Monday morning – 19^th
My Dear Sister – I have not written one word to you since last Thursday when
your little boy was in the midst of the measels- He wh has almost nursed
me to death since that time – I have to day commenced weaning him days
again and shall of course be obliged to stay most of the time out of
the room - - Thursday while I was sleeping Columbus Boardman and Miss
Stanton called. I was very glad Eliza did not awaken me as I
should have had the trouble of dressing. Friday the measels began to
disappear from Freds face and arms but he insisted upon our walking
with him some yet. Eliza went to the store and he played about the
room in the afternoon. Saturday morning he was quite playful and
quiet and has continued improving ever since. Saturday morning
Mrs & Miss Blanchard called. The day was very delightful and after dinner
Henry, Tracy and I went to take a walk – took Gus with us he was delighted
to get once more in the street. We went to a dozen stores in South Market
Street but could not succeed in getting any red stockings for Fred then
we went to Mrs Burts in North Market who keeps the best kind of
molasses candy – after getting a supply we continued our walk to the
end of N. Market street where the water was running in rivers ac ^r^ oss
the Street – then came home, Gus and I were heartily tired our clothes were
all mud and Gus' feet very wet – Henry and Tracy went out to Mr
Hopkins to call – we were invited there to a party the evening previous
– Sunday I could not go to church all day it rained and rained so –
Eliza went in the morning and I went to bed after she came home
was so fortunate as to obtain a bible the first I have had since I came
from home. Tracy spent most of his leisure time with us until Saturday
when he succeeded in getting a room of his own – the room Mr and Mrs
Juliand used to occupy. Saturday and Sunday he sat with us until bed time
to day I have only seen him at meals – he does know a great deal – his health

and spirits are much improved since he was at Auburn – I do not now notice
so much his precise manner which I do not think pleasing exactly – I believe
Henry tells him everything that passes in his mind. Sunday night he got your
letter and read containing a description of the burning of the church — Tracy
was delighted with it, said many things very complimentary to the writer
which I could not repeat if I would – certainly not as he said them –
Tuesday morning – I am quite out of breath just now having run up three pair of
stairs to see the river – the ice is broken up and moving it is certainly a
grand sight – but there is every prospect of a flood the river has risen
to an uncommon height within the last two or three days and as it is not
yet open below this city that is within 50 or 60 miles the ice will
form a dam and throw the water back – Greenbush is entirely surrounded
with water appears like an island we discovered through the glass that two old
buildings apparently out houses had been undermined and fallen – the water
was running through the streets and the houses all appear surrounded
Mr Landon says he has never seen the river so high – it is said to be 10 feet
higher at Troy than usual – I am afraid there will be many sufferers by
the flood if the present prospect is realized – We have seen nothing yet
come down the river but piles of boards – The people here and at Greenbush
are mounted on the tops of the buildings to enjoy the sights – Gus I left
up in Mrs Beardsley’s room very much animated pretty much all the children
of the house were assembled there – I am going up again soon – Yesterday I was
obliged to keep out of my room all day – it is just as much trouble to wean
Fred now as it was the first time – I spent the morning some part of it in
the ladies parlour practicing on the piano, some of the time in Mrs Browns
and Mrs Beardsley’s rooms – The afternoon I stayed with Mrs Cary – she
s is a very good, affectionate woman – she thinks a great deal of having
me read some part of your letters to her always – never fails to comment
upon the ease with which you write – says she feels quite acquainted with
many of the Auburn people from your account of them – I think her a woman
of very good sense and great prudence and propriety of conduct – She has sent

