| OCR Text |
Show 143 closed eyes though I do not think he sleeps. How careworn and troubled he looks. Oh, I wish I could see him perfectly happy. The happiest moments I ever experienced were this night when I clasped my darlings in my arms and prayed that we might never more be parted again. Never will I forget the happiness depicted in their beloved faces. Home again and all in health and peace. Oh, my Father, I thank Thee. How merciful thou hast been to me and mine. May I ever appreciate Thy goodness and be worthy of its continuance.7 Here the diary is interrupted. In her later autobiography, Ellis recounted the following: (We shall use the past tense here and return to the immediacy of the present tense when once again the diary resumes.) * * * * * Ellis, in her eighties when she recorded her experiences at home during the summer of 1876, retained her flair for writing: After my return home the alluring pleasures with my children and performance of duties for them and in the home kept me busy for the most part. Yet there came intervals of time to read with ever growing interest and desire my allotted texts and to review those I had already passed, that I might not forget, for deep within my soul the strong desire remained to yet accomplish all for which I'd sacrificed so much.8 It was impossible, at such close range, for Ellis to ignore the compelling economic need which was one of her original motivations in undertaking the study of medicine. She wanted for her children, through her professional qualifications and anticipated earnings, |
