I sit down to write the record of a trying day to me. We were just seated very quietly to take breakfast as well as usual, when my Mother as she was putting a piece of bread to her lips, suddenly rose, staggered three steps to the folding door and then fell insensible upon the floor, not without striking her head against the table in the corner. We raised her and sent for the Dr. Stevenson. It was three hours before we succeeded in restoring animation completely. She was also very sick at her stomach and complained of coldness.

This event, bad at any time, was twenty times more so in the fact that my Wife was on the eve of confinement. Her condition was such that I made up my mind to go out of town to Medford and bring back the Nurse engaged for the occasion, Mrs. Reed, this took just two hours of the morning, and at one I went home and found my Mother slightly better. There being no cause for immediate uneasiness I went to Meeting and heard Dr. Lowell preach from Hebrews. II. I. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” upon faith as a means of support.

Returned and read Massillon’s funeral Oration upon Madame, the Dutchess of Orleans, mother of the famous Regent. Text. Proverbs. 31. 28–31. It was a panegyric upon her, in the three great relations of life, first, in her duty to society, second, her domestic life, third, her religious obligations. There is a panegyric upon the Regent which sounds oddly from the pulpit—No more infamous debauchee being known in the annals of modern history. It may admit of question at all times how far parents are responsible for the vices of children, and most especially in the case of Royal families. The Dutchess of Orleans certainly kept herself quite pure, and that is something. I have her 176Journal which I read some years since. It is spiced with scandal and not over moral, though tolerably amusing.

My Mother was better in the evening though unwell all the afternoon. But my Wife then felt herself becoming rapidly sick, so I went for Mrs. Frothingham who had agreed to be with her. The Dr. came at ten. At about Midnight she was delivered of a Male child.1

I slept but about two hours, for my anxiety about my Wife kept me uneasy. She was exceedingly exhausted by her labour and in a critical state all night. The Dr. remained with her all night and left only in the morning. She was however somewhat better on his return at ten o’clock. My mother had passed an agitated night but was on the whole as well as I could reasonably expect. On the whole, I felt as if I had great occasion to be grateful to God for dealing thus tenderly with me in a day of so much trial. Another relation is imposed upon me, my utmost wishes have been gratified.1 May it impress me with a further sense of my own unworthiness, and with a resolution still farther to exert myself in a becoming and proper manner, that I may be a real father to my children.

Rode to Quincy as well to notify the family of these occurrences, as to get Mrs. Kirk to come in with me for the purpose of aiding in the care of the invalids, especially my mother. The family seemed pleased. Returned home by one o’clock and found my people doing well.

Afternoon, I went out to attend a Meeting of the Boylston Market Directors. Little or no business beyond declaring a Dividend. At last after the lapse of eighteen months, we make out to pay a sum of two dollars on the share. I hope hereafter we may do better.

Returned home and passed the evening in my study working upon my article, which now again makes progress. Feeling much fatigued, I was glad to retire to my little room to rest.