for her little neice(or daughter as they consider her) to be brought down – I think I told you
they had been informed that she had the S^t Vitus’ dance – Mrs Cary grieves very much about
it wishes to have her here under the care of a physician ^here^ - Mr Cary good man always
gratifies her in everything – he has sent for his sister a widow lady to accompany Sarah
to come with Mr Cary’s carriage and horse. Trumball gets along slowly – he can now
open his eyes himself and keeps them open a long time – but he is very weak yet and
his stomach very much deranged – James Horner called on Saturday – I do not think he
amounts to much – that makes me think of my dream last night – I dreamed Mrs
Horner dear woman was dead and Mr Horner crazy – probably because he had killed her –
do give my best love to Mrs Horner when you see her – Last evening we called at Mrs
Sanfords – not at home – then we spent the remainder of the evening at Mr Lovatt’s
very pleasant people there – not at all cerimonius – said I must come over any time in the day when I felt so disposed – Fred eats, drinks and sleeps as well as usual but he is not weaned yet – when he sees me he is constantly teasing for some
or “tub” as he calls it – I suppose the boats will arrive here now in a day or two
and then we shall look for Mrs Tracy – I talk of going to Orange County the latter
part of next week – it is almost the middle of March now – I hope six weeks more
will find us on the road or canal homeward bound – It is a delightful day – to-
night is Mrs Throops party – I must send that apology of mine soon – Tracy Henry
and Gus went down to see the river this morning before the ice moved however –
Wednesday morning – I spent a considerable part of the morning yesterday looking out of the window in Mrs Beardsley’s room – The boarders at the eagle were obliged to
be carried to their meals in boats — the loss of property is estimated at $100,000
but I suppose you will read an account of it in the paper – Frederick continues very
troublesome about nursing he will not let me stay in the room at all. I have
had a vast deal more trouble with him ^more^ than I had when I weaned him days
before. In the afternoon I sent an apology to Mrs Throop pleading indisposition which
for a judgment upon me was soon realized by my having an intolerable headache
all the evening. Tracy spent the evening with us. He is a singular being – I believe he has
reasoned himself into a belief that he is not influenced by any of the impulses
that actuate other people – Still I do not think him vain – he certainly knows
more than any man I ever was acquainted with – but I do not think I would have
discovered this in a year of ordinary intercourse – He does not make himself at all
conspicuous at table. If he is sensitive he has great controal over his feelings. Every
thing he says or does appears to have been deliberated upon – Henry thinks he talks as he feels in
our room without any reserve – he appears to think Henry a very hot-headed impudent
young man – is evidently f very fond of him which fondness is fully reciprocated on Henry’s part
Tracy asked me how many times Henry and I had quarreled since we came here – said he
and Harriet had had a good many fights since during their journey – he always speaks
of her with the same freedom to us – always with affection – I do not know how the little woman
herself would like it – I imagine she is pretty high spirited – but Henry says they always talked
every thing to him about their own affairs last winter, both of them – He pets the children
a great deal but this is different from any one else – he never fails to reprove Gus when he is
faulty and praises him very circumspectly for his good deeds – The first thing he did after
he came was to endeavour to persuade Augustus that St Nicholas was an imaginary being
little Gus dont exactly know what to think as he can get no decided confirmation of his
belief from his Pa – he has never applied to me. Tracy will talk to him half an hour at a time with

as much seriousness and very much in the same style he would to a man of 20 - - He says he
has lost all the ambition he ever possessed to become great – sickness has crushed all his aspirings
now his only ambition is to do good to his fellow men – but I could not perceive that he
had fixed on any particular plan for the accomplishment of his wishes – I do not think
three sheets of fools cap would contain all the conversation that passed between him and Henry
last night – of course I content myself with listening – I shall treasure up as much as my indifferent
memory will allow me to tell you when I come home – Tracy conversation reminds me of a book of
Synonymes he hardly ever makes use of the same words to express ideas that have a shade of
difference –
I waited in vain for the coming of a letter to day – I shall certainly expect it
tomorrow morning – I have hardly been warm to day – Gus is waiting
anxiously to send his letter to Frances – Your own Sister Frances
Mrs Alvah Worden –
Auburn –
ALBANY
MAR
14

[right Margin] Mr Cary went to the party last evening – not very generally attended by ladies & the entertainment
squish as usual – I have not seen Mrs Bearsley since – she went – none of the other ladies from here –
It is a bitter cold day again to day – the waters are subsiding in the river – I expected a letter certainly
this morning, but it came not – it is too late to send this to day so I will not seal it until
evening –