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copyright / permissions

Please do not plagiarize.

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whiffle-tree / whiffletree

Bar to attach traces to.

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Women’s Christian Temperance Union

W.C.T.U.

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“Marching Through Georgia”

Union song from American Civil War.

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coal / coal hod

Carbonized plant matter mined and used as fuel.

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Burke / Malone during the Little House years

Almanzo Wilder birthplace.

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Lizzie

the child bride

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“De Boatmen’s Dance”

Away Down the RIver on the O-hi-o.

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gable

Triangular end of a building under the roof.

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Julia & Amasa Tower

Walnut Grove church friends.

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Turkey red

Durable red color, dyed with madder upon calico or woolen cloth.

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“Old Grimes”

1822 Albert Gorton Greene poem.

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“Oh! Susanna”

Stephen Foster song.

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beet

Succulent root vegetable.

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brakeman

Person who stops the train.

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Ella & Robert Boast

Friends of the Ingalls family in De Smet.

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Thomas Quiner

Ma’s brother and Laura’s uncle

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P A T

one seven seven ought

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garnet

Deep orange-red gemstone.

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amen / amen corner

Expression used at the end of prayers.

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Charles Trousdale

De Smet drayman and his performing sons.

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willow

Tree of the genus Salix.

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“When I Can Read My Title Clear”

1700s Isaac Watts hymn.

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quarter section / quarter-section

One-fourth of a square mile, consisting of 160 acres.

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door knob

Grab to open a door.

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tax

A certainty, as is death.

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“For the Sake o’ Somebody”

1794 Robert Burns poem.

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biscuits

A kind of un-fermented bread, formed into flat cakes, and baked.

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Charles Ely

Early lumber man in De Smet.

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Daniel Loftus

Early drygoods store owner in De Smet.

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William H. Reed

Teacher in Burr Oak school, 1876-1877.

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basque

Jacket-like part of a lady’s dress.

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Alfred Ely

One of the younger boys in school.

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The Missouri Ruralist

Twice monthly Missouri farm periodical.

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“The May Queen”

Poem in three parts by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

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awl

pokes holes

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Charles Philip Ingalls

Father of Laura Ingalls. He lived 1836-1902.

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New England States

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

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“In the Starlight”

1878 Glover & Carpenter song.

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churn

Cream agitator.

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butter tester

Instrument used to remove core sample from a vat of butter, for the sake of testing.

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greenhorn / greeny

Immature, raw, awkward.

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“The Big Sunflower”

Pa’s trouble song.

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“Gaily Now Our Boat is Sailing”

Laura loved singing school. It began with singing scales to...

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hulled corn

Hominy.

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sundogs

Bright spots on either side of the sun.

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mercury / thermometer

Used to measure air temperature.

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“Old Dan Tucker”

Mr. Edwards sings it!

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Orion E. Stearns

Caught by blizzard of ’88.

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cream of tartar / baking powder

Byproduct of wine-making process, used in baking as leavening agent.

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“Sing a Song of Sixpence”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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Docia Ingalls / Hiram Forbes

Sister of Charles Ingalls married to railroad contractor.

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orthography

The art of spelling words correctly.

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twisting hay

Pioneer method by which dried grass is formed into compact...

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“The Treadmill Song”

Oliver Wendell Holmes poem set to music.

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The Long Winter – historical perspective

The Hard Winter of 1880-1881.

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Mrs. Jarley’s Wax Works

Rise! Come forward!

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These Happy Golden Years – the fictional story

Laura teaches and falls in love.

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thunder-pumps

American bittern, a member of the heron family.

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Minnie Johnson

Laura’s schoolmate in De Smet

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De Smet Cemetery

Ma & Pa’s final resting place.

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clinched nail

Bent at a right angle.

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“Keep the Horse Shoe Over the Door”

1880 Joseph Skelley song.

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Edward H. Couse

Early hardware store owner in De Smet.

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Dolly Varden

NIckname of Edith Ingalls, Laura’s cousin.

