Wednesday Morning 29^th
My dearest Henry, Today Mr Lucas has a donation
party I wish you were here to tell me what I ought
to send I am in quite a quandary. I received
a letter from you yesterday dated the 22^d. Your
Clergyman is indeed very scrupolous-do his con-
gregation notice his omission of the prayer for
the president. Granger passed through here
on his way home last week-he sent word to
Pa that he was at the American. I have heard
Pa say nothing about him. Clary continues con-
valescent she sits up part of the time but does
not leave her room yet-her eyes are very weak.
Freddy is as well as usual but has not quite
regained his former strength. Pa is desirous that
I should send the boys to school which with
due deference I will c not consent to do so
long as I can teach them in one week more
than they have ever learned at school in six—
Augustus who had advanced to compound Division
in Arithmetic while at school could not
when I commenced with him enumerate 1,000,000.
I have the satisfaction of knowing that what I do teach
them they learn thoroughly. I am sorry Augustus cannot
proceed with his Latin but I cannot think at his
age that it is advisable to sacrifice all his English
studies to the acquirement of that language.

I asked Dr Smith the other day where he sent Charles-
he said to Mr Lockwood- “does he learn to spell”
“Why I told Lockwood that I would have him taught
to spell if he learned nothing else” Well does he
teach him.”-“Why the truth is I believe he tries
but I discovered from a note the other day
that the man knew nothing about spelling
himself”—this was pretty conclusive evidence that
he could not teach others-and I believe it is
the case with half the teachers we have in this
age of rapid improvement. The Dr was in pursuit
of another teacher for charl Charles and seemed to think
I was particularly fortunate in having leisure to instruct
my boys. Friday morning-Well I sent $10
to Mr Lucas-Pa was there he said there were not
many people but they received about $200-
$90 in cash. We see no one I do not know
but we shall lose cast entirely by the fearful
visitation of this winter. You will hardly credit
that people can still fear contagion from coming
to see us-but I was told a week or two ago
that this was the case. Through Clara's illness
Mrs Dean, Mrs Benedict, H. Hughes and our cousins are
the only women I have seen-it is but justice to
dear Mrs Horner to say she is confined at home with
a sprained ancle. Eliza has never had the measles.
Well it has been a good lesson for me- “the friendship
of this world is but a shadow”—in most instances
I cannot say that I have ever once felt this neglect
painful to my pride but I am afraid I have in-
dulged too contemptuous a feeling for the weakness
which occasions it. I am afraid I have little of that

Charity which “never faileth”— Why is it that
generally we find more real magnanimity
among the lower classes! They do not seem
to shrink from danger and bury all kindly
feeling in a selfish regard for their own safety so
frequently as those who are better educated!
Mrs Chase and Beardsley have dissolved
partnership-she leaves the house today. Mr
Hudson takes her place. Beardsley has been star-
ved into this arrangement and finally told Mrs
Chase that one or the other must quit-he
says she burns up all his wood and yet does
cook any food that can be eaten. Mrs Dean
says it was bad enough there—Mrs Hills’
girl e left yesterday with a similar complaint.
Tomorrow as the little boys say is April fool’s day
and in ten days more I may expect you home.
I am anxious to know if you hear anything
from Jennings yet. Nathan Osborne came
yesterday and commenced trimming the trees but
was called away by the illness of his little boy e.
Clara does not seem to gain much her eyes
a[ re ] very weak and she has a violent pain in her
limbs much of the time-her cough continues
but is not alarming-I hope Pa will escape
he has no symptoms yet and it is about time
for them to manifest themselves if he has imbibed
the disease. 33 students in the Seminary have the
measels-it is prevailing generally among children.
The little boys send love and kisses-your own Frances

William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauqua County
AUBURN
APR
1
N.Y.
hFA Seward
March 29. 1837