Mr. Petersen, a local merchant, begins selling cornmeal for half the price of that set by Mr. Hansen. Naturally, the locals snap it up as they can, quite literally, get two sacks for their baking for the price of one.
All is well until a young boy and his mother go down with a raging fever. At first, Doc doesn't know what is causing the strange fevers, but when a patient becomes covered in a nasty rash, he realises he is dealing with Thyphus and that the source needs to be found before many more people die.
Meanwhile, the Ingalls family are safe from the illness, but as Charles has been exposed to it, he assists Doc Baker and the Reverend Alden as they set up a make-shift hospital in the church. After several deaths, the doctor is no closer to tracking down the source until a chance remark leads he and Charles to Mr. Peterson's barn, which is full of cornmeal sacks and crawling with rats. The building is burned downed and there are no new cases of the illness. This does not take away from the fact that many have died.
A very heart-wrenching episode with superb acting by all regular and guest cast. Fantastic work all around.moreless
EDIT
Episode Summary
When the owner of the Feed & Seed begins selling corn meal at half the price Hanson is charging for flour, the townspeople snap up the bargain. Soon, however, an outbreak of typhus threatens the populace. Charles, Doc Baker and Rev Alden set up a makeshift hospital at the church as Doc Baker searches desperately for the source of the contagion.moreless
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Melissa Gilbert
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls/Wilder
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Dabbs Greer
Reverend Alden
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Melissa Sue Anderson
Mary Amelia Ingalls/Kendall (1974 - 1981)
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA- The house that serves as the Boulton house in this episode also served as the Peters home in Season 1's 100 Mile Walk. Additionally, the Boultons' fireplace looks strangely similar to that of the Ingalls. Edit
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Notes
ADD NOTES- Leslie Landon, daughter of Michael Landon, played the plague-stricken young girl in this episode. The two of them had a very tender and personal scene together, and Leslie once said that her father got so emotional the first time they filmed the scene, they had to re-shoot it, because it wouldn't have been realistic for Charles to be that way with a "neighbor's child" who wasn't even his own. Leslie has recalled the pride that she felt filming this episode, her first acting gig ever, and while she did go on to have several single-episode roles on the show before landing a recurring role for Seasons 9 and 10, this episode here is her fondest memory of working with her father. Edit
- Actors Matt Clark (Eric Boulton) and Helen Clark (Sylvie Boulton) are real-life husband and wife. Edit
- Actor Bill Quinn would go on to appear in three more Little House episodes: Season 2's The Long Road Home, Season 5's Blind Journey, Part 2, and Season 5's ,em>The Odyssey. Edit
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Mary: I told Nellie her teeth would fall out, she didn't care, she'd just buy teeth like her mother has. Caroline: I didn't know Mrs. Oleson had store-bought teeth. Charles: Well, how can you tell? She never smiles! Edit
- Doc Baker: (before pulling Laura's tooth) Well, don't look so sad. You can put your tooth under your pillow, and the tooth fairy just might leave you a penny. What do you say about that? Laura: I'd just assume not have a penny. Edit
- Charles: Caroline's got a special supper goin'. How about joining us? Mr. Edwards: Oh well, thank you kindly, but you know, homecomings are kinda just for family. Charles: Edwards, when are you gonna learn that you ARE family? Edit
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Allusions
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