Monday March 26^th 1838
My dearest Sister
I have just received your
letter written Friday — I think before this reaches
you you will have seen Henry – my last
letter from him announced Tuesday last as
the day of his departure from Westfield – the
roads are undoubtedly very bad, I do not
know that I had any reason to suppose
that your cough was more than mitigated
still I felt disappointed — I think the mercury
you have taken would have the effect of
debilitating you but I presume if properly
administered it will prove beneficial. I do
not exactly understand the nature of mercury
in the form of blue pills but would it not
be well occasionally to revisit the pill
and take some purgative medicine. I am
always apprehensive of some harm when
it is so taken as to become diffused through
the system. I have no doubt that it it is
the most efficacious medicine used in affections
of the liver – but do be cautious about
exposing yourself in any possible way to
a cold while using it — I feel much solicitude
about you and wish I could make you
feel a little more about yourself —
I went to Church yesterday morning – the bright

sunshine was very enticing but I found the wind
cold – We had a sermon from Mr Stanton an
agent for the Protestant Episcopal Sunday school
Union, he seems to be collecting funds as
our brother Jennings did before him - The
sermon on the subject of his mission was
reserved until afternoon – none of our family
attended - Mrs Smith was at church in the
morning she coughed so violently and looked
so ill that I invited her to ride home – she
says Smith is no better - she and Caroline
are almost sick – they have no person to assist
them – Mrs Smith seemed inclined to talk
about the Whig Prospects – says she has been on
that side since Martin Van Buren’s election
I believe I was not very communicative, it is
a subject on which I have little to say and
that little is so different from what is expected
of me that I would prefer avoiding the subject
altogether - I have spent part of
an evening with Mrs Hills since I wrote before
she was very agreeable as she usually is when
I see her alone — She is going to journey with
James for a leave – to improve her health – leaves
little Sarah with a girl whom she has known
only a few weeks – did you ever hear of so
inconsistent a woman she cannot yet speak
of the death of her little Mary without tears –
Mrs Porter is exciting the wonder of the
whole town by her wonderful abilities as a house-
keeper — She has been without a girl some weeks
in which time she has accomplished such quantities

of work as were never before heard of – of course
she tells everyone who goes there – I am sorry
to say that my surmises were true Mrs Porter
can get no nurse – will not employ Mrs Dean
because Mrs Beardsley says she is so vulgar
I have charity to suppose that Mrs Beardsley
has erred through thoughtlessness rather than
malice – poor Mrs Dean has not sufficient
employment to support her family – it is
astonishing to me that Mrs Porter can be influenced
by so trivial an objection – but so it is – Jane
Perry is too delicate ever to employ Mrs Dean
again since Mrs Beardsley has communicated
this discovery and I do not know but they
will persuade Debby that it is not best to assist
a woma[ n ] who is deficient in refinement – so the
world goes – Mrs Dean does not even suspect why
she is not employed by those towards whom
she entertains none but kindly feelings —
Mrs Sherwood spent the afternoon with us Friday
This was one of the facts she communicated
John Dill talks of purchasing Capt Chase’s house
They come this afternoon to see it – Clara and
I called there Saturday also at Leonards –
Mary ann was not at home – Amanda looked
unusually well – enquired about you with about
as much interest as she ever evinces about any
thing — Miss Sanburns questions are just
such as I should expect her it ask – you might
have told her that I took tea in your parlour and
did not desire a more agreeable place – What a
good visit I did have – I think you are altogether
more pleasantly and comfortably situated than you have

ever been since you were at the Gardner house – I enjoyed my
visit so much that I want Clara to go and see you very
much but she thinks she has so much to do preparatory
to housekeeping that she cannot – then she thinks you will
come and see her - they had about concluded to take Capt Chases
house – but this new sale will of course prevent that – they
have no other fixed upon —
I have engaged a coloured woman who has lived with the Sherwoods
to come in a week or two – we keep the girl I mentioned apart
she is not totally depraved but comes pretty near it — love to
Frances –
your own Sister –
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN
MAR 27
N.Y.
hMarch 26.1838
hMarch 26