Sunday afternoon
My dearest Sister, I have made my escape from all the boys
that I might devote some portion of this day to you – Your
long, entertaining letter came yesterday afternoon – I believe Henry
had it at the Capitol all the morning and among other liberties
which he took with it he offered it to Worden to read – Worden
very politely declined doing so without my permission – as it
contains nothing improper for him to see I shall give it to
him if he comes here to night – I have had a very busy and
exceedingly uncomfortable week – What a task it is to send
out so many invitations when you have no one to interest
themselves about it – Henry of course wanted every man in
the state invited and did what he could to assist me by
carrying up loads of cards for Rogers to find people to claim
Blatchford directed them all but he did not feel any especial
responsibility and many mistakes have been made – beside that
he has for the last week had Miss Spencer to take care of
and was always away when most wanted – He wished me to
invite them all here to tea this week because they were going home before
the 3^d of February — I found it impossible to do so and as they had

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I have been reading your letter to Fred and Gus who are really
entertained thereby —

my card of invitation I did not think etiquitte required it – Pray
dont allude to these things in your next letter for he will consider
himself very much injured – Monday evening Henry had 50 gentlemen
to supper which interfered not a little with my arrangements
While they were eating I went to Mrs Dix’s she having invited
me that morning for the second time when there was a supper
in prospect – I expected to meet Mrs Horner the “Auburn Ladies” and
the Walkers from Utica I found a room full as usual at a
sociable visit in Albany – As I stayed but an hour and a half
the time did not seem so long as it usually does at such places
Mr and Mrs Dix were very polite and John Van Buren very courteously
followed me out of the room and proffered his assistance (I was alone)
upon the whole I came home very well disposed towards the Locos —
Before I could go and in the midst of all the hurry I was obliged
to send to Eliza Horner to purchase for me a collar and a pair of cuffs
having nothing of modern date on hand – Mrs Horner Eliza and Debby
all came round and brought cuffs and collars in abundance – I selected
a pair of cuffs and accepted the loan of a ruche from Eliza until
I could have a little more leisure to purchase the collar – Upon
the whole they agreed in thinking they made me look pretty well – A
ruche is two rows of bobinett lace ^footing^ plaited in the middle and made
sufficiently long to go around the neck and come down about a
fingers length in front – they are becoming and pretty for any thing so
simple – at present much worn – While I am on this subject which
I seldom find time or room to dwell upon I will mention the exceeding
prevalence of short cloaks — They are worn universally of all description
from plain merino — to velvet — a hood – no cape or collar – cord
and tassels – I think them very pretty particularly for young girls –
some of them are cut precisely like Grandma’s red cloth cloak
I have had calls to make every day this week when I could find time
and numberless other preparations to make – I have had to visit the
milliners, the upholsters, the carpet store, the crocking store and all

other stores, had interviews with cooks confectioners and fiddlers – withal
this Mrs Horner was so inhuman as to insist upon my spending the
evening there to meet the Stantons who were invited on account
of Debby and Miss Lord e – Pa and Sam went along and stayed until
one oclock playing whist – Henry and I left the supper table to
come home at ten – I being sick and Henry having dined at Jared
Rathbons, after the French manner — O how many kinds of folly there
is in the world – Among them all this apeing of French customs is not
the least ridiculous – Thursday Debby and Miss Lord spent the day with
me – Mrs Horner and Eliza the evening – Yesterday I went to call on
Miss Woodbridge whom you will recollect as coming here with Maria
Weed last Spring – this is the first time I have been to see her
I also went with Henry to look at a carriage which he thinks
of purchasing – Then I came home with a headache and had
an interview with two confectioners – Brian whom I engaged
to do my work I think is getting crazy and I should not
be surprised were he to disappoint me – he and his brother
have had some difficulty and separated – I am at a loss to
know what to do – we intend having a table not because Mrs Colt
was so much disappointed last winter but because it is the least
trouble – I believe I told you that Mrs Colt said she should not
come –that she hoped I would have a better entertainment than I
had last Winter as I then had nothing at all – It being the only
party to which she was invited she had no opportunity of knowing that all
others were conducted in the same way – Last evening Weed gave a supper
in his new house which Sam who is always extravagant in praise &
censure says was very beautiful – They have all our forks and
spoons yet – I have been trying for a week past to make Gus
write a letter and have actually made him commence this evening
I can tell you but little about Jennings and his new wife
I believe they go to Florida before they come here – do not know
when they leave New York – I saw a letter from Augustus to Clary
on the subject of the marriage from which I should judge

he was much pleased with his new mama – Pa dined out yesterday
and did not get his invitation to Weed’s otherwise he would have gone
Worden I think was there – Tomorrow we are invited to a party
at Mrs Lansing Pruyns – Tuesday the gentlemen to dine with Mr
Stephenson – How much I shall feel relieved when the next week
has gone by – Debby does not expect George until next Saturday
Miss Lord is anxious to go home this week –
Mrs Spencer is to give a party at next week – Mrs Taylor has not been
out of the house yet but says she will come here – she has kindly offered
me lights &c – What shall I tell you of Willie – he knows every thing
but will not talk some times he speaks words very plainly and then refuses

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to speak them again – he runs all over the house with a snuff box in
his hand and insists upon every one taking a pinch – insists upon Gus and his
father taking him up in a very clamorous manner whenever they come where
he is – he is determined to play with the fire when I came up I left
him endeavoring to light a candlestick by the stove with a splinter
of wood – Debby and he are very intimate when she is here – love to Clara

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Clarinda McClallen

Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05

and Fanny

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Frances Chesebro

Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24

your own Sister

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Mrs Alvah Worden
Auburn
ALBANY N.Y.
FEB 2
PAID

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Stamp

Type: postmark

Paid W.H.S