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Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography

Laura’s handwritten manuscript.

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dragon-fly / dragonfly

Mosquito hunter.

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Hill-Billy

1926 Rose Wilder Lane book.

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scour / scouring brick

To rub hard for the purpose of cleaning.

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Little House in the Big Woods – historical perspective

Pepin Twp., Pepin Co. Wisconsin

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“Nobody Ask’d You”

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

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chestnut / horse chestnut

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

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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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album

Blank booklet for collecting autographs or photos.

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“Arkansas Traveler”

Traditional American folk song.

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Julia & Amasa Tower

Walnut Grove church friends.

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elephant

A very large quadruped.

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“Dakota Land”

1876 hymn, Beulah Land.

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tomahawk

War hatchet used by American Indians.

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Mansfield history

Town in Wright County, Missouri.

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mowing machine

Farm implement for cutting hay or grain.

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Frank M. Cooley family

On the Way home travelers.

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snowplow

Clears the tracks.

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Bloody Benders

Serial killers in 1870s Kansas.

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copper

Cu

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“The Swan’s Nest”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

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Daniel Loftus

Early drygoods store owner in De Smet.

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Frogs at School

“Twenty froggies went to school…”

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cottage cheese

Curdled skim milk.

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bacon

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

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“Barbary Allen”

Old Scotch tune.

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Millbank

1871 novel by Mary Jane Holmes.

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Florence Bell

Milliner and dressmaker in De Smet.

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twisting hay

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

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starry papers

Hand-made shelf edging.

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muff

A warm covering for receiving the hands.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – historical perspective

Walnut Grove in the 1870s.

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Ella & Robert Boast

Friends of the Ingalls family in De Smet.

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“Sweet By and By”

Pa’s favorite hymn.

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“Captain Jinks”

1868 comedic opera song.

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bear grease

Bear fat hair dressing.

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Alfred Thomas

He was MARRIED, people!!

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Marvin Hughitt

Officer and President of the Chicago & NorthWestern Railway Company.

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Dr. Robert Hoyt

Husband of Mattie Masters.

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Christopher Columbus

A native of Genoa, in Italy.

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William O’Connell

Fictional Bill O’Dowd.

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hair receiver / hair-receiver

Container to save strands of hair in.

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cant-hook / cant-pole

Instrument used by lumbermen to move logs.

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bushel / peck

Dry quart measurements.

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“The Old Time”

Mr. Boast’s favorite song.

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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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President James Madison

4th President of the U.S.

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Hotel keeper’s family struck by lightning

E.P. LeSuer of Canby, Minnesota.

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bison / “The Bison Track”

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

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lime / whitewash

Oxide of calcium mixed with water and used for whitening.

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Dr. Alfred Starr

His wife wanted Laura.

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oyster

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

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Governor of Orleans / The American Remount Association

Registered stallion leased to Almanzo Wilder 1923-1925.

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vanity cakes

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

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Thomas H. Ruth

President of Kingsbury County Bank in De Smet.

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President George Washington

First President of the U.S.A.

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drop the handkerchief / drop-the-handkerchief

Circle game.

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isinglass

mica for stove windows

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turnip

Cruciferous plant grown for root and greens.

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crow

Large black bird of genus Corvus.

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David Thorp

Walnut Grove teacher 1877-78.

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dipper / ladle / skimmer

Used to remove foam when boiling maple sap.

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Jacob Hopp

Printer and De Smet newspaper owner.

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hulled corn

Hominy.

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“nervous as a witch”

restless

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nine-patch / Laura’s double nine-patch Irish chain quilt

Quilt block pattern.

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cottonwood tree

Wetland plains tree, Populus fremontii.

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twine

A strong twisted thread.

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storm apron

Rain protection for buggy.

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water alcove

Railroad car water for drinking.

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William H. Steadman family

Proprietor of hotel in Burr Oak.

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barrel

Round vessel or cask made of wooden staves.

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dug out / dugout

Dwelling built into the earth.

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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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Edward H. Couse

Early hardware store owner in De Smet.

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Peter Riley Ingalls family

Uncle Peter & Aunt Eliza.

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Women’s Christian Temperance Union

W.C.T.U.

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Silliman Gilbert family

Kingsbury County farmer.

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“When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

1863 Louis Lambert song.

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claim shanty

Temporary dwelling.

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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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mosquito bar / netting

Woven cloth bug barrier.

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zenith

The point of the heavens directly overhead.

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hoity-toity snip

Thoughtless, giddy, haughty, flighty, gay, and noisy.

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Charles Lamson

Almanzo’s cousin.

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Martha Perry / Mrs. White

Laura helped her sew shirts.

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muskrat

Their houses predict winter weather.

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the Cameron gang

fiat justitia, ruat caelum…

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Rev. Royal Gould Wilder

Almanzo’s uncle.

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“Darling Nellie Gray”

1856 Benjamin Hamby song.

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dictionary

The words of a language.

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New England States

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

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worm / angleworm

common soil worm

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Charles H. Tinkham

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

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P A T

one seven seven ought

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carved wooden bracket

Place for a china shepherdess.

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beet

Succulent root vegetable.

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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…

From Robert Herrick poem.

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chilblain

Cold sores on hands and feet.

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churn

Cream agitator.

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“The Girl I Left Behind Me”

17th century Irish tune.

