Sunday afternoon–
My dear Sister,
I have been to Church this morning and
since I came home have been employed in soothing
dear Little Willie who is very much grieved to
part with a little dead bird which he and Abbey
found in the garden and which it had become necessary
to bury— He finally gave a tearful assent under
the impression that burying was the only method
which could be adopted to preserve his bird, from
the worms— Now he says "the worms cannot get it"–
Mrs Miller came home yesterday— the first question
she asked was whether you were here— I believe
She had made considerable calculation upon a visit
to you– Your letter came yesterday– I am sorry
to hear Frances is unwell— If her stomach is deranged
do be careful about her diet and persuade her
to take moderate exercise about the house as well
as in the open air– It would be deplorable at
her age to lay the foundation of disease which would make

[center Margin] e

x

Editorial Note

This text is upside-down on the page

I never heard any thing so exceedingly masculine as Mrs
Sibley's

x

Maria Sibley

Birth: 1802-01-29 Death: 1877-05-21Certainty: Probable

excursion— She certainly has no reason to fear
finding any one much larger or stronger than herself
I have not heard a word from Augustus since he
went to N.York

x

New York, NY

– Mr Kinsley

x

Zebina  Kinsley

Birth: 1802-02-17 Death: 1849-08-24

wrote in the monthly
report that he left there Saturday– The report shows
that he is studying with great diligence– I trust
he does not still incline to enter the Academy
Serene visited us Thursday– she brought her babe

x

Walter Birdsall

Birth: 1838 Death: 1907-12

with her, it was so much afraid among strangers that
I am sure she could not have enjoyed her visit much
It seemed quite like old times to hear her talk— she is very
little changed— I hope you will be able to come out
before she leaves— every one is asking when you are
coming— Mary Mumford

x

Mary Seward

Birth: 1815 Death: 1879-08-29

is with Mrs Hills

x

Almira Hills

Birth: 1790-10-15 Death: 1857-10-25

— we were
invited last week to meet her at Mrs Pitneys

x

Harriet Pitney

Birth: 1797-12-04 Death: 1862-05-06

also at
Mrs Porters— one evening I was sick and the other I was
expecting the Bowens— Clara would not go to either—
Your own Sister

life burdensome in years to come– Although we did not
much expect you I could not avoid feeling disappointed that you
did not come— Freddy has given you an account of the 4th I
must add my experience– In the evening at nearly 9 oclock
all of the family went to see the bonfires leaving me alone with
Willie, who was asleep in bed while a drunken man was
lying sound asleep in the front yard among the shrubbery–
I was always a little afraid of men in this condition
so I fastened all the doors and whiled away the time with
Morley Ernstein– To increase my apprehension Snips' valor
had all forsaken him on account of the cannon and squibs
which he had heard all day so he went into the boys
bed room and crept under the bed & had twenty robbers
entered the house I should not have been able to have elicited
from him ever the faintest growl– Happily for my quiet
Clara sent McClallen home who had considerable trouble
in getting the man out of the quarters which he had chosen
for the night– It would have been pleasant could I have known
that you too were alone reading the same volume as myself
didnt you find it very interesting– I am ashamed to say
that I found it impossible to employ my leisure time with
any thing else until it was completed– and after all
I like the plot less than many of his previous works— I
came to a conclusion that I was not yet quite old
enough to read novels moderately and critically– Our
girl Ann went home Monday morning with a sore hand
and then came a letter from Henry saying that Mr & Mrs
Bowen would be here Tuesday night– so Maria went all
over town in pursuit of a 'help' and finally succeeded
Tuesday afternoon in engaging another daughter of the Emerald
Isle— We had all worked diligently and prepared every thing
for their reception I even had the lamp lighted in the
Parlor– as they did not come Tuesday we were equally
sure of seeing them Wednesday– At 9 oclock in the
evening the cars came in and Pa returned from Syracuse
whither he had been attending the Consecration of the new
Church– he had seen Bowen at Syracuse— they passed
through here on their way to Dunkirk Wednesday morning
and intended to make a visit when they came back–
I am afraid I shall not be as glad to see them as I
might have been— No one knows when they are coming
back & I think it very probable they will go some other route
I hope they will

Thursday Ann came back so the other girl did not get here
I did think Ann would be a match for your damsel— She
seems to have as few ideas on the subject of cleanliness as any
one I ever knew and for a cook Maria is infinitely her
superior— I tried during her absence to find a colored girl
but could hear of none worth having— I will enquire for
you— Henry does not come home– is very much engaged
with his geological introduction– Sam Blatchford
is there and will probably come here–

The cherries are beginning to get ripe– We have had some
strawberries which were 5 inches in circumference– you will
think this a large story but they are a singular form
oblong and of almost flat—
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
hRR
Auburn

[right Margin] On account of the multiplicity of amusements our fire works were
deferred until Tuesday's bitter day. Friday– Serene

x

Serene Birdsall

Birth: 1805 Death: 1884-01-19

and
her boy

Unknown

e

x

Editorial Note

Either Samuel Birdsall Jr.

x

Samuel Birdsall

Birth: 1836

or Franklin Samuel Bridsall

x

Franklin Birdsall

Birth: 1837 Death: 1910-07-27

were here— every thing went off with great
applause