TheLongWinter(LittleHouse)

TheoldIndian'swarningsaidthecomingwinterwouldbehardandlong,soLaura'sfathermovedhisfamilyfromtheclaimtohishouseintown.Theclaimshantywasn'tstrongenoughtokeepoutblizzards,andiftheyweresnowedupthere,farfromhelp,theymightfreezeorstarve.Theshopsintownwerefullofsupplies;andiftheirstocksranout,thetrainswouldbringmore.Butwhenwintercame,theblizzardsragedandscreamedoverthetown.WhenLaurawokeinthemornings,sheheardtheterrifyingnoiseofthestorm,andeverynailintheplanksaboveherheadwasthickwithfrost.Therewerenotrains.Soontherewasnooilforthelamps,nofuelforthestove.Laura'sfamilylivedoncoarsebrownbread,madefromcorngroundinthelittlecoffeemill.Theyburnthay;andMamadeabuttonlampthatgaveatinylight.ItwasMaybeforethesnowmelted,andthefirsttraingotthrough.OnitwastheIngalls'Christmasturkey,stillfrozenstiff.Whatadinnerthatwas!