Sunday Aug 25^th 1839
My dearest Sister
I received your letter yesterday
too late to answer it I am glad to hear you are
better. There are few people who are sick long at a
time without meeting with the same unfeeling
uncharitable expression of opinion which you have
found at Canandaigua. I am astonished that Dr
Cheney after so long an acquaintance with your
symptoms should still be so utterly ignorant
about your disease which has always from the
beginning appeared to me as plain a case as
ever came under my observation. but as you say nervous
complaints seem to afford physicians a very
convenient shelter when their skill in detecting
disease is at fault. Poor John Beach six
weeks previous to his death was said to be merely
suffering with hypo. My greatest fear is that you
will think yourself better than you are and by
some imprudent exertion or exposure bring your
illness to a fatal termination. I received last
week a short letter from Harriet accompanied with

[top Margin] We have succeeded in getting Willie to nurse a bottle by using a piece
of fine sponge in place of a tube. it is a very pretty invention
Mrs Hills

Unknown

e

x

Editorial Note

Possibly Almira Hills

x

Almira Hills

Birth: 1790-10-15 Death: 1857-10-25

or Hilda Maria Hills

x

Hilda Hills

Birth: 1808

recommended it to me. this is a relief to me. but he
still insists upon nursing more than is comfortable many nights
the dear little fellow is very hearty and I am afraid to give
him too much of the cows milk. perhaps I will be better when my
hea strength returns. I must prepare the bitters

x

bitters

A liquor in which bitter herbs or roots are steeped •

you advised. I am
now taking Balsam of Tolu (my own prescription) for the pain in my
breast. She that was Miss Sutton

Unknown

is visiting
Mrs Hills with 2 children

x2 children

x
Unknown

Unknown

a nurse

Unknown

&c. I have not seen her. Clary
says she does not wish to. your own Sister

a copy of a long and deeply interesting letter written by
a Mrs Perkins a friend of Mrs Hunt (John Birdsall's
sister) containing a very particular account of Johns
illness and death. I presume Mrs Hunt sent the
letter to Weed and Harriet has very kindly copied
it for us. How many times I have wished that
we could read it together. I will send it to
you should I have a good opportunity soon. I
think it probable that Harriet will be here in the
course of a week or so though she says nothing about
it. she had not at that time received a letter
I have written urging her to come. I know if she
comes she will wish to go to Canandaigua where I
hope you will return with her. It is rather uncertain
when I go to Albany but I think not before the
last of September or 1^st of October. there seems to be
no particular necessity for my being there at present
and I judge that Henry will be absent a considerable
part of the time next month. he thinks he will
not be able to come for me and proposes that
I should go now. that of course is out of the question
I had a letter from Harriet last week. Lucinda's child
died with the consumption the week previous.
Harriet Frances is very unwell. She wishes to know

whether I shall want her after I come down. they will
all stay in Albany this winter. I must write to her
to day. I had also a long letter from Marcia written
at Dr Hunters in New York. She was much gratified
with her visit as Dr Canfield's. found them very
comfortably situated, says she can see no reason why
the Dr should wish to part with any of his children
the two Miss Andrews who have the superintendence of
his house and the care of his children are very
suitable judicous persons fully competent to do
justice to their charge. Marcia says not a word about
having proposed to take Caroline but says the Dr seems
to have made up his mind to part with her to some o[ne]
which she thinks a very unnecessary sacrifice for
him to make. Marcia however expresses her willingness
to do any thing for Cornelia's children which may be
thought proper and asks my advice or opinion on the subject.
She thinks the Dr very much changed by his affliction
and expresses her conviction that he is a sincere believer
Altogether her letter was written in so kindly and
charitable a spirit that I felt condemned for what I
said in my last. will you do me the favour to burn
it. Marcia goes from N. York to Florida where she will remain
until the vault is completed and a reinterment of the
dead has taken place. then returns home. Last Wednesday

Clara and Augustus went to Romulus. Augustus drove the pony
before a light wagon. they had a very satisfactory time. found
all well. returned again on Friday. Mrs Benedict left me
Tuesday for 3 weeks. her place is supplied by Miss Brown a woman
of 40 or 50 who is an excellent baby nurse. Willie grows so
fat and playful I do wish you could see him. he never does
any thing graceful or attractive without my wishing his Aunt
could see him. he is already afraid of strange faces.
Henry was so nearly correct about my health as a man whose
mind is similarly engrossed could be expected to be. I probably looked
better than he expected to see me and am much more cheerful
than I could be last winter. The pain in my breast is constant and
sometimes so severe that I can speak with great difficulty. I feel
faint and languid in the morning. am better in the middle of the day
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N. Y.
AUG 26

[right Margin] and by 8 oclock in the evening so completely exhausted that I am
obliged to go to bed. have the nervous headache about as usual
you can judge whether I was better 20 years ago. Clara said
there was a wide difference in the account she gave at Romulus
and the one Henry gave you. The dear creature (as she is) was
very much afraid I would kill myself by nursing Willie.