Albany Wednesday 8^th—
My Dearest Sister, Another of your kind letters came yesterday
and I felt reproached for not sending one to you earlier. I
hope you will not get home before mine reaches Aurora
I sent it on Monday – that afternoon Henry and Mr and
Mrs Cary went to see Mrs Tracy – they found her at
Mrs Lockwoods with a house full of ladies – in good
health and fine spirits – among the ladies was Mrs
Judge Nelson (alias Catherine Russell) who is to remain
in town four or five weeks. Mary Warren and George
called that afternoon upon me. Mary is enceinte (you
perceive how useful my french becomes) she looked thin
and pale I could hardly realize that it was the once beautiful
Mary Bowers – her mind is much the same it was when
we knew her – her manner very good and one might
talk a qarter of an hour with her on indifferent subjects
without discovering how vain how frivolous and how heart-
less she is. George is rather improved in his manners
does not talk the whole time of Dash and his horses –
and occasionally advances an idea in which self does not
so entirely preponderate as to render it disgusting.
In the evening I went to the Theatre (N. B - I was to ill
to call on Mrs Tracy that afternoon) to see Forest perform
Oralloosa – John C. Spencer is here and although he
is now a Grandfather he retains all the enthusiasm
of a boy. I never was more disappointed in a man
he is very agreeable – well he persuaded me to go
to the play – said there could be nothing finer than
this Tragedy performed by Forest and finally induced
me by his glowing description to go against my
better judgement. Mrs Cary was not so easily per-
suaded so I went alone with Spencer Uncle Cary
Henry Grover and Walter and Augustus. I was
delighted with the play and although the Theatre

was uncomfortably cold and I found my feet were aching when
I came home while there I was too much excited to be
sensible of any discomfort. Henry described this Tragedy
in one of his letters so much better than I can that I
shall not attempt it but cannot resist the impulse
of bringing home one of the bills to talk it all over with
you "when spring comes" as poor Gus says. Augustus
is very homesick and I am half inclined to send him
home with Beardsley who will be here this week.
I am fearful if I do so that I shall make myself
uncomfortable for the remainder of the Winter although
I know he would be as well taken care of at home the
apprehension that he might be ill would mo constantly
disturb me. This is pretty selfish reasoning I am sensible
when I know it would make the little boy more happy
and en contribute to the pleasure of all at home – but you
know all about it and will not love me the less for these
mother fears. Yesterday morning I put on for the first time
my new hat and pelisse – but I have not described them for you
well then the pelisse is maroon silk much darker than my
merino dress made with a cape which is trimmed with
black lace – the cape is no smaller than was worn last
winter as the form is a matter of taste I selected one a
little different from the one I had made last winter –
bows up the front. Miss McLaren made it – it fits very
well not quite as far off shoulders as it might be but does
very well – my hat is maroon uncut velvet the uncut being
more fashionable than the plain trimmed with ribbon of
the same colour and Mary ann says is very becoming
and Gussy says Ma looks much prettier in it than
she did in her straw bonnet. I had it made as large
as Mrs Roberts conscience would allow but very
much smaller than those we wore last winter.
Cloaks are very much worn yet particutarly cloth
so you see my outward garments are all arranged. Miss
Adams is making the poplin dress – it is to be a high dress
to wear at home as this miserable gross of green spectacles
in the form of black lutestring which I purchased last
winter is full of holes. I think I must get me a
new black silk and then I shall be done with the man-
taumakers. Do you thank me for writing a half page of this
frivolity. To proceed I put on the said hat a pelisse
and after receiving calls from Mrs Delevan an Savage sallied

forth to kill as many birds with one stone as possible – that is I was
going to Mrs Lockwoods to see Aunty and to make formal calls
upon Mrs Nelson the Miss Colliers and Mrs Clary. I found
no one at home but the Miss Colliers – as there is nothing
particularly interesting about them I shall pass them by. I went
from there to Mrs Horners where I staid an hour Ann
was very agreeable and made me promise to come over every
other day in the morning bring both of the children and
stay all – to come every evening with my knitting work and
finally to come the next day to tea with Henry. She is
very friendly and does not much like the Albanians
who she says have been very polite to her but are so ceremoni-
ous – so different from the people in New York. I did
not see the baby as it was asleep but shall have that pleasure
this evening. I called at Mrs Rhoades "not at home" – I was
glad – on my way to the store I met Mrs Tracy and
Mrs Clary returning from a shopping excursion. I returned
with them – we all went to Mrs Cary's room and sat a few
minutes when the other ladies went home and I came
to my room to dress for dinner – before dinner Mrs Porter
and Mrs La Forge called – and Mrs Dr James called and invited
us there to tea that evening. I promised to go if my head did
not ache too hard and Mrs Cary accepted the invitation
without conditions – but my head did ache and I staid at
home and heard Henry and Weed talk which you know was
much more pleasant. This morning I find I have a delightful
cold in my head. Henry has gone to the Senate. Tracy has been
in and says John is getting better decidedly. I thought I would
just commence a letter to you and you see what I have written
I have been interrupted but once. Mrs Norton and her mother
called. Rathbone was here last evening previous to going to the
party at Dr James – his eyes were regaled with the sight
of your hand writing – he never fails to examine it very
closely and expatiate fluently on the beauty of your penmanship
we were very sorry that you had been sick and very glad that
you were better – he insists upon the propriety of your spending
the winter here and urged the matter so strongly that I reminded
him that you had a husband at home a circumstance which he
appeared to have entirely forgotten. I read him your message
and listened to another eulogy on the beauty of the composition
he says I must tell you that he cannot proceed any further
in the negotiation until he hears the name of the elect lady
as says I may assure you upon his honour he is not engaged.
Now I wont write one word more today I have not got one
word of my french lesson and Henry will be home in half an
hour. As Miss Bissel says you are so agreeable I have
staid much longer than I intended.
hMy dear Sis, I wish you were here – we have such clean nice rooms attentive servants and are so
little annoyed by the visits of persons indifferent to us. Frances has been struggling I believe successful-
ly to avoid a long illness of fever such as hastened your advent among us last winter. Gus is
weary of his phantasmagoria and I wish your little Frances had it to amuse her long winter eve-
nings at Aurora. Fred grows in beauty and knowledge though not in stature. I have had the hypo
but begin to find occupation enough to enliven my spirits - I steal time to write this postscript - your own H

hSaturday night – I must close and send this letter tonight
without writing as much as I intended. I went to Mrs Horners
and made a very pleasant visit on Wednesday. Thursday I
returned some calls and yesterday Mrs Cary and I spent
the morning shopping. Today I have had all day so
violent a headache that I could not do anything.
Catherine Nelson and her Husband called this morning
and Weed and Tracy have been here part of the afternoon
Henry has gone to dine at the Eagle – tomorrow I must
write to Grandma or Clary. Mrs Cary sends love – my kiss
for Frances – your own sister Frances
Mrs Alvah Worden
Aurora
Cayuga County
ALBANY
JAN
11