Top Five Favorite Episodes from Little House on the Prairie - Season 7

Time to share my five favorite episodes from Season 7 of Little House on the Prairie.

"Laura Ingalls Wilder"

Almanzo is excited when he buys a piece of land to build a home for when he marries Laura, mortgaging it under strict terms. When Mr. Gray dams up the water supply, Manly loses his land and his crop. With no plan and no money, he decides to postpone the wedding, which causes friction between Laura and him, especially when she decides to take a job in Radner to help them get back on their feet. Meanwhile, Eliza Jane develops feelings for Harve Miller, who came to Walnut Grove to help with the farm. 

Why I like it: This is Almanzo's time to step out from under his sister's wings and into a life with Laura. I admire Laura for staying true to herself and deciding to take the job in Radner despite its consequences. Harve Miller is a character who brought out a different side to Eliza Jane. 

"Olseon versus Oleson"

The women of Walnut Grove gather together to stage a protest when their husbands won't sign the petition giving them the right to vote. 

Why I like it: This is an episode that boils down to everyone doing the right thing. Charles even admits that while he considers Caroline an equal partner, not every couple might have that arrangement, which is why he eventually agrees to sign. We also have one of the sweetest moments in Beth and Manly's early marriage days in this episode. When Laura says she feels she must join the other women at the hotel to support her mother, Almanzo asks her if she needs to leave that night, and she agrees to stay until the morning. This is one of the few episodes in Season 7 where we are reminded that they are a young couple in love. 

"Come, Let Us Reason Together"

Percival's parents visit Walnut Grove as they anticipate the birth of their first grandchild. Harriet Oleson and Benjamin Cohen argue over whether the baby will be raised Jewish or Christian, which upsets the happy couple and leads to a unique way to settle things.

Why I like it: We get some of Percival's backstory in this episode, like how he changed his name from Issac Cohen so that he could find work. We see a battle unfold that is familiar in lots of families: Mr. Cohen is afraid Percival is turning his back on this faith and that his grandchild will not be raised a Cohen. Mrs. Oleson wants her grandchild raised as a Christian. It is Nels who comes up with a compromise that everyone can live with. [Side note: The title of this episode is taken from the book of Isaiah.]

"Goodbye, Mrs. Wilder"

When Mrs. Oleson interferes with the school's curriculum, Laura abruptly resigns. She quickly ends up regretting her decision, but possibly not more than the children of Walnut Grove, who are made to wear uniforms and learn French on top of all their other subjects. 

Why I like it: I totally understand Laura in this episode. She makes a decision in haste that she gets to repent in leisure. She willingly admits to Manly that while she wishes taking care of him and the house were enough for her, they simply aren't, and without her teaching, she feels useless. Almanzo supports her, despite his stubbornness being part of the reason their engagement was called off earlier in their relationship. In the end, Laura is proven right, Nels reminds Harriet so, and Laura returns to teaching. 

"I Do, Again"

Almanzo is thrilled to learn that Laura is pregnant. Adding to the family's joy is Caroline's announcement that she is also pregnant. But when she visits Doc Baker, she learns she is likely going through menopause. Not being able to have more children makes Caroline afraid Charles will no longer see her as a whole woman. She pretends to have lost the baby, and when Charles discovers the truth, he decides to take her away on a trip to help them reconnect as a couple. 

Why I like it: Laura is excited at the thought of having a child, despite not wanting to rush into having children. As someone who has been in Caroline's shoes, it is easy to understand her feelings around the transition. Charles and Laura have a tender moment where he tells Half-pint that he knows Caroline lied to him about losing the baby, and he devises a plan to help her, which reveals his deep love and respect for his wife.

A Father's Heart: LHOP inspired Fan Fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

 

A Father’s Heart

LHOP inspired fan fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos 

Disclaimer: I do not own the Little House on the Prairie television series, book series, or any of the characters.

