Working on a farm on a government plan in the 30's

The hard times during the depression were difficult on the farmers as prices were low for grain. The western farmers needed help in different ways. The Government plan for youth to get work was to sign up to work in the home of a farmer who applied for help. The Ptitchard's moved back from Regina to their farm near Pangman. They had six children, two who could help at home I believe the others were in school. Mrs Pritchard was expecting her seventh child. They applied for help & I put my name in to work in their home that winter. I believe both the hired person & the farmer got a payment. I would be payed five dollars a month. If I stayed the whole time the government would pay me ten dollars a month. I remember all I spent was for stamps & writing paper. Their daughter Elsie was my age. She & I sent to the Timothy Eaton's Co catalogue for the yarn to to knit ourselves each a sweater & skirt out fit. We would do our knitting in the evenings after work was finished. My outfit was royal blue, I don't recall what color her outfit was. Mrs Pritchard would have Bible study when we couldn't get to church, with all of us, she played their organ. They were all good singers. When the weather was mild we would go to church, I think the meetings were in Kedive. They had me lead the song services. As the winter went on, Mrs Pritchard & Elma, their youngest daughter got very ill. They had the Dr come out & we found out they had diphtheria. We were all quarantined & vaccinated, even the adults. Mother & daughter were kept in a bedroom. They hired a nurse to care for them. We would all gather in their bedroom & have prayer, many friends were gathering at the church praying for them. It was a very soul searching time. I remember that was when their son Lorne received his call into the ministry. I remember when we were all called into the sick room to pray while Elma quietly passed into heaven. She was such a loving child who often sang in church giving her testimony that she knew Jesus as her personal savior. She wasn't even 6 years old when she passed away. I was the only one who wasn't a member of the family. The nurse took me aside, told me "I need you to help me prepare the body for burial." I was a little over 18 years old, I went in to that room with a prayer for strength, knowing Elma had left her earthly house for a home in heaven with the savior she loved all her short life. The Nurse asked me to help wash the body, mostly just handing her what she needed. I was to hand her the two pennies she would use to keep Elma's eye lids closed. I don't remember much else but I felt the presence of the Lord in that room. They had the funeral in their yard by a window as the snow was gone if we even had any. The winters didn't give us much moisture at that time. Mrs Pritchard's bed was moved near the window, with Elma's casket just out side it. The family, myself & the nurse all were at the window. The neighbors & friends of the family were gathered farther out in the yard. I don't remember who preached the funeral as they stood near the window. No one could come near to comfort the family with words of love, but they were praying in groups & we could feel their love & care for us. I don't remember when the new baby boy arrived, I believe he was born in their home. He was a healthy boy, he is alive today. He was a farmer like his father, married with a family living as far as I know near Regina.