Little House 4.2 - Old Town In The Green Groves- no images by Cynthia Rylant

Author:Cynthia Rylant [Will]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHARLES FREDERICK INGALLS

1875 - 1876

Too sweet a bud to bloom on earth!

For the rest of the summer the family took turns visiting Freddie. Ma was out with him the most. Every afternoon she put on a clean apron and a bonnet and she walked out the door and across the field, gathering flowers along the way. She liked to go alone, but sometimes she allowed one of the girls to go with her.

This day it was Laura's turn. She washed and combed and tied on her bonnet. Then she went with Ma.

They did not say anything as they walked through the grasses under the hot September sun. There were no words for the sadness they felt.

When they reached Freddie’s little grave, they each bent down and laid their bouquets of wildflowers for him. Ma bowed her head and closed her eyes. Laura watched as a flock of great blue herons crossed the sky.

“He was an angel, Ma,” Laura said softly.

“Yes, he was,” answered Ma.

And, holding hands, they turned and walked home.

BURR OAK, IOWA

In early November, in a cold, constant rain, it was time for Laura and her family to leave their good relatives and drive south into Iowa. The fields had been harvested, the gardens emptied. Pa had built a henhouse. Ma had canned some pears. And together they had buried their boy. It was time to go.

Uncle Peter and Aunt Eliza and all the cousins stood on the porch, saying their fare-wells to Laura’s family and giving them small things for their trip. Aunt Eliza had made afresh pan of corn bread for them. The cousins had put together a reticule each for Mary and Laura, with new blocks of nine-patch inside to sew. For Carrie they had made a sock doll.

“We will miss you,” said Uncle Peter, shaking Pa’s hand.

“Come back and see us very soon,” said Aunt Eliza, giving Ma a good, long hug.

Pa and Ma climbed up on the wagon seat, and Laura and her sisters climbed into the wagon bed. Spot was tied behind. Sam and David stood brushed and ready to go. And Jack listened underneath, waiting for Pa to flick the reins.

“Good-bye!”

“Good-bye!”

Uncle Peter and his family waved a long, long time as the Ingalls wagon slowly rolled away. Laura knew, looking out of the back of the wagon, what everyone was thinking. She knew who was being left behind. But she tried not to let her mind dwell on it. She didn’t search the fields to the east for the small white tombstone. She couldn’t.

As the family rolled farther south, the weather grew worse. “Blasted rain,” said Pa.

Everyone felt unhappy.

Then, late in the day, in an especially heavy downpour, the way became so thick with mud that Sam and David stopped pulling the wagon and refused to go another step.

“Come on, boys! Come on!” Pa yelled from the wagon seat. He snapped the whip a few times, but the horses wouldn’t move.

“Hold the reins, Caroline,” said Pa. Laura and her sisters watched as

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