Sunday May 24th
My dear Sister,
Were it not for this day of rest I believe
I should not find time to write at all – We have
been very busily engaged cleaning house this week so much
so that I have hardly taken a needle into my hands—
We have three or four more rooms but the most
essential part is completed. Pa went yesterday
morning to Seneca Falls – he is much better but
I did not think well enough to go from home—
He is very feeble and I think gradually failing –
returns tomorrow – Sackett was to meet him at
the depot – I received two letters from Henry Friday
both mailed at New Orleans – nine day coming
he said he should follow them in a few days
I look for him tomorrow – New Orleans is at
present a military theatre – Henry says nothing
of Augustus in connexion with the war
he is not ever in his thoughts as in mine, –
and then he could say nothing to allay my
apprehensions – the shades will continue to deepen
God grant that they may not end in total
darkness — that all my fearful foreboding may
not be realized – I hear nothing from him
or Frederick – Clarence wrote me more than
a week ago that the smallpox was rife at

Geneva and wished my advice about being revacci
nated – I have another letter saying the disease
is subsiding – I see Miss Bissel occasionally she
always enquires about you – I heard Caroline
Smith had been sick but saw her in church
today – Mrs. Cox and the Miss Conklings are
very punctual in their attendance since his faux
pas – I suppose the air of defiance they assume
has a very supporting effect – Margarette
dresses like a play actress, or a courtesan —
I am told they all blame Goodwin he being
deputized by the vestry to make the unpleasant
communication – they seem to think it a sheer
piece of malice in Goodwin and do not believe
in any general dissatisfaction – The whole
family including Mr Cox are very deficient
in wisdom – and I think rather destitute of
kind feelings – I hear many things which
I can tell better than write –
Old Mr. Wood is a provoking old creature but
his opinion is of little weight – There is no
person we meet more prodigal in demonstrations
of respect which however insincere they may
be evince a belief in some natural or factitious
superiority– his malicious observations though
very impudent when addressed to you
will do no harm – it is the penalty all
elevation either of intellect or condition has to

pay to little minds – I suppose I shall know
something about Mrs Maury's visit when Henry
comes if she does not come with him which I
think possible as he returns by the way of
Washington – Does Frances correspond with
Maria Lathrop I hear occasionally of Maria
having a letter from her whereupon all the
women look at each other very curiously –
Maria's reputation is decidedly bad I think if
I were Frances I would not write to her
any more – There were three girls sent to jail
from Callapoos’s last week I was glad to hear
Maria was not among them — The Dr is much to be
pitied and yet his bible tells him the sins of the
fathers are visited upon the children to the third
and fourth generation – The Priest is to come
every third Sunday the congregation having concluded to
give the church to the Bishop so I suppose Eliza will be more
contented – Jane is here to day – Blatchford will come home
some time this week – I think it was a mistake about his
[ brining ] a cook from New York – I am inclined to think
Jane will take the cooking as they wish her to do – but it is
not decided – Wyatt's trial will come up next week
the war has banished Freeman from the minds of
the people at present – Willie and Fanny are well
Willie has 9 chickens which occupy all his time.
My spirits are too much depressed to write a cheerful
or an interesting letter – Clara is well your own
Si[ ste ] r

Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
May 24

[right Margin]
1848