SEASON TWO EPISODE GUIDE
EPISODE TWENTY-FOUR--The Richest Man In Walnut Grove This page hosted by
Original telecast: September 10, 1975
The mill closes down, forcing Charles to find ways to pay off a huge mercantile debt. He takes on several jobs, while Mary gets a job to help the family, leaving Half-Pint to do chores at home. Will Charles really become the Richest Man in Hero Township?
EPISODE TWENTY-FIVE--Foureyes
Original telecast: September 17, 1975
Mary's eye problems begin as she does poorly in school. To recify this, Mary gets eye glasses, much to the torment of the school children. As it turns out, she's not the only person she knows that wears glasses--Ms. Beadle has a boyfriend who also has glasses!
EPISODE TWENTY-SIX--Haunted House
Original telecast: September 24, 1975
In the first of the Halloween episodes, Nellie dares Laura to go into a haunted house run by an old man named Mr. Pike, who's waiting for his wife to return (she really died years ago).
EPISODE TWENTY-SEVEN--In The Big Inning
Original telecast: October 1, 1975
The annual charity baseball game is approaching, and Walnut Grove (who lost last year) gets a star pitcher named Mumford. Hero Township places bets on the game, but Rev. Alden disagrees. Caroline comes up with the idea that all money made from the game goes to the church. The episode's title, by the way, is the punchline to a joke about God inventing baseball.
EPISODE TWENTY-EIGHT--The Camp-Out
Original telecast: October 8, 1975
This is the so-called "poison ivy" episode. On holiday, the Ingalls children get an assignment to gather up leaves for a school project. The Olesons tag along, causing trouble (and eventually leads to Nellie and Willie's encounter with poison ivy, which in turn leads to a scratchy ending)..
EPISODE TWENTY-NINE--The Spring Dance
Original telecast: October 29, 1975
Asking someone to the spring dance proves difficult for Laura and Grace Snider. But sometimes there are twisted endings...
EPISODE THIRTY--Remember Me
Original telecast: November 5, 1975 (Part One), November 12, 1975 (Part Two)
Another powerful episode of "Little House", and the best of Season Two. Patricia Neal plays a widow, Julia Sanderson, who learns she's dying of cancer, so she has to find homes for her three children. When she eventually dies, Charles has a hard time finding homes. He separates one children from the other two, but as he does Mr. Edwards marries Grace Snider. Only then does Edwards decide to adopt all three children. The eulogy to Julia Sanderson's funeral, by the way, pretty much says it all for Michael Landon and his entire life and career.
EPISODE THIRTY-ONE--Ebenezer Sprague
Original telecast: November 19, 1975
In this twist on Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" (without the Christmas element, that is), Mr. Sprague founds a bank. Turns out he is a cold and heartless man until he is befriended by Laura. Sprague believes she was sent to persuade him to give a loan to the Ingalls. When Nellie finally warns Laura of Sprague's true nature, the friendship is broken. Only then does Sprague's heart turn and donates a box of books to the school.
EPISODE THIRTY-TWO--At The End Of The Rainbow
Original telecast: November 10, 1975
Sometimes dreams don't come true, as Laura sadly learns when she finds what she thinks is gold and dreams what she'll do with it. When it turns out to be no more than 'fool's gold' (fake gold), Laura learns not to get too far ahead of herself when it comes to dreams.
EPISODE THIRTY-THREE--The Gift
Original telecast: December 17, 1975
The children finally suffer the angry wrath of Rev. Alden after wasting away money that the school children had saved up to buy the preacher a birthday present on medicine Mary and Lara were planning to sell but didn't. The girls learn the hard way a thing or two about financial responsibility. The Olesons, by the way, do what the Ingalls should have done in the first place...buy a brand-new Bible. The wooden box the medicines come in is left with the Rev. You'll have to see for yourself what is eventually done with it.
EPISODE THIRTY-FOUR--His Father's Son
Original telecast: January 7, 1976
John Edwards (adopted son of Isaiah) turns coward in this story about knowing when to do the right thing. While hunting, Isaiah and John encounter a bear. John is unable to shoot the bear when he has the chance, as a result Isaiah is injured.
