The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-12-07
THE FOUR SONS OF MRS.
FOGARTY.

1--WE no sons at all left to me, and
I'd be glad to know how anyone was
eXpectin' me to live" shrilled
cracked old voice from an open win
dow.
The Red Cross worker who was
passing by stopped, and looked across
the garden at the shabby little dwell
ing tucked away between two tall,
important looking business buildings.
Were you speaking to me?" asked
the Red Cross woman.
Il did. Ye guessed it right the first
time" came the answer. Il saw We
was wearing one of them Red Cross
pins there on you, and somebody was
sayin' that We could tell folks how they
could be livin' with all the men folks
gone way to fight" .t
yes, belong to the Red Cross.
am Home Service worker, and will
do anything l can for you. Are you
all alone?"
Sure and I am. Four boys, and all
Of 'em running Off to war like they was
meant for nOthin' else at all, and me
here with the misery in my back some
thin awful, and no strength at all to
do the washin' for nobody. There's no
money in the house to buy me thing
to eat or to warm me old bones. Now
| was hearin' you was the one to fix it
up so the Guv-ment would maybe let
me have a little somethin' now and
NJ oil H.,
the army except Jimmy, and him in
the Marines. Could We now?" and the
old woman twisted her head inquir-
ingly.
Don't you get an allotment from
them?" she was asked.
"Niver a cent" was the terse re-
Spouse. "They was tellin' le that
money would be comm to nae regular,
but nothin' has come in all the months
they been gone. This little place here
is my own, thank God, and what with
washin' here and cleanin' there, I've
got me bit OF food, but now-me
back" and she WINGED trife.
So the Red Cross worker went in
and saw the pictures of all thesboys,
md heard letters from training camps
and overseas; saw the tears of pride
that sprang at the proud thought that
"all the Fogarty boys was fightin'
men and fine lads, too, whether it was
being soldiers, or truckdrivers, or
'shoffers,' like they was before; only
twas cruel hard, times, havin' them
all gone and no money free like other
times"
When war had come there had been
10 wait for the draft to call them.
Three Fogarty boys went down and
enlisted Jimmy, the youngest, was
not yet twenty-one, and it was decided
that someone should stay at home.
Jimmy had finally acquiesced, but
when he reached his majority he came
proudly to say that he had joined the
Marines because they was first to
fight" and maybe he might be beat
ing them others to it, after all"
So the old mother had sent them
away with never word of complaint,
had worked hard and lived awful
poor, times" until her rheumatism
had driven her to ask advice.
The Home Service worker advanced
ten dollars at once to buy groceries
and coal, and then began an investiga-
ton of the allotments.
A week or two later she went into
Mrs. Fogarty's, where she had become
a frequent visitor.
Il have something TO show you, Mrs.
Fogarty," she said. Here is the let
ter about your allotments:
1--WE are glad to find Mrs. Fogarty
at last. We have three hundred dol
lars for her from her sons allotments,
but the address was wrong, and we
have been unable to get in touch with
the sons WIG are overseas. She will