Aunt Mary's Memoirs: V

The stork came quite frequently to our little home on Domino Lane and often the first inkling I would have of the advent of a new brother or sister was the cry of an infant in the wee hours of the morning. Soon Frank, Rose, Edmond and Betty joined the family It was my special assignment to rock the babies or take them for a ride in the big yellow wicker coach along the paths around the stables and barns. I was almost fifteen years old when Mother's last baby was expected. It was Palm Sunday and she was very ill. The doctor had been there early in the morning and came back again in the afternoon. Babies were born at home in those days and it was usual to arrange to have a woman in for a few weeks to help out while the mother was confined. I do not know whether this woman could not come when expected or if the baby was coming ahead of time but it fell to me to take care of the house and prepare meals for the rest of the family for a few days until she did show up. After many hours, Mother's ordeal was over, but the infant lived only fifteen minutes. Our good neighbor, Mrs. Matthew Fox, who lived up the lane, came to offer her assistance and it was she who baptized our youngest brother and he was named William. The next day my father bought a burial lot and I can remember the little white casket being carried out of the house. My Aunt Mary and Uncle John were also present and accompanied the small body to Holy Sepulcher Cemetery. He was laid in one-half the grave and years later, the baby daughter of brother Jim was to be buried in the other half.