Guest post by Kate
Has there been a chapter in the entire series more full of unblemished
happiness than this one? Laura has made it home from the bare McKee
claim. The Ingalls homestead is thriving, with a vegetable garden,
milk cows, a huge flock of chickens, and more kittens than (now
Grandma!) Kitty knows what to do with.
Then Mary makes her grand entrance after traveling home alone by
train, her first visit from college. She moves confidently around the
house! She doles out beaded gifts she made herself! She tells
stories of playing pranks on unsuspecting store clerks? Who is
this girl and what has she done with the prim girl sitting unrumpled
on the wagon seat? She also shares that she is able to read and write
in Braille, recognizing old Bible verses Ma had her memorize as a girl
and mailing letters to friends and teachers. Surely all the family
must feel as Laura felt: “All that it had cost to send Mary to college
was more than repaid by seeing her so gay and confident.”
After years of want and scrimping, the Ingalls family seems to be
living a life of luxury. Fresh milk, butter, eggs! Am I the only one
salivating over Mary’s welcome home dinner: “It was a happy family,
all together again, as they ate of the browned hashed potatoes,
poached fresh eggs and delicious biscuits with Ma’s good butter. Pa
and Ma drank their fragrant tea, but Mary drank milk with the other
girls.” Not two winters ago this same family nearly starved to death,
so it’s great to see them feasting so richly. Surely this is the
beginning of a wonderful summer!