Thursday N Dec 2d
My dearest Henry,
I have three of or four
unanswered letters lying by me evidences
of your considerate kindness — I would have
written a day or two ago but was so uncertain
where to direct a letter that I thought it
better to wait — So you go back from Coopers-
town to New York instead of coming home
I a hoped you would this week—
Fred came home Sunday evening so late
that we were not aware of his arrival until
after breakfast the next morning — he walked
up stairs very quietly and went to sleep
without awakening any of the family —
His visit at Boonsville was very agreeable
Dr and Mrs Williams would not allow him
to come home before — then the cars ran off
the track which detained him until a late
hour — Last evening we went in the
rain to Mr Parks first French lecture or
Lecture on French — I was glad we went
as we were two of a dozen which com-
prised his audience — Auburn is not
remarkable for literary taste and the

rain probably detained at home by the rain ^some who would^
^have gone –^ The poor man imputed the failure entirely
to the unpropitious skies and appointed
Friday evening for another free lecture —
I do not think he will succeed in
getting a class here — Fred will be pleased
to be a member if he should — I would
go occasionally but could not give all
the time he requires — Pa thinks it the most
absurd thing imaginable for me to study
French — I do not attempt to make him
comprehend my motive as he would un-
doubtedly think that equally preposterous
he cannot conceive how I can either benefit
or gratify my children by any such
acquisition —
I think dear Henry I would not get
the drapery you mention just now —
Willie after much suffering has had
one tooth extracted but it does not
save him from a recurrence of the pain
which however so far is much less severe —
Fanny is well — much pleased with the
prospect of a new coat which Abbey
is making for her — A dull headache
must apologise for a dull letter — I could
not sleep last night and was [ consequenly ]
a prey to sad thoughts — I am continually
anxious to get news from Mexico though

apprehensive that each arrival may bring
more sorrow — I know that I have great
cause for thankfulness that our child has
been preserved so far from the dangers by
which he is surrounded — I hope I am not
ungrateful but the shadows preponderate
in my constitution — He “who knows each
chord its various tone” — will make allowance
for the imperfections of his children —
Do come home as soon as you can —
Mr Blatchford went to Syracuse Monday
has not returned or had not yesterday
when Fred went to deliver your message
your own
Frances

Frances A. Seward
Dec 2. 1847.