The Autobiography of Ruth Tagg Caley

home. Thank goodness for that, all was well. It was soon after this time that Winnie gotmarried, and Eva went to Salt Lake with our father and sister-in-law Jim's wife (Lilly) for eightmonths. Eva was not married at the time. After eight months Eva got married in Canada.I was asked to go to Loose's again to fill in Eva's place. I didn't want to go, but did.Father and Gertrude moved into Cardston. Father thought perhaps mother might join him, butshe didn't. Bob got in partnership with Steve and Jim on a soldiers settlement farm, of 160 acresacross the Kootenay River, west of Glenwood. Lilly and Jim lived there.I stayed at Loose's until I was sixteen years old. One day she came to me and said "Ruth,girl your father wants you to go home and stay now," but before you do, I want you to take aweek off, and I thought as my brother is here you would like to visit Magrath where they live.It's a pretty town. Here is money for the train fare home. I thanked her.The next day we were headed for Magrath when I got into his car I saw his niece. I knewher well or I thought I did. She asked me where I was going. So we traveled and stayed together.She said she had a job lined up to cook for some men on a farm and asked if I wanted to go outwith her. We went to her uncle's that night, and stayed the next day. She pulled me out of thehouse and wouldn't let me help with the dishes or help at all with the work. She took me up townto walk around. She went out to the country to her job and I went with her. The boss drank hiscoffee and never drank water. I couldn't stand no water for drinking, and noticed the funny tastewhen I did drink it. My week was nearly up and soon I'd be leaving.She went up to his daughter's room and took several pair of nylons, and perfume. I toldher to put them back as they were not hers. She laughed at me and said his daughter will nevermiss them. I had never been brought up that way, to take things that didn't belong to me. I tookthe train and went home to Cardston. My father was there and sister Gertrude to meet me.Three weeks later I got very ill, high fever, nose bleed, stiff neck and couldn't eat. I calledthe Elders of the Church to come and administer to me. Gertrude worked in a boarding housewhere doctor and bankers lived. So she asked Dr. Mulloy to come and see me. He said, "Youmust go to the hospital. I don't know what you have, but you can't stay here alone, while yoursister works." I think father was out on the 160 acres at that time with the boys. I was taken tothe hospital for six weeks. It was typhoid fever. I was getting worse everyday but I knew in mymind that it had to get worse before I could get better, as the typhoid germs had to reach aclimax. They asked where had I been drinking well water? It was in Magrath but I couldn'tthink of that at the right time. I knew that I had faith in the Lord, and through his servants whoheld the priesthood and knew I'd get well.They had to starve the fever out of me and for three weeks I had nothing but water, andice packs on head and stomach. On the twenty first day I went out of my head, the climax came,and the fever broke. I was fed two soda crackers dry to start with dry. One day someone gaveme a full tray of food and I rejoiced to think I could eat. When they came back in a hurry andtook the tray away, and said that's not for you. I was so weak it took me ages to regain myRuth Tagg Caley pg 24