1862 November 30 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former newspaper publisher and civilian employee of the quartermaster dept.]

Sunday night, Nov 30, 1862.

This afternoon as Va and I sat by the fire in our room, there was a rap at the dining-room door. Some one came to answer, then I heard Kitty's voice, and a running up stairs, and finally Kate came in with a note from Alick, stating that he had just returned from Legh's — that Bell had given birth to twins, one of whom has a "hare lip." We feel greatly distressed. Bell had met Glendy (Wm), who is disfigured in that way, at Henderson's, one of her neighbors. — May the parents be enabled to feel that God has ordered the matter.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258