 

            Charles peered through the front window, frost clinging to the edges of the window pane. Laura, Carrie, Albert, and Almanzo chased each other around the yard, scooping up handfuls of heavy, wet snow and hurling them at each other. 

            A vision of a young Half-pint, braids bouncing beneath her woolen cap as she ran around the front yard in the snow with her sisters flashed through Charles’s mind.  Where had the time gone? 

            Caroline’s gentle hand cupped his shoulder. “Seems like only yesterday Mary, Laura, and Carrie were having snowball fights of their own.” Her breath tickled his ear. 

            “Are you reading my mind again, Mrs. Ingalls?” 

            Caroline’s arms encircled his waist and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “No, just your face, Mr. Ingalls.” 

            Outside, Almanzo caught up with Laura, who had just nailed his shoulder with a large snowball that splattered across the back of his coat. He grabbed her around the middle and pulled her into him, her giggles filtering through the glass into the house. Almanzo nuzzled her neck and her arms wrapped around him as she turned sideways for a kiss. 

            Charles’s heart ached as he watched them. They reminded him of many years ago when he and Caroline had been a young couple in love. But, more than that, he realized at this time next year Laura would no longer live in the little house on Plum Creek. She would celebrate her first Christmas with her new husband in a little house of her own. He sighed. 

            Caroline’s arms squeezed around his middle. “It will be strange without her.” 

            Charles nodded. “We learned to do it with Mary, and we’ll get used to Half-pint being gone too.” Caroline lifted her head and gazed at his profile, one corner of her mouth pulling into a smirk. “Though it might take a bit longer this time.” 

            Charles turned to face his wife. “At least I still have my favorite lady.” His lips captured hers for a tender moment. 

            “Laura chose a wonderful man… just like I did.” 

            Charles couldn’t argue with that. It surprised him how much he warmed up to Almanzo since Laura’s engagement. After all the help Almanzo had given Mary and Adam with the blind school, risking his own life to help out a family he owed nothing to, Charles was certain there was no man in Walnut Grove he would rather have as Laura’s husband. 

            The front door flew open and four giggling, breathless people marched inside, the ruckus waking Grace from her nap.

           “Warm yourselves by the fire,” said Caroline before disappearing into the bedroom. 

            Charles watched Almanzo help Laura out of her winter coat before removing his own things. “There’s some coffee on the stove.” 

            “Thank ya, sir.” Almanzo strolled into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee for Laura and himself. 

            “Hey Laura,” Albert poked his sister’s side, “is Almanzo going to wait on you in your home too?” 

            “Don’t talk about Laura leaving,” Carrie whimpered from where she stood in front of the fireplace, rubbing warmth back into her hands. 

            Laura ran to her sister and hugged her tightly. “Oh, Carrie, it will be all right.” Laura rocked her sister back and forth. 

            Almanzo’s boots clomped across the floor. “Laura’s right.” Carrie’s tear-streaked face glanced up at him. “We’ll be living right outside town, and we’ll probably be here all the time.” 

            “Oh great! Just when I thought I would be getting some peace and quiet up in the loft.” Albert smiled at his sister, but Charles saw the sadness hiding in his eyes. 

            Albert and Laura had been nearly inseparable since the Ingalls family moved back to Walnut Grove. Having left town when times were tough and settling in Winoka, in Dakota Territory, the Ingalls family had stumbled upon Albert, an orphan living on the streets. The boy had instantly won their hearts. When the Ingalls family packed up to return home, they asked Albert to come with them. 

            Adopting Albert had legally secured his place in the Ingalls family, but even without the adoption, he was like their flesh and blood. Laura and he couldn’t have been closer if they truly were brother and sister. 

            Laura planted a hand on one hip. “You best remember who grades your papers little brother.” 

            “How can you call him your little brother when he’s taller than you?” asked Carrie. 

            The room erupted with laughter as Caroline entered the room with Grace leaning against her hip. 

