June 14, 1751

1751 June 14 (Friday).  With Mrs. Pratt who grows still weaker.  Ebenezer and Thomas yesterday and to Day at Half-hilling.  P.M. at the New House to see what becomes of the Timber-sawing; and there was Mr. Biglo and Alpheus Newton at it.  N.B. Great frustration about Clabboards — from 1400 which are needed, am reduc’d to 7 or 8 hundred.  N.B. Boards for my Floor prove too hard, knotty, unequal in Thickness — and Difficult to find fit Boards for another Floor — Viz. the West Chamber, but they have laid the west lower room floor.  Though there are so many Boards provided, Those which Lieutenant Tainter brought, which were design’d for the floor having been thrown by as much too knotty: O how perplexing and incumbering these avocations and Disquietments to a Minister!  It is very grievous to be thus kept from my Studys.  Yet I meet with Some other Things which are of a different Kind: Scil. Mrs. Pratt in her Languishment of Body, Shows a flourishing Soul; and seems to be full of affectionate Regard to me — Says She has been hopefully thinking she shall be part of my Crown in the Great Day — which Expression of her fill’d me with deep Humiliation at the Sense of my own infinite unworthiness of any such Honour and Happiness — but fervent Desire and Longing that it might be so!