Fred – Part 1: The Goat Laura Could Not Leave Behind
Laura Ingalls was walking home when she heard angry shouting from Farmer Parsons’ yard.
Then she saw him holding a shotgun.
In front of him stood a stubborn billy goat with wild eyes and a proud little beard.
The goat looked like he had no fear at all.
“That goat has caused enough trouble!” Farmer Parsons shouted.
Laura ran toward the fence.
“Please don’t shoot him!” she cried.
Farmer Parsons sighed. “You don’t know Fred.
He eats everything, breaks fences, chases chickens, and ruins my garden.”
But Laura could not walk away.
She looked at Fred and saw more than trouble. She saw an animal nobody wanted.
Mrs. Parsons made Laura a deal.
If Laura helped with chores, she could take Fred home.
So Laura worked hard.
She carried water, swept floors, gathered eggs, and cleaned the barn.
Day after day, she earned that goat.
At last, Fred belonged to her.
Laura was proud when she brought him home.
But Fred did not act grateful.
He ate Caroline’s laundry. He scared Carrie.
He chased chickens. He even tried to climb onto the porch.
Charles warned Laura, “That goat may be more work than you think.”
Laura smiled and said, “I can handle him.”
But Fred had already begun proving her wrong.
Part 2: Trouble Follows Fred
Fred followed Laura everywhere.
At first, Laura thought it was sweet. But soon, Fred became a walking disaster.
He knocked over buckets. He chewed through rope. He ate part of Mary’s schoolbook. He butted Albert’s lunch pail across the yard.
At school, Laura tried to keep Fred hidden, but he escaped and ran through the schoolyard. Children screamed and laughed as Fred chased Willie Oleson in circles.
Nellie yelled, “That goat is a monster!”
Miss Beadle tried to stay calm, but even she could not stop Fred from eating flowers near the school door.
Laura felt embarrassed.
She loved Fred, but everyone else was losing patience.
Then Fred caused his biggest problem yet. He got loose in town and ran straight into Mrs. Oleson’s store. He knocked over boxes, chewed fabric, and sent customers running.
Mrs. Oleson was furious.
“That goat must go!” she shouted.
Laura’s heart sank. She had saved Fred once, but now she wondered if she had made a mistake.
That night, Charles sat beside her.
“Sometimes love means knowing what is best,” he said gently.
Laura did not want to hear that. Fred was hers. She had worked for him. She had saved him.
But deep down, she knew Fred was making life hard for everyone.
Part 3: Saying Goodbye to Fred
The next morning, Laura found Fred standing quietly near the barn.
For once, he was not chewing anything. He just looked at her with those stubborn eyes.
Laura hugged his neck.
“You don’t mean to cause trouble, do you?” she whispered.
Fred gave a small bleat.
Later, Charles heard about a farmer who lived farther away and needed a billy goat.
The farmer had more land, strong fences, and no neighbors close by to complain.
Laura did not want to give Fred up. But she knew it might be the best place for him.
When the day came, Laura walked Fred to the wagon herself.
She tried not to cry.
“You be good,” she told him. “Or at least try.”
Fred pulled at the rope, then suddenly rubbed his head against Laura’s arm.
It was almost like he understood.
As the wagon rolled away, Laura wiped her tears.
Charles placed a hand on her shoulder.
“You did the right thing, Half-Pint.”
Laura looked down the road.
Fred had brought trouble, noise, and embarrassment.
But he had also taught her something important.
Saving someone was only the first step.
Caring for them meant thinking beyond what she wanted.
And even though Fred was gone, Laura knew she would never forget the goat who turned Walnut Grove upside down.
