Sunday morning –
My dear Sister,
I went to bed last night very tired
the visit of the little Napier's and Fanny Bailey
together was rather a boisterous affair – I found
no time to rest after my walk – Before dinner Lady
Napier called for the two youngest boys, but was
persuaded by their earnest entreaties to leave them until
after dinner – Then Mrs Bailey and the Dr came
for Fanny – she too was left – I talked some to all
and when 9 oclock came was glad to crawl into
bed – just about the time that our folks all went
to spend the evening at Dr Bailey's – The Napier
children were sent home after tea and Fanny
went home when Sarah & Anna went to her mothers
party – Preston King was here to dinner with the
five children and seemed to enjoy it as much as any
of them – He and Henry went from the Senate to Dr
Baileys – the Senate having an evening session – Mr King
says he shall send you a copy of his speech as soon as
it is printed so do not read it in the Tribune –
I went to sleep last night thinking I had no letter from you

[top Margin] I had a letter from Caroline Seward

x

Caroline Seward

Birth: 1828-05-22 Death: 1906-12-09

yesterday – they

x

Alice Seward

Birth: 1852-02-26  Death: 1927-04-04 

Caroline Endicott

Birth: 1857-05-22  Death: 1929-11-27 

Clarence Seward

Birth: 1828-10-07  Death: 1897-07-24 

have taken their house
until November

part of the mail was left at the Capitol
which did not reach us until Henry came
home – I have your Wednesday letter this morning –
It is certainly a privilege to have an intelligent and
efficient agent when one is incapable of transacting their
own business – Every thing seems nicely arranged – I am
very sorry that Mr Mansfields school could not have
been in Auburn instead of Rockland county – sorry we
are los ^to^ lose another intelligent & agreeable family – sorry
that Fanny loses the Latin teacher which I had calculated
upon in Mrs Mansfield – but I think we are doomed –
Frances very kindly wrote me a letter last week proposing
a housekeeper, every way desirable, not a housekeeper either,
but rather a combination of companion, assistant house
keeper and dress maker – My previous experience satisfies
me that I am not to be assisted in that way – No
person could be less exceptionable as a housekeeper than
Kate, as the servants are not suited with her
I shall never attempt any other – I suppose our
peculiar institutions will not admit such a
member in domestic arrangements – certainly not
until they could be more general than at
present – Delegated power is not sufficiently democratic

people rather wear self imposed yokes of iron
than to be guided by silken strings in the
hands of another – Unfortunately the mistresses
suffer more from the pressure of the yoke than
the servants in this case – –
Sunday evening has come – Mr Murray & Edwin Morgan
were here to tea, they have gone and Mr Stanton &
Mr Somebody else have come – Mr Stanton gives a sorry
account of poor Wilkeson who he says is suffering much
with his knee – he ^Stanton^ does not speak very encouragingly
of his recovery – he is in Albany now and confined
to his room – We had some vegetable oysters
for dinner which reminds me of ours at home – I
wish Clara would use them and the parsnips
if there are any – I am called away to see Throop
Martin who has just come in with Preston King –
Monday morning 6 oclock – As I have not slept since
four I conclude to get up thankful that the mild
weather allows me to sit without a fire – I have been
thinking, dear Sister, that if you could leave your
house unoccupied until I come home I should be
glad to have you occupy ours for a season – when -
ever you get ready – There is some painting to be done
but that ought to be done when you are away as it
makes you sick & perhaps the doors in the front part

might not incommode you in that way – I
would like to have the three in the hall
grained as they are in the Library – the outside
door on both sides – I would prefer Bradford to
do it – A Baker who works for Abby can do it
if he is sober – The table and bench in the upper
kitchen – the color of the wood work if you think
best – the inside of 2 foot tubs which are in
Will's room & Miss Hance's room – & the inside of
the chamber pail and the little tin slop pail
in the nursery ^yellow^ – These might be put out of the
house while they were drying – the rest I would
leave till I come – You can tell me when you are
tired of such commissions – dont attend to them when
you don do not feel like it – I hear John at
the furnace and Kate sweeping, which indicates
that I am not the only one up now – Louis and
his ragged coat will sleep some time yet –
George Andrews' wife looks a little like Garry
Sackett's last – though she is taller and not
quite so dark. Henry had a letter from Garry last
week – he seem well pleased with his visit to
Auburn – Do you suppose Fanny's French teacher could
get a class in Auburn – he wishes to go North this
Summer – is an excellent teacher – I asked Frances
if there was any prospect for him in Canandaigua
Love to Clara – Your own Sister –

[right Margin] This letter
was forgotten for last nights mail ^Tuesday^ morning