Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Constant Labor and Honest Industry

Epitaph:

Josiah Franklin
And
Abiah his wife,
Lie here interred,
They lived lovingly together in wedlock
Fifty-five years.
And without an estate or any gainful employment,
By constant labor and honest industry
Maintained a large family comfortably,
And brought up thirteen children and seven
Grandchildren reputably.
From this instance, reader,
Be encouraged to diligence in thy calling,
And distrust not Providence.
He was a pious and prudent man;
She a discreet and virtuous woman.
Their youngest son,
In filial regard to their memory,
Places this stone.

The original inscription have been nearly
Obliterated
A number of citizens
Erected this monument, as a mark of respect
For the
Illustrious author.
MDCCCXXXVII

The “illustrious author” is Benjamin Franklin.

Ellen has a cancerous tumor on her right kidney.  Surgery is scheduled for Friday, with a “procedure” in preparation on Thursday (tying off a blood vessel leading to or from the kidney, I think).  The cancer does not seem to have spread, so we have hopes for a swift and uncomplicated recovery.  Prayers and good thoughts appreciated.

I am, of course, very worried.  So now and again I escape into writing.  I don’t think the writing is very good, but it’s comforting.  I’m still looking for a good title for the Christmas play story.  Right now I like Scrooge’s Christmas Yarn.  But Knot for Christmas is a contender.

7 comments:

Julie said...

My mother is being treated for lymphoma. Prayers and good thoughts for all cancer patients.

Linda O. Johnston said...

Sending good thoughts your way and Ellen's, Monica. And I agree that concentrating on writing can be comforting and get one's thoughts going in a different direction, at least for a while.

Monica Ferris said...

Oh, Julie, how scary! I pray all will be well with her.

Thanks to everyone offering good wishes and prayers for Ellen.

Betty Hechtman said...

I am sending good thoughts to you and Ellen. It's good that you can find a useful way to distract yourself. I'm sure you'll be surprised how good what you've written is.

Anonymous said...

I don't know Ellen, or Julie's mother, but I hope they'll be okay.

On the book subject, I like KNOT FOR CHRISTMAS. And, if you haven't chosen your needlework project, what about one of those needlework/math(?)science(?) objects you described in your last website post? That'd make an interesting button, bookmark, or ornament pattern.

Monica Ferris said...

Thanks for your comment and the suggestion, Anonymous. But who might I find who can design a pattern using that complex math?

Anonymous said...

You could contact Dr. Sarah-Marie Belcastro, the main artist on the project. The article directs you to her website. She may or may not have time, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.