There is a tradition that a young girl died in an identical way to the girl in this episode. Ironically, she is known as the Walnut Girl. Try Googling Walnut Girl Armona California for details. I wonder if the episode writer knew of this or just coincidence.
shareIt's interesting that in a later Season 4 episode, "The Stranger," they are going mixed swimming (Laura and Mary with Pa and a boy named Peter) and Peter says, "I don't have a bathing suit." Pa explains, "We swim in our underwear." The guys strip down to long union suits while the girls have on petticoats or something. Pa also throws Peter in and then explains there was no danger as the water is shallow enough to stand up in. It's obvious they not only have changed their swimwear habits, with presumably no more skinny dipping, but gone to a much safer swimming place, possibly with poor Ellen's fate in mind.
shareWas that the little girl who drowned while swimming with Mary and Laura? Her mom had a mental break due to grief, and kidnapped Laura I believe. I think the plot was based on something that did happen to the real life Laura, but I could be wrong. I vaguely recall the episode as a youngster. Maybe it is on YT.
shareYes, that is the episode you describe. I haven't found any full length Little House episodes on YouTube. They are on Freevee but WATCH THEM QUICK! There are rumors that Freevee will be gone as soon as this month. After that Little House can only be watched through paid subscriptions or on DVD. You might ask your library to order the DVDs.
shareThanks for letting me know.
shareI never knew about that.
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