Monday afternoon
My dearest Sister, I am determined to write to you
today though I have had so many things to thwart
my purpose that I have sometimes thought I must
give it up. I received your letter yesterday afternoon
you do not say a word about your cough which
I consider a very unfeeling piece of negligence.
I hope you will not be guilty of the like again. Henry left home Monday evening. I have not heard
a word from him since. I suppose by this time
he is in New York as he only purposed staying
in Albany one day. I suppose the news of
the Whig victory has reached ^you^ before this, the
battle was hardly won. The last day of the
Election Webb had a soul stirring appeal in
his paper to the voters—if you have not seen it
I will try and keep it for you as a specimen of
his talents— Frank Hamiltons wife was buried
Tuesday—Poor Frank suffers very much—Clara &
I called Thursday to see Theodore’s wife—we saw
old Mrs Hamilton. Theodores wife was out. Mrs
Hamilton was much grieved for her sons affliction.
The physicians disagreed so materially that Frank
consented to have the remains of his wife examined
she was very much diseased—no skill could
have saved her life—she had an abscess on her

lungs or liver (which, I have never ascertained) which
the physicians said must have proved fatal
in a few days she died with fever—suffered
extremely in her last hours. I have no doubt Frank
is a sincere mourner but I seldom now feel that
deep sympathy which I once did for those who
meet with such bereavements. I have so often expended
my sympathy on those whose grief has been soothed
by a new partner that I feel it almost folly to
condole. Someone mentioned to me speaking of the
funeral that Mr Hopkins alluded very touchingly
to Mrs Hamiltons having buried a husband herself—
If such an allusion could be rendered touching and
delicate at such a time Mr Hopkins must posess
much greater rhetorical powers than I ever gave
him credit for. I did not see Theodores wife
until Saturday when I called again-she remains
with Frank some days longer-she is a plain
agreeable woman. I called also at Dr Pitneys
saw Mrs Pitney who has been confined to her bed
ten weeks with her old complaint—she seems to
have no expectation of being much better soon.
Cornelia is sick with inflammatory rheumatism. Mary
has been there two months to obtain medical
attention from her father for bronchitas-she
had that day returned to Aurora. I called
at Mrs Beardsleys to see Miss Powers e who is here
for a few weeks they were out. Tell Frances that

the boys have both commenced writing her a letter but they
get along so slowly that I am afraid it will be a long
time before their letters are finished. Mr Sanford the teacher
is a protege of Henrys. Some time last summer Henry received
a letter from a young man in Oneida County soliciting his
patronage-he did not found his claims upon any previous
acquaintance but upon Henrys general reputation as a
"Philanthropist" to use his own language—he wished to obtain
a situation as a merchants clerk or any other that Henry
would advise—the letter was modest and artless—the
writer 19 years old—it was accompanied by a certificate
from the principal of the Casonovia Academy-saying
Mr Sanford was a young man of good moral character
a thorough Greek & Latin scholar &c &c and entitled to
confidence— I never thought of the letter again I
suppose Henry answered it as sometime last October he
brought home a young man to tea with him whom he told
my was the writer of the letter—he seemed very diffident
I said nothing to him at table but soon after tea went up
stairs intending to manifest some interest in him. In place
of Sanford I found kit Morgan fresh from Providence and
overflowing with Animal Magnetism. I forgot Henry's protege
and never thought to enquire more about him. I have since learned
that Henry obtained for him the situation of clerk in Leondards office
Early this Spring a young man called to see Mr or Mrs
Seward about sending the little boys to school which he
proposed taking-said his name was Sanford-that Mr Seward
had assisted him-Mr Leonard had not sufficient business
to keep him employed and had advised him to take a school-
Henry was in Chautauqua and I had stupidly forgotten all about Mr
Sanford-I gave him some encouragement liking his appearance and being
just at that time very much disgusted with Myers for whipping
a boy in his school. When Henry came home I asked who Sanford was—he
explained and finally engaged him to come to the house and teach the little
boys 3 hours each morning. He is so gentle in his manners so kind

to the little boys and takes so much pains to make them
thoroughly comprehend their studies that I have become much
interested in him. He still continues to be employed by Mr Leonard
but says he has ample time for reading of which he seems extremely
fond-this has been a long story—Clara begins to warn
about housekeeping this Spring—says she will take the Summer to
get ready and commence in the Fall. McClallen still persists
I do [ no ] know how it will terminate. I do not wish to be disappointed
in your visit and if she decides upon staying shall try to induce
or have induced some of the members of the family to visit Chautauqua
this Summer—my head is better as you may know by this long
letter—I am glad you have the house cleaning in such a state of
forwardness—we have not commenced—your own Sister Frances
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN
APR
17
N.Y.
hApril 1838