            Caroline placed Grace in her highchair while the others pulled out chairs to sit down at the table. “Dinner is almost ready.” She strolled to the stove and lifted the cover of the pot. Breathing in deeply, she smiled and then stirred the contents with a spoon. 

            Carrie sat down opposite Laura, her eyes still blinking back the tears that swam in her eyes. Laura reached across the table. Carrie’s outstretched arms met her halfway and Laura squeezed her sister’s hands. 

            “Once we’re settled in the new place,” said Laura, “you can come over as often as you like.” 

            “Really?” 

            “Sure. You can even sleep over… as long as it’s okay with Ma and Pa.” 

            Carrie’s eyes widened and her smile revealed a mouth with a few missing teeth. “I’d like that.” 

            Charles rapped his knuckles on the table. “If you ladies are done talking about leaving, I’m starving.” 

            They giggled.  “Sorry, Pa.” 

            His eyes twinkled and he cast a wink in Laura’s direction, but shifted in his seat, the pain of Laura’s imminent departure still tugging at his heart. 

            Caroline placed the last plate of food on the table and sat down. The chatter stopped and everyone bowed their heads. As Charles began to thank the Lord for the bounty of food, he risked a glance at his beloved daughter and her betrothed. They had such dreams and plans that he couldn’t help but be taken in by all the excitement, but he knew it would be hard to let her go, even to a man who had earned his admiration and respect. 

            Before ending his prayer, Charles paused for a moment to silently ask the Lord to give him strength as Laura graduated from daughter to wife; just as he prayed for the courage to leave Mary behind in Winoka, where he would no longer be able to protect her. Caroline and he had prepared their daughters well, but that did not ease his desire to keep Laura from all the heartbreaks he knew would come to her as a farmer’s wife. 

            Caroline’s gentle smile met his face, as if, again, she knew his thoughts. “They’ll be fine,” her eyes seem to say. 

            Charles swallowed away the lump that had formed in his throat. “Amen.” 

            The conversation immediately picked up where it had left off and plates passed around the table. Charles’s heart swelled with pride when his eyes took in his family and Almanzo, who sat between him and Laura. He had gotten used to seeing Almanzo around the dinner table, and the nights the young man wasn’t with them, Charles felt something wasn’t quite right, as if the family could no longer be complete without him. 

            Charles said one more silent prayer before digging into his plate of food. Thank you, Lord, for blessing Laura with such a special man. Amen.

 

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.

The Trials of Fatherhood: LHOP Fan Fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

The Trials of Fatherhood

LHOP inspired fan fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Disclaimer: I do not own the Little House on the Prairie television series, book series, or any of the characters.

Charles saw Almanzo pulling away in his buggy as he came down the road. His perfect night out with Caroline was now marred with worry over why Almanzo would be at the house when he wasn't there. He hopped down from his wagon and marched over to Laura, who was standing outside the doorway. "What was Almanzo doing here, Half-pint?" The heat of anger burned the back of his neck.

"He stopped by so we could talk."

Her words sounded innocent enough, but she must have known he wouldn't want Almanzo there while they were away.  "Did he know your ma and I were out?"

Laura straightened her back. He knew she was starting to get wound up too. He could see it in how she stood with arms across her chest. "No, but he offered to come back at another time as soon as he found out." She cocked her head. "I asked him to stay."

He exhaled through his nose. His lips tightened as he considered how she so easily disregarded his wishes. "What did he want?"

Laura looked so furious, he was expecting smoke to start billowing out of her ears. "I told you," she said through clenched teeth. "He wanted to talk."

"I asked you a question, Laura." He moved his hands to his hips. He wasn't about to let her get away with being so vague with him.

He felt the soft caress of Caroline's hand on his arm. "Charles, perhaps it's something just between Laura and Almanzo."

He turned his head to face her, careful to change his tone before answering. "What could he have to say to her that she can't tell us?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, but I doubt it's worth getting upset over."

"I don't like Almanzo stopping by when Laura is alone in the house."

