Wednesday afternoon –
My dearest Sister
I received your letter this morning
– am very glad to hear that you have a maid of
some kind – You will be surprised to hear that
Clara leaves tomorrow of or the next day to keep
house – McClallen hired a small house last week
on the street upon which Mr Wright formerly
lived – He does not feel inclined to wait even
a day — The house has been whitewashed and
the wood is ready drawn – to day he is putting
up a stove – tomorrow Clara and Mary commence
cleaning – The house contains three small rooms
on the first floor and 2 on the 2^d — It is rather
smaller than they wish but is only hired for 6 months
when he thinks he shall be able to suit himself
better – I am very lonely already in anticipation
I told Clara I believed I should not have come home
so soon had I known that she would leave me
immediately –

Henry does not come home yet – he was quite sick with
a swollen face S Monday – I have no letter to day
Sam Blatchford and Greeley were there – Greeley
has sent me a printed sheet sheet of his fugitive poetry
I will send it to you – I am glad that you for
one enjoy this cold weather – it is so unpleasant to
me that I have been out very little except to
Church on Sunday – Every body looked very much
as they did at this time last summer – I believe
I sport the only cape which has been seen in these parts
Croswell looked fat and preached drawlingy making
one regret the Potters exceedingly – Mrs Croswell
has a young daughter – also Mrs Murphy — You
have probably heard of the death of Mrs William Wood
she was on a visit near Buffalo – The
Unknown were
sent for last Monday she must have died before they
reached there – Mary Wood (Tom’s wife) accompanied the
children to Buffalo – Duffy went as far as the bridge
but finding Mary there returned – Mrs Wood died
of Billious fever – was ill but a short time – William
was with her –

Dont you think Harriet left the arsenic where poor Jenny the
deer ate it – she was very sick but is better and Henry
thinks will recover — Jenny the bird does not sit upon
her four new eggs but seems to keep them for show –
Col. Webb has been at Albany with his daughters on his
way to Troy – Mr Wickliffe the Post Master General
and daughter have gone to Boston – We should have been poorly
occupied waiting to receive Dickens — he sailed on the 7^th Henry
declined an invitation to join a party to see him on board the
steamer – Mrs Spencer is blessed with elastic feelings if she
can so soon have become indifferent to the conduct of her son
Willie says he wishes he could go to Canandaigua – he is
the busiest little fellow imaginable – Frederick commenced going
to school Monday morning – he thinks Mr Hopkins does not compare
well with Mr Parsons — Mrs Hills came to see me the evening
previous to her leaving for Waterloo where she is to stay 2 weeks
she talked about her neighbours and hired girls – I am enjoying
quite a respite from company which is the more agreeable as I
am far from well – I still suffer with nausea though much less
than when at Albany – Monday I was laid one side with
headache – Maria is the only maid I am able to find
yet, I think we shall get along rather slowly — John is a stupid
creature not half the help about house that Peter was – I am glad
Frances has been gratified with a long horseback ride I remember
how happy it would have made me at her age –

I will hurry through with “Hammond” and send him by the first opportunity
the 2d volume has arrived – I have sent the silk but intimated that
it was rather unimportant – Emily Weed is better she has
been very ill – Cora has had a fit they were afraid of hydropho-
bia and confined her – unnecessarily I think – Sam says
Mary Seward went to call upon Mrs Capt Canfield in N.
York who informed her that the Dr was to marry
Miss Lincoln without the approbation of her parent – though
no violent opposition was offered – I presume we shall
hear nothing on the subject from the Dr – Clara
and the boys send love – Willie asked if Abbey could
make butter after Aunt Clary went away — Clara is
deep in straw and feather baskets – churns jars &c
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN
JUN
8
N.Y.

[right Margin] The tulips are succeeded by lilies and peonys which are very
pretty – the oleanders are sprouting – your own sister
e

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Editorial Note

Written upside down

I have a letter from Gus to day none
from Clarence

x

Clarence Seward

Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24

yet –