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drop the handkerchief / drop-the-handkerchief

Circle game.

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Ella & Robert Boast

Friends of the Ingalls family in De Smet.

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Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography

Laura’s handwritten manuscript.

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icicle

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

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“Nobody Ask’d You”

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

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – historical perspective

Walnut Grove in the 1870s.

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“Sing a Song of Sixpence”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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President James Madison

4th President of the U.S.

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Minnie Johnson

Laura’s schoolmate in De Smet

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cottonwood tree

Wetland plains tree, Populus fremontii.

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chapel

Place of worship.

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The House that Jack Built

…for two pieces of money.

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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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silver castor

Rotating condiment set.

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lime / whitewash

Oxide of calcium mixed with water and used for whitening.

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wall-paper

Wall covering.

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Jerome Bisby

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

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chestnut / horse chestnut

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

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bale

Specific bundle of goods packaged for transport.

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Quiner graves

Abandoned cemetery off Playhouse Road.

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anvil

Iron block to hammer upon.

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hogshead

100-140 gallon cask.

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“Haste to the Wedding”

Traditional Irish fiddle tune.

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Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

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Little House in the Big Woods – the fictional story

Once upon a time, 60 years ago…

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Frank M. Cooley family

On the Way home travelers.

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claim

The land to which one has a right.

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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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primer

Used to teach someone to read.

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watermelon-rind preserves

sugary jelly

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Hotel keeper’s family struck by lightning

E.P. LeSuer of Canby, Minnesota.

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spinning wheel / spinning-wheel

Turns wool into yarn.

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links

Helps you find what you’re looking for.

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china shepherdess / little china woman

Ingalls precious family figurine.

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mantel-shelf

Shelf above a fireplace.

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“Auld Lang Syne”

Now is now. It can never be a long time ago.

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Ida Belle Wright

Laura’s best friend in De Smet

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garnet

Deep orange-red gemstone.

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Poverty Flat

Early De Smet residential area.

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Lansford James Ingalls family

Pa’s brother and Laura’s uncle.

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honey

Bee-made sweetness.

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poke bonnet / poke-bonnet

the lining matched Laura’s eyes

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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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Burr Oak during the Little House years

Town in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

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“yell like a Comanche”

Imitated Indian battle cry.

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album

Blank booklet for collecting autographs or photos.

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Thomas Quiner

Ma’s brother and Laura’s uncle

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“Old Dan Tucker”

Mr. Edwards sings it!

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cottage cheese

Curdled skim milk.

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pasteboard / lambrequin

Paperboard used as base for decorative edging.

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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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tiger lily

Native spotted flower of tallgrass prairie.

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Robbins children

“froze stark stiff”

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Belgian horse

A heavy draft horse originally from the Brabant region of...

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Mr. Anderson / Niels Kopperud

Hard Winter wheat settler

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Hiram Ingalls

Pa’s brother.

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alley / alleyway

Narrow passageway, distinct from public street.

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New Ulm, Minnesota

Town in Brown Co., MN.

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“The Burial of Sir John Moore”

1817 poem by Charles Wolfe.

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Introspections of an Individualist

Norma Lee Browning article about Rose Wilder Lane.

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The Athenians

Hartville, Mo. study club.

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Mansfield history

Town in Wright County, Missouri.

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bison / “The Bison Track”

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

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Samuel O. Masters / William J. Masters families

Walnut Grove, Burr Oak, and De Smet family known by the Ingallses.

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muff

A warm covering for receiving the hands.

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“The Gypsy’s Warning”

1864 Henry Coard song.

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Yankton, Dakota Territory

1879 land office town.

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“Uncle Sam’s Farm”

1848 Jesse Hutchinson, Jr. song.

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lief

Gladly; willingly; freely.

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Charles Lamson

Almanzo’s cousin.

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George Whiting Ingalls

Bugle-blowing, jigging uncle.

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Charles Mead

Proprietor of the Exchange Hotel in De Smet, 1880-1882.

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pen / pen-wiper

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

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harvest moon

Full moon nearest autumnal equinox

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amen / amen corner

Expression used at the end of prayers.

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Christopher Columbus

A native of Genoa, in Italy.

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Ven Owen

Teacher and principal of the first graded school in De Smet

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“The Singing School”

1869 P. Benson song.

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blueing bag

Whiter whites.

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Governor of Orleans / The American Remount Association

Registered stallion leased to Almanzo Wilder 1923-1925.

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gingerbread

Chocolate frosting adds to the goodness!

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Alfred N. Waters

Attorney and land agent in De Smet.

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“It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary”

1912 Judge & Williams song.

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scones

“Mamabess is growing fat.”

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Willard Seelye

De Smet teacher, 1881-1882.

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ice-house

Stores ice blocks in warm weather.

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“Uncle John”

Play song to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

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George C. Bradley

Early De Smet druggist.

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yeast / yeast cakes

Bread-leavening organism.

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“For the Sake o’ Somebody”

1794 Robert Burns poem.

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Thomas H. Ruth

President of Kingsbury County Bank in De Smet.

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A Tribute to the Early Day Teachers

Neva Whaley Harding tribute.

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scour / scouring brick

To rub hard for the purpose of cleaning.

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“Rock Me to Sleep”

Elizabeth Allen poem.

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dragon-fly / dragonfly

Mosquito hunter.

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“The Whip-Poor-Will’s Song”

1865 Harrison Millard song.

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birthday

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

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Charles Barker

Early De Smet grocer.

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poultice

Applied to sores to help them heal.

