Rachael's record book....Chicago

page #16

In the time of Ruth there is no medical term for what ills her. It is a time when people were put into asylum's for many abnormalities. Sane people were often shipped of to these holding places where they were mistreated. People were embarrassed and afraid of anyone that wasn't acting normal. These asylum's had for the most part women. In the 1840's a man called Turret's was researching people like Ruth but nothing was confermed and nothing to treat any kind of mental illness. These people were smart, no body disability's, nothing that seemed abnormal. But they started with little ticks, movements that they could not control, sounding more like animal when spells were bad and with passing time they suffered more and more from obscene language. Ruth could function well enough to read, write, be creative, spoke in good English. So in her time she was a mystery. Doctor Brown gave her Laudanum ( a type of Morphine) to put her to sleep, to calm her. Ruth was becoming dependent on this drug.

Samuel

Mother had a glow!

Page#14

Grandpa and Grandma Townsand

If you are reading Ruth, you will need to scroll down to page one. This is a chapter book/Journal. I hope you enjoy Ruth.

It's Monday

Yesterday was not good, as much as we love our children, sometimes they make us cry. I am almost always easy going and willing to see the other person side. But then there come a time when what is in black and white becomes gray. This too will pass and mean while I will go on. I will go curl up with Ruth and see where she is.

Good morning

I am a little tired this morning...my son Cory is in New York on business...he called me to say Happy Valentines Day and we were on the phone for 3 hours. Some gifts are not in a box! I love my flowers, they smell fantastic. Arney wore one of his shirts to work this morning. And all my little pets seem to be happy this morning...it is good. Click on picture...Baxter my cat is being Baxter! Arney ate his little cake, it was so cute when it was cut. And he did get pink on his face...

Arney just loved this silly little song

I hope he likes this...why do we often think," was this enough?

Arney would sing this when we were going together. So I went looking for it last night and yep, I found it. Not your normal love song, but it was funny and we were.
cake is in the oven, Mary

So many Hearts

Page#12

A Valentine

I am off to gather all the things I want to give Arney for Valentines Day....But before I go here is a Valentine for all of you that take time for me all year long. It's not a box of chocolates, and you will not smell the Roses, but it is from my heart and I hope your day is filled with love. Mary So many men at the stores. It was very crowed at the card area so I moved on to a gift for Arney. I got him two long sleeved sporty shirts and chocolate Candy. I went back to cards and just had to go for it, so many people, that's what I get for waiting till today. I got him a card that sings a song...he will get a kick out of that. Tomorrow while he is at work I am going to make mini white cakes with Strawberry frosting, sprinkles too. You cut the cake with a round cookie cutter and then layer it like a normal size cake. Frosting and they are cute.

Chicken Pox

Page#11

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Ruth loved St. Louis,Missouri

Page #10 Because of Ruth's daily spells she didn't get to travel, she would become out of control more and more as she grew. She was drugged to make her sleep, Dr. Brown had nothing to stop these horrible fits, and ticks...all he could do was help her rest. Dr. Brown was looking everywhere to find a answer, but nothing seemed to fit. She looked perfect, she wasn't sick very often. He wanted the Carpenters to take her to Chicago to a Doctor that dealt with things he had never seen. Ruth was a puzzlement, and she needed help.
Ruth loved her life in St. Louis, she knew just about everyone that lived near Lafayette Park, and most of the towns people knew her by name. Of course the Cafe' was her home and it was always busy with the families from the area. Clara and Ruth would go into the parlor to peek through the curtains into the Cafe'. Ruth wasn't allowed to come into the Cafe' any longer, she was becoming a embarrassment. Nurse Nancy was always close encase
Ruth went out of control. Clara had become used to her spells and would stay or leave based on
how bad it got. Clara had a Nanny also, she would bring Clara to play and sit in the park across the Avenue until it was time to take her home. Ruth had other friends, but no one loved Ruth like Clara did. Time was passing and these days of being little girls would soon come to a end.
Martha the housekeeper says, "lots of people are going to California looking for Gold". She heard that it was the land of milk and honey...we got Milk, and Honey for heaven's sake! Father says,
" a lot of people come home with nothing but the clothes on their backs almost starved." Milk and Honey, Really! Mother says that Martha is going to eat us out of house and home, if you look real close she almost always has a mouth full of something from the kitchen. Della Mae yells at her all the time for one thing or another, child get to work, do you hear me Martha, get your lazy bottom up stairs and clean up the bedrooms before Miss Rachael catches you just wondering around. Martha loved to gossip and would run errends for Della Mae and stay gone...Della Mae would be so mad, but she would settle down when Martha told her the lates news from the Post and the Market...Martha was like having our own news paper, but better.