Friday morning
My dearest Sister
I have sought in vain for an hour to write
you a letter since I came home but Willie has engrossed
all ^my time^ . I invited Blatchford to make my apology for not writing
but I think his letter made no mention of it—
We left Albany Saturday morning. Anna had become so
impatient to come home that it worried me excessively
I hurried my preparations so much that I left many
articles behind and many things undone—fortunately
Harriets children had recovered sufficiently for her
to come and t take charge of the house—this was
no small relief to my mind—Henry had not returned
from New York but we expected him home the day I
left I succeeded in making nearly all of my
numerous visits but it occupied me until the
day before I left—it is unnecessary to tell you how glad
I was when this irksome task was accomplished—I
endured Mary until I came away after telling her just
what I thought of her—she endeavoured to be a
little more accommodating after that but with the
selfish end in view of staying at our house during
the session of a Baptist association—I wondered at
her impudence in asking the favour that is I should
have wondered once but I have almost ceased to be
astonished at any thing—I left her to the tender mercies

[top Margin]
Maria

Unknown

is nurse for the present but will soon tire of its
confinement—Every thing at home looks very natural
I enjoy being here exceedingly—I wish very much to see
you and tell you a thousand things which I cannot
write—I am very glad to hear you are on riding terms with
Mrs Sibley

x

Maria Sibley

Birth: 1802-01-29 Death: 1877-05-21

—it is better to cherish all of the kindly feelings we
can towards our fellow beings but we must consent to
take them as they are which is not always agreeable

of Harriet and Eliza and fancy if they allow her to stay
she will not find her home very agreeable—We
had as comfortable and pleasant a journey as people
can have in a rail road car where men spit
all about you unceasingly—I believe Blatchford did
not come tell you that we think Willie has the whooping
cough—by proclaiming this circumstance we succeeded
in keeping all children away from us and among
the numbers Mrs John Townsends—Mr & Mrs T—
and family were going to Lyons—Blatchford dined at
Utica but I had so many more important things to
attend to that I declined—Anna and Fred did not
want any dinner we all having eaten at St Johnsville.
Willie clung to Blatchford with great tenacity and
I was once asked “if that young man was the father
of that child” I do not know who the woman thought
his mother was but suppose Anna—A bridge had
been burned 5 miles the other side of Utica where
we all had to “walk the plank”—our baggage was
taken over by hand—another train met us on this
side—We reached Auburn at ten oclock—all
the boys were asleep and Anna too—McClallen met
us at the depot—we found them all up expecting us at
home I having written the day before—Augustus has grown
so that I could hardly persuade myself that he was my
child—he is proportionably shy and awkward—seems to
have taken his Grandpa is a model in neglecting all
the little refinements which make life agreeable—
but he is still dutiful and affectionate—I trust will improve

The next morning Blatchford signified his intention to write and
Anna having left me I begged him to tell you how utterly
impossible it was for me to write a line—but he forgot this
and every thing else but you and himself—his first letter
was so extravagant that I advised him not to send it—(I have
it still) the next he said was tame and spiritless but it
seems it did not contain much solid information—(I
have just received your letter and am a little vexed to
find you know nothing about us)—Blatchford is very much
attached to you—his feelings have all the enthusiasm of youth—
he would have gone to Canandaigua but I advised not—did I
do right? his separation from you made him very unhappy and
I having had some experience of the kind concluded that a visit
of a few hours would not have the effect to render him less
so—he intends coming in the Fall—He was delighted with his visit
here and I now regret extremely that he did not remain longer
having to day received a letter from Henry saying he must not
hurry home—He was very considerate and attentive to me
after you left—I like the creature exceedingly with all his faults
I hope you will write to him and be sure that all the good
advice you may bestow will not be thrown away—you have
probably more influence over him than any other person—At
present he seems to have no thoughts which do not in some way refer
to you—Willie had no winning ways which he did not regret
that you could not see—nothing occurred on our journey which
did not bring your image in some way to his mind—he will
undoubtedly be desperately in love one of these days—I hope for
his own sake he may find a worthy object for his vehement
affections—Freddy returned from New York the Tuesday before
we left in the Albany under the care of John Top—I did

not until Friday morning determine to leave Saturday—a letter from
Henry saying he could not accompany me if I waited until Monday
determined me to come immediately—Mrs Benedict was in such a hurry
to get home that I actually felt relieved when she left—Willie
was afraid of every one and clung to me constantly—when night
came I was completely exhausted—he coughs, and whoops occasionally
has coughed now 2 weeks still I am not positive that he has the
whooping cough—Helens sister has come direct from Ireland she
seems to be a good girl I think of making a nurse of her if
she is at all competent—She is however undoubtedly from the
Emerald Isle—
Dear Lazette I told you that I would write by
Sat and his wife but time has flew so fast that
when I began to think of going to see when they were going
they had gone I have been very much engaged since you
left Amanda Worden calld to see you the day you left she sends
A great deal of love Mrs Hills also calld my love to Frances C M
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
JUN 19
[right Margin]
I heartily approve of the Tennessee

x

Tennessee, US

arrangement if your health is no
better—You find your throat better when it is warm do you not
Mrs Mott

Unknown

has been cured of Bronchitis by the steam doctors—I should
not like to have you steamed—Dr Biegler

x

Augustus Biegler

Birth: 1818 Death: 1858-08-03

I suppose will be
along pretty soon—Clara

x

Clarinda McClallen

Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05

proposes writing if she can find room—
Love to Fan

x

Frances Chesebro

Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24

—
your own
Sister—
h

Hand Shiftx

Clarinda McClallen

Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05