical perspective

De Smet, D.T., 1883-1885.

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“Paddle Your Own Canoe”

1850s Harry Clifton song.

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“Old Dan Tucker”

Mr. Edwards sings it!

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auk

Extinct sea bird used to describe dovekie found by Charles Ingalls.

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vanity cakes

Egg and flour batter fried in oil into golden brown puffs.

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Laura’s wedding silver

Wm. Rogers’ “Crown” silverplate.

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“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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“Golden Years are Passing By”

1879 Will Thompson song.

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“The Lotos Eaters”

Tennyson poem.

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apprentice

One who is legally bound to another to learn a trade or art.

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Henry Ford’s Own Story

Industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company.

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cornmeal mush / hasty pudding

Cornmeal and water, cooked.

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squirrel

Rodent mammal of the genus Sciurus.

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cat’s cradle

Game played with string twisted on the fingers.

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The Floweret

1842 book of verse by Anna Maria Wells.

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“Bonny Doon”

1792 Robert Burns song.

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pieplant

Rhubarb.

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Burr Oak during the Little House years

Town in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

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galluses / suspenders

Straps worn for holding up pants.

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The Athenians

Hartville, Mo. study club.

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“The High Tide”

Jean Ingelow poem.

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braid / plait

Entwined strands.

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Great American Desert

Varying area of North America, believed at times to be uninhabitable by civilized man.

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basket

Woven container.

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“When I Can Read My Title Clear”

1700s Isaac Watts hymn.

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album

Blank booklet for collecting autographs or photos.

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“The Polish Boy”

Poem by Ann S. Stephens

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drop the handkerchief / drop-the-handkerchief

Circle game.

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pork-pickle

Salt and sugar pork brine.

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pullaway

Outdoor tagging game.

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isinglass

mica for stove windows

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“Uncle Ned”

One of the earliest Stephen Foster songs.

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“What Shall the Harvest Be?”

1850 Emily Oakley poem.

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Spat them Out

Clapping (and kissing) game.

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claim shanty

Temporary dwelling.

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whiffle-tree / whiffletree

Bar to attach traces to.

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bale

Specific bundle of goods packaged for transport.

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gingerbread

Chocolate frosting adds to the goodness!

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amen / amen corner

Expression used at the end of prayers.

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whiskey

Spirits distilled from grain.

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These Happy Golden Years – the fictional story

Laura teaches and falls in love.

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Will Bennett

One of the younger De Smet schoolboys.

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“Wait for the Wagon”

Buckley and Knauff song.

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Dr. Robert Hoyt

Husband of Mattie Masters.

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twin lakes

Lake Henry & Lake Thompson

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“Lilly Dale” / “Lily Dale”

1852 song by H.S. Thomson.

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Silas Rood

Rude by name & nature?

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Little House Songs

Prairie Song Companion

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Maude Blair

Walnut Grove friend of Laura’s

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starch

cloth stiffener

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Syndicate Hotel

Laura & Almanzo stayed there!

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Young Pioneers

David and Molly Beaton.

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stone fences

Rock wall enclosure.

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Mary Power & Edwin Sanford

Laura’s friend and the new clerk at Ruth’s bank.

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pokeberry

For rosy doll cheeks.

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A Tribute to the Early Day Teachers

Neva Whaley Harding tribute.

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bison / “The Bison Track”

Bayard Taylor poem about Bos Americanus, found in Independent Fifth Reader.

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“The New Year’s Come”

1842 “Why chime the bells so merrily?”

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Henry O. Quiner family

Ma’s brother, married to Pa’s sister Polly.

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