Bracken and I have so enjoyed reading ‘The Little House on the Prairie‘ series together, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Jeff loves listening too whenever he’s there while I’m reading a chapter aloud. Our whole family just loves them and I’ve mentioned before how dear those books are to me. We’re nearing the end of the series now. I had a bookmark in ‘The Long Winter’ because there was a song they sang together at the end that I loved. They had just been through a long and very hard winter and it was lucky the whole town hadn’t starved or frozen to death. If you need an extra dose of gratitude in your life, just read ‘The Long Winter’ and you will be feeling incredibly grateful in no time!
I’m amazed throughout all of the books the strength of character that Laura’s family had as they pulled themselves up from every hardship they faced. And throughout it all, they sang to lighten their spirits. Music helped pull them through. Here’s that song I love that I thought you might enjoy too. After they sang it, Laura wrote: “And as they sang, the fear and the suffering of the long winter seemed to rise like a dark cloud and float away on the music. Spring had come. The sun was shining warm, the winds were soft, and the green grass growing.”
“This life is a difficult riddle,
For how many people we see
With faces as long as a fiddle
That ought to be shining with glee.
I am sure in this world there are plenty
Of good things enough for us all,
And yet there’s not one out of twenty
But thinks that his share is too small.
Then what is the use of repining,
For where there’s a will, there’s a way,
And tomorrow the sun may be shining,
Although it is cloudy today.
Do you think that by sitting and sighing
You’ll ever obtain all you want?
It’s cowards alone that are crying
And foolishly saying, ‘I can’t!’
It’s only by plodding and striving
And laboring up the steep hill
Of life, that you’ll ever be thriving,
Which you’ll do if you’ve only the will.”
The series is wonderful. I read them as a child (and adult!) and read them to my children. I loved them so much that I bought a whole set for both my children so they could leave their childhood with those precious books. Hum…time to read them again, I think. Have you read The Borrowers series?
No, I haven’t heard of the Borrowers series. Are they chapter books? I’m looking for some more chapter books to read to Bracken right now.
Pa’s Fiddle: Charles Ingalls – American Fiddler https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EJUMP6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_TzLOxbGWBGS7T
There are several cd’s of Little House music available! 😊 Some of them are even free on Amazon Prime (and from your library!).
Thank you for linking to that! I want to check it out. 🙂
I love the Little House series, too. There is a book you must, you absolutely must, check out from the library. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Pioneer Girl, The Annotated Autobiography. She wrote the manuscript before she wrote the Little House books and it did not get published as it wasn’t quite for adults but not yet for children, either.
The book is thick with backstories and photographs and details about actual events vs how the Little House stories were altered to improve the flow of the narrative and strengthen the theme of each book. It’s the details that make it so, so good. For example- Baby Carrie was actually born in the Little House on the Prairie and Dr. Tan delivered her- she was born the day Pa took Mary and Laura out on the wonderful outing to look for beads at the deserted Indian camp. There is some sad information, too- Ma and Pa lost a child and there was a time when life was so hard for the Ingalls that Laura was working at age 11 and one of the ladies she was helping with housework came to Ma and wanted to adopt Laura. They were so poor that Laura was afraid Ma would say yes. But to Laura’s relief, Ma said no.
Love all your posts- I enjoy reading about your delicious fresh food and I remember picking blackberries long ago when we lived in Seattle. It’s wonderful to read that they are bringing happiness to your family as well.
I wrote it down for the next time I am at the library. Thanks Nina! Yes, that sounds like a book I must read.