City Mouse: What Mrs. Oleson (who often shows contempt for "country folks") is and what she assumes Mr. Sprague is. As it turns out, he's the son of a farmer who had to quit school at an early age and work most of his life to get where he got, much to Harriet's disappointment, as she expected an educated man of class as the banker.
Defrosting Ice King: Ebenezer Sprague, thanks in part to Laura's influence on him.
Hidden Depths: Sprague initially seems to be a typical City Slicker and Rich Jerk, but it turns out that he didn't have it easy in life, dropping out of school and leading a harsh life when he moved to city, and it's implied that said hard life molded into the joyless cold-hearted man he is now (though he gets better).
Kick the Morality Pet: When Laura finds that her fishing companion is the ruthless banker Ebenezer Sprague, who declined donations to help the kids who couldn't afford for books and treats everyone in town coldly, Sprague hesitates to tell her why he hid it, but then accuses her of trying to sweet-talk her way to get her father's loan which he'd tried and failed to get earlier. Laura is heartbroken and announce she'd rather fish alone for the rest of her life.
Morality Pet: Laura becomes one to Sprague during their fishing times (she didn't know who he was).
Morally Bankrupt Banker: Ebenezer Sprague, who while not evil, is ruthless and uncaring and quickly gains the townsfolk's antipathy before having a change of heart.
