The Ingallses' camping trip may have to be postponed, as Reverend Alden stops by to say he wasn't able to collect the amount of donations he was hoping for and he planned to have a bazaar on the weekend. Now here's where the Ingallses come in: Alden asked if Caroline could bake a few pies for the bake sale, which just might rake in the dough. Caroline was perfectly willing, and as for the rest of the family, she insists they go on without her so she can stay home and bake. In a way this worked out better for her because she wouldn't have a bunch of little girls under foot. While helping Charles unload the wagon on their trip back from town, Caroline gashed her leg on a metal wire protruding from the side of the buckboard. Just a little scratch, probably nothing. So after exchanging goodbyes, Charles and the girls set off, giving Caroline some much needed peace and quiet. First thing she did was soak her feet in the creek, splashing a little on that unsightly gash on her leg. After that, it was time to get baking. A few pies later, Caroline still couldn't take her mind off that gash, so she put on a make-shift dressing. Just then Doc Baker came by looking for Charles to fix his wagon wheel, but he just missed him. Just as Caroline invited him in for some pie and at the same time Doc Baker could look at that leg, he was called away on an emergency.
That night there was a fierce rain storm, and I guess some cows like the rain because one was standing out in it undaunted. Caroline went to try and get her into the barn and afterwards, she fainted. Fortunately she came to a little later, and managed to stagger back into the house. She had succumbed to fever and it was making her delirious, and as if that weren't bad enough, her leg was still in pain. Thankfully come morning the storm subsided, but now Caroline's gash can become a full blown infection. I guess Doc Baker forgot about her because he never came back. Can't blame him though, because when he was there earlier, it wasn't as serious. Thankfully Reverend Alden and Mrs. Foster arrived to pick up Caroline and her pies, which thankfully survived the fierce rain storm. Man, what IS her secret? Anyway, Alden and Foster were under the impression nobody was home because the doors and windows were locked. Caroline had locked them during the night while hallucinating and was presently passed out on the floor. Well, I guess she's screwed. But you gotta give Caroline Ingalls credit, she is one tough cookie. An infection that bad may have killed anyone else about now, but Caroline was still holding her own. She managed to bring in wood for the fire, place a warm compress on her infection and it hurt like holy hell. I'm sure Charles and the girls are having a good time though, right? Yup. Carrie bonds with a little piglet and the others splash around in the lake. Sure sounds like fun. Caroline, meanwhile, was having the opposite. According to a passage in the Bible, it says that if "thy foot offends thee, cut it off". I'm pretty sure that's just an expression, but it looks like Caroline is contemplating it. Yep, she wants to cut off her leg and subsequently bleed to death. Boy will Charles and the girls be in for a surprise when they get home! Watch your step! Caroline, put the knife down. Put it down. Thankfully, Reverend Alden and Mrs. Foster reached Charles and the girls, and when Alden spoke of his findings at the house, Charles became suspicious and raced back to Plum Creek, probably not a moment too soon. Doc Baker was summoned, Charles prayed with all his might, and by morning, Caroline's fever had broken and the infection was clearing up. Seems she used that knife not to cut off her leg, but to cut open the infection. Gross, I know, but had she not done, she would have lost the leg. In the end, all that really counts is a matter of faith. Now kids, do NOT try this at home! If you get a scratch, no matter how small, you go to the doctor or bandage it up like a mummy.
This one was really intense, some parts extremely tough to watch, especially those who are squeamish to unsightly wounds. All props for this episode go to Karen Grassle, who went above and beyond the call of duty. You can really feel her pain the whole time. She goes through such torture and anguish, and you feel as though you're going through it right along with her. It's not easy to pull it off, but she sure did. I've heard this is her favorite episode, and I can sure see why. Probably the only Caroline based episode of the series, even though she's had major roles down in the line in episodes like Season 8's "A Faraway Cry", but this one is her crowning achievement. Where was her Emmy nomination? Every year it seems they gave the Emmys to M*A*S*H, and although that was a pretty good show, I think Little House deserved a few awards for its very talented cast, writers and directors also. So if you like Caroline, you like episodes of this caliber: dark, intense and excruciating, give A Matter of Faith a try.
That night there was a fierce rain storm, and I guess some cows like the rain because one was standing out in it undaunted. Caroline went to try and get her into the barn and afterwards, she fainted. Fortunately she came to a little later, and managed to stagger back into the house. She had succumbed to fever and it was making her delirious, and as if that weren't bad enough, her leg was still in pain. Thankfully come morning the storm subsided, but now Caroline's gash can become a full blown infection. I guess Doc Baker forgot about her because he never came back. Can't blame him though, because when he was there earlier, it wasn't as serious. Thankfully Reverend Alden and Mrs. Foster arrived to pick up Caroline and her pies, which thankfully survived the fierce rain storm. Man, what IS her secret? Anyway, Alden and Foster were under the impression nobody was home because the doors and windows were locked. Caroline had locked them during the night while hallucinating and was presently passed out on the floor. Well, I guess she's screwed. But you gotta give Caroline Ingalls credit, she is one tough cookie. An infection that bad may have killed anyone else about now, but Caroline was still holding her own. She managed to bring in wood for the fire, place a warm compress on her infection and it hurt like holy hell. I'm sure Charles and the girls are having a good time though, right? Yup. Carrie bonds with a little piglet and the others splash around in the lake. Sure sounds like fun. Caroline, meanwhile, was having the opposite. According to a passage in the Bible, it says that if "thy foot offends thee, cut it off". I'm pretty sure that's just an expression, but it looks like Caroline is contemplating it. Yep, she wants to cut off her leg and subsequently bleed to death. Boy will Charles and the girls be in for a surprise when they get home! Watch your step! Caroline, put the knife down. Put it down. Thankfully, Reverend Alden and Mrs. Foster reached Charles and the girls, and when Alden spoke of his findings at the house, Charles became suspicious and raced back to Plum Creek, probably not a moment too soon. Doc Baker was summoned, Charles prayed with all his might, and by morning, Caroline's fever had broken and the infection was clearing up. Seems she used that knife not to cut off her leg, but to cut open the infection. Gross, I know, but had she not done, she would have lost the leg. In the end, all that really counts is a matter of faith. Now kids, do NOT try this at home! If you get a scratch, no matter how small, you go to the doctor or bandage it up like a mummy.
This one was really intense, some parts extremely tough to watch, especially those who are squeamish to unsightly wounds. All props for this episode go to Karen Grassle, who went above and beyond the call of duty. You can really feel her pain the whole time. She goes through such torture and anguish, and you feel as though you're going through it right along with her. It's not easy to pull it off, but she sure did. I've heard this is her favorite episode, and I can sure see why. Probably the only Caroline based episode of the series, even though she's had major roles down in the line in episodes like Season 8's "A Faraway Cry", but this one is her crowning achievement. Where was her Emmy nomination? Every year it seems they gave the Emmys to M*A*S*H, and although that was a pretty good show, I think Little House deserved a few awards for its very talented cast, writers and directors also. So if you like Caroline, you like episodes of this caliber: dark, intense and excruciating, give A Matter of Faith a try.
