Auburn Jan Feb 1^st 1845
My dear Augustus,
Your letter dated the
17 of Jan came a week ago and would have
been answered earlier did not your sister
claim so much of my attention – I have
thought I would write every day but each
day seemed to have some particular hindrance
A frequent [ chance ] of nurses has been one
of the inconveniences ^to which^ I have been subjected
having already employed four different
persons – the days are short and cold
the nights long and with me nights
of watchfulness so that there is much
of the time during the day when I
feel unequal to any exertion – more than
half asleep – I hope you do not have any
colder weather at the Point than we have
here for the last two or three days.
The village has been unusually gay
this winter – numerous parties and

much driving in sleighs among the young
people – I wrote to Frances that if she
did not return soon the spirit of
gaiety would have exhausted itself –
Aunty writes that Frances is becoming
weary of the city and will return with
her mother in the course of another
week – Samuel Blatchford has been
there on business – he spent some hours
with Aunty and talked much about
his “wife” said he intended to favour
us with his company next Summer
Sam wrote a very affectionate letter
to your father while he was at Stock-
port and regretted his inability to come
and stay with him – Your father
is gradually regaining the use of his
wounded limbs – his leg is much better
so that he can go about the house without
his crutches though he still uses them
in the street – he has been attending
court three or four days this week and
when not more than usually unwell
spends the entire day at his office
his arm is still stiff and painful he

cannot raise it to his head though his
persevering spirit enables him to write
much every day – I fear the over-
exertion is prejudicial and will retard
its recovery – Grandpa and Fred have
been engaged the last week in purchasing
a small cutter which with the old
horse we all find convenient
sometimes – Fred has grown very manly
since you last saw him – he is talking
now about going to College in earnest –
he would like to be sufficiently prepared
to go next Summer but thinks it
doubtful – Clarence complains of hard study
he was not well when he wrote last –
Aunt Clara has attended two of the
numerous parties to which we have been
invited – one at Mrs Noye’s one at Mrs
Charles Wood’s – Fred drives for us all
he has taken me once all about the
village – he thinks he should like a
horse not quite so old and dull as ours
but Grandpa and he do not think
alike on this subject – Willie thinks
he is perfectly competent to drive two horses

he often reminds me of your exploits at his age
being like yourself perfectly fearless of danger
He insists upon Sister Fannys looking at all his
toys and thinks by the time she is four
years old he shall be too old to play with
her –
You will perceive I have written this letter
very hastily – We have your report for Dec
10 demerits – Your affectionate Mother –
Augustus H Seward
U. S. Military Academy
West Point.
AUBURN
N.Y.
FEB
2