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Show 222 There were thirteen children under one roof when the epidemic hit, and the four wives nursed each other and the children as best they could. Wanting to be professional in her career, Ellis opened an office on Main Street and established regular hours. She found, to her dismay, that there was much unoccupied time. Her twin reasons: she was "a new doctor and a woman as well!" It was then that she hit upon the idea of having her children nearby so that she could spend her extra time with them (her memory of being deprived of their company for the years she was in Philadelphia and of the deaths of her babies would linger a lifetime); and so she moved them from the old home to be near her office rooms on Main Street.. Thus began the happiest hours of my life. The blessed companionship of intelligent, growing, developing minds; the loving helpfulness of two noble sons whom God in his mercy had spared from the ravages of diphtheria to bless my life. If honors should ever come from the practice of my profession, my beloved sons should share them. They cared for my infants, kept our apartments in order, watched the telephone, carried the messages to me.6 She told of one unusual day when she delivered five babies in 24 hours, returning home very satisfied that all of the cases were successfully concluded, and of finding her "beloved assistants still on the watchtower" having everything in readiness for their mother to get her much-needed rest, and then guarding her door while she slept. By qualifying as a medical doctor, Ellis had truly enhanced her prospects for a comfortable income. Instead of the standard $3 which the midwives had as their fee, she could now ask a handsome |