1839
Tuesday afternoon -
My dear Henry
I expected a letter from you
this morning very confidently, but it came not
and I am still ignorant of your abiding place.
Debby Wood did tell me this afternoon that
she obtained some information of the kind recently
from a New York paper, but as I have had
no time to read the papers I have not been so
fortunate. We came home very pleasantly. Blatchford
was very considerate and attentive as he has been
the whole time of your absence. I feel much
attached to him and shall be very sorry to have
him leave us. He seems to enjoy his visit in the
country amazingly. I fancy would be pleased to
prolong it but thinks you may require his assistance
in Albany. Auburn is a charming place. My
local attachments are so much stronger than yours
that you can hardly imagine how happy it makes
me to find myself once more at my own home a
place endeared to me by a thousand pleasant and
painful associations. The place in is a better state
than I expected to find it. Peter has exerted himself to
put the grounds in order preparatory to your arrival.

The house is no less convenient or ^more^ illarranged than it
was formerly but the odd things about it are
rather more striking after an absence of nine months.
The south room entry and appurtenances continue
to greet the eye as you open the street door -
ice blankests continue to decorate the fence - and a
sleeping apartment continues to be the way of access
to the dining room - the dining room itself is marred
by a white box in place of the venetian screen
the prominent advantages of which are to render
the entrance exceedingly inconvenient and intirely
prevent a circulation of air in that part of
the house where it is so desirable.
I take it for granted you did not come home
Saturday as you purposed - so you did not
find my note - had I known this I would have
endeavourd to have written earlier though this is
the first hour I have been able to steal from Willie.
We think the dear little boy had the whooping cough
he is unwell and among strange faces - he clings
to me constantly unless he can get in Blatchfords
arms when he is well content. Mrs Benedict
left me Sunday somewhat to my relief as her
impatience to get home had rendered me nervous.
Pray enquire of our people in the kitchen if Helen's
sister came there again after I left. She has not
yet arrived here. Freddy is very happy with
his swing and kittens - he does not like the idea
of going to school here - will commence in a few days.

Augustus has grown astonishingly - his voice has become
harsh or hoarse and he is in many respects
wonderfully like the young Millers who come
from Romulus - but he is still a good
dutiful affectionate boy. I must not quarrel about
his entire deficiency in grace of manner
and conversational powers - which though not unimportant
are of much less moment than a good heart
and good principles. I trust he will improve
with proper instruction so as not to be very
singular as ^are^ some of his relatives on both
sides of the house. The weather is
delightful - the roses are all in bloom and
very beautiful. Do come home and look at
them. Let me know when you will come
I wish to send to Harriet for some articles
which I forgot to bring with me. I have
had no time to write to Lazette. Blatchford
apprised her of our arrival here. I will
try to write tomorrow – your own Frances

William H. Seward
Albany