Why would the Olesons stay at the school house during the Christmas Eve blizzard when their home was close enough to walk to through the storm? They could have made a big pot of soup to bring to the school room, let a few people sleep on their furniture, and slept comfortably in their own beds.
shareConserving fuel. Better to only heat one building and keep everyone under one roof than have to divide the resources.
shareI don’t think heating fuel was an issue but you reminded me of the kerosene. it would have been dark at the mercantile unless they had candles. Still, there’s no place better than your own bed during a blizzard.
shareMr. Olsen was out looking for kids and when he came back he passed out from exhaustion. I don't think he had much say in his accommodations.
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