Monday Morning 6 oclock
My Dear Sister, I have got up early this morning to atone for
my stupidity in not writing yesterday — I was very foolishly waiting
for your letter to come first — it did not come until evening and
then I could not write on account of my eyes — I am afraid
I shall not have time to write a long letter to day but will
write again this week — We have been in so much commotion
since we came home from Aurora that I have had no time
to write, hardly to think — Cousin Augustus was so disappointed
about the shortness of his visit that I took it upon myself
while he was here to make his time pass as agreeably as possible
and as it rained almost constantly my resources for am-
usement were put to the test — graces backgammon checkers
&c occupied a great part of my time — We got along very
comfortably in the boat notwithstanding the rain — Fred cried
loud when we lost sight of you on the dock because his “aunty
did not come too” — we found a stage waiting at Cayuga
into which we bestowed ourselves with our baskets paid our fare
which was unreasonable as they charged for Fred half price
and then insisted upon my holding him on my lap to accom-
modate a fat Irishman with a seat between Ma and myself
he being the eigth passenger in a stage with two seats drawn
by two horses with an immense quantity of luggage — I
remonstrated some time ineffectually and finally requested Titus
the man who keeps the tavern down by the dock ( a great rogue
as grandma says) to return me my passage money and
let me get out — this after one or two applications he did in
no very good humour — Ma who is one of the best little women
in the world trudged through the mud up to Foots and approved
very much of my disposition not to be imposed upon — fortunately
it did not rain just at that time — we staid nearly an hour
at Foots waiting for him to collect together a man wagon and
horses to send us on which he finally accomplished — we eat some
pie and cheese and started about half an hour after the stage —
Our driver was a very nice man and made himself very agreeable
he drive so well that we overtook and passed the stage loaded

down with nine passengers — they were part of them walking and the poor
jaded horses were unable to go out of a walk — I wish the law
prevented such inhumanity — We got home a little after three I presume
they were nearly an hour later — Cousin Augustus came about the
same time Our folks had waited dinner for us until 2 oclock
we were so much favoured that we had no rain all the way home
which would not have been very comfortable in an open wagon -
The ride to Aurora and back was too much for Ma’s feeble health
she was sick the whole of the time she remained — left us
yesterday morning feeling somewhat better than she had done
for the last four or five days — Augustus went very reluctantly —
Not a word more from Henry which is to me almost unaccountable
a packet came from Havre last week which sailed on the 14^th
of August we ought to have letters by this time even if our friends
were going to sail the next ship — but I endeavour to think
all is right and conclude they must be on the way home —
this is the 2^d Havre packet which has brought us no letters —
Ma was firm in the belief that they would be in New York
almost as soon as herself — I think not so early — I did
not see Kit Morgan when he was in town — have not seen
Beardsley — he was be so much hurried with business that
he could not find time to go to Leitch’s wedding — did
you ever hear the like — Pa told us very little, brought us
some cake — came home the next day about ten oclock—
but I will write all about this and other things in a few
days but must close and send this letter now that
it may be in time for the mail and that my own dear
sister may not be entirely disappointed — Gus was delighted with
Cousin Frances presents — kiss her for Aunty - Your own Sis Frances

AUBURN
SEP 14
N.Y.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Aurora