The Autobiography of Ruth Tagg Caley

strength. I was so weak I couldn't walk up steps for a long time after I got home. My illnessbought me closer to the Lord. I always thought he watched over me and I always said myprayers. But I depended more and more for his guidance and I told myself that I would attendchurch regularly and pay my tithes. I had never earned any money yet in my life but I couldn'tforget the Lord's kindness to me.I felt sometimes I didn't have any friends. I had left Glenwood and had to meet newpeople. I went and asked the patriarch for a blessing. He told me I would have many friendswhere ever I went. I had not told him my thoughts, I didn't need too. He told me manywonderful things. It has always been a comfort to me.When I got strong enough I went across the river out on the 160 acres with the boys tocook for them. I enjoyed the beauty of nature. I wore overalls all that summer. Even on Sundayas I didn't have any way to get to church. I only changed into a dress when I went with the boysinto Cardston once in a while.I did mention about my mother. Father had moved into Cardston thinking mother mightchange her mind about coming home to him. She lived only a block from our rented little house,and used to come and put her head in the door every day. She used to come up to the hospital tosee me everyday. It had been a long time since she had worked there. She had made quilts andsold them and worked other places, after she left her job at the hospital. She was too set in herways now to change, but did like to see us.She was still full of her tricks. Gertrude told me, one dark evening when I had typhoid, asthey walked up to the hospital to see me Mother said, “Gertie please get over by the fence. It isbetter for me to walk on the outside.” When they got another step or two further, a lamb cametowards Gertie and bellowed out full force at her. It was tied up of course. Mother laughed, sheknew what would happen as she passed it many times. Father never did stop fixing shoes. Herepaired them in Cardston and Glenwood in the home.I spent the summer out on the 160 acres and really enjoyed it. We had the river a few feetfrom the stables and I loved to sit on the banks and watch the swift tide flow on. We had wildberries to pick, choke cherries made good jelly. Sometimes father and I used to see who couldpick the most the fastest in our buckets. I had a saddle pony of my own and used to round up thehorses and cows, help all I could with the chores.It took me a long time to regain my strength after typhoid. Two or three months later Iheard Earnest also got typhoid but he died. They said he was a religious boy, had read the Biblefrom cover to cover. His father didn't treat him right and he left home, and went to live with hissister just before he got sick.Out on the farm I would cook for my brothers and got so I wanted a little time off once ina while, so I asked them if I could saddle up Brownie and go across the river for the mail toGlenwood post office. There was a more shallow place where we could cross over river. But inRuth Tagg Caley pg 25