Sunday March 19th
My dear Henry, I received your last Sunday's
letter Friday evening. I regret now that I did
not ask Mrs Cary to send the letter which she
took from me to you to Westfield, but I felt fully
sure that you would meet it at Batavia and
gave her no such direction. As it is I am glad
that you did not come home. I felt when I
wrote that you could not come before my fears
might be realized but still I could not forbear
writing. I am glad you had more confidence
in Dr Pitney's skill and judgement than I
can feel. I think the course he took with
Frederick was an injudicious one and I feel
it now a signal mercy that our precious
child is restored to us – we will talk it
all over when you come home and until then I
will not trouble you more about it. I am afraid
I have already occasioned you more anxiety than
I ought. Freddy is getting better daily he is now
dressed and about the room as usual – has not
been down stairs yet. I wish you were assured
of this or that I could feel that you were I could
write to you with more comfort I commenced
teaching Augustus last week – tomorrow Frederick
resumes his studies. Laura has gone home to day
I think she will not return to make a permanent
stay. I have at present no sewing for her and

she was not very useful in any other way – the visits of
her family were very annoying. Mrs Benedict
will come here as soon as she has fulfilled
her engagement with Mrs Boyce – probably about
the middle of next month. She was very kind
when Frederick was sick – watched with him 2
nights and would have done so oftener had I
consented – but she was unwell herself and
her days were actively employed. I had last night
a more violent attack of sick headache than
I have ever before experienced – was releived
by vomiting and bathing my head and feet –
to day I feel about as well as usual – my dear
little boys were sadly afraid Ma was going
to be sick a long time again. Augustus was
much astonished to find me able to go down
to breakfast this morning. I received a letter
from Lazette last evening. Frances was sick
but not seriously so. Mrs Miller and E Horner visited us Thursday. Dr Muzzys lectures
have been the engrossing theme of conversation for
some weeks – he is an advocate of the starving
regimen and it is all as new to the people here
as it was to us some 6 or 7 years ago.
All his hearers seem to be full in the belief that
corn bread and cold water will cure any disease
to which mortal man is subject – it is really
quite amusing to hear the wise speculations on
the subject. Mrs Miller says she would relinquish
the use of meal entirely but that the other members
of her family must have a little and she should

not feel as though she could supply them if
she did not eat it herself. Mrs Horner says
she does not believe one word he says as she
has no doubt he would like to appropriate all
the money to himself which his system of economy
would save. Clara has heard him two or three nights
but he restricts the diet of children too much to
satisfy her. I find nothing on this subject so
philosophical as Ticknor's "Phylosophy of Living"—
he censures both intemperance and starvation
though he admits that there are many more who
suffer from the former than the latter.
Monday morning – my weak eyes forbade my finishing
this letter last night – the day was so unpleasant
that no one went to Church – the little boys both
officiated as clergyman to a congregation consisting
of myself and Maria – how much I enjoy contributing
to the happiness of my little boys they would not
think any play more than half enjoyed if Ma did
not participate. It seems to me that any one who cannot
take pleasure in the sports of children (I mean in the
contemplation of them) is destitute of one great and unfail-
ing source of happiness a happiness which our beneficent
Father has not confined to any particular station for
"The cradle rocks in the peasant's cot,
As it rocks in the noble's hall.
And the brightest gift of the loftiest lot
Is a gift that is given to all.
For the sunny light of childhood's eyes
Is a boon like the common air,
And like the sunshine of the skies,
It falleth every where" —
your own Frances

William H. Seward
Westfield
Chatauqua County
Mar. 21 Auburn, N.Y.
F. A. Seward
March 21 1837