How do you follow something as terrific as Eddie’s Chapter 24 post?
I’ll have to give it my best shot!

Christmas is tomorrow, but for the Ingalls family there will be no celebrating. They’ve decided that Christmas is just too sad without Mary there to enjoy it with them. I wonder, if it was that difficult for them, how must it have been for Mary all alone far away from home and family?

A week without school, but full of studying for Laura. There’s that teacher’s certificate and it’s almost within reach. Laura is only two months away from turning sixteen. Alas, studying just isn’t the same without Mary. Even Ma joins in, declaring that reading her church paper isn’t the same without Mary being there to read aloud to. Through all the sadness of missing her, they have to agree that Mary is doing well and being in school is a wonderful opportunity for her. They miss her, just the same.

Ma worries about money though…such a burden Laura has to bear, not yet sixteen, but feeling the need to help support the family and keep her sister in school. A more expected and accepted fact of life in that time. Laura assures Ma that she will be able to get her teacher’s certificate and earn some money. Ma hopes that the extra money will allow for Mary to be able to come home for a visit the following summer. Did they send her to school wondering if they wouldn’t be able to see her until she was done with school. All those years? I can’t even imagine…

Laura goes back to her studying and Ma to her paper when Carries announces that Mr. Boast is coming and bringing someone with him.

“That’s him now, at the door!”
“‘That is he,’” said Ma.

Ma, ever the teacher.

They’re not there for Pa, but Laura. The second man, Mr. Brewster, is looking for a teacher. Laura? A teacher?

Laura’s heart seemed to leap and fall back, and go on falling.

And so does mine whenever I read that.

Yes, we know Laura is not old enough. That seems of little importance to Mr. Boast. He and Mr. Brewster want to know if she will teach this school if she can get her certificate. Ma asks where the school is. Twelve miles south of them, and Laura’s heart sank even further and mine with it. Of course, the promise of twenty dollars each for two months of teaching seals the deal along with Mr. Boast’s assurance to Ma that he knew Mr. Brewster back east. Just how well did he know Mr. Brewster back east?

The realization of being paid that princely sum of forty dollars seems to have sent Laura’s heart back to her chest. She excitedly accepts the offer. Now to wait for the superintendent. Will Laura be able to pass? Ma gives her a pep talk until:

It was only a moment before Carrie exclaimed, “That’s him now—–”
“‘This is he,’” Ma said almost sharply.
“That’s he coming — It don’t sound right, Ma —”
“‘Doesn’t sound right,’” said Ma.
“Right straight across from Fuller’s Hardware!” cried Carrie.

Poor Carrie…she just can’t win tonight.

And so the examination begins. I wonder if Laura wishes her slate and pencil weren’t so conveniently laying out on the table. He gave her quite an examination for someone who didn’t really think it was necessary after hearing her at The School Exhibition the night before! He does skip the history portion though.

Certificate in hand, Laura is a teacher!

Every  time I read the following passage I get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.  Every single time for the forty years that I have been reading that Pa says:

“That’s fine,” he said. “That’s pretty fine for a fifteen-year-old.” He meant to speak heartily but his voice had a hollow sound, for now Laura was going away.

Guest post by Eddie Higgins

DE SMET LEADER, 24 December 1882

Special Report:  School Exhibition
The town of De Smet was treated to a wonderful display of educational achievement last night as the pupils of our school, led by their teacher, Mr V. Owen, gave an impressive exhibition of their studies to date.  Such was the importance of the occasion that the county superintendent, Mr G.A. Williams, was seen head and shoulder above other members of the crowd.

Interest in the exhibition was so great, despite the inclement weather which threatened to take the curl from the bangs of the good ladies of the town, that at the last moment the venue was switched from the school house to the Church.  Scholars were seated in the front seats.

Mrs G. Bradley, our well-known songbird, interviewed on her way to the Exhibition, commented to our special reporter that she was expecting “a real treat tonight” but denied reports that she would be performing herself afterwards, in expectation of which many townsfolk had brought additional handkerchiefs.   Our reporter also attempted to speak to Miss Laura E. Ingalls (15), as she reshaped her hoops in the church entry.  It had long been rumoured that Miss Ingalls had the principal part in the Exhibition, but in response to questioning about whether she was worried she might fail, the young lady gave only the cryptic reply that Christopher Columbus was a native of Genoa in Italy.