EPISODE THIRTY-FIVE--The Talking Machine
Original telecast: January 14, 1976
Sometimes using new inventions can get out of hand as Nellie uses Edison's new "talking machine" against Laura and Jason. First, she coerces Laura into talking about her feelings for Jason (Laura unaware that Willie is secretly recording her comments on the talking machine), then plays back the recordings for the entire class. Embarrassed, Laura runs away from school. But it is Laura who ends up getting the last laugh when she learns Jason has the same feelings for Laura.
EPISODE THIRTY-SIX--The Pride Of Walnut Grove
Original telecast: January 28, 1976
Mary wins the opportunity to take a state-wide academic competition, but Charles can't afford to have her go. The town council intervenes when they realize Mary is representing the entire town. Mary finishes second in the competition and feels she's let the town down. But the town turns the tables on Mary as she becomes "the pride" of the episode's title.
EPISODE THIRTY-SEVEN--A Matter Of Faith
Original telecast: February 4, 1976
The dramatic talents of Karen Grassle are showcased in this story of faith and survival. From the very onset of the episode, problems begin. She scratches a leg by a rusty nail. But Charles and the girls must leave Caroline behind for a brief trip, and she begins to weaken from the scratch. It turns out the scratch leads to an infection that worsens. Left on her own, she is determined to stop it. At a crucial time, Rev. Alden tracks down the Ingalls to inform them about Caroline's absence, and upon their return to Plum Creek Charles finds Caroline near death. Doc Baker and Rev. Alden arrive to save her life. The family is later reunited the next morning.
EPISODE THIRTY-EIGHT--The Runaway Caboose
Original telecast: February 11, 1976
Carl, the Edwards' adopted son, is punished for accidentally setting off fireworks that burns down the adjacent barn. He stows away with Mary and Laura in a caboose wich later turns loose. Charles catches up to a train heading for the caboose, thus averting death and tragedy.
EPISODE THIRTY-NINE--Troublemaker
Original telecast: February 25, 1976
Another excellent episode from Season Two. After a series of practical jokes by classmates, Ms. Beadle resigns from the school. The school board determines a male teacher would be better suited for the class. Hannibal Applewood arrives the following week, and on recommendation from the Olesons, proceeds to torment Laura as much as possible, even suspending her from class for something she didn't do. When Charles realizes Applewood's true nature, he has Mary and Laura go to school without their homework intentionally so he can catch the mean teacher in the act. But the true "troublemaker" of the episode's title turns out to be two older students who caused the trouble in the first place. Eventually, Applewood is driven out of Walnut Grove by the Town Council..
EPISODE FORTY--The Long Road Home
Original telecast: March 3, 1976
Charles, Mr. Edwards, and two other man take a job that involves handling and transporting explosives. They must deal with, among many things, prejudice.
EPISODE FORTY-ONE--For My Lady
Original telecast: March 10, 1976
Jealousy and misunderstandings are the theme of this episode about a widow whom Charles agrees to do a job for, refinishing woodwork in exchange for a present for Caroline. When Hero Township suspects Charles is having an affair with the Widow Thurman, it is Charles that has to prove them all wrong when he gives his wife the china. That night, the Ingalls have dinner using the china.
EPISODE FORTY-TWO--Centennial
Original telecast: March 17, 1976
It is the Fourth Of July in Walnut Grove, but taxes are about to increase. It's up to a Russian immigrant to prove that America is the best place to live no matter what the cost.
EPISODE FORTY-THREE--Soldier's Return
Original telecast: March 24, 1976
Mrs. Whipple's son, a Civil War veteran, returns home to Walnut Grove. But repressed memories causes him to become addicted to morphine. Eventually, it turns to madness and he commits suicide.
EPISODE FORTY-FOUR--Going Home
Original telecast: March 31, 1976
In the second season finale, a tornado ruins the Ingalls' crop. Charles determines it's time to sell off the land and return to the Big Woods where they came from. Drawing on good times, they decide to remain in Plum Creek.
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