Tuesday Nov 23^d e
My dearest sister, While I am in the office waiting for
a man to make a place for a stove pipe (from Blatchfords
bed room to the office, for the purpose of accommodating Pa
when he comes down without giving him my only spare bed room
I commence a letter to you—I am still more than half sick with a cold—Willie has
entirely recovered– I tell him every day I wish his Aunty could
see him he has so many amusing tricks—Since Mary went
off I have been with him almost the whole time he plays
all day steadily—the other day he took the little bench
for a table his fathers shaving cup for a bowl and
a little stick for a spoon—with these he sat down
and pretended to eat bread and milk – all his own
invention – occasionally he would look up with an arch
smile as much as to say he knew he was making
believe – I miss Mary very little except the noise
which she used to keep – Mary ann the chambermaid
who is an excellent girl – takes him in the morning
and as I have another cook Eliza will now
take care of him until Miss Brown comes—

Thursday afternoon— I have been in bed most of the morning
Having had a bad night— I have been so unwell for
two or three weeks past that I concluded to wean
Willie and last night commenced, as I apprehended he
cryed almost the whole night—dear little boy –his
mother cryed too – had I not been destitute of nourishment
for him I believe I should have given up in despair
but the nursing which he has had for a month
or more has been only an aggravation to him and very
injurious to me I doubt not— how often I have wished that
you or Clara were with me during this trial –I dread
another night – I was so sick and nervous this morning
that I thought Blatchfords iron boots and powerful shutting
of doors would destroy me – I think your
influence as it regards these matters has entirely
subsided – Upon the whole he is altogether more agreeable
when you are here – I doubt his leaving as I have
heard nothing about it since the Election – perhaps
he said something on the subject in that long
letter he wrote wherein he forgot to tell you why
I could not write – Jennings is still here – he
occupies the best bed room and uses it for an
office Henry is at present writing his message in your
room up stairs and Sam has the real office all
to himself– dont you think men are sometimes just
as whimsical as women are reputed to be – you can fancy
how comfortable I find my apartment with this arrangement
John and Nicholas and Billy are continually racing through
the entry up and down stairs in answer to some bell –
sometimes three or four men are carried up to your room
as an antidote to Henry’s seclusion – tramping over the
painted floor and spitting upon every stair and all

the intervals are filled up by Sam who makes more
noise in his peregrinations from the Office to the hall and
from the hall to the office than John Nic Bily and all
the strange, spitting, men put together – This morning
I received a letter from dear Clara saing Miss Brown would leave
Auburn to day – Mary Boyce had arrived with all things
safe – I sent a small trunk by her containing among
other things your mantilla a scarf which I purchased
for you in New York and my black Pelisse which I
thought perhaps you could wear under your mantilla
until I send you silk for another – I sent also lining
for the mantilla – but did not have it put in – Should you
conclude to have no wadding I would have the lining quilted
upon a thin interlining it will hang better and look more
finished – had Clara's quilted and wadded with an inter-
lining – of course it could not he quilted without – She says
she likes it very much – I told her to keep your things
until she heard more – Will it be possible for you to
get them from Auburn and shall I write any thing about
it – The silk I will purchase for you as soon as I
am able to go out again and send by the first opportunity –
Granger called here Saturday morning – he seemed while apologizing
to me for his daughters not coming very much as he did the
day they called at your house – the amount of his apology
was that she had many acqq acquaintances upon whom she
preferred to call— he did not use that expression however— I should
have seen her with pleasure had she chosen to call but feel not in
the least piqued that she did not – Granger glorified himself con-
siderably about the accuracy of his calculation regarding the result
of the election – O how many things I have to say to you which
I cannot write – I think you will not stay all winter at
Auburn without coming here – every body thinks it a matter of
course that you are coming since Worden is elected— I shall be
very glad when you are 40 miles nearer than you are now— You speak of
breaking up housekeeping do you intend to do so as to shut up your
house – Clara expects you next month she writes me

I have finished reading Mrs Adam's letters— you will find them very
entertaining – she was a woman of much energy, and strength of mind
Fred and I have just commenced “Mercede” Coopers last – as far
as I have read I am pleased with it – I have seen Mrs Horner and
Eliza twice since I wrote last they always enquire after you—
you do not know how much I was disappointed not to go
home— Willie’s illness and my own indisposition rendered it
impossible to go without hazard— I did not relinquish the
hope of going entirely until last Friday when I had an
opportunity of going with Gary Sackett and could not
improve it—
I have written for Gus to come down soon and stay 2 or 3 months
I am sorry to take him from Clara but am satisfied it is necessary
his father thinks he will be able to assist him in his studies
Thursday morning – Miss Brown came last night – and though so set
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Paid W.H.S.
ALBANY, N.Y.
NOV 26
PAID

[right Margin]
that I should not have dreamed of her coming had I known it she
is still much more useful than Mary – I am much better
to day – Willie was very dear and subdued last night
love to Frances

x

Frances Chesebro

Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24

your own sister