Saturday afternoon
My dear Sister,
Learning you may be anxious
about me if you do not get a letter this
week, I will write a few lines though
I cannot promise much – I have been more
than usually unwell for a few days past or
I should have written before – Caroline went
home for a visit the day after Elizabeth
came and I have had rather more than
usual to do about house in addition to this
John has kept me in the garden and court-
yard transplanting – and withal Glover
took this rainy week to put a roof
upon the house – I have not been down
stairs for the last three days but am
so much better that I hope to be able
to join the family at table tomorrow – Clara
toils in the kitchen with a very cross
Irish girl – I find Elizabeth a very good
waiter I am astonished to see how much
you have improved her since last fall

In many respects she is a better table waiter
than Bill who was constantly running over
himself – Elizabeth says she is pretty
homesick yet though her face is somewhat
shortened – she is much pleased with the
prospect of your coming here this Winter
and I presume will be quite ready to
accompany you home – it is a great
relief to me to have some one to wait upon
the table especially as the absence of a
waiter makes Henry so uncomfortable –
Our family is rather an unpropitious one
in which to teach that art and ^still^ I feel
condemned for depriving you of Elizabeth's
services now especially when you have
a new kitchen maid – I am glad
Frances has the prospect of a winter in
Albany as I suppose the anticipation is
agreeable to her – I presume she will
find some one at Congress Hall to matronize
her if she is to have lodgings there as it
is the chief resort of the fashionables, those
at least who do not board with Mrs
Lockwood or Miss Carter – I think she
would find either place agreeable

I speak of it as a settled thing that Worden is
elected – I believe Ontario never fails – You
will be very busy preparing there and then you
will come and have a quiet winter here –
Caroline came home to day – I have engaged
Mrs Greenfield whom you want to see –
Henry went to Albany last Saturday – does not
return yet. I presume he has gone to Orange County
to see his mother – I had another letter from my
boy last week – he particularly desires that
none of us mention that Dougherty was found
deficient– it is generally understood that his resigna-
tion was voluntary and Augustus seems to take it
very much to heart that that understanding should
prevail – he says it was thought rather unjust among
the cadets as he stood high in all studies but one.
Does Post come to your house? – and to whom does he talk
about suicide – talking is a pretty conclusive proof that
nothing will come of it – I am glad you heard Cassius
Clay speak – I have always liked the man's reputation
and written speeches – he has passed through here
two or three times – but none of us have seen him –
Mrs Horner has been in and staid until I can see
no longer to write – Tell Dr Matthews that
Willie's eyes have stood one test – he has for the first

time in three years had a severe cold in his head without
producing inflammation of the eyes – his cold is getting better
I shall again commence with the remedies for the
blemish on his eye – I have been a little afraid of
producing inflammation since he has had the caterrhal
catarrhal affection – Clara and Fred send love
your own Sister –
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN
OCT
19
N.Y.