Sunday afternoon J April 3^d
My dear Sister,
Your letter came this morning I have just
finished reading it for the edification of my boys – Augustus
came home Friday morning while we were still in bed
he is very well and continues much pleased with his
school – I suppose he will return the 1^st of May – I
am sorry to see that he is evidently inclined to go
to the Military Academy – Mr Kinsley gives us a
very gratifying account of his behavior and the prog-
ress made in his studies – I will give his own words–
speaking of the examination – ‘Your son acquitted himself
highly creditably in every exercise – He spoke very well in
presence of about 30 ladies & gentlemen without any apparent
embarrassment – By unremitted industry he has won for
himself, the first place, of all my pupils, in Algebra,
English Grammar & Geography — As a most diligent student
and amiable excellent youth, I set great store by him – His
manner is still awkward but the diamond is within, and
only wants polishing to shine with brilliancy” —

There is at the school 2 grandsons of Gen Harrisons, a son of Mr
Jennifer our Minister to Austria, and a son of Sec. Forsyths — the
[ shool ] is at present full and there are many applicants for the
first vacancy – most of the young men are candidates for the
Academy – Every one admits that the study & discipline at the
Point are very severe – The cadets are not allowed to visit their
friends the 1^st tow two years – they are much exposed in
keeping guard and in the encampments to bad weather and
withal they are obliged to serve 4 years in the army at
the conclusion of the Academical course – – I think
Augustus will go to Auburn the last of this week of or the
first of next – probably about the 12^th – it will depend
somewhat upon the tailor – I wrote a few lines to
Clara just saying he was at home by James Wood who
was here Friday – I had company as I expected
last Tuesday evening – in a fit of desperation with
a violent nervous headache I took some of Sherman’s
Lozenges which allayed the pain for a few hours but
proved themselves only a preparation of opium by making
me very sick the next day – my headache returned
with double violence and continued so long that I
finally sent for Dr Ward the homeopathy physician and
am at present following his prescription a course of

of conduct which Henry thinks very silly – If it were not a sin
against morality I should be willing to employ a necro-
mancer if there was any ground for believing that he could
afford me any relief at such times – There was about
20 at the party which I believe passed off pleasantly
Mr and Mrs Brown left the next day while I was at the
height of my suffering – Mr Brown returned the next
day – is now at the Eagle – Mr Blatchford came yesterday
morning and has just left in the boat – he says Sam has
commenced the practice of Law in the City having relinquished
the idea of going to Europe (I think he will change his mind.) – That
his engagement with Miss Spencer is certainly broken off which
is very pleasing to Sam’s family – The Lyman’s are still in
New York – Do you see in the newspapers an account
of Ambrose Spencers iniquitous proceedings in Texas – I believe
he is thoroughly determined to be notorious – Mr B – who
has been in Washington recently says that Mr Spencer is very
unpopular there – does not entertain any company &c &c – I suppose
this will suit the Canandaigua people – Poor Harriet and
Nicholas have but one child left – Frances died last Wednesday
morning to me very unexpectedly – was buried on Thursday
I was not well enough to attend the funeral – Henry and the boys
went – I went to see Harriet Friday – she grieves very
much about her children – thinks little Harriet has [ symtoms ]
similar to the others – this I hope is only a gloomy fancy
which would very naturally result from her previous
affliction – Jane Shepherd has been sick most of the time
since she left here and is now expecting to be confined
she is entirely dependent upon charity as John cannot get
any thing but his board for his work – It is very strange
that people cannot be satisfied without getting married
under such circumstances – Dr Ward is a very
sensible man – he studied with Dr's Mott and Hoosack
of N. York and practiced in the old school 11 years –
Frederick Betts dined here last week – he has become a
corpulent gentleman of 40 – retired to a farm in the vicinity
of N.burgh – With about the same intellectual ability he is
a very different man in his personal appearance from the
young handsome dandy who paid his addressed to our
sister Cornelia some 18 years ago – Perhaps you will
recollect that he was crippled with rheumatism a number

of years while he was Clerk of the District Court in N. York – He
told me for Pa’s benefit that he was at last cured by the
application of a muskrat skin to his limb – Nicholas has
procured one for Pa and he is now wearing it – very much
to the annoyance of Willie who insists that it must hurt
Grandpa and utterly refuses to have at little muskrat
skin on his lim knee. —
I think Augustus will remain at Auburn 10 or 12 days – should any
thing prevent his going at the time I mentioned I will let you
know – I shall expect you to return with him and wish
you could persuade Clara to come too – Let me
know whether I shall direct another letter to Canandaigua
PAID
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
ALBANY
APL
4
N.Y.
Paid W.H.S.

[right Margin] Pa was quite unwell the day I wrote to Clara but is better
again – The boys all send love your own Sister —

[top Margin] I should like to hear how Frances

x

Frances Chesebro

Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24

succeeded with the dog