Albany March 9th
My Dearest Sister, Sunday has come again and my weekly
letter is unwritten – I received your last letter on Thursday
I ^was^ glad to see you again in good spirits – and was glad
to hear once more though indirectly from home – I
have not had a letter from Clary in a long time
but I know how much her time is occupied with
household affairs and will not complain – the last
piece of Auburn gossip I think is rather more ridic-
ulous than any thing I have heard recently – Mrs
Arthur Meritt must be considerably flattered to be
made the subject of the town talk – I imagine
from that performance of hers before I left home that
she prefers notoriety to obscurity and would prefer being
censured to not being thought of too little consequence
to engage the attention of the publick. I am really
sorry that my letter sent by George Rathbone should
occasion such a sensation among the Wordens — Poor
Jared has very little intention I believe of marrying
any one – he is still in New York at least I
imagine so as he has not been here this fortnight
and I did not see him in meeting to day – I went
last Sunday to hear Mr Welch – Henry was very much en-
gaged with his journal and I took Augustus for my beau
feeling very sure that I could find Rathbone’s pew — Of
course I mistook the number and took a seat in a
pew belonging to some other person – fortunately no
one came to church that day but the man and his
little boy so we had plenty of room – Mr Welch
was less interesting than I ever before heard him – still he
preached well – Tracy came home with me, and Gus
in a very indecorous manner ran all the way from
the church to our home – Weed spent the afternoon
and took tea with us – he is very agreeable — Monday
morning Walter came in to see if I wished to go Troy as
he was going with the carriage to bring down the two

Miss Holdens who are attending Mrs Willards school, from Batavia
I was not well and declined going — in the mean time Mr
Ward (an old bachellor from New York New York, New York) came to see if we would
go that day to Saratoga on the rail road we having prom-
ised to do so some time ago – Henry could not go and I
did not wish to go alone so we deferred it until Wednesday –
Mr. Ward described the day as being so pleasant that I
determined to go to Troy with Walter and stay one
night with Mrs Boardman — In a few minutes
Freddy and I were ready to depart — we took Henry
up to the Capitol and then proceeded on our way rejoicing
The day was fine but too cold to be agreeable to my
Rheumatick head — found some ice in the river which
had frozen the night previous but not enough to obstruct
the passage of the boat — We drove first to Mrs Willard
I called for the old lady herself firstly – she was as
stately as ever – I had not been been in the house ten minutes before
she asked me if I had read her journal – but I must go
back and give you a few particulars about said journal –
A week or two before I had told Henry that I should not
dare see Mrs Willard if he did not get her journal for me
to read as she would most assuredly ask me the first time
we met whether I had done so – So a few days before this Henry
borrowed the journal and I had read a few silly letters
written in Paris – Henry not thinking it worth reading had
taken it back to its owner – without my knowledge however as
I intended reading it through – Well as I said I had been in the
house but a few minutes, when while we were looking at a picture
Mrs Willard says, “Frances that scene is described in my
journal, you have read my journal!?” I was very happy to
have it in my my power to say that I was at present engaged
in reading it — I staid there but a short time – saw
Chloe Hydy Hyde — arranged matters with the Miss
Holdens for Walters accommodation – and then went to
Mrs Boardmans – they were all glad to see me – I assisted
Mrs Boardman with her quilt which was still on the frames –
Poor little Fred had the most serious time – he had nothing
to play with and no one to play with him and every
attempt that he made to amuse himself was attended

with mischevious consequences – I was consequently the whole
time saying – “Frederick you must not touch those books”
“Frederick dont scratch that table” – “My son dont get up
in the chairs or on the sofa with you feet” etc etc etc –
The dear little fellow bore this all with perfect good nature
and never cryed once – but I am sure I should have had
a nervous fever had I remained there another day —
Mary ann and her mother Mary ann in particular appear to
be impressed with the idea that it is the easiest thing im-
aginable to have a child under such control that they
will feel no disposition to see or hear or feel any thing –
Mary ann is a good girl but she has never had any children
and Mrs Boardman is one of the best and kindest of women
but she has forgotten how restless her little boys were when
they were deprived of their toys and playmates — Cushman
called the first evening and William Hart called in
the morning – beside these there were many of the
acquaintances of the family who called while I was
there so that we were not much alone – of course we
sat up until eleven oclock and after 12 Mrs Boardman
made her appearance in my room with her night gown and cap
on to see what was the occasion of my keeping a light in
my room – She and Mary ann both spoke very often and very
affectionately of you and I promised the next time I came to bring
some of your letters to read for them – Mr Cary, Henry and Aug[ ustus ]
made their appearance about five oclock on Tuesday for
the purpose of escorting me home — I had not made more than
half a visit and would have remained another day but could
not persuade Freddy to go home and leave me – beside we
were engaged to visit Mrs Brinkerhoof that evening — I came
away promising to return again before the quilt was finished –
We made a sociable visit at Mrs Brinkerhoofs that evening – no
one but the Carys, Tracys, and some of the connexions of the family
I was well the Brinkerhoofs were agreeable and I enjoyed the
visit very much — Wednesday morning brought Mr Ward again
to see about the Saratoga excursion – Again, Henry could not go
and again it was postponed – this time indefinitely — Mrs Cary
and I went in the morning to return some calls and the afternoon
was employed in calling at Mrs Bain’s, and doing some shopping –
I called also at Mrs Clarks – found Mrs Nichols there with Catherine –
ascertained that Ann Eliza and her mother were keeping house by them-
selves on South Market street – went there – they were very pleasant
think of moving to New York this spring – Catherine Clark is to be married
soon — Nichols and Sally ann have left Middlebury and have
not yet decided where they will go – so the family will all
be dispersed this summer – After tea Mrs Cary and I not wishing
to take off our pelisses which we had had on all day concluded to go
and finish the evening with Mrs Tracy – Henry came for us at nine
and I was by this time sufficiently tired to go to bed – Thursday
was unpleasant – I thought of going to the Assembly in the evening but gave
it up – Weed came and we had a supper of oysters in our room —

Friday we made a sociable visit at Mr Websters — Saturday it rained
all day – Mr Cary and Walter went to Troy with the Miss Holdens
Aunty and I staid at home and read Hamiltons travels –Henry
employed his time in writing – He says I must tell you he has
directed the Evening Journal to be sent to you semi weekly that you
may read and preserve his letters so you can make your scrap book –
The letters addressed to L – are ^were^ written to you – There is but one
published – Weed and some of his other friends have persuaded
him to publish them in this way – I think they will gratify many
of his friends and acquaintances – Mrs. Tracy said I must not
forget to give her love to you when I wrote next – Mr and Mrs
Cary always desire me to do so – Henry you know loves
you at all times – little boys & are well – a kiss for Frances

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I shall write to Clary tomorrow or the next day. Your own sister Frances
Mrs Alvah Worden
Aurora
Cayuga County
ALBANY
MAR
19