The Autobiography of Ruth Tagg Caley

It was in a large apartment at 806 Park Street. I sure liked it there, near the park. I gothay fever very bad and it turned to asthma. I got pale. The apartment was quite dark and notenough sun light coming in. We had two children now. A son we named John, for his father andthe middle name we gave him was for my younger brother Raymond. Winifred was nownineteen months old. It was now 1933.About this time I got word that my sister Winifred had died in Canada. She had beenpregnant seven months and had pneumonia and kidney trouble. She left four children. I wantedto go to the funeral, of course, but John didn't see how I could with the two children. But he saido.k. and we called in a woman to stay with the children. It had been seven years since I leftCanada and I had not been back until this time.My husband John worked at the plant, Utah Power & Light Co. for 26 years and timepassed by in the usual way. In November 1935 another son was born. John had his name pickedout before he came. It was to be David for sure. When David was seven months old we movedto Orem as husband John was transferred in his work. We were all better in health and thecanyon breezes cleared the air. The wheezing in our lungs stopped and I know we all felt betterto get out of the city limits. We had an acre and half of land with irrigation water to water theorchard of peaches, prunes, strawberries, apricots, etc.We got us a cow, and had a garden, and chickens, and cats, and pigeons, and everythingan acre could hold. I used to milk the cow often and help John all I could. I would pick the fruitand have it ready boxed up for him by the time he got home from the plant. We would load up acar full and trailer and haul it into Salt Lake. John was no business man and seldom ever gotenough out of the fruit to pay the water rights and taxes in the fall. But he liked to take the fruitand give it to those who were widowed and poor. (Bless him) He was always wanted on thephone, an elderly widow calling, could you come and help me do this or that. He was a great oneto help those who needed it, as he was in the bishopric for two years.Someone came up to me after church and said, you might just as well get a rocking chairand be content while waiting for him to come home from his church meetings. I worked in theprimary off and on for four years. So we both kept pretty busy. While we lived in Orem, we hadquite a few different experiences, which opened my eyes and drew me closer to God. I willmention these later on.For the fourth time I found myself pregnant. I wondered how in the world I would havethe strength to take care of what I had to do, and do all the work that had to be done. I told thedoctor, he misunderstood me and said, "Well if you don't want the baby I can find a home for it."That isn't what I meant. It was not the baby I was thinking about, it was the nine months gettingit here. I just needed more strength is all. I felt so tired and run down and my head felt like itneeded more blood in the top of my head to balance me.In those days they didn't examine you to try to build you up, but usually said let naturetake its course. My house work got neglected. I prayed a lot, that the baby would be alright. IRuth Tagg Caley pg 36