On the Banks of Plum Creek

The Ingalls enjoy a good Thanksgiving dinner and look forward to the upcoming year; they hope their wealth of wheat will bring them a real house, horses, and other comforts. Ma asks the girls what they want for Christmas, and they begin telling her of the candy and new dresses they hope for. Ma tells them that Pa wants horses for Christmas and tells them if they all wish for horses it might come true. The girls consider this; Ma tells them that Santa Claus is there whenever anyone is unselfish. The girls tell Pa that they only want horses for Christmas and Pa’s eyes gleam.

The next morning, there is finally snow. Ma gives Mary and Laura a box of buttons she’s been saving since she was a little girl so that they can make a button string for Carrie for Christmas.

On Christmas morning Laura wakes to the sound of the fire crackling and finds that there is candy in her and her sisters’ stockings. At chore time, Pa asks them if they think there’s anything in the stable and the girls go with him to see that, in Pete and Bright’s place are two red-brown horses. Pa lifts Mary and Laura up onto the horses’ backs, all of them laughing and happy together.