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Episode 201: The Richest Man in Walnut Grove

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"The Richest Man in Walnut Grove"
Season 2, Episode 1
#25 overall in Series
Title.richestmaninwalnutgrove
Series: Little House on the Prairie
Network/Country: NBC
Original air date September 10, 1975
Production code 2001
Episode Guide
IMDb logo IMDb The Richest Man in Walnut Grove
Written by Michael Landon
Directed by Michael Landon
Episode Chronology
Previous episode:
"Founder's Day"
(Season 1 Finale) 		Next episode:
"Four Eyes"

Hanson's Mill closes when a major customer declares bankruptcy, leaving Lars unable to pay Charles two months of back pay. The Ingalls have a large tab at the mercantile, forcing the family into a spirit of cooperation and sacrifice to pay off the bill. On the day Charles presents the funds due, Nels remarked, "Charles, with a family like that, you must be the richest man in Walnut Grove," to which Charles replies, "I know I am."

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Synopsis[]

This episode about families working together in a dire crisis, self-sacrifice, pride and being people of their word begins when Charles is anticipating a huge bonus from Hanson's Mill, on the back of a lucrative lumber shipping contract to a wealthy customer in Mankato. Charles intends to pay off his tab at the Mercantile, and then there'll be a lot left over for savings and a lot of other things.

However, the construction company that was Hanson's customer goes bankrupt, and Mr. Hanson is not only out thousands of dollars, he is unable to pay Charles any of his two months' wages and has no choice but to close the mill entirely.

That leaves the Ingallses without any sort of income, and with meager savings leaves them scrambling to find a way to meet basic needs.

First. Charles explains the situation to Nels, who agrees to allow the tab to wait until he is able to get back on his feet. Mrs. Oleson overhears the exchange and is far less willing ... she wants the money now or else she'll take further steps to make sure they never are welcome in the store again. Nels ignores his wife and extends the credit.

Then, everyone pitches in. Charles finds work cleaning stables, building a new pump mill for a neighbor, digging an irrigation ditch ... and much more. Mary helps Mrs. Whipple, the seamstress, with her work. Miss Beadle gets wind of the Ingalls' situation and buys her paper and slate pencils and chalk from the Mercantile ... and, word has it, Nels even sneaks a supply of coffee, flour and sugar to the family behind his wife's back.

All this, while Mrs. Oleson continuously harasses the Ingalls over their bill and accusing them of taking advantage of Nels ... which has him biting his lip, just champing at the bit to tell Harriet to shut up. Charles tersely reminds her the bill will be paid, and Nels once again reminding his wife about being kind.

Throughout the episode, Nellie continually harasses Laura about the Ingalls' financial conditions and that they were unable to pay for basic items, and Willie is no better, either, going right along with his sister and laughing at their misfortune. One particular hurtful comment has Nellie claiming Charles smells "like a dumb ol' horse" because he does manual labor such as digging irrigation ditches and cleaning out horse stables. While Nellie is extremely fortunate that Nels did not overhear the exchange, Laura runs off in tears and bawls in her Pa's arms, wondering why anyone could make such cruel comments. Charles reassures Laura that things will eventually be alright and that Nellie simply likes to look down at people who are less fortunate. The next day at school, when Nellie once again runs her mouth off about Charles, Laura has enough and socks her right in the mouth ... and this time, it's Nellie who's left running off in humiliation. (Willie was there too, snickering along with his sister until he saw her get socked; he wisely keeps his mouth shut the rest of the way.)

In the end, Mr. Hanson is able to reopen the mill, able to secure a new contract and with a supplier that can pay ... but that's just icing on the cake.

The really satisfying part is when Ingallses had earned enough to pay their bill with an ample amount to spare. With Charles tipping off Nels ahead of time, the entire family comes into the Mercantile with money in hand ... and Nels tells his wife there's customers. Charles presents Mrs. Oleson with the cash – the full amount(!), and there's extra money to pay for some extra items. Mrs. Oleson struggles to find the right words, but in the end it's because she's eating humble pie, seeing the Ingallses as a family of their word; when they intend to pay, they intend to pay. Nels takes Charles aside and reaffirms to him what both of them already knew: With a family like he has, Charles Ingalls is indeed the richest man in Walnut Grove.

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Previous episode: Next episode:
Founder's Day Four Eyes

Indeed, Charles has a good family and is indeed the richest man in Walnut Grove

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