Plötzlich trifft die Arbeitslosigkeit auch Charles Ingalls. Und das ist ihm nun doppelt unangenehm: Er hat bei den Olesons schon Schulden, die jetzt erst recht nicht beglichen werden können. Als Mrs. Oleson einen weiteren Kredit verweigert, beschließt der Familienrat, alle Möglichkeiten zu nutzen, um an Geld zu kommen...
After the mill closes, Charles is unable to pay off his debt at the mercantile. Mr. Hanson is forced to close the mill after one of his big customers declares bankruptcy. This was after Hanson had already shipped them a bunch of lumber. Charles had been expecting two months worth of wages before Hanson was forced to close down. Charles must taken on several jobs at the same time. Mary gets a job to help the family, while Laura does the chores at home. When the bill finally gets paid, Nels tells Charles that he thinks Charles is the richest man in Walnut Grove, since he has a very loving family.
Charles Ingalls est tellement pauvre qu'il ne peut pas acheter le strict nécessaire à sa famille. Il se met à la recherche d'un travail, n'importe lequel...
Charles per pagare i debiti al signor Oleson si impegna in diversi lavori. Con molta fatica e con l'aiuto della famiglia riesce finalmente a restituire il denaro a Nells Oleson, l'uomo più ricco di Walnut Grove.
Al cerrar la fábrica, Charles debe desempeñar varios trabajos a la vez para poder pagar la deuda contraída con los Oleson. Mary trabaja también para ayudar a la familia mientras Laura realiza labores en casa. Cuando la deuda queda fi nalmente saldada Nels le comenta a Charles que con una familia tan amorosa como la suya, se puede considerar, sin lugar a dudas, el hombre más rico de Walnut Grove.