She smiled. It was one of those smiles she gave when she was trying to be understanding, but she really wanted to tell you to reconsider your opinion. "She wasn't alone."

That was it. How could she defend a man who didn't care if he spoiled Laura's reputation. "Why do you always take his side?" He knew he sounded foolish, but couldn't she see how important it was that they stand firm with Laura when she had only been courting a short time? She had claimed to be in love with Almanzo Wilder for years. It would be too easy for her to be swept off her feet and forget she still had growing to do.

Caroline covered her mouth with her hand, obviously hiding a giggle. "I'm not taking anyone's side. I'm just saying I don't think you have any reason to worry. Almanzo's a fine man. He wouldn't do anything inappropriate."

Laura relaxed beside them. Maybe now she was ready to explain. "If you must know, we had a misunderstanding and he came to apologize. I said I was sorry too, and then he left."

"Oh," replied Charles meekly. He glanced over at Caroline and smiled in embarrassment.

"Can I go inside now?" asked Laura.

"Yeah."

After the door clicked shut, he stood there with Caroline for a moment. What could he say? He made a big deal about nothing. She was right...like usual.

Caroline was not one to gloat. At least she would let him keep his dignity. She leaned her head on his shoulder. "It's not like we have a trellis. We're not going to come home to find Almanzo hanging off the side of the house kissing Laura goodnight."

Charles felt the warmth of his blush at the reminder of his own trick when he was courting her. That seemed so long ago now.

"I'll go put on a fresh pot of coffee, " she said. "Don't be too long." She winked at him before disappearing inside.

*

Laura, Albert, and Carrie walked over the bridge into town the next morning. She glanced towards the Feed and Seed and saw Almanzo hunched over a sack of grain.

"I'll be right back," she said to her siblings. "I want to say hi to Almanzo."

"Aren't you going to see him tonight at the literary meeting?" asked Albert.

She shrugged. Why should that matter? "Yes, but I like to say good morning to him when I walk into town."

Albert shook his head. "Come on Carrie. I'll race you to school."

"Hi, Manly," Laura said as she reached the platform.

"Mornin, Beth." Almanzo sat down, thankful for the rest. "How ya doin'?"

She loved these meaningless little conversations between them. For years she tried to engage him in conversation; get him to see her as something more than a friend. When it happened, she hardly believed it was true. "I'm fine. I forget to tell you last night that Ma says you can come over for dinner after church on Sunday."

He rubbed his stomach. His appetite was legendary. He could eat twice as much as her and still have room for a piece or two of pie. "Sounds good. Did I see your pa pulling in last night when I was leavin'?"

She was afraid this might come up. "Yes, and he wasn't too happy you were there."

"I was afraid of that."

"Well, once I explained, he wasn't angry." The school bell rang. "I'll see you tonight Manly," she said as she rushed off.

*

Almanzo caught sight of Charles as the Ingalls family entered the packed schoolhouse on Friday night. Laura and Albert had gone into town early so they could rehearse their orations. He had run into them on their way in and wished them both good luck. He pushed through the crowd and approached Charles.

"Evening, Mr. Ingalls."

"Hello, Almanzo."

Suddenly this didn't seem like a good idea. If he could have, Almanzo would have retreated into the crowd and thought more about what he was going to say. Charles stood there, face expressionless. Better get it over with. "Can we step outside for a minute?" He pointed his thumb toward the door.

Charles nodded. "Sure, son."

They walked over in silence and stood by Charles's wagon so they could speak privately. "Laura told me ya weren't too happy with me stopping by last night," said Almanzo.

Charles planted both hands on his hips. "I was surprised to find you there."

Almanzo removed his hat and pushed back the waves of blond hair from his face. "I never woulda come by if I knew you were out."

"Laura said you had a misunderstanding." He wasn't going to make it easy on Almanzo, that was plain to see.

Almanzo shuffled nervously on his feet. "Ya know how it is Mr. Ingalls, sometimes folks say or do things they shouldn't and they have to make it right."

