Sunday night–
My Dearest Sister Strange events have crowded upon each other
so thickly for the last three or four days that I hardly
know where to commence – tonight I am quite bewildered
but I will begin back to my last letter written on Monday
I was afraid you would not receive it so early as you
would have done had I sent it by the mail but as the
events proved, perhaps it was just as well. Teusday evening
Mr and Mrs Hills came over to see Henry but as he was at
the office attending a vestry meeting they did not stay
long. Wednesday morning we heard of Tracy's defeat in the
election and the same day about noon I was called for
and found Tracy himself seated upon the sofa in the
front room. I was very glad to see him as I love him
very much – he spent the remainder of the day with us –
left us at nine in the evening and the next morning
at four took the stage for Syracuse – he was on the way
to the Court of Errors which will be in session next week
that is this week on Thursday, only think of it by the
time you receive this letter. Henry will be on his way
to Albany for the winter – having been at home nine days
after an absence of nearly six months. He feels very little
inclination to go and will feel very much alone there when
Tracys time expires. I think now of going down the first of
January but it is quite uncertain. I can hardly reconcile
myself to the idea of being left alone again so soon and were
it not for the little boys, or did I not think a little
economy necessary, I would put up my things now and go
along. Henry regrets every day that it is impossible for him to b see
you and said he could have wept the other day when he read
your dear letter. I do not feel as if I had said the half
of the many things that I wished to say to him. Of course I

have given up going to Seneca Falls. If we had gone at the time
we proposed it would not have been possible for us to have
remained there more than one day so I suppose it is about as
well on every other account only that you will not see
Henry – this you cannot regret more than we do. Tracy
made many enquiries about you – all of these things I will
tell you when we meet which I hope will be soon. Thursday
your letter came and I was not happy all day. On Friday
old Mrs Fields spent the day here and Polly Ingalls came
to finished the work she commenced the day before you came.
In the afternoon Henry and went I to return the calls which
he had received from the ladies. We went to Miss Gardners
she was not at home – to Wallaces – Dr Rudds – Fields' and
to see Mrs Hills – found them all at home but Judith and she
we found visiting Mrs Rudd– she was quite over come with
the discovery that Henry had boarded at the same house in
Paris at which they stayed and that he had passed a
fortnight at Angouville the place where they resided while
in France. Henry has talked incessantly since he came home
the Office is of course a place of resort to see the Lion as
a man is who has been to Europe from this part of the
country. I tell him he las loses all of the ladies calls
by not staying at home. Mrs Hills thinks she will go
to Europe next summer and leave her children at home.
I do not know whether she intends to let Eleazer go or not
rather think she will as it will appear better in the eyes of
the world. Polly continued all day yesterday and Mr and Mrs Porter spent the evening here. Pa went yesterday to
Seneca Falls – has not returned yet – Today the most
strange of all events has occurred. Sarah Smith is married –
married here – and not married to Keys – now if this
is not a miracle I shall be no believer in miracles
for the future. I could hardly believe my own eyes and
now that I am actually convinced I think I shall never be
skeptical again upon any subject – but this important occurrence

claims a separate page. You know when you was here we were
all commiserating Sarah's situation and she was very unwilling
to leave us to go to her sisters. Last Monday Palmer came to see
her (an old beau of hers) and told her there was a young man at work
with him who said he would marry her if she had been a girl of
good character before Keys seduced her. Palmer spoke highly of her
and the young man wanted to come and see her. On Teusday he came
up and saw Sarah a few minutes while she was hanging up the clothes
he was talking to Peter and did not speak with her. The next evening
he came and was introduced by Peter as Mr Rouse. I believe he has
been here once every day since and today they were married. Of course
we have had all manner of speculations on the subject without arriving
at last at any satisfactory conclusion. It is certainly one of the
most unaccountable things I ever knew. Rouse is young I should think
not more than 18 he says 21 – modest good looking and certainly
appears to be sane and to have common sense. How it is possible that
he could actually desire to marry a girl in Sarah's situation after
a weeks a[ cquain ] tance is to me perfectly incomprehensible – there [ must be ]
something [ more th ] an has come to our knowledge to influence him
He tells Sarah that he has been disappointed. Peter has made himself very
busy and disagreeable throughout the whole affair – evidently very desirous
that matters should be brought to a speedy termination – Sarah hesitated
because she still had a faint hope that Keys would return and marry
her – but we all told her that this was by no means probable – Grand-
ma considers it an especial interposition of Povidence. Sarah did
not wish to be married until evening but Peter had Judge Groom
here when we came home from Church this afternoon. The old judge was
about half drunk and the whole scene appeared to me a species
of profanation – they were married in the dining room – all the family
present – Rouse is now here in the kitchen with Sarah. I think they
will stay here tonight though Grandma proposes having them go to the tavern!
the last conclusion was that Sarah should put her bed in Pa's bed room.
tomorrow she goes to her sisters. Monday morning – my eyes refused to
do their office last night and I could write no more – Sarah is washing
for me today. I have sent to Hills and got your shawl and Alnwick
Castle. I sent to Miss Riggs' and got the hat – she had not touched it –

I will not close this letter until I receive yours. I suppose you have got your
watch. – Henry went to Wards and found that Worden had taken it away.
It is a cold dreary day. and the ground is covered with snow. I shall come
and stay two or three days with you soon but cannot say whether this
week or next probably the latter. Tell cousin Frances Augustus will come
along and we will bring her a pretty little fan that her uncle brought
her from Paris.
I have just received your letter – am very glad that you had so pleasant
a visit with Helen ann. Henry starts early on Wednesday morning. I will
go tomorrow to Mrs Jennings – your own sister Frances –
Mrs Alvah Worden
Aurora
AUBURN
NOV 19
N.Y.