My Dearest sister,
I am too unwell to day to see company
so I find a few leisure moments to devote to you —
I had a turn of palpitation of the heart this morning
which has made me unequal to any exertion — I have until
within a few days been unusually well. I think I sent
my last letter Tuesday or Wednesday — Thursday morning
before breakfast Augustus Seward came from N. York on
his way to Westfield he had a letter from his cousin informing
him of the situation of his mother but he had not, until
he came here, heard of her death — Henry persuaded him
to wait here a day until another letter should arrive.
I went in the afternoon to the mantaumakers (who is making
a calier dress for me) and on my return called to invite
Mrs Horner to spend the day with me Friday — She was very
glad to see me and promised to come —That evening we had
a long letter from Jennings which relieved my mind
considerably - he is more composed, and resigned even, than I
anticipated — Marcia he writes “complained a little some time
in the night, was up, but declined to have Clarence call
any of the family – and probably soon after suffered the
shock from which she never recovered, even so far, as to
stretch a limb or raise a finger — The servants not finding
her up repair to her room and and found her in this insensible
situation — Her face and head, particularly the muscles of her throat

[top Margin] Blatchford

x

Samuel Blatchford

Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07

is wonderfully engaged in the election, very much given
that his age will not allow him to vote. I wish he would get up to breakfast
Monday afternoon Nov 4^th 1839
mornings. I had a letter from dear Clara

x

Clarinda McClallen

Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05

last night, all well
Augustus Seward was there when she wrote.
your own sister
Frances

[left Margin] Joel Bacon

x

Joel Bacon

Birth: 1796-06-09 Death: 1876-11-14

was here yesterday

continued to swell so that when I arrived her eye sockets were not only
full, but her eye balls with bloated lids were projecting in a frightful
manner —” She continued in this state about 24 hours – there
were seven physicians in attendance – but all their efforts
to restore her availed nothing – she never exhibited the least
return of consciousness and died about 2 o'clock the
next morning— Sunday she was buried near the house
in which they live with a view to her reinterment at
some future time — Jennings adds, “dear Marcia, I
learn was joyous in her return – her mind had been a little
dissipated and estranged from its accustomed habits of
by her absence. She had now returned – disciplined herself
to her closet duties – sat down to the careful perusal of the
bible – breathed her soul in prayer & resumed her vows to God –
all which was communicated to me by her niece – and in her
last letter to me she said that her spiritual as well as temporal
house was set in order! Thus was she ripened for a better world
You will, my dear sister, perhaps desire to know something of my
own state of mind under this sore bereavement — I will promise it
at a future time and only say now that I am not left to
mourn as those who lose a friend for whom they they have no hope.
I do not look to the disclosures of the future to set this in a proper
light before my mind, it is all right even now — Marcia was a good woman
entitled through Christ to a seat in Glory & God has called her to enjoy it,
this no one doubts who knew her well, and what is the loss I suffer even
though it be in comparison — Never husband suffer a heavier loss, never were
greater mitigations. The Lord be praised I feel no rebellion, so that while
I weep my heart is filled with gratitude and love—”

Mrs. Horner spent the day with me Friday. Ann and the children
came to tea — I had a pleasant visit from them — James came for
them all in the evening — George Wood called and spent an hour about
the same time – he came to Albany with a sister who is going to Pittsfield
to school in company with Jane Sherwood and Ann Smith — Every day
last week we had company to dinner. Nicholas continued in a dangerous
condition my mind was harassed but until Saturday I was tolerably
well — Saturday morning when Henry announced two gentlemen to dinner
I gave up and withdrew to my room too sick to make my appearance
at table – one of the gentlemen was Mr Perceval son of the
former Prime Minister of England – the other was Prussian – I
was sorry that I could not see them – in the course of the forenoon
Henry invited four others, General A Scott among the number –
but one however came and that was not the General — Sunday
I had chills and a slight fever — Yesterday when I commenced this letter
I felt some better but had a little fever again last night – it is
now Tuesday afternoon — I am living on water gruel, and hope to
be well tomorrow — I have not seen the physician in two days
but Nicholas is better – this is no small relief to my mind — I hope
with great caution he will get up again – it is five weeks to day since
he became sick — You ask me about Peter and I feel reproached for saying
any thing about him — He is so honest and good natured that one cannot
help liking him — The difficulty is that he has lived in a town so long that
he does not work at all as we do – but say nothing about it – I hope he will
improve — he does not object to my telling him any thing I please about
his work. The furniture all came safe. The jelly was not in the least
injured – none of the glass broke except one lemonade which is of
no consequence — York exhibited all the silver when Mrs Horner came
we have purchased 3 small candelabra for the table, a marble top
center table and a sofa bed stead of white wood painted white. Your
room remains to be furnished — I think it will the one Miss
occupied – it is smaller and more convenient than the other and does
communicate with the Hall — I have had it cleaned preparatory to furnishing it
I hear nothing of Miss Conkling – hope that call had the desired effect — The picture
is to be given to George I hope he will value it as it deserves this

[right Margin] is Jennings arrangement —

Tell Frances Freddy has gone to the Pearl Street Academy this afternoon
for the first time — John Frederick Hildreth Mrs Horners cousin is
to accompany him. Mrs Horner very kindly proposed that he should
take his dinners with John Frederick all winter — The school is
a mile from here — The same cat continues here that we had last
winter but the people in the kitchen grieve very much by
treating her ill – her kittens have grown to be a pair of black wild
cats — 
Harriet desires me to thank you for your very acceptable present
to her, she should not have had anything more suitable — Mrs Benedict
and I wish every day that you could see your little boy, he is so nice
he sits up in the cradle and plays with any thing that is given him
jumps and laughs and makes sport for us all.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
ALBANY
NOV
4
N.Y.