Wednesday May 21^st
My dear sister,
I was beginning to feel anxious about
my dear little boy when your letter came to
allay my fears. As soon Henry comes home I
will make some arrangements for Willie to return
if Henry should not be going west himself
I will send Fred – Although I have a high
opinion of Horace Cook I cannot consent to have
him Willie to come with him– he was very
kind to propose it but his time is necessarily
much occupied and Willie you know is
so curious that he requires constant watchfulness
I am looking for Henry every train of cars his
last letter led me to suppose he would be here
by this time though it was written previous to
his visit to his father – He was there at the
Astor House awaiting his first cause – had seen
Mrs Samuel Blatchford – says she is “intelligent
independent and refined”– Debby has been
here all the morning– she came for those shirts
for the society and insisted upon cutting them

of course I have all the news – you may have heard of the
death of Dr Briggs little girl– she was buried Tuesday
died in a fit two days previous – she has had
the fever and ague and probably has taken quinine
to check the disease with the same effect that
it had upon Willie – this however is only my own
surmise – Debby said she had her taking a little
medicine for the fever and ague but did not know
what – of course I did not mention my suspicions
to her – she says Maryann is very much afflicted
and Dr Briggs is said to be nearly deranged
Mrs George Underwood has a son – Miss Pratt has
been to Aurora with Mary Morgan– some people
think she is to marry Henry Morgan– Mary Morgan
is the whole time at Mrs Underwoods– Dr Pitney is
the physician — Aunty Horner is very sick with
inflammatory rheumatism — Mrs Barton says
she thinks Ann is well enough, she eats like
a person in good health – Mrs Porter looks very
well and handsome — Mr and Mrs Cox commence
housekeeping as soon as the parsonage is ready —
Sara Wood says she does not care if Mrs
Seward is afraid to have any body pattern after
her chair– she has had one made by some other
pattern– Mrs Compston doesn’t like Mrs Miller

because Mrs Miller said to Ann and Ann told somebody
else that she thought Mrs Compston dressed a great deal
since Mr Compston had failed — Judge Richardson goes
every day to see Aunty Horner”— Well you must
have a surfeit by this time though I could write
four pages of the like – but I must tell about sister
Fanny who is getting very funny – she has taken a great
fancy to the cats and when the bread and milk is
unpalatable Mary brings in a young kitten which
never fails to restore her appetite – she is full of mirth
all day, Monday she never cried once – though she
found it rather hard to go to sleep on my lap without
nursing – I think Willie will love her more than eve[ r ]
when he comes home – she sits in her cradle and plays
with his little basket and the bellows long at a
time – I am looking for a girl who will officiate
as demi nurse and chambermaid – Caroline goes home
the 1^st of June – McLallen commenced moving Friday
Clara has gone to day to clean house with one of
John’s wild Irish girls for help – one that is abiding
here for a few weeks until she finds a place – she is the
most utterly benighted being I ever saw and evinces very
little ability to become otherwise – Bridget is intelligent
in comparison – I do not think Ann will succeed in
the kitchen department but must give her a trial

Nothing more from Augustus – I did not intimate to
Clarence that I wished him to take charge of Willie
he has written for the funds he mentioned –
I have heard to day that M– Throop was expelled
from Geneva College for intemperance – can this
be true! — I will write again as soon as
Henry returns if I do not send immediately for
Willie –

[right Margin] Love to Frances

x

Frances Chesebro

Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24

and a kiss for my dear little boy
upon the whole two or three kisses — we have a bright
green fence in a state of progress — in front of the
house – “very English” I suppose – do not fail
to write immediately if Willie is not well–
AUBURN N.Y.
MAY 21

x

Stamp

Type: postmark

Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua

[top Margin] I was very sorry I was out the day
Dr Witherell

Unknown

called as I suppose he has gone to Canandaigua