Some births were complicated while others were straightforward, some joyous and others tragic. I really enjoyed The Midwife of Hope River and found the accounts of the births fascinating. Many cannot afford to pay Patience for her services, but she doesn’t turn any of them away. Set in 1929/30, just after the Wall St crash and the ensuing Depression, Patience struggles through poverty as she helps the women around her deliver their babies. Soon the two women form a bond and a strong relationship. She teaches young Bitsy about midwifery while Bitsy teaches Patience about gardening, hunting and fishing. Mrs Kelly was Patience’s only friend for a long time and so Patience puts up Bitsy Proudfoot when her employer can no longer afford to keep her on. Nobody knows about her past and Patience, wanting to keep her old alias buried, doesn’t allow herself to become close to anybody and lives in constant fear that she will be found out. Her mentor and best friend, Mrs Kelly, has died and now Patience is alone, working as a midwife in Liberty, a small town in West Virginia, and the surrounding area. Originally named Elizabeth Snyder, Patience has changed her name and hidden her past to protect herself. Though only in her mid thirties, Patience Murphy has endured enough drama to span several lifetimes. This post was originally published at and is now at.
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