Charles raised his eyebrows. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

"I don't mean no disrespect, Mr. Ingalls, but some stuff needs to stay between Beth and me." He paused. If there was going to be an explosion, he wanted a moment to think about his reaction. When her pa didn't say anything, he continued. "I appreciate your concern for your daughter. I do. But she's a woman and she needs to make her own decisions."

Charles straightened and looked him directly in the eye. Almanzo knew he was pressing his luck. "What kind of decisions are you talking about?"

"About what she wants out of life."

"And you think a sixteen-year-old girl knows what she wants out of life?" He had raised his voice so that it was no longer a casual conversation. Charles Ingalls had brought up Beth to be independent and strong and to make smart choices. It didn't sound like he was okay with her making her own choices right now.

He had to help Laura's pa understand he had to let go. "More than her pa, yes." Instantly Charles's eyes flickered with anger. To his credit, he seemed to be working to control it. "Listen Mr. Ingalls, I'm not trying to pick a fight. It's just that when you see Laura, you see your little girl. I see the woman I love."

"You're a lot older than she is, son." His voice was softer, but remained stern. He had his opinion on this and Almanzo was going to hear it whether he liked it or not.

He had to make sure he controled his temper as well. Nothing would be gained if he stormed off over this. "I don't see why that should make a difference if we love each other."

"It makes a difference to me."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ingalls. As much as I want to gain your respect, it doesn't matter to me if my being ten years older than Laura bothers you." He swallowed away the lump in his throat. "I love her."

The door to the schoolhouse closed and Charles sighed. Almanzo was sure he wanted to continue their conversation, but their place was inside with their loved ones.

"We'll talk more about this later," said Charles. "I think they're just about ready to start."

*

Almanzo and Charles took seats on opposite sides of the room. Laura could tell by their tense faces that neither man was happy. Pa glanced over at Almanzo as Eliza Jane called the room to order. She wondered what he was thinking about. Had Almanzo told him that he didn't want to wait to get married? She hoped not. That was a conversation that she should be part of. It was her life they were talking about after all.

After the literary meeting, Almanzo drove Laura home. They drove in silence. Almanzo looking very much in thought. He pulled Barnum to a stop in front of the Ingalls' farm.

"Thanks for the ride, Manly," said Laura.

"My pleasure, Beth." He smiled, but it wasn't the kind of smile that melted her heart. It was more like a "don't worry, it will be all right" kind of smile that you give someone even though you don't know if that's true.

He leaned closer and whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too." She kissed his cheek and them hopped out of the buggy. She could have waited for him to help her out, but it was better this way. Let him have some time to think.

*

Late Sunday night Charles lay next to Caroline in bed, pretending to read his newspaper. He was thinking about dinner that day and how much Almanzo was starting to grow on him. Not that he really ever disliked the boy; it was just hard to watch him take such a prominent place in Laura's heart.

Laura had shared some family stories as they sat around the table together after dessert. Almanzo told a few stories of his own about growing up on the farm in Malone, New York. His eyes shone as he shared memories about the first colt his father let him break in and how they came to live in Spring Valley before Eliza Jane and he set out on their own for Walnut Grove. He spoke fondly of his older sister, and Charles found his devotion to her very encouraging. Would Almanzo be as devoted to Laura if she became his wife? Charles felt the answer was yes.

"What are you thinking about?" Caroline asked, placing a hand on his arm.

He released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Laura and Almanzo."

"Then why are you smiling?" she teased.

He glanced over at his wife and caressed her cheek. She was so beautiful, especially with her long hair unwound and flowing past her shoulders. "Maybe it's not such a big deal that he's ten years older than she is." He shrugged, "What do you think?"

She turned on her side. "Well, would you have felt any differently for me if I were ten years younger than you?"

