Friday afternoon June 8^th
My dearest Sister
I think you would laugh if you could
see just where I have sit down to write this letter
Harriet is here cleaning my room. I can do nothing
just at this time to assist and have withdrawn into
the bedroom which is full of every thing to answer
your letter which came yesterday. I laughed
heartily over the account of the liason you discovered
between the young people of your village. I suppose
the gentleman in question must possess some fascinating
qualities which I have never been able to discover
or he would not succeed in rendering himself so
very agreeable to so many dames. I too am
reading in my slow way “Wayland on Human Responsibility"
and am much pleased therewith – I never half
enjoy any thing when I read alone and have been
trying to interest Henry with my book but he is
so hurried with other affairs that he has not even
found time one evening this week to read me a chapter
in “Oliver Twist” — I received the Mirror with
your letter – there never was any cover on it and
as to its being soiled it is of no manner of con-
sequence as the others are bound without it.
We were all invited to Miss Beardsley’s wedding
party Wednesday evening – no one went but Pa and
Henry – it was a very unpleasant night. The guests
were invited at eight the marriage we suppose
took place previously as Henry says he heard nothing
of it after he went. I asked him if he was not,

formally introduced to Mrs Clark the bride – he said no
that when he came into the room there was an immediate
cessation of all conversation – he saw a young lady
whom he supposed to be Miss Beardsley &
as such thinking all the time that the ceremony
was still to be performed – saw nothing that looked
like a wedding particularly except a number of
young men with white gloves who seemed to keep
in one corner of the room with some white young
ladies with white gloves also – Now whether others
were more highly favored than he or whether he
was actually introduced in too low a tone to be
intelligible remains a question – he remained until
eleven o'clock that was until after supper and
still seeing no indications of marriage came home
Mrs Nelson Beardsley was not there – the bride was
Sherman’s daughter the groom Mr. Clark Warren’s partner
Mrs E. Hills had a new white dress made for
the occasion which I think is a piece of folly
you and I will not be guilty of at 45 —
It has rained until to day for the last 14 or 15
days – tell Frances not to be discouraged with her
garden when it does stop raining the flowers will
grow in the mean time she must amuse herself
with those kittens and the puppy – her Pa wrote
me that he bought a black puppy the boys would
like to hear all about him as soon as is convenient
I believe Sanford and the boys have concluded
that this quarter closes next week, if so I shall
try to persuade Clara to go with Augustus to Can-
andaigua the week after. Gus thinks he must be at
home the 4^th as the boys have already commenced

preparing for their part of the celebration, however do
not expect them until I write again. Clara goes from
home so seldom that it seems like a great undertaking
for her. I would like of all things to come out with
Henry and stay one day but I dare not speak of it
he hardly finds time to eat he is so hurried – except
at meals I see about as much of him as when he is
in New York. I presume he will leave again in the
course of ten or twelve days perhaps sooner – 
I went out last evening to look at some silks. I found
pieces of Italian lutestring about calico width 90 per yd
we thought this very pretty, I also saw a piece
of gros de Suis but did not much fancy it price
100 – then there are two pieces at Murphys one
which I call reps like Mrs Cary’s another which
he calls reps the filling is raised above the warp
they are both pretty. I cannot tell any thing about
their durability but the latter piece is a heavy silk
and I should think would wear well, they are gros de
Naples width, I believe 8 shillings per yard – can you
tell me from this account which you prefer – there
is never any economy in getting a low priced – silk
as they do not wear well. I think your choice
will be between the Italian and the reps either piece
I wish you could see them – I can hardly tell which I
should get for myself – upon looking at a sample of the Gros
de Suis I find I did not do it justice it is as good a piece I
will send a sample of each in the letter if they charge
double postage it will be worth 10 cents wont it.
This is the last of our house cleaning of any magnitude – Our first
woman left early monday morning because I told Maria she
might pound the shirts preparatory to washing. Mary was a
poor washer and seemed to think this a pointed insult – she
left without our exchanging one word. We all felt relieved

I had told her previously that I should not want her through
the summer – I very much doubt whether the low Irish
can be taught to work at all as we do at least when
they come to us with all their bad habits fully confirmed
by years – Laura has come to supply her place so we are about
where we were six weeks ago. The ducks have not come out
of the shell yet but are expected in the course of next
week. Write soon on the silk subject – your own Sister Frances.
I have just sent to Murphys for samples he has not sent me any
of the reps like Mrs Carys but this small piece which is 10sh per yd
of this is 10 the other is 9 for this was but 1s differences — this he calls
reps.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN
JUN
9
N.Y.
hJun 5