Laura Ingalls: From Curiosity to Farewell

This character-destiny flow follows Laura's growth from a child asking about papooses to a girl who faces wolves, fire, fever, and the loss of her home.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Wish to See a Papoose

The Wish to See a Papoose Scene Pa tells Laura that she will see a papoose in the West, and she begins to ask endlessly when that will happen. Ma scolds her for imagining out loud. Meaning Laura's curiosity about Indians is the beginning of her education about the people already living on the prairie. It marks her as different from her more cautious sister. Aftermath The longing stays with her through the house-building and the first summer, shaping her reactions to every Indian who appears.

Fear During the First Indian Visit

Fear During the First Indian Visit Scene Jack growls as two wild-looking Indians follow the trail and enter the house. Laura and Mary hide behind the table while the Indians eat Ma's cornbread and then walk silently away. Meaning The encounter frightens Laura but also humanizes the Indians in her mind. Their calm faces and skunk-skin clothing become a vivid memory. Aftermath Laura confesses that she wanted to untie Jack to attack them, and Pa gives a stern lesson about obedience.

The Bead Necklace Lesson

The Bead Necklace Lesson Scene Laura and Mary find Indian beads at an abandoned camp and make a necklace for Baby Carrie. Laura struggles to give up her share after seeing Mary offer hers. Meaning The beads teach Laura about generosity and envy. She wants to be good like Mary but resents having to make the choice. Aftermath Carrie cannot wear the necklace yet, but Laura remembers the day in the secret valley as one of the most wonderful of her life.

Courage in the Prairie Fire

Courage in the Prairie Fire Scene Black smoke rolls over the prairie, and Pa and Ma fight the fire with wet sacks and a backfire. Laura stands against the house with Mary, trembling but not running. Meaning The fire forces Laura to face a power far greater than herself. Her fear becomes part of the family's shared struggle rather than an escape. Aftermath When the fire passes, Laura sees the blackened prairie and the tired, smoke-stained faces of her parents, and she understands what they have saved.

Laura's Farewell Glance

Laura's Farewell Glance Scene Pa opens the back of the wagon cover so Laura and Mary can see the little house once more. Laura looks at the small log cabin on the empty prairie and feels a strange excitement. Meaning The farewell completes Laura's transformation from a child fixed on a place to a traveler open to the unknown. Home becomes something she carries inside the wagon. Aftermath She thinks that you never know what will happen next when traveling in a covered wagon, and the story ends with her facing the future.

early in the journey, before the family reaches Indian Territory

when two Osage men walk into the house

after the visit to the abandoned Indian camp

the afternoon the grass around the house catches fire

on departure morning, as the wagon pulls away