Friday April 14^th 1837
My dearest Sister,
I have this moment received your
letter. I am sorry you have been looking for Henry so
long. I have this morning received a letter from H him
saying it is uncertain when he can leave but not this
week – he has such an increase of business that from
what I can gather from his letter he has worked ut
until he is sick. Although I expected to hear from
him again before he set out I could not avoid looking
out whenever I heard a stage coming this way[ . ]
It will be ten weeks Tuesday since he left and then
thought he would return in six. His father has
written for him to come immediately to Florida
that he may consult him about some business.
The old meeting house at Florida has been burned
recently. Mr Seward talks of travelling this
summer. Rouse has gone to Erie to work and
and left Sarah with her children. I doubt whether
he returns again. Henry says Sarah is very destitute
lives principally on what she gets from his house
she intends going to her friends in Ohio.
I hope you will receive much benefit from the “tincture
of gridiron” which has proved itself so efficacious. I made
a trial of my strength yesterday – the day was so inviting
that I walked as far as Mrs Burts. There I found
assembled old Mrs Burt who is much altered since

I last saw her (nearly two years ago), Mrs Joshua, Elizabeth
and Mrs Howe who is much more deaf than Elizabeth.
Mrs Howe had with her an infant about the age of Nealy
I did not expect to find her there and being totally un-
prepared was so much overcome that I lost all control
of my feelings and cryed myself into a violent
headache – fortunately the dear little baby did not make its
appearance in the room until I had nearly completed
my visit and I was able to take my leave very
soon after. I think now I will stay at home a while
longer. I cannot bear an exhibition of my feelings and
I have not yet sufficient firmness to conceal them.
Mrs Burt with the best intentions in the world probes all
wounds with very little delicacy. Joshua’s wife looked
animated and pretty but did not say much. Saturday
I thought some of calling on Mrs Beardsley but did not.
Jane Perry was from home. I went there first. I returned
from Mrs Burts with a violent headache which con-
tinued until I went to bed. I was about as much fatigued
as I used to be in walking two miles. Tuesday Mrs Miller
sent for us to meet Mrs Horner. I went. Jane Yates and
Martha were there. I had a very agreeable time talking to
Mrs Horner but the room was so light it almost put
my eyes out. Maria says it is a very cheerful looking
room which if cheerfulness consists in a glare of sunshine
I will not attempt to disprove. Tom Miller and Isaack
came to tea. My Gus came over about eight to accompany
me home. Wednesday Maria Jane and Martha took tea with
us – rather a dull season – Mary came with her mother to
see the little boys and seemed to enjoy her visit very much.
We have had some very pleasant days and I endeavour to spend
some time every day in the open airs. Clara does not get her
strength yet, her eyes are very weak. She wears a shade and spectacles[ . ]

Mrs Muir and Maria Bennet called Thursday. Maria
complains of ill health – dispepsia – is living by Dr
Murry’s direction on potatoes & salt and brown
bread. I think if she would cut her corsett lace
she might eat a little beefsteak occasionally with
impunity. Mrs Muir was dressed very fashionably.
Bobby you know is the president of our village – he
open house and made a speech the day of his inauguration
by the way did you see Willis account of the inauguration
at Washington – very well described though he is evidently
in favour of the 'powers that be'. It seems there was no
foundation for the report that he was to accompany
Cambrelling as Secretary of Legation to Russia.
I have been waiting a long time for the arrival of the
Museum (we have had none since February) to send it to you
in company with the last Knickerbocker which contained
so little that I did not think it worth sending alone.
It does not come yet. I wish John C. Spencer knew
you wanted books he has plenty of them and is very
liberal. I doubt not he would supply you.
Mr & Mrs Lucas called last week, we talked of Miss Parrott they seemed to appreciate her exactly. Mr Lucas
said it was astonishing that she could make any
person of common sense believe the preposterous stories
she told. Mrs Smith was one of her warm admirers
the day she called she had on a very long face having
just heard a report of Miss Parrotts death which she
seemed to believe though she had received a letter from
her a short time before. I should think from all I have
that she was superficial in her acquirements, conceited and
excessively impudent – not pretending to have any regard to veracity.
I hope she will not return. I have much more to write but my
eyes are worse and worse. Kiss Frances – your own Sister Frances

Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
March 14 —
AUBURN NY APR 16
Apr 14 1837