Friday morning —
My dear Sister
Your letter came last night in the midst of the
supper party and was much more refreshing to me than
our guests coffee and viands could possibly have been to them —
There were nearly or quite 70 of them– the tables were
swept so completely that I feared there had been a
deficiency but Bill says the oysters held out until
the last though the ice cream and jellies dis-
appeared so suddenly – Hetty the cook is of opinions
that they have been saving up their appetites
by going without their dinners — Adeline & Gurnee
actually departed this morning - They would have
stayed another fortnight had I proposed it as
was very plainly intimated – Adeline said Lucius
had nothing to call him home and liked staying
here very much – As I found upon the slightest hint
upon my part their return had been twice deferred
a day or two longer I did not venture upon a
thin intimation – and when they said they should

go I acted as though I thought them sincere though
It was very obvious that was not the case – I hardly
know what my duty required me to do or how much
discomfort we ought to subject ourselves to under such
circumstances to promote the happiness of others – I believe
there is a point where civility ceases to be a virtue were
it not so it would sometimes lead to impositions which
would be rather intolerable and yet when we consult our
own choice in such matters we cannot arrive feeling
rebuked for selfishness — In reading your letter last
night aloud for Adeline and Fred I stumbled upon
a passage which you must give me credit for
dexterity in converting into “I hope Adeline enjoys her
visit” – She was much pleased – desired her love to
you when I wrote and an assurance that her visit
had been very pleasant — Was this a pious fraud!
Mr Underwood (who is a very good young man and withal
an agreeable inmate in a house) has gone to Auburn.
I hope he will bring Pa home with him – Among other
calculations I wanted the Gurnee's room for him if
he should prefer it to the little bed room —

Blatchford has occupied the bed room over the nursery
until last night when to my extreme surprise I found
he had taken possession of my ladies bed room which had
been swept and garnished after the departure of Mrs Cary –
He had remorseless tumbled the ruffled pillow slip
which Mary had ironed so carefully and committed sundry
other enormities of a no less heinous character — I did
talk rather harshly about it to Mary for which I was
sorry when I found that Henry not Sam was in fault
but I still think a tolerably modest man would have
rejected the offer of another bed because it was more
comfortable while one room and its appurtenances was
kept in order for his especial benefit - He is still undecided
about his future course – I believe is waiting for his father
to come up and decide for him — Mr Blatchford and Bowen
are expected daily – In the mean time he writes occasionally
an article for the journal — Ambrose Spencer is still in
prison – I hear nothing said on the subject here not I suppose
because the people a less illnatured but because they are too
much engrossed with their own affairs to attend to those of
others — I met Mrs Blatchford the other day while
making a morning visit - she was very cold and stately
because she has not called upon me - Harriet, less honest
I suppose, was very polite - made many enquiries about you
and more especially about Worden who she said was a
especial favourite of hers — I of course returned the compliment
justifying myself with the reflection that I had never
heard him speak disparagingly of her – So the world goes -
I am weary of it sometimes and would gladly go away and be
at rest if it were not for my boys – I have been quite
sick two days this week – a violent pain in my breast
and shoulders, headache and palpitations of the heart combined —
I am better now and tomorrow must commence ^again^ the endless
task of making visits - new people are perpetually calling
in addition to the old almost interminable list -
Monday I was with Adeline and Gurnee to Troy - did not cross
the river - Tuesday I left Adeline at the Clinton house
and made visits the whole of that "damp, moist" morning
which I think produced the attack of neuralgia or rheu-
matism with which I suffered two days — I have a letter
from Augustus this week – he says he was rather
homesick after his Pa and Freddy came home –

The ten hours confinement in a school room still haunts me – it is
barbarous - though my meek boy does not complain - one month
more I hope to see him – Willie's eyes are much better – I
wish you could hear him talk - Fred is reluctantly preparing
for dancing school - Clarence has invited them all here
next Thursday night – he has signified his wishes to have
both parlors and the dining room well lighted - cake lemonade
and mottoes - the addition of 2 forms of cream not unaccep
table – I shall take the liberty to vary the programme to suit my own
views – Harriet, Frances continue sick - The Dr
speaks discouragingly of her - says her liver or heart
is diseased - I feel very sorry for poor Harriet -
Love to Frances - the stamp was very plain and pretty -
Your own sister -
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
PAID
ALBANY
FEB
25
N.Y.
hFebruary
1842