Thursday afternoon
My dear Sister, You would think I had taken a
strange time to write were you here – I see no prospect of
any more leisure – Worden came in town Tuesday – he came
here to stay yesterday – proposes leaving for Canandaigua
next Monday – Prof. Potter staid with us last night
and this morning before breakfast Aunty and Uncle
Cary and Sam Blatchford made their appearance –
They were obliged to take the nursery for a dressing
room until the Prof. left his, and Mary made the
necessary alterations – After breakfast I commenced
a letter to dear Gus which I have just finished and
then after arranging household matters, and giving the
directions for tomorrow evening's supper, I went
out with Mrs Cary and made visits until 3
oclock – came home with headache, dined, and
having left Mrs Cary with the gentlemen am writing
this scrawl – I am obliged always to write in
so much of a hurry that I think my chirography
does is not improved by the employment – Henry does
not think it best for Augustus to come home until vacation

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The Expresident

x

Martin Van Buren

Birth: 1782-12-05 Death: 1862-07-24

is in town – leaves to day
is invited here to supper to night — We have coffee and
chocolate in place of wine which answered the purpose so well
Henry has concluded to dispense with dinners —

in April – perhaps it is not but I am very anxious to see
him – Henry talks of going to West Point but I am
afraid it will be like the visit to Auburn —
Pa writes that he shall probably be here next week
I am glad he is so much better – I have just
finished reading your letter – I was afraid mine would
be detained by the flood – I am glad you have written
to Gus he enquired in his last letter when I thought you
would write — Fred is better goes to school again
and very reluctantly to dancing school – he is deficient
in confidence and thinks Clarence much superior to
him a belief which Clarence shares with him —
Clarence attends all the parties, flirts with all the
girls and actually fancies himself very much in love
with a little Miss Wheaton to whom he sent a
Philopoena the other day— Fred cannot be persuaded to
go to any parties visits no where but at Weeds where
he goes once a week – Willie's eyes have been inflamed
again, yesterday I was much alarmed by discovering a
^white^ spot on the iris of the eye looking like a small ulcer
Dr Williams says it is the effect of the inflammation and a
common occurance so Willie has now to go through with

the usual process of mustard, leeches, and physick — Since
Dr. Hoffendale left I have not been able to learn who had taken
his place until yesterday after the Dr had been here I was told
that Dr Ward was the man and a very good physician –
I think he will be the man for me the next time – Friday
morning — I am up this morning before my guests in time
to add a few lines to my letter – I was kept awake last night
by a violent pain through my breast and shoulder which
now seems to be continuing in the left side of my head –
Whittlesey and some others were here to supper Mrs. Cary and
I left them at the table – I believe when I wrote last I was
just going to Mr Greely's lecture – I went – walked half a
mile which is more that I would have done so unpleasant
an evening for any one else – The lecture was vey good
but Greely's voice is so so bad – his reading so imperfect that
the effect of it was destroyed – he has promised me a copy
which I shall keep for you – Tuesday night one of the cold[ est ]
this winter we went to Mrs Stanton's last service— For Davis infor-
mation, I wore a black velvet dress, plain unasssuming collar,
and had dress of black lace ornamented with silver wheat —
There was nothing particularly new in dress or entertainment –
The house you know is made on purpose for such occasions – all
the lower rooms were thrown open – in one were a tables with
coffee cake and wine where every body went as they listened
in the course of the evening jelly blanc mange and ice cream
were passed round – then wine – this was the whole of the
entertainment as far as eating and drinking are concerned – Dancing
of course was the chief amusement – it was a gay, and seemed a
happy assemblage – to me it was tiresome duty which I felt
glad to have performed – "Where have you kept yourself all winter"
"This is the first time I have met you this winter" etc – wher the usual
salutations – generally I make no reply but when Mrs. Taylor
made the same observations I did say, "You forget that we lost
a brother last winter"– she evidently felt regret that she had not

remembered a circumstance which would have been considered an
ample apology for any othere persons seclusion for at least one
year – But I am not allowed the benefit of ordinary rules
and observances — Another sin which is set down to my charge
is not calling first on all the (Loco’s) particularly members
wif wives and daughters – they not knowing a custom which has
been established so many years – At Mrs. Stantons I met
Mrs. O.Sullivan—fashionable woman from N. York (one who it is said
rejected the expresident) – she having called I apologised for not
returning her visit earlier when to my astonishment she said she had
(of course) received my card previous to her visit – I told her that my
card reached her by some mistake as I was not informed where
her lodgings were until a day or two ago – I left her with out any further
explanation and yesterday when I called at Miss Carters (her lodgings) I desired

[right Margin]
Miss Carter to explain the affair to her intending to have done so myself
had she been visible — she is the mother of O.Sullivan

x

John  O'Sullivan

Birth: 1813-11-15 Death: 1895-03-24

the member from
N.Y. Another Loco Foco member

Unknown

invited me to call upon his wife

Unknown

at Miss Tuttle's

x

Adelia Tuttle

Birth: 1820-03-25 Death: 1898-02-20Certainty: Possible

and when I explained the custom – said
that his wife expected to have me call first and that she
would still
be very happy
to see me –
I think she
will when
I go – Did you
ever hear
any thing so
stupid – or
so impudent?
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Canandaiqua
Paid W.H.S–
ALBANY
FEB
11
N.Y.
PAID