Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, June 11, 1837
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, June 11,
1837
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:crb
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1837-06-11
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, June 11, 1837
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Canandaigua, NY
transcription: crb
revision: crb 2015-10-16
<>
Page
1
Sunday afternoon. 10th
My dearest sister, The blessed day of rest has again
returned I am once more alone write my little Fred
and can sit down and write with comfort. I received
your letter Friday am glad to hear you are no worse
What a dissipation
they sojourn for weeks. It appears to me that I have been
hurried the last week the whole time and yet I cannot
tell how I have spent my time. Mrs Seward
quite sick two or three days. Monday we had Mrs Fosgate
Mrs Horner
we visited Maria. Wednesday we invited Isaacs
and Mr
and Isaac and Mr Lucas and Miss Lord came - it is
so long since I have been in society that I found it quite
a task to entertain even these few - they came when it
rained moderately and went away when it rained very
fast. Thursday Mrs Seward was so ill as to be unable
to sit up - apprehensive of the typhus fever - she has to-
day for the first time since been well enough to go out.
They are still awaiting the return of Henry
Monday I received a letter from him saying his business
would detain him a few days longer in New York but
he would probably be at home in the course of the week
Friday another letter came saying he was obliged to return
to Philadelphia where he must remain two or three
days, or we look for him again Tuesday provided no
other annunciation of a different purpose arrives in the
interim. It was Thursday your letter came for the
Page
2
the same day came one from Jennings
had all arrived safely at Westfield and were expecting us
to visit them. Marcia
left Cincinnati. There was one item in Henry's letter
which threatens to keep me at home some weeks longer
I will give it you verbatim. "Mary Kent
to Oswego she will come to Auburn to visit you and spend
some time" ______ Henry makes no allusion to my going to
Chautauqua with him, he does not say he intends going
perhaps he has forgotten that I proposed going - Mr. Seward
still persists in urging me to make all my arrangements
that I may be ready to go as soon as Henry returns he
seems to make very little account of Mary whom he thinks
can as well come and see me when I return home.
Mrs Benedict
day what she put together the day previous - I have succeeded
in finishing the green coat for Fred and a pair of summer
pants, for each of the boys - tomorrow I go to Mrs Gillet
to have my merino fitted - on we drag along the north
room and my room remains in a state of uncleanness -
which is far from being pleasant. Mrs Jenning
hat home to Clara
was still too mauvaise ton to answer any purpose. Clara
sent it home again reiterating your offer to make her any
reasonable compensation for her trouble - we have heard nothing
from her since - Clara has had a pretty hat made at
Miss Riggs
$3__ _ _ . David Wright
hailed him - he says Marthy is able to ride and thinks she
will come out next week. I regret that I have had
no time to go and see the Posts - my
head aches almost
Page
3
unremittingly for the last two weeks. Pa
has not returned. Tell Frances
have with much seeking at last found an old hen and 5
little ducklings. Peter found them at Clute's
and Augustus took a basket and brought them home.
Augustus had been a whole week preparing for them has built
them a little house and made a pond in the barn yard
by sinking a tub in the ground - they seem much pleased
with their new home and swim and dive in the pond
finely - the boys are delighted. I am afraid the weeds will
grow very high in the little garden if it is so neglected.
Dear Gus did nothing yesterday but lie on a buffalo skin
in the wood house door and watch his new family.
Poor boy there is a depth and tenderness in his affections which
I am afraid will some day occasion him bitter sorrow
but we must hope for the best. There is one unfailing
source of sympathy for us all. He who hath borne our nature
can take part in our grief - and he hath said _ "O words that calm
The troubled heart with highest balm
"Come unto me, ye travel worn
And I will give you rest" ____
I will write again as soon as I can learn what my destination
is to be - that is as soon as Henry returns - for the present adieu
kisses for Frances - your own sister Frances.
Page
4
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
JUN 12
Type: postmark
h
June 10
Sunday afternoon. 10th
My dearest sister, The blessed day of rest has again
returned I am once more alone write my little Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
and can sit down and write with comfort. I received
your letter Friday am glad to hear you are no worse
What a dissipation
To scatter; to disperse; to separate into parts and disappear • To expend; to squander; to scatter property in wasteful extravagance • To scatter the attention •
of time company
occasions even whenthey sojourn for weeks. It appears to me that I have been
hurried the last week the whole time and yet I cannot
tell how I have spent my time. Mrs Seward
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
has been quite sick two or three days. Monday we had Mrs Fosgate
Birth: 1805 Death: 1884-01-19
Mrs Horner
Birth: 1780 Death: 1856-12-09
, Mrs Burt
Birth: 1809-01-18 Death: 1891
and Maria Miller
Birth: 1785-04-24 Death: 1870-04-17
here. Tuesdaywe visited Maria. Wednesday we invited Isaacs
Birth: 1791-04-30 Death: 1853-04-03
peopleand Mr
Birth: 1799 Death: 1839-08-25
& Mrs
Lucas
Birth: 1794-01-12 Death: 1876-05-12
& Miss LordUnknown
to tea.
