JUpfy 39. Helen With Margurita expecting the fifth child in the winter of 1942, Alphy had returned from the lumber camps, earlier that year. On February 7, 1942 Margurita gave birth to another daughter. She was beautiful, long and slender, with a healthy cry. Margurita wanted to name her Joan, but Alphy wasn't fond of that name. They agreed to name her Helen instead. The morning after the birth, Alphy had lit the stove, and had made a good fire so that the baby would not get a chill. Alph> always put the kindling in the oven for a short while each morning so that it would be good and dry to start the fire with the next day Today Alphy had forgotten the kindling in the oven. Margurita 's sister, Dora, had come to help with the children. Alphy had gone out for a short while, and Dora had shut the oven door, not realizing that the kindling was in the oven. It soon started to smolder. When Alphy returned he could smell smoke; he opened the oven door, and soon the entire house filled up with smoke. Alph> opened all the windows to get the smoke out of the house. When Helen got older, she'd comment, "No wonder I can't stanc smoke." When Helen was a baby, the older children were fascinated ant affectionate with her, giving her hugs and kisses. Sometimes the) tried to play with her, as if she was a big doll. When Helen was approximately nine months old, Ida and Velda thought they wouk have fun with her. Margurita had stepped outside to get some water (the family had a wooden barrel to catch rainwater. This was useci to wash the clothes). Helen had been in her crib, and the older children had been eating their lunch. Margurita returned inside with the water. As she was coming up the steps, she heard some gleeful laughter inside the house. She hurried in. Ida and Velda had placed Helen on a blanket on the floor, and 74