'Twas a dreadful week past. Weather is clearing now leaving us much to repair. Mrs. Hall deliver'd without my assistance as we were besot by rain and howling winds. Thanks be to God she is well and has a healthy daughter.

Summer heat should swallow me up were it not for a welcome breeze drifting now and again from the river. Deliver'd two babies since Sunday and both healthy boys. Mistress Browning not well yet but I am confident her strength shall soon be recovered. Instructed Libby to deliver a remedy from the Apothecary.

Called on Mr. Hunter's wife this day. Her son summoned me for she suffers from milk fever. I attended her with a remedy and staid with her 'til the fever broke. Her infant feeds well and she should be much relieved by the 'morrow.

Attended Mrs. Hunter thro' the long night with her pains. At sunrise, praise be to God, she delivered her seventh son. He is called Clark for his great grandfather. The boy has a hearty cry and I left him in good hands with his papa and many brothers to tend to Mrs. Hunter's needs. She is a hearty woman herself and will no doubt be on her feet shortly, my instructions to the contrary notwithstanding.

Rec'd sorrowful news this day in a post from Mistress Garrett in Fairfax. Her small son, near two years of age, succumbed to a heart ailment which kept him ill all of his short life. She is grieved at his passing and poured out her anguished heart in her letter to me. She is not unacquainted with death nor loss, yet this little one suffered so and her long hours, days and months of caring for him met an abrupt end so that she is quite beside herself with despair. Praise be to God that His dear servant shall meet her infant once again in eternity and no more be vexed by the tribulations of this earth.