A week and a half ago, on the long ride to the airport, I was reading The Long Winter aloud to my family when I discovered a lifelong error. That is, an error of mine. Remember when Laura and Carrie are walking in the Big Slough, taking a shortcut home from town where they bought the mowing machine section for Pa? Well, before they stumble upon the Wilder brothers when they finally make it out, they’re convinced they’re lost in the slough. Carrie even says to Laura: “I know. We’re lost.”
Except she doesn’t.
Carrie’s mouth opened a little. Her big eyes looked up at Laura and they said, “I know. We’re lost.” Her mouth shut without a word. If they were lost, they were lost. There was nothing to say about it.
Carrie doesn’t say “I know. We’re lost”; her eyes do.
Fascinating, isn’t it? Did any of you all make this mistake too? Or am I more of a careless reader than most? I know I read fast. Perhaps, I’m now thinking, I read a little too fast.
This is only one of many misconceptions that has been clarified for me as I read various sections of the Little House books aloud. One other that I’ll mention is that Ma never put the tablecloth on the table during meals; it was used only between meals.
Reading aloud is fun! I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to see what else I discover.