Goshen Wednesday 25^th
My Dear Sister, I am now I hope commencing the last letter which I
shall send you before we meet once again. I hope by this time next week we shall
be as far as Albany on our way home. We think it no unpropitious events
occurs we will reach Auburn by Saturday or Sunday of next week - should
we be delayed two or three days longer than we anticipated I will write
you a line from Albany that you may not be in constant expectation
of seeing us. I do hope I shall not be obliged to ride in a stage
past your house I am afraid I should be tempted to jump out which would
be very silly you know - but I will not talk any more about it.
"It thrild the heart strings, thro my breast,
All to the life" as Burns says. I feel melancholy enough to day
don't you think I am here away from my little meek eyed boy - Freddy. Yesterday
morning Mr Seward proposed I should come to Goshen and make the visit
I had been talking of so long. I assented taking it for granted that I was to
bring my whole family with me - but I soon discovered that was far from
being any part of the arrangement. I was advised to leave both of the
children and a gig was announced as the mode of conveyance.
I thought at first I would take Fred and leave Augustus with Eliza but
when I proposed the thing to the little fellow he burst into tears. I
knew Fred liked Eliza just as well as me except for the matter of
nursing & I had thought before I left Albany I felt so miserably that
I would wean Frederick when I got to Florida. Still I would much
rather have remained in the house with him at the time. But all
this is thought very silly and Mr Seward says boys ought always to be
away from home to school at three years of age. It was a hard
struggle but I finally left the little fellow and I can see him now with
Augustus little straw hat on saying "by Ma"- taking Eliza's hand and
marching off. I never will do it again, I would not to please all the
people in the state pass another such a night as the last. Of course
I feel much more disposed to cry all the time than he does dear little boy.
I shall either go home or send for him to day. Only think Clarence was
only two months older than Fred is now when Marcia left him for two years
which two years I think in all probability will be prolonged to three.
I don't wonder Clarence says he does not want to see "Cousin Marcia"-
Our dear good cousins here can understand all my feelings and say they
will send for Fred to come out and will not let me shorten my visit.
Frances returns with us she says I must tell you that she expects we will

all be very much ashamed of our country cousin. With all that Marcia has said
about Frances Cousin Mary read a letter from Marcia to Frances to me last
night which commenced "my much beloved Cousin" and contained more express-
ions of esteem and attachment than I ever make use of to any one - certainly
to any one I am inddifferent to. This looks to me like hypocrisy.
But you have not yet heard one word about the wedding - my last letter
was sent on Thursday when it was raining and raining. Friday the rain
ceased and about 5 oclock 6 gigs presented themselves to view and
finally deposited their contents at our door. This of course produced quite a
rush in the house the arrival of 12 guests being no common occurrence.
The ladies all came in first they were Tempe the bride two sisters Frances &
Sarah Leddall Miss Lear of New Jersey and Miss Wood and Miss Finn of
Florida. Mrs Seward was so bewildered that she could think of nothing
Miss Julian had gone to put on her other frock with the expectation of
being, one of the company so it fell to my lot to conduct the ladies
to their rooms up stairs and furnish them with brushes combs and
so forth. her here they remained adorning themselves until 8 oclock
precisely. I thought they stood the cold remarkably well. The
[ young ] men in the mean time fastened the horses and brought in the
baggage and when I came down I was introduced with due solemnity
to Dr. Finlow, Mr Hoyt, Mr Leddall - Mr Cooper - and Mr Star
of New York. Then I took George one side and asked him if they had taken
dinner - yes - a fire was made in the drawing room which smoked most
sublimely - the young men were all invited into the smoke and Julian
and I commenced setting the table. The bride and brides maidens did actu-
ally, get dressed by 8 oclock at made their appearance at the tea table the bride
in changeable silk. A stupid evening ensued the mania of saying
smart things or not speaking at all, which you complain of - extends even here
though on a less refined scale. That Mr Star from New York - a coarse
conceited little cousin appeared to be ex esteemed the wit of the company
all his sayings were received with loud applause - fortunately for me
the children required much of my time and attention. I told Eliza that
John and Phillip would appear ^be^ very interesting in my eyes if I could get
them for company. Eliza appeared to have quite a sense of the thing -
said I must certainly tell Mrs Worden all about it she would enjoy it so much
We all went to bed about eleven - the morning came and with it a still
more busy day. The Jersey people were all to go home on Monday
so the party must e’en be on Saturday - was ever any thing so

Malapropos - fortunately for us the company all went to Goshen to dine at Cousin
Harry's and we were not retarded in our labours by their presence.
I wrote the notes of invitation all on my best straw coloured letter paper
thereby consuming it all - about 40 persons were invited our cousins &
the Wickhams from Goshen included. The company began to arrive at 5 oclock
and I could not make Mrs Seward stay in the room one moment so I
was obliged to receive them all without, knowing half of their names - but it
was not of much consequence here as the eating was of much more conse-
quence to most of them than the ceremony attending reception. After
they all came Cousin Mary Evans and I went out to assist about sending in tea
we found employment enough – ther[ e ] did not appear every to be any body two ^to^ do
any thing and upon the whole I found it no pleasant task. I thought then
how much I was indebted to you and Clary for always saving me from
all the unpleasant part of the management of a party - but I must leave
half of the vexations for verbal communication. The company left
at ten and I sit up until the Sabbath commenced to get the house
in some order for the morrow. Mrs Seward was so ill I prevailed upon
her to go to bed at 11 oclock. She is not well enough any of the time
to be about house but will continue to work hard. I did not feel
like getting up the next morning but knew it was necessary. Mrs Seward
stayed at home from Church and cooked dinner when she ought to
have been in bed - all the rest of us went to Church - and "Harry Seward wife"
for once did not attract the eyes of the congregation. I relinquished my
seat in the pew to the bridal party and sat with Mr Post - Adeline &
Gurnee were among the guests the other evening. Monday Morning the
company from Jersey took their departure and we finished restoring things
to their original order. In the afternoon your dear long letter came with
one from Henry at the same time. The receipt for floating islands came just
two days too late but I made some which answered the purpose very well
sorry I made you so much trouble. Tell Tommy we have not of us forgotten
him even my little Fred says Tom sometimes when he sees a coloured man.
I have not told you any thing yet about Mrs George W. Seward. I would rather
defer it until I come home as I have hardly formed an opinion yet. She
is not pretty - is not very sociable and is excessively diffident. 19 years old
and said to be an excellent housewife. I know you will laugh at so plain
a description but imagination is out of the question. I expect Henry on Friday
I suppose he has written to you before this time. We intend leaving here on Teusday
of next week and will be detained two or three days in Albany. Tracy wrote

me a short letter in one of Henrys - this you must wait until you can see
it is a kind of love letter. The Tracy's go to Connecticut when the adjournment
takes place I shall see them and the Carys no more at present.
I almost laugh sometimes when I think of your telling me once before I came
away that I must not find any one to love better than you. I knew then the
thing was impossible and feel much more sensibly now how much my affection
for you is increased when I compare you with others of the sex. Good bye dear one.
Frances.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Auburn
Cayuga County
GOSHEN
N.Y.
APRIL 26

[right Margin] Tell Clary I wish she would not clean house until I come home and get some one to help her
I know she will do it all alone if I am not there. My love to Grandma

x

Paulina Miller

Birth: 1751 Death: 1835-10-03

tell I hope we shall all meet
in good health next week.