Monday morning —
My dear sister, You would think I have chosen a strange
time to write could you see the situation of our house — Mrs
Cooper is washing — one man whitewashing my room two
others blacking stoves — Nicholas rubbing the wall in
the dining room and Mary taking up the carpet in the
entry — Mrs Tompkins in the nursery fitting a dress
for Brown and dear little Willie crying half the
time because there are so many strange faces — Henry
and Blatchford have retreated to the Office — I have
been down stairs cutting the last pine apple for dinner
I preserved some on Saturday — I found so many of them
spoiled that I am afraid yours will be of no use to you —
I found a receipt in the cook book which directed me
to slice them and put in half the quantity of sugar
let them lie one day the next day add the remainder
of the sugar to the syrup and boil them in it until
tender — this being a very long process the syrup of
course becomes rather red — then by the time they
are fairly boiled the fine flavour is all destroyed
so much for my success in the culinary art

you can hardly know how much I have missed you and how
much I have regretted that you could not have stayed
one week after the adjournment — I never breathe freely
until the Legislature have adjourned — I was very thankful
Saturday that I could come to the dinner table as
dishabille engaged as I was making sweet meats —
Fortunately I have found but little leisure to sit down and
be lonely since you left — Thursday morning I employed
in putting the house in order that Mary might finish
the ironing — Levi Hubble desired her and was here all
day with his address— He and Weed were both here to
tea — after tea I went over to Harriet's and sat
half an hour — Frances is more comfortable but I do
not think Harriet is much encouraged about her — came
home — dressed Brown issue — took my two boys and
went to bed — Friday morning I commenced with the pine
Apples — received a call from Mr and Mrs Bradish — Mrs
B. was as handsomely dressed and otherwise as uninteresting
as usual — enquired particularly about you — the baby

Unknown

has been christened — Miss King daughter of James King was
God mother — Mr and Mrs Bradish go to New York
this week — After tea I called on my neighbours

the Porters and Kelers — Mrs Lush was very cool I suppose
on account of my unrightously conduct — Mrs Hackley
her sister has been there two months — has been recently
confined — I did not ask where Hackley was not thinking
it a matter of importance — When I returned I found my
dressed from Miss Calely's — of course it required some
alteration and was sent back ^the^ next day — Saturday I comple-
ted the destruction of the pine apples — mended the weeks washing
and after tea went to Mrs Horners — Mrs Horner is very thin
and much changed in appearance — she intends going to Auburn
when she recovers — The little girls were glad to see Fred who
accompanies me in all my peregrinations — Miss Horners mind
seems quite as feeble as her health — I talked with her but
a little while and was relieved when Nicholas came
Yesterday morning Sami and Fred went with me to Church
it was communion day — so I was left to come home alone —
It seems almost inc[ r ] edible to me that I can have been
here so long and still see so few familiar faces when I go to
Church — Mrs Dix Mr and Mrs Bradish and Watts Sherman
were the only faces I recognized out of our own pew —
You very well know how thankful I am that I have
but one mo[ re ] year of exile in prospect still I feel
inclined to [ rep ] eat it to you very often particular[ ly ]
as I seldom say it to any one else — After dinner I
sent Brown to bed and took care of Willie the remainder
of the day — Willie is not well though I cannot discern
what ails him he coughs more is more peevish
and this morning one of his eyes is quite inflamed
or rather so weak that he can hardly open it — Fred
I think is improving he is very impatient for the time to
come to go home — To night I expect a letter from you
which I fancy was written yesterday giving me tidings of my
boy and all at home — Wednesday morning — The expected
letter did not come until last night just as I was going
to bed — Fred was awake to enjoy the reading thereof — it was
a satisfactory letter to us both — I am still in the
midst of housecleaning — every thing is in confusion — Jane Lewis
the new nurse came yesterday but as yet takes no care
of master Willie who is slow to make new acquaintances

Brown grows more ill daily — I must hasten home as soon as
possible on her account — Freddy has written you a long
letter all about Willie which he will copy and send
soon — Willie says — "Aunt gone home" — I am sorry I have
kept this letter so long — I expect the Weeds and
their guests tomorrow —
Mr Blatchford ^is^ here — came this morning to breakfast
he brought my dress which Mary selected but I do not
fancy it much however it is cheap calico — also a
note from Mary — like herself — very pretty and exceedingly
well bred — I write in haste your own sister
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Paid — W.H.S.
ALBANY N.Y.
JUN 2