Marthy
Birth: 1792-05-02 Death: 1866-01-14
Mrs Yates
Birth: 1813-09-16 Death: 1891-03-23
and Isaac and Mr Lucas and Miss Lord came - it is
so long since I have been in society that I found it quite
a task to entertain even these few - they came when it
rained moderately and went away when it rained very
fast. Thursday Mrs Seward was so ill as to be unable
to sit up - apprehensive of the typhus fever - she has to-
day for the first time since been well enough to go out.
They are still awaiting the return of Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
as I
anticipatedMonday I received a letter from him saying his business
would detain him a few days longer in New York but
he would probably be at home in the course of the week
Friday another letter came saying he was obliged to return
to Philadelphia where he must remain two or three
days, or we look for him again Tuesday provided no
other annunciation of a different purpose arrives in the
interim. It was Thursday your letter came for the
the same day came one from Jennings
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24
to
Henry saying his familyhad all arrived safely at Westfield and were expecting us
to visit them. Marcia
Birth: 1794-07-23 Death: 1839-10-25
was rather better than when sheleft Cincinnati. There was one item in Henry's letter
which threatens to keep me at home some weeks longer
I will give it you verbatim. "Mary Kent
Birth: 1807-05-19 Death: 1901-01-10
goes next
weekto Oswego she will come to Auburn to visit you and spend
some time" ______ Henry makes no allusion to my going to
Chautauqua with him, he does not say he intends going
perhaps he has forgotten that I proposed going - Mr. Seward
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
still persists in urging me to make all my arrangements
that I may be ready to go as soon as Henry returns he
seems to make very little account of Mary whom he thinks
can as well come and see me when I return home.
Mrs Benedict
Birth: 1791 Death: 1869-12-30
gets along slowly enough
pulling to pieces oneday what she put together the day previous - I have succeeded
in finishing the green coat for Fred and a pair of summer
pants, for each of the boys - tomorrow I go to Mrs Gillet
Unknown
to have my merino fitted - on we drag along the north
room and my room remains in a state of uncleanness -
which is far from being pleasant. Mrs Jenning
Unknown
sent
thathat home to Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
after making
some alteration but itwas still too mauvaise ton to answer any purpose. Clara
sent it home again reiterating your offer to make her any
reasonable compensation for her trouble - we have heard nothing
from her since - Clara has had a pretty hat made at
Miss Riggs
Birth: 1806-11-10 Death: 1898-10-19
the whole expense of which will
not exceed$3__ _ _ . David Wright
Birth: 1806-03-18 Death: 1897-02-24
was
passing here yesterday when I hailed him - he says Marthy is able to ride and thinks she
will come out next week. I regret that I have had
no time to go and see the Posts
Birth: 1812
Death:
Birth: 1803
Death:
unremittingly for the last two weeks. Pa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
went to Seneca Falls
yesterdayhas not returned. Tell Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
that Augustus
Birth: 1820-05-18 Death: 1889-05-08
and
Fredhave with much seeking at last found an old hen and 5
little ducklings. Peter found them at Clute's
Birth: 1800
and yesterday heand Augustus took a basket and brought them home.
Augustus had been a whole week preparing for them has built
them a little house and made a pond in the barn yard
by sinking a tub in the ground - they seem much pleased
with their new home and swim and dive in the pond
finely - the boys are delighted. I am afraid the weeds will
grow very high in the little garden if it is so neglected.
Dear Gus did nothing yesterday but lie on a buffalo skin
in the wood house door and watch his new family.
Poor boy there is a depth and tenderness in his affections which
I am afraid will some day occasion him bitter sorrow
but we must hope for the best. There is one unfailing
source of sympathy for us all. He who hath borne our nature
can take part in our grief - and he hath said _ "O words that calm
The troubled heart with highest balm
"Come unto me, ye travel worn
And I will give you rest" ____
I will write again as soon as I can learn what my destination
is to be - that is as soon as Henry returns - for the present adieu
kisses for Frances - your own sister Frances.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
JUN 12
Stamp
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03