Monday morning – O^ct 4^—
My dear Sister, I am just on the eve of departing for Spring
Lawn — that long promised visit must be made so I am going
home tomorrow with Mr and Mrs Webb who have been here since
Saturday — How much I wish I was going to see you or that
you were with me — Dear Clara is expecting me home
with Henry but I believe it will not answer to return
so soon — I hope yet to go home in November, but I think
I shall be obliged to go and leave company here as I
am allowed no respite — The prospect of spending a winter
in this way sometimes deprives me of all courage but
we must all walk in the path which He appoints
without murmuring — How thankful I am that we do not
“live always” — Thursday I spent the day or that part
of the day which was not devoted to household affairs in
purchasing some necessary articles and looking up
a tailoress to make a pair of pantaloons for Fred —
Friday Mrs Blatchford passed through Albany on her
way to Lansingburgh and inasmuch as Sam did not

[top Margin]
I have not thanked you for your kind letter which was read
with great zest by us all — Henry has promised Sib

x

Mark Sibley

Birth: 1796-11-06 Death: 1852-09-08

to write
to his wife

x

Maria Sibley

Birth: 1802-01-29 Death: 1877-05-21

while he is gone t Green

x

Greene County, NY

, Chenango Co

x

Chenango County, NY

– to make a
speech — you will probably hear of the letter —

get up early enough to see her off in the boat as
he was requested to do by his father I concluded to accompany
him to Lansingburgh and make her a call, at the same time
Henry wished me to go to Troy and call again on Mrs Averill
Webb’s sister because her servant was so stupid as not
to give her the card I left there last Spring — It was
exceedingly inconvenient for me to leave home but there
seemed to be no alternative — so off we went at 10 oclock
called on the Averill’s who were “not at home” — while
Henry went to return Mrs r Dickensons call I went to see
Mrs Boardman whom I found about as well as
last winter but no better — all things there remain in
statu quo — we were there but a few moments many
affectionate enquires were made about you — Then
we drove to Lansinburgh to old Mrs Blatchfords
where we saw the old Lady herself, a very prim old
lady she is — a maiden daughter e of an uncertain age
and Sam’s mother with little Julia — Mrs Blatchford
was very pleasant enquired about you (while Sam
looked studiously the other way), but would not promise
to come and see me — I have no doubt she feels
piqued, without the least reason, because I did

not visit upon her visiting me last Winter while I
was sick in bed — Julia is a pretty, spoiled, child —
looks like Sam — We came away after half an hour
leaving Sam for the night — it was now 3 and we
were to take dinner at home — we reached here a little
after 4 – oclock – had been at home but an hour when
dear little Willie was taken violently ill — he vomited 2
hours with intervals of 10 or faster minutes — I finally
became so much alarmed that I sent for Dr Williams — I
discovered that Willie had been fed a quantity of improper food
during my absence but was apprehensive that his sickness
might be produced by a fall which he had in the
morning — The Dr relieved my apprehensions about
the fall and imputed his sickness entirely to his food —
a simple prescription relieved him so that I did not
administer the portion of Calomel which the Dr left — he is
now as well as ever again but O the trials which I
have with Mary — she is more thoughtless and heedless
than Maria – without loving Willie half so well —
It appears a long time until November — I hope Willie
will not be permanently injured — but really think him
in danger — Saturday Mr and Mrs Webb came from Saratoga
after tea — then an oyster supper — poor Harriet who –
like all industrious people has more than her share
of the work – did not get to bed until one oclock
Eliza does not wear like Nicholas and Harriet I
doubt whether I ever find any one that does — Yesterday
we went to Church in the morning — in the afternoon we
all took care of your little boy with his long hair — Weed
was here to tea — Webb is a very amiable man in his
“domestic relations” — he certainly evinces more love and
respect for his wife than any person of my acquaintance

plays with the children until he has quite won their hearts —
To day we are all hurry hurry — Henry is preparing to train
Nicholas as his valet — John Top has gone to drive for
Mr & Mrs Webb — I expect Bill Taylor to serve the
dinner — Harriet has a woman to help her wash
and amid of all I have taken the few moments
of leisure I have while my guests are away to write you
the hurried letter —
We go down the river tomorrow evening stay half a day in New
York and then proceed to Spring Lawn where I am promised all the
quiet I disir — The Webbs wish me to stay the whole three weeks
Henry is away — I shall probably return next week —
My affairs here require superintendence I will write you
from Spring Lawn you had better direct your letters here
I will have them sent on — Sam will probably go to
New York while Henry is absent — Henry leaves this week I am
unable to say what day — Love to Frances ever your own Sister
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
ALBANY. N. Y.
OCT 6.