Bargain Town, Dec^r 16^th 38
My dear Frances,
I received your kind letter some time
since, but a variety of matters prevented its acknowl-
edgment, my little Mary was for a long time a
great care, she was sick with teething a long time
but she is well now and growing finely—
I requested regretted to learn by my Brothers late letter of your
indispositions, but I hope dear Sis you are better,
now, and will not get sick, going to Albany, you will
need good health and much patience to get thro’
with the many congratulations awaiting you there,
I received a few days since a long affectionate letter
from Pa & Ma describing their merrymakings at
Florida and truly I think their happiness has
not only restored health, but renewed the age of
my dear Parents—Ma says Papa has not been
so well since last June—I was shocked at the
change in my dear Mother since I saw her, that
poor arm has broken her down more than anything
she has ever suffered, still she was almost constantly
on her feet, and had a pretty good appetite—and
I hope she may regain her strength—I enjoyed my
visit of course very much, I had Caroline with me
who became a great favorite with Grand Pa
and quite cheered them up—

I hope when you get to Albany we shall have the
pleasure of seeing you, it will not be so far to come
from there, I have so many little cares at home it
seems almost impossible for me to leave home.
I am trying to persuade Mahlon to move away
from here to Orange County, but he does not incline
to go there, I am so weary of living so entirely sepa-
rated from all our friends—
I think you should persuade Lazette to go to Albany with
you this winter, it would be pleasant for you both—
We should have been delighted to comply with my
Brothers kind invitation to meet you there, but it
is so far and so cold possibly we may meet
next summer, I will hope so—I do wish to see
your dear children very much, I grieve to think
our children are growing up strangers—Augustus
commenced a letter to his Cousin Clarence

x

Clarence Seward

Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24

Frederick
describing a large whale which came ashore here
30 feet long—but it was never finished.
Give my kindest love to Aunt Clara, I don’t know how
she will spare you all this long winter—
Dr. joins me in kind regards to you all, kiss the
little boys for their Aunt C—
Yours affectionately
Cornelia.

hCornelia’s last letter
Dec 16—1838