Hard Times
Life in those days was not as simple as it is today, and there were many serious life concerns at that time that we never even need to think about. When Laura gave birth to Rose in 1886, things should have been looking up, but dark times were ahead. They were struck by diseases and drought, which greatly impacted their livelihood.
Worst of all, Almanzo got an infection of diphtheria. The disease is highly uncommon today, with vaccines that prevent its spread given at birth, but in this era before modern medicine, it could ruin someone’s life. Almanzo went from being healthy and strong to becoming paralyzed and unable to farm.
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