Albany April 23^d
My Dearest Sister, I hope every letter will be the last one that
I shall write before I meet you but I sometimes
get quite sick with hope deferred. I have been so long
expecting to go home "next week" that it seems sometimes
at times the height of folly to make any calculations
about it—then I determine that I will not at
that I will await the wished for day ^with patience^ but a word
from Henry intimating his intention of going "next week"
again makes me hope and calculate and again prepares
me for another disappointment. Governor Marcy's mortgage
being disposed of I thought there would be nothing
to detain us but now Henry must write an address
for the close of the session. This he would have
completed before this time but he has been sick
some days and incapacitated for any exertion of
the kind—this is entre nous of course about the
address. Tomorrow the Assembly have been
graciously pleased to signyfy signify their intention
to consider the resolution for adjourning on the 278
adopted by the Senate. Some of the members say
the day of adjourment will be as late as the 6^th
of May there is no hope of its being earlier than
the 1^st. (Fred has just come along and says he loves
his Aunty Ma two bushels and a half and six and
seven beside and upon the whole has just announced
the whole amount of his love to be twelve bushels),
he has made himself a bed upon two chairs and is
just now very big imitating his Pa by being sick.
Augustus is prowling about the yard in pursuit
of a large black goat and two rabbits the
pets of the family. George Bement his junior in
years but his senior in wickedness is constantly
enticing him into some kind of mischief-yesterday
I found them all Fred among the number in the
upper part of the wood house where they had been
failling thier caps with saw dust and then putting
them on their heads-quite an improvement to the hair.

I have just received your letter of Sunday -I am very glad
that you have made so pleasant a visit to our cousin
Betsy-I know how much it must have gratified her
I am very glad also to hear that you like Moses
so much. I thought last summer that he was dis-
posed to do every thing in his power to make our
visit agreeable. I shall certainly call there when
I return if we pass through Marcellus. I am ex-
tremely sorry to hear that Grandma is afflicted with
sore eyes and feel very anxious to be at home with
her. I cannot determine yet which of the damsels
you mention I would prefer for a stepmama inasmuch
as I have never seen Miss Stanton but once-I must
acknowledge that my impressions at that time were
not particularly favourable. Your are very kind
dearest to take so much interest in my shrubs.
I have thought of them very often during this fine
weather. I am sorry the honeysuckle is dead but
I suppose the grave (as you used to say) which
Peter dug for it was rather deep. Judge Richardson
made his appearance here last evening having spent the
whole day in travelling back and forth to Schenectady
in pursuit of Mrs Abbot’s trunk which he was fortunate
enough to find at last. I was really glad to see
him. Nichols came with him-he has obtained a
situation to his mind in New York and moves his
family there next week. Catherine Clark is married
I have heard none of the particulars. Nichols mentioned
it casually just as he was going home. I engaged
to go with them to Troy the first pleasant day and
then will make some enquiries. I want to see
Mrs Boardman once more before I go home.
Last evening I had a long call from Mr Embry
of polite memory-he made many particular
enquiries about you and was otherwise agreeable

I can hardly tell what I have been doing the last week. I
have partly made myself a gingham dress and Fred a a [ sht ]
both of which articles we stood very much in need
of during the warm weather-but it is now cold
again and raining-one day I took tea with Mrs Tracy
and one day she spent the afternoon with us. I walked
every morning before breakfast when the days were fine
and shall do so again when the weather will permit.
I think it benefits my health. One morning we
all went to see Henry Webbs new house which
his brother Charles built and intended to occupy
with his bride. Henry wishes very much to dispose
of it and is desirous that the State should pur-
chase it for a govern the use of the governor-
he will not succeed. The house is well built
and the situation pleasant but I do not admire
the plan-it has cost him $20,000. Sunday morning
I went to Mr Welch’s church-in the afternoon Henry
Mr Cary an the little boys and myself walked
up to the burying ground and spent an hour
in meditating among the tombs-in the evening we went
to see Aunty Tracy. Monday afternoon we went
to ride on the Troy road as usual-in the evening
we took tea with Mrs Porter-met a small party and
spent a very pleasant evening. Tuesday it rained
all day-this morning Jennings made his appearance
and will remain with us a few days. I have been
interrupted this afternoon by Ward who came for me
to go with him shopping-he is going home tomorrow
so I went in the rain to oblige him remembering that
he used to do many things to accommodate us in
bygone days. We bought two dresses for Laura and
one for someone else. I am now almost sick with
the headache and intend crawling into bed pretty
early. Don’t fail to write on Sunday you letters
are a great comfort to me. I cannot say anything
certain about coming home. I hope tomorrow to know when
the Legislature will adjourn-your own sister Frances
Henry sends love-Jennings also-

Mrs Alvah Worden
Care Seward & Beardsley
Auburn
N.Y.
ALBANY
APL
24