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Little House on the Prairie
Season 1, Episode 102

Air date	September 11, 1974
Written by	John Hawkins
Directed by	Michael Landon
Episode Guide
previous The Pilot	next Country Girls

DescriptionEdit

"Home is the nicest word there is." The Ingalls settle on the banks of Plum Creek in Walnut Grove. In order to set up the farm, Charles must take on several jobs at once. He even commits to giving up his oxen if he fails to complete one of his projects by the agreed date. When Charles is injured during a family picnic, he can no longer carry out his responsibilities. The children attempt to do the heavy labor until the men of Walnut Grove pitch in the complete the job. In the end, Charles keeps his promise... and his oxen!

CastEdit

Michael Landon: Charles Ingalls
Karen Grassle: Caroline Ingalls
Melissa Gilbert: Laura Ingalls
Melissa Sue Anderson: Mary Ingalls
Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush: Carrie Ingalls
Barney: Jack
Karl Swenson: Lars Hanson
Richard Bull: Nels Oleson
Katherine MacGregor: Harriet Oleson
Ramon Bieri: Liam O'Neil
Charlotte Stewart: Eva Beadle
Jim Jeter: Hans Dorfler
Hal Burton: Driver
Kevin Hagen: Hirim Baker
Larry Moran: Boy
Jack Lilley: Townsman

TriviaEdit

Reverend Alden seems to be much harsher in this episode, as opposed to future ones. His sermon is darker and strongly emphasizes the wrath of God, in response to many so-called Christians who don't attend Church every Sunday. In the future, though, Reverend Alden lightened up a lot, and his tone was a lot different.^?

In this episode, you can see a difference in Charles' attitude toward his wife Caroline. In the scene where he comes home late from work and Caroline is preparing his dinner, he keeps on saying things like "Get my supper" throughout the scene, as they are talking to one another. Granted, in those times, it was very common for women to be expected to keep up the house and have a warm dinner ready for their husbands after work, but Charles keeps saying "Get my supper" over and over. It would be one thing if he just said it once. Charles' whole attitude seemingly changed in that respect after this episode.^?

Notice how short Mary and Laura's calico dresses are in this episode, in comparison to future episodes, where they were made quite a bit longer. In this episode, they are actually above the girls' knees, and for whatever reason, that was quickly changed.^?

Though not explained in the episode, in the books Laura and Mary went to school the first days in too short of dresses and that is how they were immediately picked out as being country girls. But as stated, it was never explicated and quickly changed.^?

At the beginning of the episode, Laura says "If I had a remembrance book....." Then, later in the episode, she says, "In my remembrance book, I marked down....." The writers obviously couldn't decide if Laura really had a remembrance book, or if she was just wishing she had one.^?

Ramon Bieri, who played Mr. Liam O'Neill in this episode, died of cancer in May 2001, about 27 years after this episode was filmed. He was 72 years old.^?