e Dear Clara, I am considerably more than half homesick
this afternoon – it is the first time I have had to think
I was so busy yesterday that I found no time to sit down
among many other things I found a peck of peaches
(for which Nicholas paid at the rate of 6$ a bushel)
already too soft to be good for sweetmeats I preserved them

notwithstanding – this occupied my time until after
dark, when the Weeds came to call Mr and Mrs Weed
and Mrs Weed's sister e. Harriet I have not seen. I went
to church this morning with Ma. came home in a violent
shower of rain – Blatchford and Bowen here as usual –
Mary gets along poorly enough with Willie – he
cries half the time which is not the most soothing
thing imaginable for the nerves. I have the
delightful prospect of 30 or 40 men to breakfast
Wednesday morning. They are chiefly from New
York accompanying Mr Rives of Virginia who
is going to Auburn to the Conservative Convention –
I fancy we shall all be up all night as
the breakfast is to be finished before 7 oclock to
enable him to take the morning car – he comes
up the river in the night boat – You see there is
no rest for the wicked – If you were with me I should
not be half so unresigned as I am tonight. I
think Mr and Mrs Seward will remain this week but I
must not come home with Henry – indeed my journey down
with a new nurse was so exceedingly uncomfortable that

e I feel very little desire to perform another journey of the
same kind – I want to hear from you all very much
do write as soon as you find time. I have a chambermaid
engaged in place of Harriet and her three children – Tell
Helen that Isaac has gone with Mr DeWitt after
writing two or three letters to her to which he received
no answer. Harriet says he felt very badly when
he went away on that account –
I have not seen Peter Miller yet – I hope Maria will
take good care of my plants – where do you keep fire now?
it is tea time good bye
Frances