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dug out / dugout

Dwelling built into the earth.

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“Golden Years are Passing By”

1879 Will Thompson song.

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Waverly Novels

Sir Walter Scott books.

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swimming hole

Watch out for ankle grabbers!

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leap frog / leap-frog

Run and jump game.

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peddler’s cart / wagon

A little store on wheels.

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“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”

Long Winter song

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copper-toed shoes

Metal shoe protector.

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mummy

Put. that. back.

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The Story of Art Smith

1915 Rose Wilder Lane serial about an aviator.

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jewel box / jewel-box

Nice place to keep a breast-pin.

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Eskimo / igloo

Tribes of arctic America and Greenland. / Snow hut.

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spinning wheel / spinning-wheel

Turns wool into yarn.

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Frogs at School

“Twenty froggies went to school…”

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“Jingle Bells”

1857 James Pierpont song.

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spelling / speller

The order of letters in a word. / A book of exercises on the order of letters.

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pieplant

Rhubarb.

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whiskey

Spirits distilled from grain.

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oranges

Citrus fruit.

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galluses / suspenders

Straps worn for holding up pants.

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kerosene / kerosine

Oil used for lighting.

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cornice

Roof overhang.

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needle grass

Ouch! Something bit me!

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“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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Jerome Bisby

Resident of Burr Oak, Iowa, during the Ingallses’ stay...

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Frank M. Cooley family

On the Way home travelers.

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Jesse French

Butchered oxen during the Hard Winter.

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Congress

Legislative body of a country.

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fascinator

Pretty, light head covering.

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“My Old Kentucky Home”

1853 Stephen Foster song.

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bandana

Large handkerchief with white pattern on red or blue background.

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literary society

Instructional and entertaining gathering.

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“The Floating Scow of Old Virginia”

1847 Charles White song.

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Poverty Flat

Early De Smet residential area.

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Hamlin Garland

…and his first Christmas tree!

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“Money Musk”

Traditional American dance tune.

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Bad Lands

Area eroded by wind & water.

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“By Lo, Baby Bunting”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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Little House on the Prairie – historical perspective

      The Ingalls and Quiner families...

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Spat them Out

Clapping (and kissing) game.

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Will Barnes

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

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Alice Maria Wilder

Older sister and playmate of Almanzo Wilder. She lived 1853-1892.

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perforated paper embroidery

Stitched designs.

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album

Blank booklet for collecting autographs or photos.

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“Buffalo Gals”

1844 Virginia Minstrels song.

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stone fences

Rock wall enclosure.

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wristlets

Knitted bands worn around the wrists for warmth.

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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Birthday

Happy Birthday, Laura!

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engine / locomotive / iron horse

Vehicle powered by steam and run on tracks.

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“The Polish Boy”

Poem by Ann S. Stephens

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Brownsville, Texas 1906

Did Eliza Jane sell fruit to these soldiers?

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Yankton, Dakota Territory

1879 land office town.

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nutmeg

Myristica moschata, used as a spice.

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Charleton Fuller / Gerald Fuller

Hardware store owner, partnered with his brother Gerald.

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Quaker meeting

Parlor game in which players try to remain silent.

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consumption

A wasting disease, pulmonary tuberculosis.

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“Kitty Wells”

1858 Sloan & Atherton song.

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Home Missionary Society

Group organized to raise money to start churches and Sunday schools in the west where there were none.

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zebra

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

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Volga, Dakota Territory

Town on the Dakota Central R.R. between Brookings and Arlington, platted in 1879.

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John D. Peirson

Early De Smet liveryman.

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wall-paper

Wall covering.

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“The Blue Juniata”

1841 Marion Dix Sullivan song.

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“The Star of Bethlehem”

When Marshalled on the Nightly Plane

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John Ensign family

Quit crying, Howard.

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Rev. Royal Gould Wilder

Almanzo’s uncle.

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elephant

A very large quadruped.

