The opening plot of "Child Of Pain" had Graham Stewart preparing for the evening supper. John Stewart -- a predictable drunk -- demanded Graham Stewart to supply him whiskey at the supper table. The youngster destroyed both bottles of the whiskey. John Stewart took a leather belt to his back instead of his behind -- in a drunken matter. Miss Beadle took Graham Stewart out of school to see Dr. Baker. Dr. Baker -- along with Charles Ingalls and Miss Beadle -- noticed the welts on Graham Stewart's back from his pa's leather belt. Little did they know the beatings became a repeated pattern in the home. Graham Stewart -- without warning -- received up to six beatings in the last month from a drunken father.
The town council later had a discussion of what to do with John Stewart. Mr. Kennedy wanted the father in jail for child beating. The other members wanted him tarred and feathered to a pulp. Caroline Ingalls believed differently about John Stewart. Later, Graham Stewart was severely injured from the beatings of his father. Charles Ingalls later took Graham Stewart out of the home; he then took the child to Dr. Baker's Office after the severe beating from his pa.
John Stewart demanded that he see Graham Stewart. Charles Ingalls said no; he eventually grabbed John Stewart by the coat and took him to see Graham Stewart and witness the abuse he did to his boy. Caroline Ingalls took care of Graham Stewart; Charles Ingalls took charge of caring for John Stewart. Charles Ingalls believed -- with reluctance -- every person had something decent in terms of character. From there, he and Charles Ingalls improved on the place -- first by removing the whiskey from the house, then started drinking water, planting a corn crop, and finally having a discussion with Reverend Alden. By then, John Stewart realized he could not avoid the issue for his actual abuse of Graham Stewart: Lucy Stewart died after giving birth to Graham Stewart. The End Result: A Fat 10 from the 1974-1975 Television Season!! An A!!