Sunday evening —
My Dear Henry, It is a rainy Sunday this extreordinary weather
still continues — yesterday we not only sat without a fire but
had the windows raised — our thermometer stood at 61 — to-
day it is warm but the rain renders the air damp and
unpleasant — I have very little fire in my stove — small as
it is, it is unpleasant — like the heat of a stove in Spring —
Friday I sent my last letter — Saturday nothing of account took
place except a visit from George Wood — He is now engaged
in trying to prove that his wife may be believed about as
hopeless a task as any man could employ himself in —
Clary says he not only did not satisfy her that Deb was
to be depended upon, but he raised strong doubts in her mind about
his own veracity — Clary and Maria spent the whole afternoon
separately and conjointly in his company — the front room was
the place chosen as the scene of action — Clary says that he wished
to see me but she would not call me knowing I would not
be engaged in any affair of this nature — It does seem to me
to be sufficiently mean for women to go about from house to house
tracing out stories and settling quarrels — but in a man it is
inexpressibly contemptible — He wishes to throw most of the
responsibility on Mrs Compston and says that Deb denies
saing those things which she is accused of — but she persists
in saying that Clary called Carter a stage driver — this is a
positive falsehood — and the denial undoubtedly of the same

character — Debby's character for truth and honour is the same in my
estimation that it ever was — but I confess I did not think her so illnatured
here the matter rests — I suppose there will be another settlement when
Mrs Compston hears of her imputed slander — Lazette was here a
few moments yesterday afternoon — says she has not been well since
the Ball — her limb troubles her — she has never been quite well since
she had the measels — Clary went home with her then went with her
to the Museum in the evening and there got Maxwell for a beau home
he came in and when he went home left the gate open so the hogs
were in the front yard all the night and so there were was some
scolding in the morning — Lazette took your two last letters home
with her to read and this morning she says in a note. "When you write
to Henry again tell him I love him very much, I dont know as he is exactly
sensible of it." — Clary has been to meeting all day notwithstanding
the rain — I did not go out and spent the day very much to my mind —
I have some of the time been engaged in reading the life of Bishop Hobart
he was a good man — devoted all his energies of body and mind to
the service of the Church — How often while reading of his piety his charity
his humility have I thought of that unfeeling observation of Marcias
"I hope Bishop Hobart met with a change of heart before he died" —
But it is useless to bewail the blindness of those who will not see —
and Marcia is too bigoted a Presbyterian to see any goodness in a churchman —
Augustus insists upon my making a little letter for him which he may
behold with his own eyes —

[left Margin] My Dear Pa, Wont you please to
send me a little letter — Grand-
pa

x

Elijah Miller

Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13

has bought me the book
of Old Mother Hubbard and
her dog

x

Old Mother Hubbard and her Dog

Author: Sarah Catherine Martin Publisher: J.G. Rusher Place of Publication:Banbury Date: circa 1820

— I have got a new
knife Grandpa says he is going
to take me to the Museum —
Freddy

x

Frederick Seward

Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25

has got a bad cold and the
Dr

Unknown

had to come in the night —
Wednesday night — I go to
school almost every day —
When are you coming home? —
Will you be home Teusday?
I have got a cold too — but
the Dr did not give me any
medicine — he gave gave Freddy
some and he took it very
good — I cough some in the
night and so does Freddy —
There was no school Christmas
or New Years day — your affectionate
son Augustus H. Seward

[right Margin] This is his own
composition —
one page was
not quite sufficient
to satisfy him —
he has written
abundance of little
letters himself but
I could not
send them and
shall consider the
affair easily disposed
of if this answers the
purpose —

Wednesday night
My Dear Henry, I intended to have finished and sent this letter
yesterday I know you will expect it before this th time — I recieved
your last letter written on Saturday, last night just as I was
going to bed — I am sorry that I have written so much
and in so dissatisfied a strain about the rooms — I have no
doubt they are very pleasant from your last description
and as to the company I think I shall be very well
satisfied to be with you if the other society is not quite
so agreeable — still it may be much more so than I
imagined — The scattering votes of the Antimasons for Senator had
puzzelled me considerably I was afraid something was wrong — am
glad the difference was so trifling — It is entirely a new idea
of your Fathers, going to Europe — When does he purpose
going? — does your mother accompany him? — Jennings I
cannot at all pretend to comprehend — Monday evening we spent
at Dr Pitneys had quite a stately time — Goodwin was there and felt
much disposed to boast of his intimacy with the Throops — He has
talent it is to be regretted that he so much resembles his sister Mrs
Smith — Yesterday afternoon Maria and I called at Dr Coles Mr Beach
Mrs Beach said she was disposed to give me a lecture for not returning
her call sooner she called when we were keeping house — I acknowledged
my remissness and we parted good friends — I went to see Mrs Vredenburgh
and Mrs Porter who is quite ill — a return of inflammation in the
side — expected Lazette all the evening but she did not come so
we eat our oysters alone and after reading your letter twice retired —
Frederick and Augustus both cough considerably nights but I have
today been making some syrup which I hope will relieve them — Augustus
is pale and thin but Pa insists so much on the propriety of his
taking the air that I have continued sending him to school — your own
Frances —

William H. Seward —
Albany —
AUBURN NY
JAN 10