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crow

Large black bird of genus Corvus.

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snowplow

Clears the tracks.

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“Jerusalem the Golden”

Hymn from Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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“I Wish I Was Single Again”

1871 J.C. Beckel song.

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“Sweet By and By”

Pa’s favorite hymn.

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rags for paper

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

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“Arkansas Traveler”

Traditional American folk song.

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osage orange

no good to eat or for anything else

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water alcove

Railroad car water for drinking.

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nubia

A light scarf worn about the head and neck.

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poll

No horns.

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Johnny Johnson

“Wake up and watch the cattle!”

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President George Washington

First President of the U.S.A.

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“Come In and Shut the Door”

Circa 1862 song by J.P.H.

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bastion

A part of a main enclosure which projects toward the exterior.

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windrow

Line of hay raked together.

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Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

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Peytona & Fashion

Currier & Ives print at Rocky Ridge Farm.

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South Troy / Zumbro Falls today

Little town along the Zumbro River.

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“The Silver Moon”

Sail on, silver moon…

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Alfred N. Waters

Attorney and land agent in De Smet.

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slate

Stone used as tablet for writing upon.

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“The Sculptor Boy”

Carrie recited it.

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“The Star-Spangled Banner”

Our National Anthem; words by Francis Scott Key.

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turnip

Cruciferous plant grown for root and greens.

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Pure Gold for the Sunday School

Hymnal owned by the Ingalls family.

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America / American

Pertaining to the United States of America.

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icicle

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

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fichu

Light pointed cape worn by ladies, usually made of lace.

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Little Town on the Prairie – the fictional story

Homesteading and town life.

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poke bonnet / poke-bonnet

the lining matched Laura’s eyes

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roller skates / rink

Wheeled frame for the shoe.

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George C. Bradley

Early De Smet druggist.

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David Thorp

Walnut Grove teacher 1877-78.

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spring tonic

Bitter purifying medicine.

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Freddy Ingalls

Laura’s brother (1875-1876)

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Adam / adam’s apple

The first man, the progenitor of the human race.

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“The Sleighing Glee”

Singing school song.

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“Merry, Merry Christmas”

Hymn Number 150 in Pure Gold for Sunday Schools.

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birds’-nest pudding

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

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“Uncle John”

Play song to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

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hair receiver / hair-receiver

Container to save strands of hair in.

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“The Campbells are Coming”

Traditional Scottish jig.

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Little House Songs

Prairie Song Companion

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Braille / New York Point

Used by Mary Ingalls.

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lantern

A light meant to be carried.

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Missouri Pool

Smoked a pipe & grew pretty flowers.

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Ross family

Neighbors in the Perry District.

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harvest moon

Full moon nearest autumnal equinox

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watermelon-rind preserves

sugary jelly

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“Old Folks at Home”

Way down upon the Swanee River!

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“Am I a Soldier of the Cross”

Isaac Watts hymn.

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cabin / log house

A small cottage; a hut or small house.

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Dr. Alfred Starr

His wife wanted Laura.

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cottage cheese

Curdled skim milk.

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Good Templars Lodge

International temperance fraternal organization.

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“Here’s to the Maiden”

1780 R.B. Sheridan drinking song.

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De Smet bird’s-eye view

1883 Henry Wellge drawing of De Smet

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“The Mulligan Guard” / “The Skidmore Guard”

Harrigan & Hart minstrel show.

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Ingalls office / store in De Smet

NW and SE corners of Calumet and Second.

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black bird / blackbird

Name given to various American birds.

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“Down in Alabam'” / “The Old Gray Mare”

1858 J. Warner song.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – historical perspective

Walnut Grove in the 1870s.

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gosh!

that wicked word

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“The Pied Piper”

Robert Browning poem.

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mosquito bar / netting

Woven cloth bug barrier.

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Governor of Orleans / The American Remount Association

Registered stallion leased to Almanzo Wilder 1923-1925.

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milk pan / milk-pan / milkpan

Where cream rises.

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