stories, when Alice became ill.
The family hurried off to summon someone to go for a doctor, ' and another to go for a mid—wife known to many as Aunt Mary Tom. Virginia, who was very upset, went out to the barn, lay down on the hay, and prayed and sobbed that her mother would recover. Some time later, all the children were admiring their new brother, John, who had arrived without mishap. Stephen came home on the train the next evening and discovered that he now had a new son.
Like any normal family, the Hughes family had some sickness. James was a healthy little boy at birth, but the day that he took his first step was one that his mother would never forget. On that day, the little boy became ill, and his body began to swell greatly out of proportion. The doctor diagnosed him as having Celiac Disease, which is a chronic intestinal disorder among young children. This was very difficult in a house with a large family, as he was placed on a strict diet, and having no food that contained flour. Buttermilk, curds, and bananas became some of his main meals. However, in time, and loving care, he improved and was able to carry on a normal life.
Christmas was a time to rejoice, even if they might receive only an orange in their stocking. One Christmas was rather special for one daughter, Virginia. It seemed that a man named Larry MacDonald, who ran the local post office, like this little girl, and called her “My little black-eyed Susan.” That year, her warm-hearted friend presented her with a gift. It was a very nice sweater, which she thought was wonderful and it left her with everlasting memories.
One year, their Aunt Gertie sent Mary, the oldest daughter, two cute little dolls, and told her to put one in her stocking and the other in her sister Mildred’s stocking. During the night, Mary couldn’t sleep because she thought that Santa was going to take the dolls from the stockings. She got up and removed the dolls and hid them. She still
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