Cincinnati Feb 2^nd 1837
Dear Sister Fanny,
Our correspondence has lain
dormant so long I hardly know how to commence my
letter to you. I have had it in my mind to write
you ever since I heard through sister Cornelia of
the birth of your little daughter -- but I was still
thinking brother Henry would write me as ^he^ used too, and
tell me the the news himself, and then would be the time
for me to offer my congratulations. I was delighted
to know you had a little girl for several reasons -- one
was because I hoped your health would be improved, and
another was the happiness it would afford your dear
boys. But alas what a changing world is this -- today I
received a letter from Husband (written in New York.) tel-
ling me the sad news of her death -- he learned it from
the newspaper. And now dear Frances I come to
mingle my sympathies with yours. Yes, well do I
know the sorrows of a bleeding hear mourning the
loss of a beloved daughter. Had our dear little
Aurelia lived she would now be fifteen years old. I
would not recall her back to this world of pain and
sin and disappointments, if I could. I now look back
to that affliction as one of the kindest acts of ^our^ Heavenly
Father towards me -- and yet I am humbled to the earth
to think that the mercies of God were not sufficient to
keep me in the path of duty -- but must he driven there by
judgements

Now I should like to know now old your dear little Cor-
nelia was and what ailed her when she died - I suppose
you have never passed through any scene that has caused you
heart to bleed like the sickness and death of your darling
babe - None but a Mother ever can know those feelings and
no pen, not even a parents can describe them. I have
been just returned from visiting a friend who was sitting
in her nursery with a beautiful babe thirteen months
old upon her lap, dangerously sick, with an inflamation
upon the lungs. Her Husband too (the Rev. Mr.Norton) was
stretched upon a sick bed in the same room -- this truly
thought I, is the house of affliction. But if our afflictions
work out the peacibleble fruits of righteousness to us
we shall rejoice even in ^the^ deepest of them. Our naturs
are so deformed we never will grow in grace much,
while in prosperity. No situation seems so dangerous to
the christian as a cloudless sky of earthly enjoyments
I trust this affliction may be sanctified to yourself and
Husband. God will be glorified in "what ever comes to pass."
O that this might be the means of teaching brother Henry
the perishableness of all created things. O tell him
that this world and all things that are therein are to be
burned up -- tell him not to waste the precious talents
which his creator has given him and the prime ofhis
life, in the pursuit of happiness and wealth, which
will most assuredly take to themselves wings and
fly away, when he comes to lie upon a dying pillow.
How short how very short at most is this life, and yet
we live as if this were our everlasting home.

I suppose you know Jen has been east all winter?
He left home the 5^th Dec, will not certainly be home
before the middle of this. This has been a painful sep-
eration to me. I have been sick with divers complaints
more than half the time since he left I am a confirmed
dispectic, have had chills and fever, neuraljah and
rheumatism &c - but am quite well now for me, can walk
two miles at once - and yet I must pul by the railing to get up-
stairs, my joints are so week- Can you tell what will
cure the dispepsia? I hope you have learned ere this.
Augustus is in the Woodward ward College - getting a-
long with his studies quite to the satisfaction of Doct.
Aydelott and his Parents - he is one of the
kindest boys ever a Mother had. Next sabbath
he purposes to show to the world that he has
chosen Jesus Christ for his portion, by attaching himself to
the church to which we belong - so dear sister the de-
sire of my heart is fulfiled as it respects August-
Our dear little Clarence is in Miss Dentens school
he is a good student , plays hard, and sings quite well.
We have twelve in family - made up of various sizes
from different quarters -- Mrs Thompson & Miss Denten and
my niece Lauretta-- are good society - we are indeed a
very happy family -- live just far enough from the thickly
settled part of the city to be retired. But do dear F. come
and see for yourself -- and bring those dear boys . O how de-
lighted we should be to have you- Please kiss them for
me and Clarence- Give my love to Clary Lazett- and
Henry- and if you please write me soon
Marcia Seward

Mrs. Wm. H. Seward
Auburn
New York
CINCINNATI OH FEB 3
Marcia Seward
Feb- 1837