Friday April 7^th –
My dearest Sister,
Your long looked for letter came yesterday
after I had quite satisfied myself that you were too sick to
write and was wondering why Worden did not inform me
that I might come and take care of you. I was much relieved
to hear that you were well enough to go to church. It is not
at all surprising that you found yourself so weak when
you attempted to walk. I can do more about house
and am really stronger than I have been in 2 years
before yet I felt very much fatigued with walking over
to the Exchange buildings – so much depends upon the habit
you should commence with very short excursions and lengthen
them gradually. You describe Mrs Spencer to be just such
a woman as I always thought her – exceedingly frivolous
and vain for a person of her years. As for being with a man
of great abilities – we have everyday examples of the insufficiency
of education when there is no mind to build upon – it
will inform but I cannot create. Granger does not feel
his all-sufficiency the less for having been before the people as a can-
didate for the Vice Presidency – he always felt the whole of
his six feet and good propositions. Clara is about house as usual
but her eyes are very weak and she is not well, she is taking
a portion of salts to day, her eyes are much worse now than they
were at the time she had the measles – she wears a shade constantly
and I endeavour to keep her away from the [ stare ] . Mrs Benedict is
here sewing for her. Freddy runs out some but it is not quite
Spring yet, the air is cold and generally damp. Mrs Porter called
yesterday, she has so far recovered her health as to look nearly as well
as she did the last time I saw her. Mrs Smith and Caroline
called Wednesday. Mrs Smith is fat but says she is very unwell
Caroline appears uncommonly well for 17. Mrs Smith appears
pleased with Henrys being at Chautauqua – says they have “perfect
confidence in Mr Seward” & that “Henry was always very much attached to him.”
I received a letter from Henry this morning he writes nothing new – says nothing
particular about coming home I shall expect him next week unless he
writes something to the contrary – it will be nine weeks Tuesday since
he went away – 12 weeks tomorrow since dear little Nealy died, and
yet that seems but yesterday, did you see some lines in the Newspaper
entitled “Peasant Children” they were very beautiful[ , ] the concluding stanzas

seemed written for those who like us have lost a cherished and lovely babe
“O! play not those a blessed part
To whom the boon is given
To leave their errand with the heart
And straight return to Heaven” –
Mrs Chisom has found a house up by the Episcopal Church and is keeping
boarders again. I do not know who but many men. Augustus wishes me
to say that he wrote his letter some days ago but Ma did not get
ready to send it. Your own sister Frances.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Auburn N.Y.APR 8
April 7