Tuesday Jan 26^th 1840
My dearest Sister,
A whole week has passed by without
my writing you a letter and to day your second letter
came just as I was going to Church – Monday morning was
the time Augustus purposed leaving for Auburn but he conclu-
ded to wait until Tuesday that he might have the
protection of James Horner who was to leave at that time
for another journey to the west – Tuesday morning after
Gus had made himself ready to set off, word came
that Mr Horner would not leave that morning – I
knew dear Clara was expecting him and would be
very anxious if he did not come so I advised his
going alone a course which he seemed to prefer him-
self – his Pa accompanied him to the depot but found
no acquaintance to whom he might entrust him – so
he went alone – I expected a letter as early as Thursday
and since that time have felt very anxious about
him – no letter came until this morning – he
was detained on the road by a fall of snow
which obstructed the rail road between Syracuse
and Auburn, so that he did not reach home until
Wednesday morning – Clara wrote immediately but
somehow the letter was detained and only came this
morning in company with yours and one from Jennings —
Clara is very glad to have Augustus at home again – She
promises to come and see me next Spring – My cold
keeps me at home nine or ten days about half sick

[top Margin] Blatchford

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Samuel Blatchford

Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07

will send a message in pamphlet form –

but I was so well Wednesday that I had no apology for
not fulfiling my promise to Mrs Spencer to attend her
soiree – it was a bitter cold night as you will prob-
ably remember – Henry went with me – Blatchford was
sick and could not go – we did not get there until
nearly nine – detained by men – men – men – found her
two [ lagre ] drawing rooms well filled – the more juvenile
part of the company were dancing to the notes of the piano
played by Mrs Dix – The evening passed off much as
usual – I was looked at as a curiosity it being my
first appearance in public – cake lemonade wine and
ice cream were passed round in the course of the evening
which is the usual entertainment for soiree’s – there
are to be 3 more 2 in February one in March —
Our first dinner comes on Tuesday – Mrs. Johnson is to cook
here two days – one day pastry and Gellies the next day
meats &c – how much I wish they were all over – it is
decided that I am to see company two evenings – no particular
invitation to be given — What shall I call them – "At Home[ s ] ”
"Levee's"? how I do wish you could come first — The ladies here seem
to think it will be a dreadful affair for me to entertain company
without any other lady – I do not know but I shall be obliged
to hire some one for the occasion – I can think of no one I want
but you or Mrs Cary – if there is any prospect of your coming
I will defer these affairs and think I shall at all events until
the dinners are over at least the greater part of them — I never
remember colder weather than we have had this winter – The
applications for assistance increase daily – there must be a
great amount of suffering — Your "boy" disclaims any dimin-
ution of or division of the great admiration and affection
which he has so often expressed for yourself – The idea was
very preposterous that So so uninteresting a personage as I
could supersede one so much more attractive – We have
great pleasure in reading your letters together (that is when
I choose to show them) – He has not yet fallen in love with Miss
Thompson – I am not inclined to think he will – she seems
an amiable little girl but I should not think with sufficient
strength of character to interest one of taste and feelings so mature
as his – I have seen her but twice – at the soiree she appeared
not so well as when she called – a little embarrassed perhaps, but I
can judge more fairly next time.