Season 2 opens with a major customer going bankrupt, so Hanson closes the mill and cannot pay Charles two months' back pay, which means Charles cannot pay off their large tab at the Mercantile. The whole family pitches in to help: Mary sews to earn money while Laura does her chores as well as her own, Caroline helps with the farm work, and Charles toils at two jobs. When Charles pays off the tab, Mr. Oleson wonders which of them is richer.
