Saturday 15th
My Dearest Sister, I will write to you this morning because
I know you will be so much disappointed if you do not
receive a letter at the usual time. I will not promise
that this letter shall be written with much spirit
for I am quite sick enough to be in bed where I purpose
going when I have dispatched my letter. I believe
I wrote last on Saturday. On Sunday I went to S^t Peters
Church to hear Dr Mason of Geneva. I was pleased with
the sermon but not so highly as with the one we heard
him preach at Auburn. He stopped at this house and
we found him very agreeable - he says he does not
preach at Waterloo any more - this must be a dissapoint-
ment to Serene. Dr After church we went to see John
Birdsall - found him looking very well and cheerful though
I cannot say that I think him out of danger - his
cough continues but he is free from pain and has a good
appetite - his sister was with him she appears to be
an excellent woman and very much attached to John -
we promised to call in the evening and accompany her
to Mr Welch's Church but he did not preach that evening
Dr Morgan spent the evening with us of course we had
a very interesting season. I was very sorry that
his presence deprived us of the pleasure of an evening
of conversation with J.C. Spencer. The next morning Spencer
left for home - we all regretted his departure extremely
the table has appeared quite deserted ever since and
Henry tries in vain to talk with Mr Colwell and Cargill.
Uncle Cary you know although one of the best men in the
world is not the most sociable. Mrs Cary is constantly
wishing that he did talk a little more. Teusday morning
I was sent for to make a sociable visit at Mancius' and
invited to bring both of the little boys with me. I went
over that morning to pay Mrs Roberts for my hat and calash.

While she was making the change I ran in to Mrs Lockwoods
to see Mrs Tracy - found her and Mrs Clary sewing very
comfortably all alone having just dismissed a barber who
had been transacting with them some important business in
the hair line. Mrs Tracy scolded me the other day
because I did not always send her love to you so here
it is and if I forget it again you must blame my
negligence and not impute it to her forgetfulness.
I went to Mancuis at six oclock but concluded not to take
Fred as I at first purposed on account of the unpleasant
state of the weather - it had been raining - the walks
were wet and the wind was blowing so that I had quite
as much as I could attend to to keep on my hood
and hold up my cloak. We met Mrs Clark & two Miss Lansings
at Mancuis. Miss Rivington and Martha Bowers are staying
there yet. Miss Rivington is peculiarly disagreeable to me
partly because she says so many rude things about her
visit to Auburn. Marthy was as engaging and as sensible
as she always is -, Mrs Clark (a rich widow) pleasant and
unassuming - the Misses Lansing, two old maids rather
common - place. Anna Mancuis is a good hearted sensible
girl a little stiff in her manners. Cornelia is disagreeable
from the excessive levity of her manners but I do not
think has a bad heart and is infinitely more tolerable to
me than Miss Rivington. We had a really sociable evening
I felt well and enjoyed it very much. I believe Henry
was equally pleased. Cornelia and Martha both played
and sung for us. Cornelia sings very well - they all seemed
to regret that it I did not come at 5 oclock and bring
both the boys with me. When we came away Cornelia
insisted upon my bringing home for Augustus a pretty little
chequer board - tell cousin Frances that she and Augustus
can play upon it - chequers - 12 men morris and back gammon
Augustus is busily engaged in learning the two former games
and will teach her when he comes home if she does not
learn before - we came home at ten went as usual to
Mrs Cary's room to tell her all about it - found a good
warm fire and a warmer welcome in Uncle's merry face
and Aunty's kind though melancholy smile.

I received a letter from Clary on Teusday in which you wrote a few
lines. I am very much grieved to hear that Grandma is not as
well as usual and feel very anxious on that account to get home.
Your letter came on Wednesday - I am glad to hear you had a
pleasant visit at Auburn and feel very much inclined to love
Maryann Dill for making you so welcome. You know I always
told you that I did not doubt the sincerity of her apparent
esteem for you. I should think the good people at Auburn would
nearly have worn out the subject of George's misdemeanors but
from your account it is as fresh as ever. I think that interview
between George and Maria was a piece of sentimentality which
it would have been quite as well to have dispensed with. I wish
I could tell you about Henry and the chancellor so as to make
the matter intelligible but I must leave it for Henry hoping
he will get time to write to you again when he is done
correcting proof sheets and dispatching speeches. Rathbone was here
the very evening that I received your letter and I made his
eyes glisten by reading that passage in your letter which
related to him. "She is a dear good creature to remember me"-
by the way dont you think he returns a great portion of that
enthusiasm which increases of years seldom fouls to chill if
not to destroy entirely. Wednesday (to return to myself again[ ) ]
I went with Mrs [ Car ] y to return some calls - went to Mrs Lock[ woods ]
and took in Mrs Tracy and Clary - went to Blanchards
Porters Bronsons Townsends Kings Websters and Dr Williams- found
no one at home but Mrs Porter and eMrs Williams. I remained
with Mrs Williams while Mrs Cary and the other ladies made a
call elsewhere - then we rode for pleasure beyond the Patroons
the day was intensely cold and I have not yet recoved from
the effects of that ride and subsequent exertion. Mrs Tracy came
over in the afternoon - the next day we were all invited to Benedicts
in the morning Mrs Cary and I went to see John - as he appeared well
enough to talk a little I told him some of the kind things you had
said of him in your letters - he appeared much gratified - he is still very
feeble and when he talks about returning home I cannot divest myself of the
fear that he may never leave Albany alive - from there we went to
Mrs Lockwoods to see if Mrs Tracy was going to Benedicts - made arrangements
to meet her there at six oclock. I came home with the intention of going
immediately to bed in order to be well enough to go in the evening found that
E. Morgan, Sanford and Dr Cole were to dine with us and had barely time to
dress for dinner - went to bed about four got up with the headache un-
diminished and went to Benedicts - found Mrs Tracy there and some of Mrs
Benedicts relatives. Tracy Cary and Henry came to tea - we had a
stiff evening enough - I was so fortunate as to get a seat by the side of Mrs
Stafford a sister in law of Mrs Benedict from Utica who was very sociable
and agreeable - with her conversation and the caresses of the children
a little poor playing on the piano and indifferent singing I got through
the evening tolerably considering how hard my head ached but I was rejoiced
when I saw Tracy take out his watch and announce to his

wife that he must go home. I believe we all felt relieved. Yesterday
Mrs Cary and I were invited to Judge Spencers to attend a sewing society
and I received a note from Miss Mancius saying they would call at 12
for me to accompany them to the House - all this important & interesting
matter must be communicated by the next letter as my paper is too
nearly expended to commence it upon this sheet.
Kiss Frances for Aunty - the boys are both well - I am now going to
to bed and hope to be well enough to go and hear Mr Welch preach
tomorrow. Your own sister F-. Henry's love with Mr & Mrs Cary's.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Aurora
Cayuga County
ALBANY
FEB 16