Sunday afternoon –
My dear Sister,
This is a warm day for May – I
went to Church this morning and found it as warm
as any day in June – My room is quite sultry this
afternoon in consequence of a large fire in the kitchen
to boil coffee – I told Julia they ought to have
a portable kitchen and take it about with them —
We have done nothing towards cleaning house yet – I
am very busy when I am not at work at about house
in preparing Augustus clothes for his long absence – perhaps
it is as well that I do not get much time to think–
Willie is much better his eyes better than when I
wrote last he can bear considerable light in the
house but cannot go into the open air without
having his eyes so closely shaded as to be unable to
see any thing – he alarmed me today by complaining of
his knee – it hurts him to walk – I can perceive no
external injury – Poor Tommy Thorn suffered so greatly
with his diseased hip that I dread any symptoms of

of this kind yet I cannot banish from my my mind
all apprehension when I connect with this the opinion
of two or three physicians that the disease of his eyes
is [ scrophulous ] – still I reproach myself for having so
such a distrustful spirit — Mrs Williams of Albany
had a child with eyes similar to Willie's – When
they were restored to a healthy state the disease made
its appearance in her hip – I have not been out
since I came home except to Church and was much
surprised to day to find the people looking
like the middle of summer – Mrs Marshall I see
has returned again – Marshall has not grown handsome
Henry employs himself most of the time in setting out tulips
and shrubbery if they live the place will be very
pretty in a few years – the remains of the poor locusts
do not assist much in beautifying – Henry is the most
indefatigable of all people he works his whole time yesterday
in his shirt sleeves all day – he took two men to the
woods and brought back an immense number of
trees, some of them large and last night they
all worked until at dark to get them in the ground

Fred went along – Gus and I were left at home to plant
flower seeds in the garden – I hope your ivy will live
it would be a pity to lose it, though your sister requires no memento
to remind her of your devoted affection – it is a subject upon
which Henry and I often expatiate – Willie thinks he would
even run the risk of seeing Dr Munn to go again to Canandaigua
What can I do about writing to the Dr – I do not wish
the medicines for which I was to write – I presume Carter
has carried the intelligence of the fit to Rochester before this
time of course Dr Dinard felt none of the delicacy
which I did in speaking of the cause – I cannot avoid
feeling kindly towards Dr Munn though I fear he is
destitute of right and firm principles – I agree with
you entirely about boarding schools – I never heard of one to
which I would send a daughter except Bethlehem and
then they do not study French so it may not answer
our Fan's purpose – Mr Seward proposes educating
four of his granddaughters there! – perhaps he will –
I have news of things to tell you which cannot be writ[ ten ]
Clara has again determined to go to housekeeping – As
she will not go to Mrs Millers I am in favour of it or
any thing else which will take her out of our kitchen
where she is constantly toiling for our company – She
has been to look at three or four houses – but they are all
a great way off – away in the east part of the village
none taken yet – I have tried to persuade her to go and visit
you – She says she would if she could persuade Mc to
board but he will not – She will not leave while Gus
remains at home – The original plan about the
painting of the picture will be adhered to – this is the latest
information I hope the artist will not think of staying here –
H. Underwood says he intends to visit you this summer he
was very much pleased with Miss Phelps and said he
would have gone on to Canandaigua with her the day
she passed through could he have known she was coming–
Clara and Hugh have just gone to Church looking
very respectable – Winnie sits in the middle
of the boys bed while they are both talking to him

Abbey is toiling in the kitchen with that "loud spoken" Irish girl –
Julia is reading for Mr & Mrs Seward in the S. room –
they keep her pretty close – Pa has gone to Seneca
Falls – Augustus will leave about the middle
of the next week – Your own Sister
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
May 14