Monday morning – Sept 9^th
My Dear Sister, I had just written “My Dear Sister” – when my little Gus
brought me your dear good letter which had lost nothing of its warmth
by being transported from Aurora to this place by that iceberg P. Bronson —
I have not even amused Clary by reading it to her as I was all ready
to write and will not be delayed — Mrs Seward came in so I read it to her
and made her kind face mantle with smiles — ‘How easy she does write” —said she — I thought when I first came home that we would go to Aurora
on Teusday that is tomorrow — but last evening I received a letter from
Jennings saying Augustus would start on Monday and as he will
be here on Wednesday I concluded to wait as he would be so dis-
appointed to find us from home when he came — Ma also received a
letter form George last evening — George is in great distress to come
up and return with Ma — Tempe has gone to her fathers to show
that “tender pledge of connubial affection” of theirs — Ma does not
think it advisable for George to come as she thinks he cannot do
so without injuring his business at home and has just finished a
letter to him to that effect — I do not know how much he will
be pleased with the advice but the necessity of his coming appears
to be superseded by the visit of cousin Augustus — We did have
a very rainy muddy unpleasant time coming home — we got
to Beary’s before it rained hard the second time — I could not
make up my mind to remain there all night only 6 miles
from the Cols where I knew we should be so comfortable — so
we waited until it rained quite moderately and then prepared
ourselves to ride in the rain – we got along as comfortably
as could be expected — arrived at Col Mynderse’s about 7 oclock
not yet dark — they were very glad to see us but had given over
all expectation of our coming that night —Miss Ceely had as
usual invited company but finally sent word to them that she
did not think we would come — They we much disappointed
that you was not along and anticipated much pleasure from
the visit I told them you were going to make them — I was very
glad I left the letter with the Col — he appeared so much gratified —
Pa had been out that afternoon with three or four other gentlemen
and returned immediately — I have no doubt his real motive was
to discover what had become of us — After breakfast we changed
to make some calls but here Miss Carly interfered — she much always
manage things in her own way you know — She would send for the Miss

Wards and as for Mrs Hoskins she had gone out of the village on a visit –
so we submitted with the best grace we could knowing resistance
would be unavailing — About nine oclock we all started for Waterloo
having promised Miss Carly to come back to tea and then go on home
she said she would have tea at 4 oclock - encountered two of three slight
showers on our way - found Serene of course not expecting us - Birdsall
had been sick all night - she had been watching and looked fatigued
I supposed Birdsall was very ill but soon discovered that he was at the
office — I was inclined to think it was not a very propitious time
for our visit but Serene would not consent to let us return before
dinner though she said she must say we had deferred our visit
so long that she had finally become quite indifferent about our
coming at all - Serene appears very much as she used to - her
brow never was cloudless and it would not be wonderful if
an increase of care had deepened the shade — I believe she
was glad to see us and did all in her power to make us
comfortable — but after all there was not that cordiality that
warmth in our reception which I am sure I should always give
Serene were she to come here — this is her peculiarity perhaps and
“we all have our little foibles as the Frenchman said who was making
a stern of the head ^of his^ Grandmother” Birdsall was very polite and I
suppose to many would have been very agreeable — I cannot think him
worthy of Serene - Will was there he is coming back to Auburn and going
into Bronsons office soon — We left there before three — came to the
Col’s — found Mary ann Ward Mr and Mrs Dye and Uncle Peter Winger
together with Sammy and “Charles my child” — Our kind friends
hospitable spirit never forsakes him and here we are always sure
of a hearty welcome — it was really refreshing to have the old
gentleman kiss you and say “I am very glad to see you back again”
just as though we had not left a few hours before — We must cer-
tainly make that visit we contemplated - and then too I promised
we would go to Serenes - and to see Miss Ward — Cecelia gave us
our tea according to promise a little after four and at 5 we arise
again homeward-bound with one of the most dull of all dull horses —
we were actually afraid he would give out and not get us home at all
Clary and I walked over the bridge which is certainly in a bad state
we came that way because it is so much nearer — the planks are
almost entirely gone from one side and some part of the way no
railing between - I should think it very dangerous for stages of a dark night
we dragged over the remainder of the road occasionally stopping to water
our fiery steed and got home precisely at nine oclock P.M —

Grandma and Pa of course had made up their minds we were all dead
Mrs Seward was more wise and endeavoring ineffectually however to impart
some of her composure to Grandma. I found a long letter from Tracy
on my table — he was then in Norwich at his fathers not well but
expected to go to New York the next week — he and John Birdsall are to
board with Dana Ward — he say not a word of Mr or Mrs Cary a hard-
ly think they are there — The court he thinks will sit 5 or 6 weeks —
Jennings says in his letter Tracy has chills and fever — so I suppose he has
returned to New York and is ill — On Saturday I had another letter
from Henry written 10 days after the last — he was then on the River
Rhine in Prussia and was uncertain when they would sail or whether
they would go to Switzerland or France from Germany - if they
go to Switzerland they will undoubtedly go to Italy and in that
case will not be home so soon — his father hurries him so that
I am sure he cannot enjoy his tour though with his usual meekness
he makes no complaints — he was sick two or three days at New —
Castle-on-Tyne the effects no doubt of this rapid travelling —
I cannot feel at all satisfied about it myself — The last letter
is a continuation of this journal from Edinburgh to London — I shall
try and send both of these letters that is yours and the last some
time this week if we do not come out ourselves — if we come
I suppose it will be on Thursday but it will depend on the
weather and Cousin Augustus — We went to Hopkins Church [ on ]
Sunday and heard a Sermon from the Rev Alonzo Pease — who
was much more tolerable than could be expected — a Mr J
preached in our Church — but I wanted Mrs Seward to hear Mr
Hopkins — this is the only time I have been out of the house - I
feel no disposition to go since you dearest have left me - I
found mself on Sunday looking wa up towards George Throops
to see if I could not discover you and little Fan coming —
The little boys are com well and talk much of visiting you I shall
bring Fred when I come - he trains all the time with a little
paper cap and coat that Mary has made him — I must send
Augustus to school this or next week — the weather is cold and
unpleasant — Clary and Ma went Sunday evening to hear Mr Peck —
Hugh came home from with them and Clary professed to be very much
disgusted with him — but I suppose that will not continue —
Beardsley says he is going out on Saturday if I do not go before I think
I will come out with him I can see you a few hours - and this
will more than make amends for a day of headaches and Rheumatism
All send love — kiss Fan for Aunty — your own Sister — Frances —

AUBURN
SEP 10
N.Y.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Aurora —