The question was preposterous. He had loved her the moment he laid eyes on her. "Of course not. I would love you no matter what the difference in our ages." It took her a while to decide if she wanted to be a farmer's wife, but in the end his charms won her over. At least he hoped that was why she finally decide to follow him from place to place.

"I'm sure Laura and Almanzo feel the same way."

He sighed. "But what if he wants to marry her?"

"What's wrong with that?" It was a good question. Almanzo loved his daughter, just as sure as she loved him back. He had watched their relationship unfold as Laura struggled to catch his attention. Once she did, though, Almanzo wasn't the same. He had to chuckle to himself. She was definitely an Ingalls.

"Nothing, except that she's too young to get married." This was the reality he struggled with. Wasn't she just climbing trees and knocking down Nellie Oleson in the playground yesterday? He needed to help guide her to make the right decisions. "He's a man and he knows what he wants, but how can Laura know? She got thrown into teaching and then suddenly they are courting."

"I think what she wants is very clear — she wants to be with Almanzo." Caroline was so wise not to push him too much. He knew she understood how he felt. Being able to understand him better than he understood himself was one of the many reasons he loved her so much.

"But there's no guarantee they'll stay together. He's her first beau." He shook his head. "How many beaux did Mary have?"

"You're right; there are no guarantees in life." She raised her eyebrows. "They could break up tomorrow. But if they do it's not going to be because she's sixteen or because he's her first beau."

Charles laughed at himself. She was right. Why did he allow his fears to keep him from accepting Almanzo? Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her smiling at him. She knew she had won, but she didn't need to say it. Another reason to love her. "Isn't there some law that states a woman can't be smarter than her husband?"

Her smile stretched across her face to reveal all her teeth. "If there is, it should be revoked."

They laughed together before Caroline snuggled underneath his arm. The worry faded away as he embraced the woman he had been proud to call his wife for many years. She was always able to see through to what mattered the most--Laura's happiness was more important to Charles than the number of years between Almanzo and his daughter. He still knew he would say no to Almanzo if he asked to marry Laura before she was eighteen, but at least he knew in his heart that he finally accepted the boy for who he was.

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.

And the Survey Says...

The results are in for our favorite couples survey. Hands down, Caroline and Charles are your favorite couple from Little House on the Prairie. They received 44% of the vote. Laura and Almanzo (34%) and Nels and Harriet (12%) came in next. Also receiving votes were Mary and Adam, Grace and Isaiah, and Nellie and Percival.

Thanks for voting. Don't forget to vote in our current survey about whether you will purchase the new LHOP Complete Series on DVD Mega-Pack.

Let the Hurricane Roar

You'll notice the title of this book has been changed to Young Pioneers. As I mentioned a while back, I requested a copy of Rose Wilder Lane's Let the Hurricane Roar from a neighboring library. I wasn't sure what to expect after not being overly thrilled with Rose's story about the Beatons.

Let the Hurricane Roar tells the story of newlyweds Charles and Caroline who leave their home in the Big Woods and settle in a sod house on Plum Creek. Anyone familiar with the history of Laura Ingalls Wilder knows Charles and Caroline were Rose's maternal grandparents. Rose, however, does not give her main characters a last name, though she did give one to all the other characters.

There is Mr. and Mrs. Svenson who are Charles and Caroline's closest neighbors, and Loftus, to whom Charles owes a large debt after the grasshoppers come and destroy his wheat crop. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson own a store in town, and Mrs. Decker is the wife of the saloon keeper. With the exception of the Svensons, the other characters are mentioned only in brief moments, but they have last names, unlike Charles and Caroline and their son, Charles John who is born in the sod shanty. 

