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copyright / permissions

Please do not plagiarize.

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“The Big Sunflower”

Pa’s trouble song.

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“Am I a Soldier of the Cross”

Isaac Watts hymn.

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“Wait for the Wagon”

Buckley and Knauff song.

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Young Pioneers

David and Molly Beaton.

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anvil

Iron block to hammer upon.

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spring tonic

Bitter purifying medicine.

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mosquito bar / netting

Woven cloth bug barrier.

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“Rock of Ages”

1760s Augustus Toplady hymn.

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Farmer Boy – historical perspective

1860s Burke / Malone NY.

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Good Templars Lodge

International temperance fraternal organization.

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De Smet today

Where I would like to be right now.

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le cadeau du cheval

2008 horse mural composed of smaller paintings of horses,...

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whiskey

Spirits distilled from grain.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – the fictional story

Farming struggles in Minnesota.

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lime / whitewash

Oxide of calcium mixed with water and used for whitening.

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“The Heavens Declare the Glory”

From The Conqueror, page 144.

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Ross family

Neighbors in the Perry District.

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Amos Whiting family

Superintendent of Schools, De Smet.

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roller skates / rink

Wheeled frame for the shoe.

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isinglass

mica for stove windows

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ice-house

Stores ice blocks in warm weather.

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Frank Schaub

Early harness maker in De Smet.

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Roman candle

Flaming stars and balls firework.

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biscuits

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

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Will Barnes

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

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forfeits

Game in which items are deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine.

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“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

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Dolly Varden

NIckname of Edith Ingalls, Laura’s cousin.

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“The Lotos Eaters”

Tennyson poem.

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Jesse French

Butchered oxen during the Hard Winter.

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Hide the Thimble

You’re getting warmer…

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Commentators on the Ac’s

Pa’s charade pun.

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apprentice

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

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Little House Songs

Prairie Song Companion

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awl

pokes holes

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Alice & Arthur Whiting

Cousin Alice Ingalls Whiting’s family.

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willow-ware

Blue-and-white tableware with Chinese story paintings.

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Declaration of Independence

Document renouncing U.S. subjection to Great Britain.

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Doxology

Old Hundred.

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gosh!

that wicked word

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honey

Bee-made sweetness.

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“all’s well that ends well”

A proverb.

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muff

A warm covering for receiving the hands.

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Eliza Jane Wilder

Almanzo’s sister.

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“Lend a Helping Hand”

Hymn #22, Pure Gold for Sunday School.

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antelope

Antilocapra cervicapra of North America.

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twine

A strong twisted thread.

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clove apple / clove-apple

Spice-preserved fruit decoration.

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ground-cherry

Variety of husk tomato.

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bracket lamp

Affixed lighting fixture.

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Laura’s Bible references

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s hand-written list of Bible verses to be read in times of trouble or stress.

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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Birthday

Happy Birthday, Laura!

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shoe pegs

A small, pointed piece of wood, used in fastening.

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water alcove

Railroad car water for drinking.

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spider

Legged cooking vessel.

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Burr Oak today

Only Ingalls home in original location.

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Mr. Clancy / Chauncey Clayson

Drygoods store owner, Chauncey Clayson

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bacon

Hog’s flesh salted or pickled and dried, usually in smoke.

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“De Boatmen’s Dance”

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

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Burke / Malone during the Little House years

Almanzo Wilder birthplace.

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Jerome Bisby

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

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twin lakes

Lake Henry & Lake Thompson

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“nervous as a witch”

restless

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clinched nail

Bent at a right angle.

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pullaway

Outdoor tagging game.

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James McKee family

Early homesteader north of Manchester D.T. Laura Ingalls stayed with them during the spring of 1883.

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Waverly Novels

Sir Walter Scott books.

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bangs / lunatic fringe

hair across the forehead

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Thomas Quiner

Ma’s brother and Laura’s uncle

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“The Sleighing Glee”

Singing school song.

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“When I Can Read My Title Clear”

1700s Isaac Watts hymn.

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poke bonnet / poke-bonnet

the lining matched Laura’s eyes

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Thomas Huleatt family

Neighbors of Ingalls family in Pepin Co.

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“Home, Sweet Home”

1823 Payne & Bishop song.

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mantel-shelf

Shelf above a fireplace.

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“My Sabbath Home”

Hymn #7, Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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catechism

Question & answer book of religious doctrine.

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Western Reserve

Land in Ohio, given to Connecticut upon agreement to give up claim to lands in Pennsylvania.

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wall-paper

Wall covering.

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P A T

one seven seven ought

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Mary Amelia Ingalls

First child of Caroline and Charles Ingalls, 1865-1928; she lost her sight at age 15.

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“Yankee Doodle”

Early song brought to America from Britain.

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Spat them Out

Clapping (and kissing) game.

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hardtack

Unleavened hard bread made from flour and water.

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ice cream / ice-cream

Sweetened cream, congealed by freezing.

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bushel / peck

Dry quart measurements.

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Arthur Sherwood

Brother of Carter Sherwood.

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Uncle Sam

Figure symbolizing the United States.

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powder horn / powder-horn

Animal horn in which gunpowder is carried.

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census taker

Statistical registration of members of a country.

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Peter Pfeiffer family

John May’s son-in-law.

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Laura, the Prairie Girl

1975-76 animated series.

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Lizzie

the child bride

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vanity cakes

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

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Dr. Robert Hoyt

Husband of Mattie Masters.

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greenhorn / greeny

Immature, raw, awkward.

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Frank M. Cooley family

On the Way home travelers.

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cottage cheese

Curdled skim milk.

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Wilder feed store

Shhh. There’s wheat in the wall!

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Alfred Ely

One of the younger boys in school.