Not a sound could be heard but for a mysterious unidentified squeaking as the senior class filed up to begin their demonstration classes in geography and grammar.  Here, we are sadly obliged to report that Miss Nellie Oleson and Mr Arthur Johnson made mistakes.  Questioned afterward, Miss Oleson flounced her full jabot of lace and defended herself staunchly, blaming the lack of blackboard facilities in the church.  She suggested with some spirit that our reporter should just try parsing every word in a long, complex-compound sentence full of adverbial phrases without omitting a word nor so much as a comma, himself.  Mr Johnson commented only that he wished he had worn different shoes.

The senior class then displayed their skills in mental arithmetic. Of particular interest was the news that three hundred and forty-seven thousand, two hundred and sixty-four divided by sixteen equals twenty-one thousand, seven hundred and four.

There then followed a selection of spoken pieces from the younger pupils, including Miss Carrie Ingalls, wearing a beautiful dress of bright plaid woolen, which we understand was made especially for the occasion, with innovative inward-facing buttons.  Her hair looking particularly smooth and sleek, she recited without falter, nor missing a single word, Mr G.W. Doane’s inspiring poem ‘Chisel in hand stood a sculptor boy’ to the warm appreciation of the audience.

Her elder sister, dressed in delightful blue cashmere with a pearl neck-pin, then gave an outstanding recital of the history of our great nation from its discovery through to the presidency of Mr. J. Q. Adams.  Though clearly a little nervous at the outset, she spoke with steady voice to give a truly impressive display.  The audience was briefly stunned into silence before launching into such sustained and rapturous applause as this reporter has not witnessed since the night of the legendary Minstrel Show last winter.   Mr Owen eventually stopped the applause in order that Miss Ida B. Wright might complete the history recital to the present day.  Miss Wright also did very well, and there was further loud applause.

The excitement in the Church was palpable at the Exhibition’s end.  Mr G. Fuller, the well-known hardware storekeeper, was heard to call out, “I say, I knew there was talent enough for a School Exhibition, what?”

Mr Owen, who has won respect for his firm approach to discipline which has been sadly lacking in certain previous teachers, admitted that he had been nervous about the outcome.  “I am pleased with all my pupils. I put my faith in Laura, although she did obtain only a grade of 99 for history last summer,” he stated.

Asked how excited she was by the performance of her daughters, Mrs C. Ingalls spoke quietly.  “I am every bit as proud today as I was when my husband spelled down the entire town, and when not a bite of my pumpkin pie nor a spoonful of my baked beans was left at the New England Supper, but a grown-up must never let feelings be shown by voice or manner.”

Her husband, bearded Mr C. P. Ingalls, first settler, was more effusive in his remarks, saying,“ Laura’s not very big but by Jinks! She’s as clever as a little French horse!  I was as sure she would lick anything she put her mind to as I am sure of a wonderful crop next year.”

Miss Ingalls herself, who left with a friend, was unavailable for comment but appeared relieved.

The De Smet Leader heartily commends the performance of all the pupils, and lends its firm support to the campaign for funds for to build a larger school building, a graded school even, based on the display we have seen tonight.  We will be watching the career of Miss Ingalls, in particular, with interest, and predict that this is a young lady who will make her mark on the world in the future.

De Smet Snippets
We hear a certain horse-loving gentleman has been making a snazzier vehicle for his next daring trip in the snow.  And a little bird tells us that his first passenger may well be a little gal who knows her Presidents.  We can’t help feeling another young lady, who must remain nameless, but let’s just say she’s a friend of the family, will be fit to be tied!

Situations Vacant
Mr L. Brewster, in town for the School Exhibition, has confirmed that a two-month school will open in Brewster settlement next month.  A teacher is urgently sought, $20 a month plus board.  Ability and self-motivation more important than age and experience.  Willingness to sleep on sofa essential.

For Sale
Nearly new shoes, worn once only, one squeaks slightly.  Expressions of interest to Mr A. Johnson.

Lost and Found
Lost:  Small black-and-tan dog, much loved pet, last seen approaching blue-and-white cat on Main Street.
Found:  Brand new, unused set of name cards found near the Schoolhouse.  Whose are they?

Weather for the week ahead
Temperature:  dropping from Cold to Tarnation Cold imminently.  Chance of entirely unexpected blizzard: Always.

