Chapter 3:

The next day Jonathan is at the Mill working while Charles takes a load of lumber over to the Widow Thurman's. She wants a meathouse built. She has a hired man who brings her fresh meat so she needs a proper place to store it.

Jonathan is stacking lumber at the Mill. As Dr. Baker is coming out of the Mercantile with a bottle of soda pop he sees Jonathan so he goes over to talk to him. Dr. Baker calls, "Jonathan, May I have a word with you?"

Jonathan answers, "Sure Dr. What do you need?"

Dr. Baker mentions, "Gossip is running through Walnut Grove like a plague. I'm surprised no one has come to my office complaining of a sore tongue."

Jonathan grins a little as Dr. Baker continues, "But it's no laughing matter, Jonathan. There is talk of divorce among our friends we known for years. I was just in the Mercantile buying this soda. I could tell by looking, Nels didn't sleep at all last night. Harriet was in their parlor weeping. Nels explained to me he was afraid he came down too hard on his wife gossiping. He tried to apologize but Harriet is too shocked to listen and Almanzo he's got straw all in his hair and clothes which mind you are wrinkled and doesn't seem like they have been changed for a while. I don't have to tell you where he's been sleeping. I can understand Laura's point too. The kitchen is a woman's 'Queenly Domain' and when a man especially her husband says though the intentions are good that she is not the queen of the kitchen by saying someone else makes better food than her. Well to coin a phrase from an English playwright, William Congreve in 1697, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'."

Jonathan answers, "Well Doc. you got a better understanding of women that I do. I'm just trying to stay out of it and let them work it out themselves."

Dr. Baker says, "I don't think we can people need our help and I think we're bound to give it to them."

Later, Jonathan leaves the Mill still thinking about what he and Dr. Baker was talking about earlier in the day. Jonathan is now home and sits down at the supper table. Andy is at his left. Alice is serving stew and biscuits with butter Jonathan says grace and they all eat their meal.

Johnson swipes some of his biscuit in the stew, chews it up and says, "Alice the doctor and I were talking earlier today..."

Alice says, "Excuse me, Jonathan, Andrew are you finished with your supper? Your father and I have an adult conversation. You are excused to your room to do your homework."

Andrew leaves the table and goes to his room."

Alice continues, "No need in the boy hearing how some of us adults have been acting. That's what it's about isn't it?"

Jonathan answers, "Yeah, Doc thinks somebody ought to get involved and help the Town's family to patch things up. Dr. Baker feels Laura's got her feelings hurt when Almanzo suggested they put Royal's pancakes in the bake-off instead of hers."

Alice responds, "Well first off let me work with Laura and you work with Almanzo. It dominated one way. Perhaps it can domino the other way back."

Will the Town be able to help patch up their disagreements?

To Be Continued