Saturday Dec 31 1842
My dear Sister,
My paper and pen were in
readiness yesterday to write this letter but Mrs
Miller and Sarah came to spend the afternoon
with us and prevented my writing – They
came soon after 3 and remained until 9 which
was rather a “long joy” — Mrs Miller with
her usual good breeding observed that the leaves
were almost entirely off from our oleanders,
that the heat of our stove was much less
agreeable than hers &c &c — Sarah appears to
be a good natured industrious little girl without
any striking traits of character – Pa seemed in-
clined to enjoy the company and would far
have entertained them by reading sundry passages
from Curwens journal , but his audience were
very little interested and of course inattentive –
Curwen was an American Refugee during the

[top Margin] Henry has been to see Mrs Bouck

x

Catherine Bouck

Birth: 1787 Death: 1861

and the daughter

x

Caroline Danforth

Birth: 1822-09-02 Death: 1913-03-31

They are in the Dix

x

John Dix

Birth: 1798-07-24  Death: 1879-04-21 Certainty: Probable

Catherine Dix

Birth: 1810  Death: 1884 Certainty: Probable

house

Revolution – I was interested in what I heard
and shall endeavour to get a peep at the book
before it is returned – Since I wrote before
I have had an excellent letter from Mr Kinsley which
has confirmed me in my opposition to Augustus
entering the Military Academy – He speaks highly
of the Institution but in answer to my explicit
enquiry says he cannot conscientiously say
that he would select it as the best place to
educate a boy like Augustus – This is confidential
– a candid answer to my questions which perhaps
I had no right to ask – I want you to see the
letter – it has increased the esteem I before felt for
the good man – On the strength of this I have
written a letter to my boy urging him to relin-
quish his purpose of going to West Point – His father
tells me I can have my own way about it, is
fully impressed with the belief that it is all
because Philip Spencer was hanged, though I had
written to Mr Kinsley some days before that tragedy
transpired – I distrusted my own judgment before

receiving Mr K–. letter but as you know have always
been unwilling to have him go there and since he left
home the last time have known no tranquility
I am now entirely willing to assume the responsibility
of opposing it — I have no letter from Augustus in an-
swer – Dear Fred has concluded to wait until his
father comes home though I hear he is a little home sick –
I expect them all next week — Harriet and Nicholas
are to come with the remaining furniture Monday –
Henry as soon after as he can – He Fred and H.
Underwood are at the Eagle – left the house last Monday
Fred says Mr Underwood made him a handsome New Years
present – Cooper's works — We all laughed heartily
over Mr Wood's fall – he is a perfect Paul Pry whom
I always have heretofore considered rather an exaggerated
fiction – you ought to be thankful that your company
did not stay all night as well as all day this cold
weather – My head is quite well and Willie's eyes
are better – Dr Robinson has visited him 3 or 4 times
Dr Ball has buried two children – his wife and another
e child were ill with scarlet fever the last I heard
they still persist in following the old school practice
Our dear little boy is preserved thus far –
I am ashamed to say I have heard nothing from Mrs
Wright – the only fine day we have had during the past
week I went out to do some shopping – had she lived
within a half a mile I should then have gone there –
Christmas we all went to Church – it was very cold
Clara went also in the evening – Maria is very
sick but not confined – She was here to work

Wednesday – was taken sick yesterday – she sent for a
bed, bedstand and bedding which I had promised her –
To day we hear she continues very sick – I am sorry
for the poor creature though it is the penalty of folly
and promiscuness —
I think Frances will have an opportunity to ride much
if she improves all the sleighing we have this winter
Sarah had some experience of the kind to tell Clara
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN
DEC
31
N.Y.