Guest post by Melanie Fishbane

As much as things may change, there is always the dependability of the cycle of the seasons.  After months of “self-indulgence,” and teenage revelry, Laura is ready to buckle down and get to work. Her summer is full of chores, study and babysitting Grace – who now can “write letters to Mary” at college.  Laura understands more than ever the importance of getting her teaching degree and helping Mary.  Two themes struck me in this chapter, the first is how much the times are changing, the second, is how uncomfortable Laura gets when things don’t seem “human.”  It is also one of my favourite chapters because Almanzo begins a courtin’.

Abundance is a plenty for the Ingalls family and the town. Ma’s hens are laying eggs and twenty-four chicks hatch. They even had green beans and fried chicken. Fried chicken!  Even Kitty has grown a little, bringing them all presents of gophers and blackbirds. The Ingalls have recovered from the Hard Winter; the tide has turned.

Laura has a new teacher, Mr. Owen, who she likes and disciplines Willie Oleson, who has successfully fooled other teachers into thinking he was stupid.  Oleson is the antithesis of Laura. He still wants to keep up his childish antics. Laura is very uncomfortable with Oleson’s behaviour. She thinks that when he made himself look that way: “He looked less than half-witted, he hardly looked human. It made anyone turn sick to see him.”  Laura believes that his mind actually left him.

Mr. Owen, however, will have none of this and whips the bad behaviour out of him.  It is a strange scene for sure. Weird language references the social stigma around people with special needs and that with a proper whipping you can get the dumb out of him. Whatever the meaning, it seems clear that playtime is over; it is time to get serious – even for the likes of Willie Oleson.

Another sign that the schoolhouse is getting too small for the town, is when Mr. Owens asks Laura and Ida to participate in a School Exhibition “to acquaint people with the school and its needs.” This is the set up for one of the most memorable scenes of the series towards the end of the novel.

Laura isn’t completely left her teenage woes behind, for as much as she wishes not to care, she envies Minnie Johnson’s new coat and Mary Power’s new dress.  Ma counsels her on how to wear her corset so that her “figure will be neater” and critiques the new “lunatic fringe” hair style.  Ma recalls how her teacher told her and her sister that combing their hair off their ears wasn’t ladylike.  Fashion might change, but people being shocking by it hasn’t.  Also, Laura isn’t too happy with the new fashion, the hoop skirt completely turns her around. “They are rather a nuisance,” Laura admits to Carrie on their way to school, “But they are stylish, and when you are my age you’ll want to be in style.”

Laura is once again uncomfortable when she thinks that Reverend Brown reminds her of the Devil.

Chills ran up Laura’s spin and over her scalp. She seemed to feel something rising from all those people, something dark and frightening that grew and grew under the thrashing voice. The words no longer made sense, they were only dreadful words. For one horrible instant Laura imagined that Reverend Brown was the Devil. His eyes had fires in them.

Weirdly, the Ingalls don’t seem all that comfortable with the evangelical bent of the service, but continue to go anyway. “She looked at Pa and Ma. They were quietly standing and quietly singing, while the dark, wild thing that she felt was roaring all around them like a blizzard” and then in a low voice, Pa says, “Come, let’s go.”  Even if Laura would rather be home studying, and perhaps a better use of her time, they continue to go.   They enjoy the music and we get a few pages of psalms and songs that pepper their way throughout the series.  Is it because they enjoyed the singing so much, that they continued to go, or, were they bowing to social pressure?

Opposing Willie and Reverend Brown, is the guy who expertly weaves her out of the hot crowded hall, Almanzo Wilder. Surprised at first, Laura doesn’t know what to say when the man she always viewed as her Pa’s friend asks to walk her home.  I always get butterflies when I read this part. Something about the beginning of the romance and watching how their relationship unfolds.  She is, perhaps, distracted by Almanzo’s “manliness” (sorry couldn’t resist); the “dashing scent” of the cigar smoke that came off his overcoat.

Upon re-reading the book recently, I was also struck by the conversation Laura walks in on between Ma and Pa when she comes home from her first walk home with Almanzo.  Although Pa would “trust him anywhere, “Ma is exclaiming in her dismay, “But she’s only fifteen!”  Ma might be ready to help Laura dress like a lady, but she certainly isn’t ready for what follows.   It is interesting that Pa is more comfortable with this change than Ma. Perhaps it is because he knows Almanzo so well.  Did Almanzo ask Pa’s permission? One would think that courtship rules would dictate that he did?

After a week of the prayer meetings and walks home, Laura feels more comfortable with Almanzo and they find things to say. But, soon, the week is over and Laura is back at work, forgetting about boys and fashion.