With the Winoka school burnt to a crisp, Caroline and Alice set out to find another school, but the only one available was private...and expensive. Nellie and Willie could go, but what about the other children? While Alice went to scout around, Caroline assumed her job at the hotel and was once again hounded by Harlan, only this time Standish was with him, to whom he was employed as a body guard. Charles attempted to intervene, but Standish ordered him to go wash the windows. Later on, he finally gets to meet Albert. What a treat. He caught him trying to steal from the till and despite his vehement excuses, Charles took back the money and let the boy off with a warning. Meanwhile, Alice and Caroline established a new school located in an old livery stable. Harriett was more than against sending their children there so they would be going to the private school. To help pay for it, she lands a job as a bar maid in the same saloon where Nels worked, as if the poor guy hadn't suffered enough.
Mary's sweet 16 birthday was coming up and Charles asked Standish for an advance to buy a present, but the old codger denied him. Let with no other alternative, Charles had to pawn his fiddle. As this was going on, Albert lifted a lantern. Charles chased him down to retrieve it and ended up buying it for him, since it was only $1. Maybe somebody should tell Albert that without kerosene, that lantern is useless. He'll probably steal that too. Unbeknownst to Charles, in true Gift of the Magi style, Caroline bought back his fiddle; On the way to her surprise party, Mary and Adam get accosted by Harlan and fellow goon Glover. Seeing this, Charles races to their rescue and gets in a fight. Having learned nothing from his experience with the Galendars in Season 3, Charles is overpowered and beaten to a pulp. Jonathan seeks swift retribution for the beating of his friend so he goes to the saloon and beats some much needed sense into Harlan and Glover. The result lands Jonathan a job as Standish's new body guard. Mary's party was an all-out success. The best gift of all was a card from Laura, written in braille. In the end, everybody was happy, mainly because they were all together.
Fantastic closer to this two part episode. The best scene has to be at Mary's birthday party when she receives Laura's card, telling how much she loves her and they hug, in tears. So sweet. Well, we'll be seeing more in Winoka, as well as more of Standish, a true villain of sorts. It was a nice plot arc they added for the series, but it didn't last too long and things get back on track in a few episodes, but for now, enjoy "As Long as We're Together". A must for Little House fans.
Mary's sweet 16 birthday was coming up and Charles asked Standish for an advance to buy a present, but the old codger denied him. Let with no other alternative, Charles had to pawn his fiddle. As this was going on, Albert lifted a lantern. Charles chased him down to retrieve it and ended up buying it for him, since it was only $1. Maybe somebody should tell Albert that without kerosene, that lantern is useless. He'll probably steal that too. Unbeknownst to Charles, in true Gift of the Magi style, Caroline bought back his fiddle; On the way to her surprise party, Mary and Adam get accosted by Harlan and fellow goon Glover. Seeing this, Charles races to their rescue and gets in a fight. Having learned nothing from his experience with the Galendars in Season 3, Charles is overpowered and beaten to a pulp. Jonathan seeks swift retribution for the beating of his friend so he goes to the saloon and beats some much needed sense into Harlan and Glover. The result lands Jonathan a job as Standish's new body guard. Mary's party was an all-out success. The best gift of all was a card from Laura, written in braille. In the end, everybody was happy, mainly because they were all together.
Fantastic closer to this two part episode. The best scene has to be at Mary's birthday party when she receives Laura's card, telling how much she loves her and they hug, in tears. So sweet. Well, we'll be seeing more in Winoka, as well as more of Standish, a true villain of sorts. It was a nice plot arc they added for the series, but it didn't last too long and things get back on track in a few episodes, but for now, enjoy "As Long as We're Together". A must for Little House fans.
