Season 1 Episode 14 “Christmas at Plum Creek”- Little House on the Prairie

Laura is letting Nellie ride her pony in town. Nellie wants the pony really bad and asks if she can borrow her for a week. Laura won’t let her, so Nellie begs her father to buy the pony. Laura still won’t let her have her pony, even her Dad says it’s up to Laura if she wants to sell her pony because it’s hers.

It’s Christmas time and everyone is excited about the coming holiday. The children begin thinking of what they can give each other. Charles tells the story of Christ’s birth to Carrie and tells her that is why they celebrate Christmas. The older girls want to get something special for their parents because it’s there first Christmas at Plum Creek. No one in the Ingalls family really has much money, so Caroline tells them that they will have to make their presents.

The family goes to town to look around the Oleson’s store for ideas for Christmas. Everything seems to be too expensive. Caroline is sees a nice wood stove, Charles sees that she is looking at it and sneaks over to see the price. He doesn’t have the money for it. Laura has been watching her parents too and looks at the price of the stove when her father walks away. She is disappointed at how much is costs. She really wants to get it for her mother, but doesn’t know how she will come up with that much money.

As Charles is about to leave the store, Mr. Oleson asks him if he knows where he could buy some carriage wheels for an interested buyer. Charles says he could repair some used ones for Mr. Oleson and sell them to him. They agree on a deal which will give Charles just enough money to buy the stove for Caroline.

Mary has figured out what she is going to give her dad for Christmas, but won’t tell Laura. Laura is very curious and also worried about not having a nice present for her parents. She asks her Dad how she could make a lot of money. He doesn’t have any ideas for her. Mary has gotten a job in town working with Mrs. Whipple, the local seamstress. Laura is jealous that Mary has a way to get a present for her parents and she doesn’t.

The whole family is keeping secrets from one another about what presents they will be giving. Laura is still very discouraged about not having money to get her mom or dad a present. She soon gets an idea about how she can make enough money for the stove.

When the family goes into town again, she rides her pony along the wagon with the family. They all request some privacy while each of them makes arrangements to get Christmas surprises. Laura makes a secret deal with Mr. Oleson. The excitement about the Christmas surprises is building. Even Carrie is able to get a present for the family. Charles finishes up the wagon wheels just in time for Christmas Eve and tells Mr. Oleson that he wants to buy the stove in his store. Mr. Oleson tells him that someone else has already purchased it. Charles is very disappointed and asks Mr. Oleson to order another one for him even though it won’t come for Christmas.

Christmas Eve has finally come and the family celebrates together with good food and music played by Charles. They are all dancing and having a great time when Mr. Oleson comes to the door with a large crate. The box is addressed to Caroline and she can’t open it until Christmas. She is surprised and too excited to sleep, wondering what is in that large crate. Charles thinks it’s the stove he ordered for Caroline, but Laura really knows what it is.

Christmas morning arrives and everyone is very happy about their presents. Mary has sewn a nice shirt for her father. Caroline sees that it is made out of the same material she used to make Charles a shirt too. She hides her present to him so as not to dampen Mary’s joy at sewing a shirt for her dad. Charles made a saddle for Laura’s pony. She is happy and sad too. Caroline opens the crate and sees the stove, she is sooo happy. She reads a card inside which says it’s from Laura! Charles is confused and disappointed because he thought it was what he got Caroline. Then there is a knock at the door. It’s Mr. Oleson and Nellie, they have come to get Laura’s pony because she sold it to them to buy the stove for her mother. Caroline doesn’t want to let Laura do it because she loves her pony so much, but Charles tells Caroline that she should let Laura sell her pony because she really wanted to get her mother that gift. Laura is very sad about having to give her pony to Nellie and apologizes to her father for putting so much work in to a saddle she won’t be able to use now. The family love is strong and they all have a very Merry Christmas!