Auburn May 28th 1844
My dear Augustus,
Your mother desires me to say she is much better
than she has been for a number of weeks past and hopes soon to be
able to write to you herself. For a number of days past she has been
able to sit up & enjoy the society of the family. Your Father went
on Friday to N. York on business which will probably detain him
ten days. he took with him Billy for the purpose of sending
him to Orange County. Billy for the last four or five months had
been so unmanageable that your Mother thought it best to send him
home. She hopes to supply his place with a boy younger and
more easily groomed, in the mean time our Willie takes it
upon himself to wait upon table and although he some-
times “up tips” (as he says) the bread & the water he performs very
much to his own satisfaction. He is a a very fine little
boy, has grown astonishingly since I last saw him & will
be almost out of your recollection of his size by the time you
see him in August. his eyes are much better than they have been
for so long a time before in two years and in consequence of
being able to see for himself he has become as fearless and
independent as you used to be at his age. Fred & Clarence go
to school constantly. Fred considering it a pleasure and Clarence
a hardship which he must endure previous to entering college
this summer. He takes many excusrions on the cars to Cayuga
Syracuse &c, free of expense being on extremely intimate
terms with all the railroad conductors and people of that sort

He has not the kind self respect in this particular
that your Father and Mother wish him to have. their children
would rather never go anywhere than be under obligations to
such person as those for the favor. The place here is
looking beautifully. the garden and grounds are in full
flower. The shrubbery has grown astonishingly and the
trees which your father cut off at the top last summer
are now nearly as large as they were before the insects
attacked them. the house is to have a new roof and
all the fences and house are to be newly painted, to
my mind it is the prettiest place in Auburn.
It seems like old times to have Aunt Clara here again. she
says I must tell you she will write to you next week.
Your Grandpa is well and enjoys Willie’s society very much.
they occasionally ride out together when Willie is sure he
drives with a tiny whip he has. I expect your cousin Fan,
out here today with Dick as we have no one who will take good
care of the poor little kid we are obliged to travel with him.
we shall probably be here a week longer in the mean time
I hope we shall some of us have a letter from you. I hope
to be able to go down with your Mother when she visits you this
summer. she says she feels as if she could not go without me.
If you remain there (and I think there is no doubt but you
will as every one give such a favorable account of
your good conduct and proficiency in your studies)
your Mother thinks you will require some new shirts &c
will you when you write say what you wish and she will
have them ready for you against the time she intends to
make her visit. All send love to Augustus and

are anxious for his well doing and happy to hear of
his success and none more so than his affectionate
Aunty.

AUBURN N.Y. MAY 28
Augustus H. Seward
At the United States Military Academy
West Point.