[Boston—Monday, 5 June 1871]

Monday. Maggie my chamber maid very ill. The other maids with that feeling too common in the vulgar mind, were not eager to take care of her,—so reduced to my own resources partially, I was many times by her bed side during the day. All the week she has remained very ill and two or three queer incidents have occurred. One was, her brother’s going for their “family” physician while our Dr. Ellis was in attendance. However as Maggie was at the point of death Dr. Ellis really remained in attendance under cover of consultation until she began to recover, when he withdrew in a friendly fashion assuring me that the man they had called in would do no harm “he is a little more active in his practice and will give you more to do” he said, “but these people are never satisfied to do nothing or to trust to Nature.” So at length off goes Dr. Ellis and Maggie begins to pick up and since we have no company in the house all goes on well enough.

The weather is still very warm; such heat as we seldom know before the last of June.

Another Coffee Room is in progress.


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