Friday Morning 27 Sep.
My ever dear Sister, I commence this letter this morning with a faint
hope that I may have an opportunity to send it today though I
have had very little encouragement - Thomas Miller is going to take
home his aunt but they appeared rather unwilling to go by the
way of Aurora because it was 2 miles further — there is nothing
like an accommodating spirit - I shall commence back where
I left my last letter which was last Thursday the day after
we returned from Aurora - the day was unpleasant and had it
been otherwise Ma would have been too unwell to have gone to see
Mrs Horton — On Friday we sent for Mrs Richardson, Porter
Horner, Burt, Hills, Perry e and Wood and Mrs Wallace to visit us
these being the ladies that had called on Ma during her sojourn
here — the morning was unpleasant and about ten it began to rain
and continued without any intermission the remainder of the
day - of course no one came Mrs Hills called over in
the evening Saturday Ma was still too unwell to go to Mrs
Hortons and the rain had not entirely ceased so we gave up the
visit as Ma could not be persuaded to remain any longer than
Monday - After tea Ma and I called at Mrs Hills and Mrs Perry’s
Sunday was a fine day - in the afternoon we went to the Meth-
odist Church but were again disappointed as Mr Peck did not
preach in his place we had a ranting preacher who wished
to impress upon the minds of the congregation that Heaven
could be taken by storm — he clapped his hands and screamed
so loud that I was often obliged to stop my ears — Mrs Seward
who is one of the most unostentatious Christians I ever knew was not
much better pleased than myself — all arrangements were made
for them to take the stage at five in the morning to Weedsport
thence on the Canal to Schenectady Ma having ascertained that it
would not be possible for her to go any part of the way in the
stage — the weather has been fine ever since and last night I
suppose their journey terminated — I am quite anxious to hear —
Monday being a delightful day we had a number of calls and Mrs
Richardson sent for us all to tea not knowing that Mrs Seward had
gone — Grandma and I went — met Mrs Porter and Mrs Phillips — had
a pleasant visit — While we were there Mr Whiting and his daughter

came from New York the husband and daughter of Mrs Whiting of whom
I saw at Ballston - Frances Whiting who was when I knew her at
Mrs Willards rather an intelligent child has grown to be a very
affected young lady who wears an eye glass and abhors “the country”
I think It would have been better for her to have remained in New York —
Aun Eliza was engaged to visit Clary the next day so we were obliged
to invite this very disagreeable young lady to accompany her — While
we were at Mrs Richardsons Clary called at Isaacs’ and found Molly
and Emily had been there since Friday - of course they all en-
gaged to visit us the next day - In the morning Judith Gardner
sent word to Grandma that she would come and make her a sociable
visit and Clary sent for E Horner and Mary Ahda - so you see
we collected together quite a party — My head aches so constantly
that I am incapacitated for any enjoyment and I felt relieved when
they were all gone - Wednesday we all took tea at Isaac’s and
Yesterday they all came here again so you see we have had visiting
enough — To day Thomas takes my wagon and carries his Aunt home
but whether he will condescend to take any letters for me is
a matter of some doubt — I wished to send Henrys first letters
for you to copy but now I think of it that would be useless
as I have not yet purchased a book to copy them into —
Yesterday while I was eating my dinner Pa announced that there was a letter
from “Seward” upstairs I went up and found it on the mantle piece
with one from Tracy i I came down and was endeavoring to
find out when Henry was coming home which I was unable to do
from this letter and discovered that there had two letter been
sent previous to this which had not arrived — in the mean time
Tracy’s letter lay upon the table unopened — “Who is that letter
from” said Pa — “from Tracy” — “let me see it” I handed it to him
and he very deliberately commenced breaking the seal for the purpose
of reading it — My first impulse was to jump up and snatch the
letter from his hand, which I did, and then apologized by saying
I would prefer reading it myself first — he appeared very much
astonished that I should be so unreasonable and said he did
not suppose there was anything he ought not to see - I replied
I presumed there was not but still insisted that I would rather have the
first reading - On reading Tracy's letter I discovered that my other two
letters from Henry were still in Jennings possession he having brought
this to Tracy for his perusal. Tracy sent it immediately to me and

