Sunday afternoon. 10^th
My dearest sister, The blessed day of rest has again
returned I am once more alone write my little Fred
and can sit down and write with comfort. I received
your letter Friday am glad to hear you are no worse
What a dissipation of time company occasions even when
they sojourn for weeks. It appears to me that I have been
hurried the last week the whole time and yet I cannot
tell how I have spent my time. Mrs Seward has been
quite sick two or three days. Monday we had Mrs Fosgate
Mrs Horner, Mrs Burt and Maria Miller here. Tuesday
we visited Maria. Wednesday we invited Isaacs people
and Mr & Mrs Lucas & Miss Lord to tea. Marthy Mrs Yates
and Isaac and Mr Lucas and Miss Lord came - it is
so long since I have been in society that I found it quite
a task to entertain even these few - they came when it
rained moderately and went away when it rained very
fast. Thursday Mrs Seward was so ill as to be unable
to sit up - apprehensive of the typhus fever - she has to-
day for the first time since been well enough to go out.
They are still awaiting the return of Henry as I anticipated
Monday I received a letter from him saying his business
would detain him a few days longer in New York but
he would probably be at home in the course of the week
Friday another letter came saying he was obliged to return
to Philadelphia where he must remain two or three
days, or we look for him again Tuesday provided no
other annunciation of a different purpose arrives in the
interim. It was Thursday your letter came for the

the same day came one from Jennings to Henry saying his family
had all arrived safely at Westfield and were expecting us
to visit them. Marcia was rather better than when she
left Cincinnati. There was one item in Henry's letter
which threatens to keep me at home some weeks longer
I will give it you verbatim. "Mary Kent goes next week
to Oswego she will come to Auburn to visit you and spend
some time" ______ Henry makes no allusion to my going to
Chautauqua with him, he does not say he intends going
perhaps he has forgotten that I proposed going - Mr. Seward
still persists in urging me to make all my arrangements
that I may be ready to go as soon as Henry returns he
seems to make very little account of Mary whom he thinks
can as well come and see me when I return home.
Mrs Benedict gets along slowly enough pulling to pieces one
day what she put together the day previous - I have succeeded
in finishing the green coat for Fred and a pair of summer
pants, for each of the boys - tomorrow I go to Mrs Gillet
to have my merino fitted - on we drag along the north
room and my room remains in a state of uncleanness -
which is far from being pleasant. Mrs Jenning sent that
hat home to Clara after making some alteration but it
was still too mauvaise ton to answer any purpose. Clara
sent it home again reiterating your offer to make her any
reasonable compensation for her trouble - we have heard nothing
from her since - Clara has had a pretty hat made at
Miss Riggs the whole expense of which will not exceed
$3__ _ _ . David Wright was passing here yesterday when I
hailed him - he says Marthy is able to ride and thinks she
will come out next week. I regret that I have had
no time to go and see the Posts - my head aches almost

unremittingly for the last two weeks. Pa went to Seneca Falls yesterday
has not returned. Tell Frances that Augustus and Fred
have with much seeking at last found an old hen and 5
little ducklings. Peter found them at Clute's and yesterday he
and Augustus took a basket and brought them home.
Augustus had been a whole week preparing for them has built
them a little house and made a pond in the barn yard
by sinking a tub in the ground - they seem much pleased
with their new home and swim and dive in the pond
finely - the boys are delighted. I am afraid the weeds will
grow very high in the little garden if it is so neglected.
Dear Gus did nothing yesterday but lie on a buffalo skin
in the wood house door and watch his new family.
Poor boy there is a depth and tenderness in his affections which
I am afraid will some day occasion him bitter sorrow
but we must hope for the best. There is one unfailing
source of sympathy for us all. He who hath borne our nature
can take part in our grief - and he hath said _ "O words that calm
The troubled heart with highest balm
"Come unto me, ye travel worn
And I will give you rest" ____
I will write again as soon as I can learn what my destination
is to be - that is as soon as Henry returns - for the present adieu
kisses for Frances - your own sister Frances.

Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y. JUN 12
June 10