<P> Almanzo invites Laura to attend summer "singing school" with him and her classmates . On the last evening of singing school while driving Laura home, Almanzo--who has by now been courting Laura for three years--proposes to Laura . During their next ride, Almanzo presents Laura with a garnet - and - pearl ring and they share their first kiss . </P> <P> Several months later, after Almanzo has finished building a house on his tree claim, he asks Laura if she would mind getting married within a few days as his sister and mother have their hearts set on a large church wedding, which Pa cannot afford . Laura agrees, and she and Almanzo are married in a simple ceremony by the Reverend Brown . After a wedding dinner with her family, Laura drives away with Almanzo and the newlyweds settle contentedly into their new home . </P> <P> The First Four Years, published in 1971, is commonly considered the ninth and last book in the original Little House series . It covers the earliest years of Laura and Almanzo's marriage . </P> <P> The First Four Years derives its title from a promise Laura made to Almanzo when they became engaged . Laura did not want to be a farm wife, but she consented to try farming for three years . At the end of that time, Laura and Almanzo mutually agreed to continue for one more year, a "year of grace", in Laura's words . The book ends at the close of that fourth year, on a rather optimistic note . In reality, the continually hot, dry Dakota summers, and several other tragic events described in the book eventually drove them from their land, but they later founded a very successful fruit and dairy farm in Missouri, where they lived comfortably until their respective deaths . </P>

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