Jennings and his friends I hope will accomplish the reading of other
letters sometime this week- Perhaps I am wrong in complaining of this
delay but it does appear rather difficult of endurance that I who
count hours and minutes must wait while my letters are submitted
to the inspection of persons comparatively indifferent - of course I would
rather Tracy should have read it then not but this Jennings does not know
and I do not know how many others he may choose to be so kindly
disposed to amuse —This last letter was dated at Lausane in Switzerland
Henry says the prospect from his window included the Lake of Geneva
and Mount Blanc — is not this a feast for a person who has a heart
to appreciate such scenery - he details his journey from London to Leyden
in Holland here the letter closes — a few lines by way of postscripts are
dated at Geneva — he says he is unable to tell their destination from
that place — but will write again soon - the letters which Jennings
has in his possession are all about London — I would send you this
letter of Henry’s now with this but want one Sunday to read it
satisfactorily — I will send it next week — Since I commenced this
letter Tom Miller has been here — went to the barn took the wagon
without saying a word to me. I went out while he was harnessing
the horse and asked him if he would go or return by the way of
Aurora - he did not much think he should it was so much further
I think this is very civil particularly when he had just asked a favor
of me — I said I wished to send some letters — he made no reply
and I came in thinking I would send them all by mail in preference
to putting myself under obligations to people who were so churlish
I then sent up to see when Mrs Wood was going - she said some day
next week — I concluded to sent this letter my mail tomorrow
next week when she goes I hope I shall have recived the Lon[ don ]
letters and will send one or both to you to preserve the order of
line in Henrys travels — Should she not go early in the week I will
venture to send again by Mr George

x

George Standart

Birth: 1766-05 Death: 1855-02-27

From the arrival of this letter at
this time I conclude the Havre packets come every week — I shall look
for Henry home some time in October — I hope they went to Italy - Henry
was well but his father was suffering from the effects of this rapid travelling
Tracy does not write in good spirits he is evidently depressed by constant
illness — chills and fever ever since he wrote before until the last few
days — He and John are boarding at Dana's and John has consented to
eat bread and milk for his dinner though he frequently dines out or
as Tracy says "dines whenever asked despite my admonitions and his own experienced
of the heavy penalty he incurs" — Mr Cary who would not join them
has been ill at the City Hotel with billious fever -, Mrs Cary and Walter
have gone down arrive there last Saturday — Mrs Beardsley and Mrs
Gansevoort are there but besides them Tracy says "I am not awake aware of
any other senatoresses being in town " — Mrs Foster Mrs Singdam and Mrs Deitz
have been there a short time — Tracy thinks the session will end the last
of next week — I shall hope to see some of them on their return but its
very doubtful — Clary is talking of coming to Auruora to stay over Sunday
one of these days but is troubled about Wordens paying her board — Hugh
is to come and bring her home when the event actually takes place and
Augustus is to gon go out with her in the stage — Grandma and Pa went this
morning to Skaneateles after the usual performance on such occasions — Grandma is
to stay 4 or 5 days — very much afraid of our fierce horse — the said horse having
conducted himself very unbecomingly the other day when she went to Isaacs

I have been the last few days reading over and assorting all of Henrys letters to me
which have made miss possible more impatient than ever to see him — I do think
there never was a better man I am sure. there never was one with a purer
and kinder heart — I am excessively dissatisfied with myself that infirm
health ever should have made me unhappy as I sometimes have been — anyone who
is blessed with such a sister and husband as I have should ever wear a
smooth brow and feel a light heart — I feel that I have been very ungrateful
to the kind Giver of all good gifts — It seems to me at least a month since I
parted with you my own Sis on the Dock at Aurora — When I know something
decisive about Henry’s return we will make arrangements about going to Seneca
Falls - by the way Birdsall (Serenes Birdsall) is very low with the typhus fever
we have heard nothing from him for the last three days — William having gone there &
Blanchard to Pittsfield — Serene the last accounts was overwhelmed with grief —
it is fortunate Mrs Fosgate returned just as she did - I have seen nothing more
of the Dills understand John is pulling the house on the farm to pieces for the
pleasure of building it over again - Capt and Mrs Warden are boarding at the
exchange — I intend to call soon - but have had no leisure for anything of
the kind lately — Nicholas brought home your bed clothes the other day they
are up garret awaiting further orders — your plants I have not sent for
yet that is I told Peter to go a week ago but he has not got ready the
weather is so fine they have not suffered and I will endeavour to get them before
another cold night — Sarah continues with us but has become an object of
AUBURN
Sep 28
N.Y.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Aurora

[right Margin] considerable speculation to visitors - I do not know what her
calculations are but think something should be done without
much longer delay — I have no room to tell you any thing
about your boy

x

Frederick Seward

Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25

he is well and he and Gus talk much about
you and cousin Frances

x

Frances Chesebro

Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24

— Maria

x

Maria Hall

Birth: 1796-07-10

has purchased a full length
dress which is to be supplied from my wardrobe — this piece
of intelligence you will please communicate to Frances
with all possible dispatch or half the sport will be lost
your own Sister Frances