Sarah Waggle joins the podcast to discuss this amazing episode

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Episode: “I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away” (Season 4, Episodes 21-22)

• Air Date: March 6, 1978 (Part 1), March 13, 1978 (Part 2)
• Director: William F. Claxton
• Writers: Arthur Heinemann (Part 1), Carole and Michael Raschella (Part 2)

In Little House on the Prairie’s “I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away,” Mary Ingalls faces a life-altering diagnosis: scarlet fever’s lingering effects are stealing her sight. As Walnut Grove grapples with a measles outbreak and economic collapse driven by a railroad cartel, Mary’s world darkens—literally and emotionally. Her initial denial and bitterness give way to despair when she wakes up blind. Sent to a blind school in Iowa, Mary resists help until meeting Adam Kendall, a blind teacher whose tough love sparks her resilience. Through Braille and determination, Mary finds purpose, aspiring to teach at Adam’s new school in Winoka. Meanwhile, the Ingalls family confronts financial ruin and decides to relocate, bidding a tearful farewell to Walnut Grove. This Emmy-nominated two-parter, blending heartbreak with hope, showcases Mary’s transformation and the family’s unyielding spirit, proving that even in darkness, light can be found.

Some Quotes I Chose

• “Why can’t I just sit here?” – Mary
• “Pitying yourself won’t help.” – Adam
• “I wonder how much of our lives are spent worrying about things that just don’t mean anything.” – Charles
• “God must have chosen Mary for some very special purpose.” – Reverend Alden
• “It’s a huge, dark place filled with hidden obstacles.” – Mary

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Cindy Wilson returns to the podcast to discuss this amazing episode

Check out Cindy’s newest book, We Suffered Much: Charles Wood Irish and the Dakota Territory Railroad Survey of 1879-1881 https://www.amazon.com/We-Suffered-Much-Territory-1879-1881-ebook/dp/B0D3S7ZTMH

Episode: The Empire Builders (Season 9, Episode 9)

• Air Date: November 22, 1982
• Writer: John T. Dugan
• Director: Joseph Pevney
• IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

In The Empire Builders, Walnut Grove buzzes with excitement over a new railroad depot, promising jobs and growth. However, the Minneapolis and Western Railroad, led by Spencer Hollingsworth, plans to seize farmers’ lands, including Almanzo Wilder’s and John Carter’s, via eminent domain. Initial enthusiasm sours as the town realizes the cost: evictions and a rowdy railroad camp complete with a saloon. Almanzo and Carter, backed by Isaiah Edwards, resist, facing threats from railroad enforcer Wilkins. Laura rallies the women to join the men in a standoff at Carter’s farm, while surveyor Hobson proposes rerouting the tracks through Tracy. The community’s united front forces Hollingsworth to relent, sparing Walnut Grove. The episode, a blend of drama and defiance, showcases the power of collective resistance against corporate overreach, with Laura’s fiery leadership and Carter’s final triumph underscoring the town’s love for their land.

Some Quotes I Chose

• “Money won’t buy happiness, but you can look for it in fancier places.”
• “Property is property. What we own is what we work and sweat for.”
• “What we own is a part of us.”
• “This land… It’s part of us now.”
• “I’m a lot tougher than you think, Mr. Wilder.”
• “This is our land, and we fight for it together.”

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Jen Woods visits Walnut GroveCast to discuss this amazing episode! I hope you enjoy our fun conversation!

“The Gift” – Little House on the Prairie

• Season/Episode: Season 2, Episode 6
• Air Date: October 27, 1975
• Writer: Rocci Chatfield
• Director: William F. Claxton

In “The Gift,” Laura and Mary Ingalls aim to surprise Reverend Alden with a fancy Bible for his birthday, using the Sunday school’s $1.67 treasury. Laura, ever the schemer, convinces Mary to invest in Dr. Briskin’s Homeopathic Remedies, hoping to double their money by selling them. Their sales pitches flop hilariously—Laura’s sob stories backfire, and Mary’s health quizzes scare folks off. As the birthday nears, guilt consumes them; they even fake “larangutus” to skip church. Charles forces them to confess, and Reverend Alden, in a touching twist, uses their mistake—a medicine case—as a perfect holder for his cherished, worn Bible. His sermon on love over material gifts lifts their spirits, proving good intentions trump gold lettering. This heartwarming episode blends humor and redemption, showcasing Walnut Grove’s tight-knit community and the Ingalls sisters’ earnest, if misguided, hearts.

Some quotes I personally chose:

• “Laura: We just wanted to get Reverend Alden the best Bible that we could.”
• “Alden: The question is, have you learned anything from this mistake?”
• “Alden: This old Bible’s like love.”
• “Alden: It’s the gift of love that’s the greatest gift of all.”
• “Laura: Please, pa. We didn’t mean to do it.”

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