Wednesday morning –
My dear Sister,
I write to day under the benign in-
fluence of a head ache because I will not delay
my letter (which should have been written Monday)
another day – Your letter came four days after
date – we were without any mail from the last
4 days – The predictions of a hard winter are
fully reinforced – I shall be thankful if it
does not continue until June – My anxiety
to see my boy makes me very impatient for
a thaw but there is now hardly a possibility
of the river being open to Albany – I have
just written to him to come over land if it
is not – I am unwilling to lose any part of his
vacation – The last of Mr Spencers official acts
while Secretary of War was to transmit a
Warrant for Augustus which he did very hand-
somely – Augustus will be very happy – I had
a day or two previous written him a letter telling
him there was very little chance of his succeeding
after the passage of the new Law – I must
try to rejoice in that which makes my boy
happy – though a mothers tenderness shrinks from

the hardships to which her child will be exposed –
I do not know how people with families
find time to go out once or twice every day
though such things are – I did not get time
last week to read ten pages at home – Thursday
Henry invited 10 or 12 gentlemen to supper in com-
pliment to Mr Harding – this occupied two entire
days and Saturday always brings brings its
own extra work – Sunday I went to Church
where I was almost frozen – Monday we were
all invited to tea to Mrs Goodwins – Goodwin
having been one of Henry's guests Thursday – We
went, Henry Mr Harding and myself – had rather
a dull evening with Dr & Mrs Diamon Mr and
Mrs Beardsley Miss Powers e Bronson & Miss
Mrs Porter — We went and returned in the
new omnibus which was altogether the most
pleasant part of the excursion – Yesterday I must
go over and see Mr Hardings picture of Henry –
Clara went along – we found the room full
of men and women on the same business – Henry
was sitting for the last time – I thought Mr
Harding required extraordinary patience to bear all
the interruptions composedly – The portrait is full
length and a handsome picture – unfinished – to me
it is not a likeness – but that I anticipated.

Pa's likeness is finished – I will defer expressing my opinion
until you see it – After all the trouble Henry has
had in relation to his picture there is a new source
opened – The Common Council are very wroth that
they have not been consulted about an artist – Henry
had a letter from Ruggles on this subject – I
find the same petty jealousies influence men
women and children, whenever they are associated together
it is human nature – peculiar to no sex or condition –
Henry has written a letter of explanation to Mr Ruggles
if it fails to satisfy these "most patient, grave,
and reserved" children – he will relieve them
from any obligation to have his portrait at all –
At present it is better not to mention all this–
Mrs. Ruggles' father is deceased she in consequence
has become rich — Mr. Harding left us yesterday
to return to N. York – I forgot to mention that
Henry said the supper went off beautifully – The
pictures in the parlor were entertainment – the
tables were set in the south room – coffee
lemonade – oysters, pheasants, sandwiches celary
ice cream nuts and raisins – The door opened
into the recess which is filled with books and
has the pleasing effect of making the south room appear
much longer – it was lighted and looked very
inviting – The guests were Mr. Lathrop, Goodwin, Hour
P. Myers, G. Underwood – E. Hills, Shipland (in Henry's office)
Clark, Judge Conkling, one other whom I have forgotten
G Throop – Mr Croswell and R. Howe were invited and
did not come – Willie's eyes are no better he has
not opened his right eye in a week – I have concluded
to take him to Rochester with Henry's reluctant assent
as soon as the weather is favourable – probably not

until after the first of April – In that case I shall
expect you to come home with me – Clara and Fred
send love – Clara cannot make up her mind to
make that visit yet –
We made some 7 or 8 visits yesterday afternoon – among others
I went to Mrs. Burr's – her manners are uncommonly English
she appears sensible furthermore I cannot say – Charles
Richardson has returned with his new wife she is
AUBURN N.Y.
MAR 22

[right Margin] said to be very plain rather common in all respects I hope she
is good for I rather like Charles – they are to go immediately
to housekeeping —

[right Margin] Francis Dwight

x

Francis  Dwight

Birth: 1808-03-14 Death: 1845-12-15

is to marry Miss Yates

x

Catherine Dwight

Birth: 1805 Death: 1879-04-04

–
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Canandaigua