When the Lilacs Bloom

Introduction to Mary Kate and Her Family

Mary Kate is a serious young girl who has dreams of becoming a teacher. She comes from a large family and is closest in age to her brother, Hen, and her sister, Lottie. Lottie is Mary Kate's exact opposite. She is a boy-crazy flibberty gibbert and talks about nothing except boys and Uncle Edward's coming home from the marines and the gifts he will bring them. Hen talks about nothing except joining the Navy, worrying Mary Kate tremendously. It is 1916 and war has started in Europe.

Family and Friends

Their best friend is their cousin Maria Schmidt, who is the daughter of her mother's oldest brother, Adam, and his wife, Hilda. Aunt Hilda is a little stuffy, and Mary Kate's father, John, is not too crazy about her, but he loves his brother-in-law, Adam.

Father's Illness and Family's Hardship

Their father, John, drives a horse-drawn hearse for a living. He has developed a cough and has been losing work days pretty often. Mother, Catherine, works as a cook to supplement his salary and as a cleaning lady at the girls' Catholic school to help pay their tuition.

After John's cough worsens and he starts spitting up blood, Mother calls the doctor. He diagnoses T.B. and notifies the Board of Health since it is highly contagious. The Board of Health orders the house quarantined and tells Catherine that the children must be removed and sent to foster homes.

Family's Response and New Arrangements

Uncle Edward comes home to find all is not well. When Catherine decides to keep her family together, she seeks Edward's aid in setting up a separate home for her children in a nearby cottage.

One night, after their father has gone to bed, Catherine calls the older children and Uncle Edward together to discuss her plans. They are all heartbroken at the thought of leaving their parents but take it well. Hen, working as an apprentice carpenter, will help financially. Mary Kate will have to quit school and stay home to be Mama to the little ones. Lottie will quit school and work in a local factory as a seamstress.

Adjusting to New Life

Uncle Edward and Hen work on cleaning up the cottage, and the girls help furnish it. Lottie gets a job at Kleinert's factory, and they settle in. Mary Kate learns that taking care of a two-year-old and an eight-year-old, as well as keeping house and cooking, is a full-time job.

Mary Kate grieves that she cannot finish high school since she is a senior with only a few months to go. Their parish priest and family friend visits and tells Mary Kate she can graduate with her class if she studies at night. He insists that Hen and Lottie can help with the little ones in the evenings.

Uncle Edward's Departure and Family Worries

Time passes, and Mary Kate studies while worrying about her father's illness and Uncle Edward going overseas. The time comes for Uncle Edward to leave, and they share a tearful parting, with Mary Kate unsure how she will cope without his guidance.

Family Life and Future Plans

Lottie and Hen are both doing well at work. One day, a young man visits Mary Kate to discuss Lottie's future. Mary Kate offers him coffee and cake, thinking he wants to marry her young sister because of his approach and because Lottie told her she met the man she would someday marry. He explains he wants to send Lottie to a special school in Canada run by nuns who specialize in making lingerie and embroidering. Mary Kate has to decline, saying Lottie is needed at home but hopes he will ask again. As he leaves, Mary Kate gives him a slice of cake for his father, as Daniel said it tasted like his mother's and his father would enjoy it.

Tragedy and Family Decisions

One day in May, Papa dies. Mama is heartbroken and has to tell the children. Uncle Edward returns for the funeral but has to leave soon after. Mama must make some more decisions once her family comes home.

Mama calls a family meeting and surprises the children by including Father Emil. She informs Lottie she is to go to Canada, but the sentence is incomplete in the provided text.