Chittenango July 8 1848
Dear Mrs. Seward
After so long a silence before redeemi ^ng^
my promise made you last autumn, I could not blame you,
if you should discard me entirely from your memory. Yet I
pray no grevious a calamity may never befall me. And
when you hear my pl ^e^ a, I can but trust you will excuse
all seeming negligence. (for it is but seeming) There has
not been a week, and scarcely a day since I left the shelter of
your hospitable roof, that I have not recalled my promise
to write; or thought of you, and yours. Yet time has sped
almost on lightning-wings and in his circles round, has
sweet summer, with her sunny eyes and fragrant breath,
steps forth - bringing a change - a warm and radient change
on all things round. Speaking of change, reminds me
of my own changed lot, of which no doubt you've heard
e'er this: If no, you will not be surprised when I tell
you, that I too, am now experiencing the first emotion ^s^
of the "divine life", as the more cultivated German wives
express the idea of wedded love. My heart doth feel its
loneliness no more. Life's spirit - lyric doth now
breathe forth in low, sweet tones to an answering
heart that vibrates with the richest harmony - - -
I had a long and tedious illness, last Winter
and Spring; for many weeks wholly confined to my bed,
and no earthly friend to care for me but my affianced
husband, and a younger sister. Methinks this
head would now be resting neath the summer surf
but for the deep solicitude, and tender watchings of
one noble spirit; the rememberance of which
is to the heart like dew upon the flowers. —

How I long to see thee my excellent friend. When I search
for a modle, for the wives and daughters of America, to copy;
my heart, sanctioned by my judgement instinctively reverts to thee
The hours I've spent with thee, in tracing the bright
thoughts of Scotia's honored bard in his spirit wanderings
o'er that land of song; come back to me like sunny spots
in child-hood. Nor do I yet forget the heart's delight whilst
gazing on the record of a Raphael's thoughts, that took
sweet forms of seeming life and beauty —Those hours
are numbered with the ones that go to form the
resting steps up lifes' acclivity - - -
I am now visiting at Rev^d J Abell's of
Chittenango - Perhaps you will recollect having heard me
speak of Mrs A as a poetess — I have been here nearly
two weeks, enjoying life most agreeably in excellent
society. How refreshing it is to come in contact with
persons who give evidences of possessing mind – who
are capable of thinking – of expressing thoughts and
ideas that deserve the name of conversation. It is
like finding a Gem amid a heap of rubish.
Mrs. Abell writes much and beautifully; and
whatever emenates from her pen is worth reading as she
has a high regard for truth and writes accordingly.
By the way have you heard any thing from
Frankenstein recently? I wonder if he is in Cincinnati
and how he is progressing in his soul-exaulting art
Whenever I think of that portrait in your parlor
chamber, I involuntarily associate his name with of
Raphael's; it seems to me, that one who can delineate
so much elegance and grace, must certainly possess an
uncommon share of the gentler, and finer feelings of our
nature, united to a truly high sense of the beautiful

I know not why it is I feel so deeply interested in him,
unless it be a sort of kindred feeling with one
from the of Father-Land; as you must know I
am some-what proud of my german lineage - -
Syracuse August 15th
I was obliged to defer the completion of my
letter whilst absent, owg oweing to illness at the
time, and subsequently visiting my native town - - -
I also went to see the once beautiful home of my
child-hood but Oh! how changed - the dear old cottage
embowered in sweet vines and rose-trees, was no
longer there; naught remained but a flourishing
gilead-tree, which was a graceful sapling then - and
how lovingly did it throw its protecting shade to
screne me from the rays of the summer sun.
It gives me sad thoughts when I see (that (to me) bright spot
(the rightful heritage of our family) yielding its golden
grain to enrich the coffers of a usurper. But I will
not murmur, the Great-Spirit is able to give us a better
home in a brighter land than this. —
But my kind friend how is your health this
summer, and that of your family? All well I trust - and
dear little Fanny? how I long to see her sweet face
again; may gentle spirits ever hover near her imp-
arting to her own loving nature the unfading
brightness and beauty of theirs —
This extreme warm weather gets rather unfrie- ^ndly^
on my constitution this summer - 16 my husband
was taken suddenly ill last night no better this morning -
the Dr has visited him twice within a few hours
I shall be most happy to hear
from you as soon as convenient.
Yours very truly
Anna Sheridan Smith

Mrs Wm H Seward
Auburn
NY
Syracuse
Aug
17
NY
hMrs Sheridan Smith
Aug - 1848