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Oh Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad

1793 Robert Burns poem.

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Mr. Anderson / Niels Kopperud

Hard Winter wheat settler

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Freddy Ingalls

Laura’s brother (1875-1876)

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dumpling

Dough cooked in liquid.

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butter

Edible fatty substance made by churning cream.

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“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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Albert Quiner

Laura’s cousin.

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le cadeau du cheval

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

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Silver Lake

Kingsbury County prairie pothole lake.

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forfeits

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

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“To a Girl”

Poem used to describe Beatrice Sorchan.

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stone fences

Rock wall enclosure.

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freeze drying

sublimation!

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herd

A number of large beasts assembled together.

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Osage Indian Treaty

Legal agreement between nations or sovereigns.

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roller towel

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

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St. Lawrence River

A streak of silver on the horizon.

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nubia

A light scarf worn about the head and neck.

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South Troy / Zumbro Falls during the Little House years

Ingallses lived here with Uncle Peter.

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William H. Reed

Teacher in Burr Oak school, 1876-1877.

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“My Jenny Jerusha Jane”

1868 A.G. Chase song.

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“A Shelter in the Time of Storm”

Ira Sankey hymn.

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popcorn

Heat makes it burst & it’s tasty.

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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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Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

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cream of tartar / baking powder

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

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peddler’s cart / wagon

A little store on wheels.

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Pioneer Girl

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoir.

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Godey’s Lady’s Book

Women’s magazine, 1830-1898.

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“Come In and Shut the Door”

Circa 1862 song by J.P.H.

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shoe pegs

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

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writ of attachment

Legal document requiring action.

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Burr Oak today

Only Ingalls home in original location.

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John Ensign family

Quit crying, Howard.

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gingerbread

Chocolate frosting adds to the goodness!

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“The Heavens Declare the Glory”

From The Conqueror, page 144.

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George A. Williams

Superintendent of Schools, 1883.

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Thomas Huleatt family

Neighbors of Ingalls family in Pepin Co.

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Perry School

April 28 – June 27, 1884

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pieplant

Rhubarb.

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These Happy Golden Years – historical perspective

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

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“The Sculptor Boy”

Carrie recited it.

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Lizzie

the child bride

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crocheted rag rug

Crocheted floor covering made of strips of cloth.

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“My Sabbath Home”

Hymn #7, Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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Adam / adam’s apple

The first man, the progenitor of the human race.

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geranium

Winter windowsill flowers.

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xanthophyll

I bet you can spell this word.

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grippe

influenza

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cat’s cradle

Game played with string twisted on the fingers.

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fever ‘n’ ague / malaria

malaria

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quarter section / quarter-section

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

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Laura Remington

Mrs. Phillip Aubrey Lawrence

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Laura’s Sorosis Club speech

“My Work”

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Henry Ford’s Own Story

Industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company.

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icicle

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

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emigrant car

Railroad car used to move a settler and/or a settler’s goods.

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“It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary”

1912 Judge & Williams song.

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Grace Pearl Ingalls

Youngest sister of Laura Ingalls; she lived 1877-1941.

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Bad Lands

Area eroded by wind & water.

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“Golden Years are Passing By”

1879 Will Thompson song.

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“By Lo, Baby Bunting”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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spinning wheel / spinning-wheel

Turns wool into yarn.

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“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

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kerosene / kerosine

Oil used for lighting.

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primer

Used to teach someone to read.

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“The Whip-Poor-Will’s Song”

1865 Harrison Millard song.

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galluses / suspenders

Straps worn for holding up pants.

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Hattie Dorchester

Jake Zickrick’s skating partner.

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cannon

Military engine used for throwing balls and other instruments of death by the force of gunpowder.

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“The Treadmill Song”

Oliver Wendell Holmes poem set to music.

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honey

Bee-made sweetness.

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apple pie / dried apple pie

Just like Ma used to make.

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brakeman

Person who stops the train.

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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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pullaway

Outdoor tagging game.

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copper-toed shoes

Metal shoe protector.

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land office

Where sales of public lands are registered.

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“Mary of the Wild Moor”

1845 song by Joseph W. Turner.

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china shepherdess / little china woman

Ingalls precious family figurine.

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The Youth’s Companion

Weekly instructional magazine for children, first published in 1827.

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cameo

Aunt Docia’s pretty collar pin.

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census taker

Statistical registration of members of a country.

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“Tubal Cain”

Charles McKay poem.

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The Advance

Weekly family newspaper of the Congregational church.

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cornmeal mush / hasty pudding

Cornmeal and water, cooked.

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Will Bennett

One of the younger De Smet schoolboys.

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Burr Oak during the Little House years

Town in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

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saleratus / soda

Leavening agents used in baking.

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“The Mulligan Guard” / “The Skidmore Guard”

Harrigan & Hart minstrel show.

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Reverend Edwin H. Alden

Walnut Grove Congregational minister and missionary in Dakota.

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“Home, Sweet Home”

1823 Payne & Bishop song.

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killdeer

Small aquatic bird.

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“yell like a Comanche”

Imitated Indian battle cry.

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Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls

Heather Williams book.

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“Wait for the Wagon”

Buckley and Knauff song.

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Come Into the Garden, Maud

1855 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

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Peytona & Fashion

Currier & Ives print at Rocky Ridge Farm.

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