The First Four Years

The First Four Years of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Persistence is the key word in Laura Inglass books. In the last book, The First Four Years, Laura was married to Almanzo Wilder. They faced with disappointment and many failures. However those failures did not discourage them. The first three years of their farm life was a disaster. Most of their wheat crops could not be harvested because of natural disaster. Early frost, dry wind weather and snowstorm ruined their nearly harvested wheat. As Laura about to give up a farm life, Almanzo asked for another year of farming. Laura thought the next year would be their turned to be successful so she gave in as she believed that "the rich have their ice in the summer but the poor get their in the winter".
But again, the crops were damaged by the cyclone. It also took the house and the tress around the house.
Disease was also another problem among the early pioneers in America. Mary, Laura's elder sister was blinded from scarlet fever, Laura and Almazo were severely sick from diphtheria, which cause a mild stroke in Almanzo hips.
However those unhappy moment was forgotten when baby Rose was born. Laura raised Rose by herself despite Laura busy day. Many times, Rose was almost injured because she was left alone.
After many failed harvests, she asked Almanzo if the farming was a success. Almanzo who loved the land answered, "it all depends on how you look at it". Thus Laura understood that farming was in their blood as she was herself a pioneer girl and she loved farm and open prairies.