Sunday Feb. 11th
My Dearest Henry,
I received your letter from Batavia
yesterday morning, was glad to hear you were well
and had a prospect of a comfortable journey. Dreading
to be left to myself I commenced my school the day
after your departure, the little boys are very much
pleased. I teach them four hours, two in the morning
and two in the afternoon. Augustus finds his studies
so much more agreeable now that they are explained
and made interesting that he says he “rather go
to Ma’s school than to play”– Fred is so ambitious
to excel that he requires no stimulating, they read
write, spell, recite lessons in geography, arithmetic
twice a day the last half hour in the afternoon
I read and explain to them the elements of History
and require them to answer such questions as I think
suited to their comprehension. This arrangement
occupies so much of my time that the days have
passed off very well, the nights are more tedious, my
sleep is troubled with all manner of hideous dreams
I awake almost every hour during the night, watch
the window for the first beam of light and rise
from my bed unrefreshed. O if I could only dream
of my precious babe once as she was in health
and beauty, that horrible disease does so haunt me[ . ]
Do not allow this to distress you, time will make
it all smooth again, but it is such a satisfaction
to tell you just how I do feel.

Dear Mrs Horner came here Thursday to scold me about the
new dress which I sent her a few days before. I believe she
went away reconciled after I told her it was to evince
my affection not to cancel an obligation that I sent it
that kind offices like hers admitted of no compensation.
Eliza and Debby called the same afternoon. Mrs Miller took tea with us Wednesday, Thursday she
sent for Clara myself and the 2 boys to come over
and take tea with her. All complied with the
invitation but myself, my headache (which has been unre-
mitting for the last four days) detained me at home.
Augustus arrayed himself in his new habilaments
and felt very much like a man. Freddy employed
his time in searching into the mechanism of Mrs
Millers timepiece and thermometer, wondered why she
did not regulate the former it being 15 minutes to fast
enquired if they ate on that little table when she had
parties. Augustus came home before tea because he
thought I would be lonesome. Pa comes in almost
every night to hear the boys read, sometimes sleeps
on the sofa if there are no girls in the room.
The girls have spent all their leisure time in selecting
each a new calico dress which after looking on an
infinite number of samples and assisting in numerous
consultations I have at length purchased for them.
I am happy to inform you that Laura has completed the
cloak which has occasioned her mother so much
trouble. Friday I received a letter of condolence
from Florida which I think must be from your mother
though she neglected the signature, it was addressed
to us both, says nothing of the family and as I am

unacquainted with her writing I dare not answer
it until you have seen it. I will send it
to you, though from its tenour I have little doubt
that it is from her. Lazette wrote the day after
you were there. I suppose you arrived at your
other home last evening. I wrote yesterday to
H. Weed. Clara has just come home from church her
face is nearly well. The boys send love. Remember me
to Uncle Cary if he is with you, your own Frances.

18 2/
AUBURN Feb. 13 N.Y.
William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauque County
F. A. Seward
Feb 11, 1837