Tuesday 14^th March
My dearest Henry
I have this morning received
your letter written last Friday morning. When
I saw how much pain my communication
of our little boy's illness has given you I was
half determined never again to apprise you
of any sickness of the family until pronounced
dangerous by the physician. I hope long before
this that you have the assurance of our darling
boy's safety. I have not written since last
Thursday morning to Westfield and the same
evening a letter which I gave to the care of
Mrs Cary which was to meet you at Batavia
and which I supposed had you come so far
on your way home would probably deter you
from proceeding further. I hope however the Dr's
letter which accompanied mine may have
operated as a sedative and prevented your
setting out, in this view of the case I regret
that I have not written earlier. I know that
an assurance from me would be more satisfactory.
Freddy is now so well as to sit up half an hour
at a time in the easy chair, free from fever, and
but little cough. I think I may safely say there
is no more danger to be apprehended from this attack[ . ]

And now that there is a prospect of a speedy ter-
mination to our separation I may be permitted to
say that it has been a sore trial of my self-
dependance. No one can know without the
same experience what I have felt while watching
the progress of disease in my children, fearing
that disease might have a fatal termination and
yet knowing how perfectly useless would be all
attempts to call you to their bedside. The reflection
that five or six long weary days and nights must
intervene before I could receive an answer to my
summons crushed all hope and nearly paralyzed all
effort, it was always with a sort of hopeless des-
peration that I expressed a wish to have you come
home. I feel at least twenty years older than I did
my brow is wrinkled with care and my hair whitened
with suffering. But I am wrong to complain
God has been graciously pleased to spare the life
of our precious boy and for many days I have
felt renovated in strength and spirits.
Mrs Cary made me but a short visit I was dis-
appointed as I expected her to remain 3 or 4 weeks,
she is an excellent woman. My last letter
from Lazette was written in better spirits than
heretofore, she and Frances are calculating much
on their visit to Chautauque this spring,
perhaps your new arrangement will render it
inexpedient for us to go but we must not
disappoint them entirely. One month longer
before you come home, well you promise to stay
then so I will not complain any more.

do you really feel sure that Jennings will come
I am more than half inclined to doubt an event
which I desire so much. I will not write any
more at present for the sake of my poor eyes
and then I can write with a much better heart
when I once hear that you are more tranquil.
your own Frances.
Dear little Freddy wishes me to answer
f letter from you for him. Augustus will write soon

William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautaque County
AUBURN
MAR
15
N.Y.
hF. A. Seward