The Autobiography of Ruth Tagg Caley

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the factory in mother's big baby buggy. 15 or 20 pairs we would push and sometimes on the wayhome I'd get tired and ask to ride. Another job was to clean out father’s window in the shop. Heasked the twins but they didn't want to do it. So I said "I would." I didn't like the work part, butliked to sit on the three steps and watch people go by. Of course, I had to move everything out,and dust and put back every tin of polish, and the wooden feet, and arch supports, etc.I would find a bright new penny. They were as big as a fifty cent piece, only copper. Iasked who it belonged to and father would say “it's yours” for working. He was a swell fatherand I loved him very much. He had ways of rewarding those who were willing to help. We got abig penny when we delivered shoes too. I used to hide myself in the large rolls of leather thatstood high in the shop and boo at the customers as they came in, also liked to hide under thecounter. I don't know how my pa ever put up with me. I suppose I was just an ordinary child,like any other. I used to like to be with my father more so than my mother. When I think of allthe things he went through, my heart aches for him now. It brings back memories of hisunselfish good nature. During the war time we used to see big balloons up in the sky. I was toldthey were a signal to the people that there would be an air raid that same night. London, was useto black outs and air raids. My sisters got to see quite a few. I asked them to please wake me upnext time there was one, they promised me they would do so. It was not long after, my requestwas granted. The night they woke me up, it was all ready pitch black. They shook mevigorously and said hurry, hurry, pulling me and helping me, we held on to each other as westumbled to the front door. Stepping on each others shoe laces and scattering the throw rugs inevery direction. When I reached the front door I looked to the right and left of me, I saw peoplestanding in their door ways and out on the street in their night gowns and pajamas. Some weresobbing and some wanted to hide in their basements.The police were parading up and down telling men to put out their cigarettes, as no lightswhatever were allowed during air raids. Where we lived we had the protection of a cannon in theparks. They had strong search lights to search out the enemy and a soldier in uniform was onduty both night and day. We were not allowed to speak to them and if we did they would notanswer. At night the search lights would cross each other in the sky, in search of zeppelins (arigid airship consisting of a cylindrical trussed and covered frame supported by internal gas cells;broadly : AIRSHIP.) They held about 40 men.I saw a zep brought down that night. It was blazing, I should not say this, but the color offire on silver zep was beautiful like fire works on the fourth of July. How awful now when Ithink of it, and how many lives were lost that night. The next day the newspapers were full ofthe event and disaster. A German's hand was found on the street with a ring on his finger. Manymore pieces of human bodies of the Germans were found scattered over the streets of Londonnear where we lived. A young mother left her baby asleep in it's crib and asked the neighbor tolook in at it while they went to a dance or show. When she returned the side of the house hadbeen bombed. The child was ok. Our young friends asked us if we were afraid. I remembertelling them no, because my father said, “What ever happens don't get frightened because yourfather in heaven watches over you.” All of you make the best of what turns up. It was during theRuth Tagg Caley pg 8
time from 1914 to 1916 my father had his teeth pulled and he hemorrhaged so bad that the doctorput him to bed with cotton in his mouth. I was too young to realize the danger.Eva was the great concern of my father at this time and the doctor used to come often.One time father got the elders of the church to come and administer to her. Father wrapped Evaup in a blanket and carried her down two flights of stairs, and built a fire in the fireplace and sather in an easy chair. The doctor came and found her bed empty and told father he was notsurprised to see her gone. He thought she had died. Father took the doctor down stairs and thereshe was by the fireplace.Mother weak in body and disturbed in mind, said she thought she would leave him. (Poorfather) But it never happened. My sister came home from her work and took over the householdduties for awhile to let mother rest up. Mother was a refined woman and worked very hard,always clean and scrubbing the home.I can now place myself in her shoes with a large family to care for and think about, someof them over seas. Father ill, war time. Father got better and went on with his work again. Mysister Eva was not strong, she had several bad spells of pneumonia, and asthma. Sometimes, shecouldn't lie down so father made her a small stool for her to lean over on. She said she couldbreathe better that way. I remember one time, I couldn't get out of the room fast enough when Ihead the doctor coming up the stairs. So I crawled under the bed with Winnie and almostsneezed. They told us we were not to stay in her room too long or bother her. Eva knew I wasunder there and was smiling her best, but not because she felt good.The doctor thought she must be improving to be able to almost laugh. When Eva didimprove, father hired a bath chair, a woven lounge chair long enough for a person to lie down in,if need be. It had 2 large wheels on back and one smaller one on front with a guiding rod andhandles on back to push it. Father took us all out in the country air. I would ask him if I couldsit at her feet for a ride when I got tired.The thought came up again in father's mind about leaving England. The doctor said if weever thought of taking Eva out of England she wouldn't live long, maybe have to be buried at sea.Mother said father would never take the girls over seas, she would stop him. One day I was atthe table eating pudding and poured milk in the middle and put the pudding around the edge ofmy dish. Mother that is Great Salt Lake and the pudding is a wall around it. Do you think thatdaddy will ever see Salt Lake, the elders talk about? Mother was furious, I know, get on withyour dinner she said. We had the three boys in Canada and two oldest girls in Independence, Mo.USA, but mother had no intention of ever leaving her native land. She told father that.He was just as determined to leave as she was to stay (later he sold the business for 5dollars) any way he prepared to leave as soon as he could. Mother went to a lawyer and asked forhelp to keep her last three girls with her. He took each one separate and talked to us. We all saidthe same thing. We wanted to leave England and join the rest of the family. Father got thetickets to sail to Canada. It was October 1916. Mother wouldn't cooperate with him. One dayRuth Tagg Caley pg 9
Page 1 and 2: The Autobiography of Ruth Tagg Cale
Page 3 and 4: Flo as we called her, had been work
Page 5 and 6: woman and often wore a dotted dress
Page 7: In some of the schools they had to
Page 11 and 12: three days to wait. During that tim
Page 13 and 14: It had snowed and the snow was deep
Page 15 and 16: until they could haul it and sell i
Page 17 and 18: The feeling of family ties were mor
Page 19 and 20: had children of her own and a girl
Page 21 and 22: go places and her parents said no,
Page 23 and 24: (Waldermar's brother Enoch married
Page 25 and 26: strength. I was so weak I couldn't
Page 27 and 28: It was about this time of my life t
Page 29 and 30: seldom exchanged loving words or ki
Page 31 and 32: When we got to the immigration line
Page 33 and 34: wait on table, clean silverware, an
Page 35 and 36: thThen Easter passed and May then J
Page 37 and 38: also prayed that when it was time f
Page 39 and 40: Little Boy BlueThe little toy dog i
Page 41 and 42: They say time is a wonderful healer
Page 43 and 44: One Saturday he had to work for a f
Page 45 and 46: She used to open the door to the ma
Page 47 and 48: down for the night. It was cool and
Page 49 and 50: About midnight I was panicking and
Page 51 and 52: In 1952 there was an opening in Joh
Page 53 and 54: could get his hands on and never re
Page 55 and 56: fireworks. I don’t drive a car or
Page 57 and 58: sun to shine like the rest of us. F
Page 59 and 60:
“Sister Caley I bless you and pro
Page 61 and 62:
I’m not ashamed of the gospel of
Page 63 and 64:
I do not ever remember of Dad talki
Page 65 and 66:
for him to get a passport into the
Page 67:
mom and the phone rang. Mom answere
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