Little House Discussed

Laura Ingalls Wilder  super fans weren't surprised by many of the reveals in " Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography . "  Those of us who have read many of the biographies and other writings of Mrs. Wilder knew, for example, that the family spent a bit of time in Burr Oak, Iowa where they helped to run a hotel and that the Ingalls sister had a beloved little brother, Charles "Freddie"Frederick Ingalls who died in infancy. There were other items I learned from " Pioneer Girl ," and a few other books that were surprising, even to me. For discussion sake, that is, if anyone is reading at all, I thought I'd share some items I found surprising or that others told me surprised them. Warning: Spoilers ensue: 1.  Jack didn't go on Plum Creek with the Ingalls family Brindle Bulldog (Not Jack) The story about Jack the faithful Brindle Bulldog following the Ingalls family all around the Midwest until he eventually "went to his re...

Laura Ingalls Wilder Laura Ingalls Wilder began working for a living at age 11 as a live in babysitter for a family who lived near her home in Walnut Grove, and she was paid .50 cents a week for her effort. And so began the pimping of Laura Ingalls Wilder to help make up for Charles Ingalls' mistakes. Yes, I'm going there. Laura Ingalls: A Product of Her Environment If Laura Ingalls minded going to work at any early age, she never mentioned it, at least not when she was 11. By her own admission Laura found being a live in babysitter to be an easy job and when she wasn't playing with the child, she was able to read and relax. However, let's not pretend it was a good life. She was in the company of unsavory people thoughout her life and this particular job ended after a local drunk came to her bed at night and told her to "lie down and be still."  I think we all know where that would have gone if Laura didn't threaten to scream. To her cr...