The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

9 July- (Editor’s Note: Traveled to Kenton.) 10 July- “Dr. Charlie will go by Columbus home- will reach there at 6:36 this evening- Do not mention it- but I was sorry to see him go we needed him all the way yesterday and we felt we had someone to depend upon. At 9 o’clock L_____ gave me my first treatment. It was certainly out of the ordinary.” “We began our light house keeping this AM. I have been in bed all day.” 12 July- 3rd treatment. “Madam Latha… wants me sip a cup of boiling water with a little salt in it half an hour before each meal. Also a sponge bath and an alcohol rub every 3rd night.” 13 July- (Editor’s Note: Her writing is much sloppier, and she is writing much less.) “Miss Benline and I have been wondering what the folks are doing at home. Especially Rankin.” 25 July- “A Mrs. Williams here in town sent me a bouquet of old fashioned flowers- the sweet Williams we enjoyed so much in the (long ago)- Forms a prominent place among these flowers and takes you back back to the long ago- ‘to the old times flowers sweet and gay’.” 31 July- “I finished Evangeline this evening.” August 5 August- “This has been an ideal day. The Dr. Lathina here and gave me my 22nd treatment. Mary and the children making the most of the day with us. At 4 o’clock she left for Columbus- they will get to sister Hunt’s about 7 o’clock. Miss Madrie still in bed.” (Editor’s Note: After this she was too unwell to write, and passed away on August 12. Someone, I would assume a daughter, continues writing the journal. These are excerpts from that. At the funeral.) “The face had a youthful appearance with no indication of the cares and sufferings of past years.” “Prof McChesney’s services were appropriate, beautiful, and comforting. She was tenderly laid away in the cemetery to await the day when the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall rise. The home-coming at this season of the year was an event to which she always looked forward with much pleasure.” “May we not indulge in the hope that she is still looking forward to another and more blessed homecoming when all including those already there will constitute an unbroken circle with no more separation?” 215