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“Lend a Helping Hand”

Hymn #22, Pure Gold for Sunday School.

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Hattie Dorchester

Jake Zickrick’s skating partner.

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Oscar Rhuel / Röhl

A romantic figure…

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Alfred Thomas

He was MARRIED, people!!

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Adam / adam’s apple

The first man, the progenitor of the human race.

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Turkey red

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

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Ross family

Neighbors in the Perry District.

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braid / plait

Entwined strands.

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“Marching Through Georgia”

Union song from American Civil War.

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poll

No horns.

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Bibliography

LIW / RWL books & articles

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willow

Tree of the genus Salix.

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“Rock of Ages”

1760s Augustus Toplady hymn.

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“Home of the Soul”

1865 E.M.H. Gates hymn.

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door knob

Grab to open a door.

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“The Swan’s Nest”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

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“Love’s Old Sweet Song”

1884 song by Bingham & Malloy.

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pokeberry

For rosy doll cheeks.

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South Troy / Zumbro Falls during the Little House years

Ingallses lived here with Uncle Peter.

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leap frog / leap-frog

Run and jump game.

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Frogs at School

“Twenty froggies went to school…”

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lone cottonwood / lone tree

The big one between the lakes.

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by jingo!

A corruption of St. Gengoulph.

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forfeits

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

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reindeer

Why didn’t they fly over the creek?

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Sale of School Lands on the Osage Diminished Reserve

LHOP cabin was on Section 36

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“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

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dipper / ladle / skimmer

Used to remove foam when boiling maple sap.

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auk

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

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“In the Starlight”

1878 Glover & Carpenter song.

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Fred Fields / Big Jerry

Railroad boss and his brother-in-law.

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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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Eliza Jane Wilder

Almanzo’s sister.

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parsnip

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

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“Pop! Goes the Weasel”

Traditional American song.

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snowplow

Clears the tracks.

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Jim River / James River

A tributary of the Missouri River.

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Little House in the Big Woods – historical perspective

Pepin Twp., Pepin Co. Wisconsin

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Dolly Varden

NIckname of Edith Ingalls, Laura’s cousin.

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missionary barrel

Collection of items distributed to the needy.

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coal / coal hod

Carbonized plant matter mined and used as fuel.

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twisting hay

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

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Alfred Ely

One of the younger boys in school.

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cameo

Aunt Docia’s pretty collar pin.

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blizzard

In 1880-1881, a long, severe, blinding, and bitterly cold snowstorm.

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“Paddle Your Own Canoe”

1850s Harry Clifton song.

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morning-glory

Climbing plant of the genus Ipomœa.

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Daniel Loftus

Early drygoods store owner in De Smet.

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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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buffalo beans

Prairie ground plum.

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Perry School

April 28 – June 27, 1884

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claim shanty

Temporary dwelling.

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“Oft in the Stilly Night”

Song from Lalla Rookh.

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Laura Remington

Mrs. Phillip Aubrey Lawrence

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thunder-pumps

American bittern, a member of the heron family.

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whiskey

Spirits distilled from grain.

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Wilder feed store

Shhh. There’s wheat in the wall!

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Morocco leather

Fine goat leather.

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“Money Musk”

Traditional American dance tune.

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dried-raspberry sauce

Dried sauce good on biscuits.

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“The Sculptor Boy”

Carrie recited it.

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“The Blue Juniata”

1841 Marion Dix Sullivan song.

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carding-machine

Straightens fibers by combing.

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“Lilly Dale” / “Lily Dale”

1852 song by H.S. Thomson.

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John D. Peirson

Early De Smet liveryman.

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engine / locomotive / iron horse

Vehicle powered by steam and run on tracks.

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cream of tartar / baking powder

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

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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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apprentice

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

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“Sweet By and By”

Pa’s favorite hymn.

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breast-pin / brooch

Ornament worn on clothing.

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fanning-mill

Machine for winnowing.

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“Wait for the Wagon”

Buckley and Knauff song.

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Quaker meeting

Parlor game in which players try to remain silent.

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The New York Ledger

Weekly story paper, published 1855-1898.

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“The Old Time”

Mr. Boast’s favorite song.

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“Hail Columbia”

1789 Philip Phile march.

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Dr. Robert Hoyt

Husband of Mattie Masters.

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“Yankee Doodle”

Early song brought to America from Britain.

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

1793 Robert Burns poem.

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needle grass

Ouch! Something bit me!

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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Birthday

Happy Birthday, Laura!

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

Quilt block pattern.

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“Polly Wolly Doodle”

Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

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emigrant car

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

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ambition

Act of obtaining an object of desire.

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custard / ice-cream

Sweetened milk and eggs, cooked.

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depot / station

Railway station.

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Mary & Samuel Ray / Ellen & Amos Leonard

Sisters feuding over a lovely homeplace…and a man.

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“The Silver Moon”

Sail on, silver moon…

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Frank Schaub

Early harness maker in De Smet.

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George A. Williams

Superintendent of Schools, 1883.

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Little House on the Prairie – the fictional story

The Ingallses in Indian Territory.

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cat hole / cat-hole

Jack will keep other animals from using it.

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building paper / tar paper

Crude building paper used for covering.

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slate

Stone used as tablet for writing upon.

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locust

Buy this book.

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mummy

Put. that. back.

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Declaration of Independence

Document renouncing U.S. subjection to Great Britain.

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blacking / stove-blacking / boot blacking

Preparation used to make things black.

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yoke

Frame worn on the neck for lifting or drawing.

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