Trolley Days by Robert T. McMaster

Author:Robert T. McMaster
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unquomonk Press
Published: 2012-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Waiting

February 1915

The winter of 1915 was exceptionally long and cold in New England. Snowstorms were frequent and roads often impassable for days at a time. With Jack at school and Charles back at Wellington Textiles full-time, many of the household chores fell on Evelyne’s shoulders. The Bernards still did not own an automobile and she had to walk nearly half a mile to the nearest grocery store or take the trolley into downtown Westfield to shop. The trolley line was often delayed due to snow and ice on the tracks and waiting exposed to the elements on Southampton Road was very difficult for her, especially with bags of groceries in her arms.

Both Jack and Charles tried their best to keep up with the chores in the barn, rising before dawn or working late into the evening. And the new heating system made the house more comfortable. Nevertheless, the rigors of the winter began to take their toll on Evelyne’s health. In mid-January she had a hacking, persistent cough. Dr. Gibson prescribed a patent medicine that seemed to be of little benefit. Evelyne’s skin looked wan, her face drawn with fatigue. She would rise to make breakfast, barely able to keep herself upright at the stove, then retreat to her bed after Charles and the children had left. Madeleine Bousquet checked in on her daily and helped with some errands, but her health was none too good that winter either.

One February night Evelyne’s condition suddenly deteriorated. She developed a fever and was sweating profusely. She felt weak and was repeatedly nauseated. Charles stayed home from work the next morning awaiting the doctor’s arrival. Jack wanted to stay and help as needed but his father assured him that all would be well and sent him off to school.

That afternoon Jack returned to find Charles waiting for him in the parlor. Evelyne had been taken by ambulance to Noble Hospital. They had diagnosed her condition as influenza and this was very, very bad news. As Jack knew, there was no treatment for the disease; all that could be done was treat the symptoms, wait, and hope the patient survived until the infection passed.

Jack was stunned by the gravity of his mother’s condition. He had heard of the dangers of influenza but had no idea that it could strike so suddenly and become so serious so quickly. He pleaded with his father to allow him to visit his mother in the hospital, but Charles insisted that Jack remain at home with his sisters, make supper for them, do the evening chores, and see them to bed. Jack agreed.

Jack knew well how to read his father’s moods. Charles was not one to speak about his feelings. But Jack could tell by his father’s actions when he was upset. This man who was normally a hard worker would have difficulty completing even simple tasks and would wander from one chore to another. On this day Jack’s father’s actions spoke more clearly than words: his mother might not survive the influenza.

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