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Show 221 cheerfuly to assist my husband in the sustenance of our increasing family. And what was to me the more important was the deep and sacred obligation I felt their due. So far as dollars were concerned I paid all with good interest, that which their noble efforts had supplied to help me financially. Yet there was a moral and a truly appreciative gratitude in my soul which money alone could never discharge. My good, kind, noble family's sympathetic desire for my success, their motherly care and kindness for my darling children. Oh, I can never give full meed of gratitude. But if a reverential love can serve, if prayers to a merciful Father can bring them blessings, then I know they will be rewarded.4 In the busy period following her return to her home in the mountains, Ellis continued, along with her practice, to care for the needs of her children and see to their training, to bear four more-two boys who died in infancy, followed by two girls who lived long lives. We are indebted to one of Lizzie's daughters for her account of a serious epidemic which hit the family. "Early in 1880 diphtheria struck," says Bardella. It is reasonable to infer that it was cleared up by the time Milford left on a mission in August; but three months later, in November, he was called home for more diphtheria. "The entire family was stricken-even those just recovered." It was finally determined that the "dread germs were lurking in the pigsty. Both pigs and pigsty had to go." That winter a five-year-old boy died and others in the family were left with lifelong handicaps.5 Friends helped to the limit they could, without entering the home. All of this occurred after Ellis became a doctor and knew a great deal about sanitation. Perhaps pigsty sanitation was not addressed at the medical college. |