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William H. Steadman family

Proprietor of hotel in Burr Oak.

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geranium

Winter windowsill flowers.

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“The Star-Spangled Banner”

Our National Anthem; words by Francis Scott Key.

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De Smet bird’s-eye view

1883 Henry Wellge drawing of De Smet

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wigwam

What Almanzo’s shocked oats looked like.

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the Cameron gang

fiat justitia, ruat caelum…

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“Bean Porridge Hot”

Bean porridge cold…

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Silliman Gilbert family

Kingsbury County farmer.

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photographs

There’s a little birdie in the camera, Rose.

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custard / ice-cream

Sweetened milk and eggs, cooked.

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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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zebra

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

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Thomas C. Wilkin family

Florence Wilkin’s father.

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James Glover family

Students in the Wilkin School.

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Jacob Hopp

Printer and De Smet newspaper owner.

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John James Ingalls

Senator from Kansas.

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Braille / New York Point

Used by Mary Ingalls.

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pen / pen-wiper

An instrument used for writing. / Material used to clean it after writing.

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The New York Ledger

Weekly story paper, published 1855-1898.

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stockade

Enclosure of posts or sticks.

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whip

A lash tied to a handle.

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“Bonny Doon”

1792 Robert Burns song.

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“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”

Long Winter song

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

1858 J. Warner song.

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“Hail Columbia”

1789 Philip Phile march.

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America / American

Pertaining to the United States of America.

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“Here’s to the Maiden”

1780 R.B. Sheridan drinking song.

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hulled corn

Hominy.

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pieplant

Rhubarb.

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Mansfield history

Town in Wright County, Missouri.

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peddler’s cart / wagon

A little store on wheels.

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brakeman

Person who stops the train.

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needle grass

Ouch! Something bit me!

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“All the Blue Bonnets are Over the Border”

1829 Sir Walter Scott air.

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These Happy Golden Years – the fictional story

Laura teaches and falls in love.

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hatchet

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

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Quaker meeting

Parlor game in which players try to remain silent.

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Charles Barker

Early De Smet grocer.

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“Old Grimes”

1822 Albert Gorton Greene poem.

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auk

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

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Reverend Edwin H. Alden

Walnut Grove Congregational minister and missionary in Dakota.

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apple pie / dried apple pie

Just like Ma used to make.

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“Jingle Bells”

1857 James Pierpont song.

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Old English letters

Variety of printing type.

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“The Ninety and Nine”

Elizabeth Clephane poem.

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President James Madison

4th President of the U.S.

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“To a Girl”

Poem used to describe Beatrice Sorchan.

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cupola

Dome-like vault on a public building.

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turnip

Cruciferous plant grown for root and greens.

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dove-in-the-window / bear’s tracks

Patchwork pattern variations.

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“Nellie was a Lady”

Pa would play some of the old songs, ‘to go to sleep...

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Pioneer Girl

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoir.

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Edward H. Couse

Early hardware store owner in De Smet.

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Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

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killdeer

Small aquatic bird.

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prairie danglers

seventhwinter whimsey’s glass slide pendants!

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roller towel

Long towel with ends sewn together, hung on a rod.

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Willard Seelye

De Smet teacher, 1881-1882.

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willow

Tree of the genus Salix.

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“Daisy Deane”

1863 song by Union soldiers.

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locust

Buy this book.

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“Sweet By and By”

Pa’s favorite hymn.

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“Coming Through the Rye”

Robert Burns tune.

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garnet

Deep orange-red gemstone.

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Charlotte Holbrook

Laura’s “Aunt Lotty”

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icicle

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

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lone cottonwood / lone tree

The big one between the lakes.

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Eskimo / igloo

Tribes of arctic America and Greenland. / Snow hut.

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“Pull for the Shore”

Sunshine for Sunday Schools hymn.

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nubia

A light scarf worn about the head and neck.

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“There is a Happy Land”

Whoop! How those eggs do smell!

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“Love’s Old Sweet Song”

1884 song by Bingham & Malloy.

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“Marching Through Georgia”

Union song from American Civil War.

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leap frog / leap-frog

Run and jump game.

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mustache

Hair above the lip.

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oyster

A mollusk of the genus Ostrea, having a bivalve shell.

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Daniel Loftus

Early drygoods store owner in De Smet.

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cream of tartar / baking powder

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

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clear, pure green sky

Sunlight separated into colored bands at sunset.

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apron

Garment protector.

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Big Sioux River / Sioux River

SD-IA tributary of Missouri River.

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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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equinoctial storm

Severe wind and heavy rain that occurs at or near the time of an equinox.

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“Uncle Sam’s Farm”

1848 Jesse Hutchinson, Jr. song.

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“Don’t Leave the Farm, Boys”

Song from The Conqueror.

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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…

From Robert Herrick poem.

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Charleton Fuller / Gerald Fuller

Hardware store owner, partnered with his brother Gerald.

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Little House on the Prairie – the fictional story

The Ingallses in Indian Territory.

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Laura Remington

Mrs. Phillip Aubrey Lawrence

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“Kitty Wells”

1858 Sloan & Atherton song.

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links

Helps you find what you’re looking for.

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Marvin Hughitt

Officer and President of the Chicago & NorthWestern Railway Company.

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Henry Ford’s Own Story

Industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company.

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“The Girl I Left Behind Me”

17th century Irish tune.

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cradle scythe

Blade and handle used to cut oats.

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“Uncle Ned”

One of the earliest Stephen Foster songs.

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Little Town on the Prairie – the fictional story

Homesteading and town life.

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ostrich tips / feathers

Short bobbing feather used for hat decoration.

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World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition

Destination of the Wilder brothers in the fall of 1884.

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“Lilly Dale” / “Lily Dale”

1852 song by H.S. Thomson.

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