Why is important? Maybe it's not, but in Holtz's book, The Ghost in the Little House, the author mentioned an incident between Rose and her mother that might have been part of the reason for the exclusion. Not that I can find the page right now--if I do, I'll add it here--but during one of Rose's stays at Rocky Ridge Farm, she explained her latest story to a group of friends who were also staying on the farm, and Laura told her she got it all wrong because she knew it was the story of Charles and Caroline Ingalls. Holtz mentions that perhaps Laura felt Rose should not use Ma and Pa as the basis for her story because Laura was writing her own stories where Ma and Pa were important characters and she felt protective of those memories. By not giving Charles and Caroline a last name in Let the Hurricane Roar, Rose could have been protecting herself and her story, or maybe she even made a deal with her mother to not add the last names so there would be no direct connection. But, we might never know for sure.

Moving on, people who have studied the real lives of the Ingalls family will notice right away that there is a good deal of fiction in this novel. Charles and Caroline Ingalls did not leave the Big Woods by themselves, Mary and Laura were young girls when they left Wisconsin, and their son never made it out of infancy. We know from Laura's books and other biographies of the Ingalls family that the grasshoppers came and destroyed every green thing on the prairie, and Charles was forced to find work to support his family. But other than that, the events in Let the Hurricane Roar don't seem very similar to what I've read of the Ingalls family history. 

Let the Hurricane Roar was much shorter than Free Land, but that wasn't the main reason I was able to polish it off within three days. This story held my attention from beginning to end. It didn't start off with a young, happy couple who were optimistic about the future and then turn into a tale of despair and hardship against insurmountable odds. Even with all the challenges Charles and Caroline faced, they approached each new page in their lives with a positive outlook. Sometimes it was hard to do-- Caroline and Charles were both lonely when they were apart; Caroline was forced to make tough decisions with Charles back East working; Charles's return home was delayed by an injury, and Caroline and the baby had to survive the winter alone after the Svensons gave up and returned to Minnesota--but they were determined to make it work. Let the Hurricane Roar could easily be compared to one of Laura's books--some of the content, the tone, and the song lyrics remind me of the Little House series. 

There is, of course, one exception to that rule--The First Four Years. This manuscript was not published in Laura's or Rose's lifetimes. In this book, Laura tells us about her first four years of marriage to Almanzo, the birth of Rose, the loss of their home to fire, and the death of their son who hadn't been given a name yet. A trying time for Laura and Almanzo, the tone of this book is very different from the other eight books she had written about her life. 

Rose had sent this manuscript to Roger Lea MacBride, who would eventually become her heir. It was MacBride who took the manuscript to Harper & Row after Rose's death. A decision was reached to publish the manuscript as Laura had written it. Yet, if one were to compare the tone of The First Four Years to Free Land they might see the same similarities I do when I compare Let the Hurricane Roar to the rest of Laura's books. But, since Rose did not touch Laura's manuscript of The First Four Years we might think the similarities are coincidence. Where does that leave us?

I'm sure there are more than the two options I am listing here, but these are the ones I will concentrate on. Rose could have taken eight of Laura's manuscripts, performed heavy editing on them--rewriting entire portions--and even coordinated getting the manuscripts to the publisher. She could deserve to be listed as co-author of these eight books because they wouldn't have sold without her. 

But what about The First Four Years?

Rose never touched it, yet, amazingly this manuscript and Rose's own Free Land are similar in tone and style. There is also a thought traveling through my mind, however, that perhaps the similarities between Rose's Let the Hurricane Roar and the first eight books of the Little House series, and those found between Free Land and The First Four Years could be chalked up to something not as controversial. 

Rose grew up in Laura's house, where her mother shared many of the stories she had heard growing up. Perhaps, Rose's and Laura's writing styles were not so dissimilar overall. If I did not see such a clear connection with the way Free Land and The First Four Years are written, then this theory would not hold water. But, I do see that connection, and Rose never touched the final manuscript her mother had written. So, what's next?

Well, Old Town Home is a collection of stories by Rose Wilder Lane. I need to read more of Rose's writing to see how the storyteller in her interacts with the reader. I have multiple books with Laura Ingalls Wilder collections in them, so it will be interesting to see if my second theory has any merit. I guess that means more reading for me and more blog posts for you. LOL!