Thursday May 24 1838
My dearest Sister
I received your letter yesterday morning
am sorry to hear that that you are more unwell,
do try Beckwith’s pills if not more than one a day
I think they have relieved my head. I still think
as I have ever thought that it is the affection of
your liver which produces the nausea you speak of
how many years I have lived without one day passing
when I did not suffer more or less in the same way
I now eat moderately of almost everything with impunity
you can alone tell what best agrees with your stomach
and that you can tell by careful observation – there is
no use in trying to live without eating at all – such
experiments do you more harm than good. I
sent a box Tuesday containing a hat and some other
things of yours, if it has not come safe I wish
you would let me know. I suppose you have
had a visit from the Dills. I understand they
were to go to Avon with Angeline yesterday
perhaps the rain detained them.
For Frances edification I will relate all I
have heard about the runaways’ – Mr & Mrs Isham.
it is said that they have have gone to attend his
brothers wedding somewhere at the east, his brother
is the Isham that was said to be paying attention
to Mary Bissel. The day after the marriage
Journey Seymour went to Frank Hamilton and asked
him if he would be willing to meet Mrs Beach after
taking the part which he had –Frank said yes

he thought of calling that morning and imparting
all the information desired – he did so – Mrs Beach’s
first enquiries were about Christiania’s dress and
what refreshments they had!!! — She seemed very
cheerful – made many similar enquiries some of them
indicative of much maternal solicitu[ d ] e – Seymour
came in with a long face and before Frank
came away Mrs Beach was seen to shed some tears.
This is about all that has been communicated to me
I have no doubt much more is afloat but I am
not in the way of hearing it. We have been all
this week dragging along with the house cleaning
I believe my neighbors must think that I consider
my own convenience of little account from the
singularity of requisitions – First came Mrs
Miller to have me give up my whitewasher
half a day to accommodate her. Then Mrs Hills
took him half a day because it was more convenient
for her – then Jane Perry sent to know if I would
not give up Harriet until she had finished
cleaning house as Harriet had engaged to her first
and last of all this morning when the whole
of our basement was in utter confusion waiting
Millers slow movements Mrs Hills sent to know
if he could not leave my work and come
whitewash a room for her – assigning no reason
but that it was more convenient for her this
day than it would be another – My patience
was expended – I kept Miller myself — — concluding
that as the author of the laws of Etiquette claims
“it is one thing to be civil and other to submit to
imposition”—

I will try to get the Review of the ‘Palmyra letters’
but without reading it I have been all along
satisfied that the letters were written by a
Unitarian – the writer so studiously avoids any
allusion to our Savior as the Redeemer or
sinners – in other respects – He is represented as
a teacher, divine perhaps, the chief object of whose
mission was to institute a new code of morals
and give undoubted assurance of a future existence.
The letters are well calculated to cheat an ordinary
observer in these matters, into the belief that they
contain a great deal of Religion which in truth
they do not – that is Religion as we are wont
to consider it based on the merits of our
Redeemer. The ‘love token’ is indeed one of the
most charming things of the kind I ever saw – did I not
tell you, Weed gave it to Fred last winter but it was
detained until a few weeks ago with the box.
Ask Frances if she had read the story of the “Bantems”
I read it just as Gus had set his heart upon a pair
and knowing how great Willies disappointment must
have been I could not keep from crying with him.
The “Chain of Love” is one that Fred quotes from frequently
What History does Frances study – In my judgement
Parley’s Universal History is the only one suitable
for children of her age – if you have not seen it
you cannot know its superiority – how clear it
renders much that was formerly so complicated
I had a a letter from Henry yesterday he is still in
Orange County with all the firm & I believe Weed —
Your own Sister
Frances —
1 teacup of milk and water sponged
1 teacup of butter
2 of sugar –

Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN
MAY 25
N.Y.