As if life couldn't get any sweeter, one fine afternoon Caroline dropped a bombshell: she was with child. Everybody felt blessed, except for Laura, for unknown reasons. It was obvious Charles was hoping for a boy, and it was evident in the way he kept subconsciously referring to the baby as "he" or "him". Well after having three girls, it's understandable he'd be ready for a change. So, nine months passes in a matter of minutes, and soon it's time for the baby to arrive. Grace Snider helps with delivery and Caroline doesn't even scream. Wow, she's stronger than I thought! Guess what? It's a boy! Charles was on cloud 9, let me tell you. Charles Ingalls, Jr., the son he's always wanted. You would think Laura would be relieved with no longer being the middle child, but with this new addition to the family, Laura began to feel jealousy. Jealous that her Pa wouldn't play ball with her because he was too busy being around the baby. Well, as wonderful as things had been, they were slowly starting to get worse. Charles Jr. was not growing at the normal rate, but Doc Baker assured them the baby was just fine and switched him to regular milk. The baby's ailing health didn't seem to phase Laura, who didn't even pray for him. It seems this all has to do with Laura asking God for a sister, but the Almighty failed to carry out the request. That's what this is about apparently. Laura feels she's like one of the boys, but she doesn't like boys. Makes sense.
Charles Jr. was growing weaker, and all Doc Baker could go was recommend he be taken to Dr. Mayo's clinic in Mankato with fancier equipment. Sadly, the doctor reported that there was no hope for the baby and when the time came, he would just simply go to sleep. Poor little Charles Fredrick Ingalls Jr. passed away soon after. The poor little boy wasn't even a year old. Needless to say, the family was devastated. Particularly Laura, now feeling very guilty over the way she acted. She has a talk with Reverend Alden, following the Sunday service. She asks him about God and performing miracles, and basically how to get one. The reverend tells her the closer she is to God, the more likely He is to listen. So, somehow, she must get closer. Literally.
This episode is noted as having an extraordinary time lapse. Caroline announces her pregnancy, then nine months pass in a few minutes, the baby is born, and the baby dies all within 40 minutes of the episode. That's got to be a record. Sadly, this would start the trend of baby Ingalls boys dying in infancy. Mary's baby dies in Season 6, but that was in a fire, and Laura's baby boy dies of a mysterious illness in Season 9. Now this episode, and the aforementioned one of Laura's son dying are based on real life events. As far as I know, Carrie, Grace and Rose had no children of their own so it's unknown if they carried on the gene. But anyway, this episode has it's share of happiness and sadness. There's really not much else I can say about it, but I do urge fans of the series to see this episode and its conclusion. Keep the Kleenex box handy, though, it's very sad.
Charles Jr. was growing weaker, and all Doc Baker could go was recommend he be taken to Dr. Mayo's clinic in Mankato with fancier equipment. Sadly, the doctor reported that there was no hope for the baby and when the time came, he would just simply go to sleep. Poor little Charles Fredrick Ingalls Jr. passed away soon after. The poor little boy wasn't even a year old. Needless to say, the family was devastated. Particularly Laura, now feeling very guilty over the way she acted. She has a talk with Reverend Alden, following the Sunday service. She asks him about God and performing miracles, and basically how to get one. The reverend tells her the closer she is to God, the more likely He is to listen. So, somehow, she must get closer. Literally.
This episode is noted as having an extraordinary time lapse. Caroline announces her pregnancy, then nine months pass in a few minutes, the baby is born, and the baby dies all within 40 minutes of the episode. That's got to be a record. Sadly, this would start the trend of baby Ingalls boys dying in infancy. Mary's baby dies in Season 6, but that was in a fire, and Laura's baby boy dies of a mysterious illness in Season 9. Now this episode, and the aforementioned one of Laura's son dying are based on real life events. As far as I know, Carrie, Grace and Rose had no children of their own so it's unknown if they carried on the gene. But anyway, this episode has it's share of happiness and sadness. There's really not much else I can say about it, but I do urge fans of the series to see this episode and its conclusion. Keep the Kleenex box handy, though, it's very sad.
