Wednesday evening—I am all alone to night—Henry has gone to the Capitol
to meet the Judges to decide upon the case of Leddings the
murderer—Sam has gone to a concert at Miss Bullions—and Fred
has gone to Weed's —dear, fat, Willie is sound asleep in his cradle—
it seems to me that I cannot wait another month or more to
have you see the funny little fellow— I have been out all the
morning and of course sick with headache all the afternoon—made
some calls and transacted considerable business—among other things
have purchased some blue (azure I mean) finger glasses which
I intended to sport on Christmas but the Horners wont come to
dinner to give me an opportunity—O I do wish you could see
the letter I have this moment received from Jennings—you would
think it written by a boy of 19 in love for the first time—he
is to be married to Mary Mumford (I can write the name though he
is unable to do so) immediately I suppose as he says the
newspapers will give us the next intelligence. I am deputed
to make this very agreeable communication to Clarence who
though he is very selfish retains some feeling for his mother
some respect for her memory which I think will not make this
communication very agreeable— He says not a word about Augustus
indeed "the cultivated refined and lovely beyond her sex" at present
engrosses all his thoughts— Well as Henry says I think this is
the very last time that I expend any sympathy in a widower.
The young couple are to go to Washington or Philadelphia for a
few days to "cover our blushes"—Then I suppose we may
expect the minimum gratification of their company here I hope
old Yates will in the mean time allow me to have a room
papered and grated for a sleeping apartment a little nearer
action than our present spare bed room. Pa and Gus
are to come down about New Years and soon after we are
to have another artist to paint Henry so you see I am
in a fair way to have all my beds occupied— Well as dear
Grandma used to say two years cannot last always— I feel sometime
as though it would last long enough to deprive me of the little
intelligence I possess I positively do not find time to read the newspaper
and shall in all probability miss the announcement of Jennings
marriage— I have a thousand difficulties in my domestic
arrangements which I will not inflict upon you—I hope
for your sake the little snow wh we have had here has been
greater at the west—Sam is not quite in love with Margaret
Bullions though I think he may be if he continues to visit
there— I have invited her to spend the day with me New Years

thinking a matter of kindness to the dear democracy to allow
them one pretty face to look at while they are drinking their
hard cider—The New Years cakes are preparing and Bill
Taylor has made me one visit to get the programme—
Marvin was here last night on his way home—but I must
reserve that story until another time—Frederick has a very pretty
letter from George Hills declining to spend the Holidas with him—
I should like to know if such hurried letters as mine do really
afford you any gratification—but I know they are better than none.
I am trying to persuade Fred to attend dancing school—Dont you
think the teacher is Charles Ball the veritable man who taught
us some 20 or 24 years ago at Windsor— Mrs Rhoades says
he enquired of her about us both and said he wished he could

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teach some of our children—I think I shall go and see him
tomorrow—then I must go out and buy Christmas gifts for
my seven children is not that a large family enough
to make your poor sister almost crazy—can you count them all
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Paid W.H.S.
ALBANY N.Y.
DEC 24

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